Ok I found out that is was the carrier (to whome Courtney, my agent, is contracted), who fronted me all that money while I was down. Korena, who works with Courtney, is something like a liason between the carrier and Courtney, and it was she who went to bat for me.
Remember: this is business, and they could have left me stuck there without a carrier, flat broke, and...I don't want to think about it.
Anyway, my first settlement check was kept by them to get some of that money back. I can't argue with that. But Korena is now trying to get them to pay me half of my checks til my balance is paid. I've got bills piled up, and owe road-use taxes.
What I actually spent was a little over 3k, but meanwhile I was racking up the weekly charges, and I had been advanced money on the load I never delivered.
Among the weekly charges are trailer rental, insurance, a 50.00/week (to 1k) bond deduction, transflo, and some other stuff.
However, after my most recent Damian APU repair, they've been running me pretty hard. I remember that Central Hauling (owner-operator side of Cal-Ark) was pretty damn efficient, but these guys take the cake. The load before last, I loaded twice within five miles of the truckstop I landed at. On the last load, I had to downright hustle about 14 miles from that delivery to get the load taking me to Midland GA.
That one paid peanuts, but now I know they probably have good freight out of this area. That was a backhaul, and they use those only to get you from point a to point b for a "real" load.
I also asked if they went to Texas e voila--they're planning to send me there. If that one delivers monday, I'll have a monster week.
NOW: I finally at long last got to my PO Box and got my "Thirty-Second Smile" electric toothbrush. It has two opposing sets of bristles: One for your uppers, and one for your lowers. The brushes are "U"-shaped, to sort of wrap around your teeth, and the bristles are angled accordingly. They wrap around your teeth, see?
You need to hold it between your thumb and one finger, as it sort of needs to move in your grip to work right.
Anyway, I tried it and was pretty shocked. I was bleeding from my gums. The thing had scoured some of my back teeth to the roots...which were partly exposed because my gums are trying to recede. Plus, I felt it get all the way behind my back teeth.
COOL! My sonic care toothbrush never got into that area, no matter how hard I tried. So I guess I had those nasty bacteriae mining away with impunity! Not anymore--this thing WORKS!
Of course, now my teeth hurt again. But this time I knew it was a good hurt. I rinsed with ACT, and resumed my aloe-vera gel treatments.
Aloe Vera is not snake oil. It kills just about all bacteria, and penetrates all seven layers of skin. This is one of the reasons it works so well for healing: without infection, you heal faster. It came in handy for me recently when I burned myself on a hot pipe. Second degree: I've had this kind before, and a major infection set in almost immediately.
But with this, I just perieodicly rubbed some aloe-vera gel on it and never had to worry. It's true.
Anyway, I get the Gel. "Juice" can legally be less than one percent real aloe. Gel, legally, has to be mostly real aloe-vera.
I rinse with it and then swallow it. Then I put a little in my tea. You've got to be careful because it's like Ex-lax and you can get in trouble with too much. I'm convinced that aloe-vera is a big reason I've kept all but one of my teeth.
A day later, my gums/teeth don't hurt anymore, and my gums didn't bleed this time. Thirty-Second Smile really works, and so does Aloe-Vera.
Texas...cool.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Owner-Ops Only
Everybody else will be bored.
OK I'm taking on loose metal turnings in Worcester and expect to carry 42,000 lbs.
I plotted two routes to Buffalo. One is US 20, and I avoid most of the tolls. I haven't been on 20, but I see some meanderings which usually indicate hills. It's also upstate New York, and I bet it goes through a lot of towns.
It's tempting--in fact it looks a lot like the 20 I take through Ohio to avoid I-80 tolls. I might try it.
If I take 90 I know what I'll have. With 42k I should average 6.2 mpg. Taking 20 will cut that down, as I'll be hitting hills slow and stopping/starting a lot. On 90 I'll get there fast, whereas 20 takes me at least two more hours.
53.29 is my EZ Pass rate. What about fuel?
Well, with 42k and assuming the worst (lots of stoplights and a few bad hills) I reckon 5.2 mpg. It's 416 miles so that's 80 gallons. The toll road would give me 6.2 mpg's and I'd burn twelve fewer gallons. Just using the lowest rate alonmg that route, which is 2.99 cpg, that rounds off to 36 bucks. The difference is about 17 bucks.
But wait! There's more! The twelve gallons give me about eighty miles of range. This might mean the differnce between paying 2.99 now, a lower price later. Plus, the cheapest fuel on this route is ON I-90, so I'd have to get up there anyway.
Also, I consider wear and tear. 90 is smooth. 20 would abuse Herbie much more. I want to preserve him.
Then there's the chance I can deliver later today rather than tomorrow if I take the fastest route. (I won't bother checking. I like surprises.) Get empty early and I can get to the next pickup early--if Courtney has it ready for me yet, or can at least give me a city.
Then there's the variables: Traffic and construction on 90. That plus terrain and obstacles on 20. (I also haven't ckecked for low bridges and weight restictions either. On that road a re-route up to 90 isn't hard).
I also estimate conservatively. 6.2 are the lowest mpg's I get on I-90; I could get up to 6.4. 5.2 on the low side is a guess. Probably a safe one. And then there are probably a lot of cops on 20 waiting for a hill to tug me up over the speed limit on 20.
Then there's my mental health. I see myself getting angrier and angrier every time I have to use up my brakes going down a hill I should be using for momentum--because there might be a cop waiting for me. Then angrier when I hit the bottom of the next hill at near the legal speed limit and am going 30 mph at the top...knowing I've just burned a whole extra gallon of fuel for no good reason.
Angrier at the clown in front of me who thinks physics is what you do in the bathroom, and stifles me going up a hill. Stopping and starting and stopping and starting...
Guess which way I'm going. It's worth the extra 17 bucks.
So there.
CORRECTION: I completely forgot the MA. tolls. Probably another 22 bucks or so. Call it an extra 40 bucks I paid to avoid insanity.
But now I go from here to Philly, know all those roads, and know I can avoid the tolls without beating Herbie up or burning all my fuel.
OK I'm taking on loose metal turnings in Worcester and expect to carry 42,000 lbs.
I plotted two routes to Buffalo. One is US 20, and I avoid most of the tolls. I haven't been on 20, but I see some meanderings which usually indicate hills. It's also upstate New York, and I bet it goes through a lot of towns.
It's tempting--in fact it looks a lot like the 20 I take through Ohio to avoid I-80 tolls. I might try it.
If I take 90 I know what I'll have. With 42k I should average 6.2 mpg. Taking 20 will cut that down, as I'll be hitting hills slow and stopping/starting a lot. On 90 I'll get there fast, whereas 20 takes me at least two more hours.
53.29 is my EZ Pass rate. What about fuel?
Well, with 42k and assuming the worst (lots of stoplights and a few bad hills) I reckon 5.2 mpg. It's 416 miles so that's 80 gallons. The toll road would give me 6.2 mpg's and I'd burn twelve fewer gallons. Just using the lowest rate alonmg that route, which is 2.99 cpg, that rounds off to 36 bucks. The difference is about 17 bucks.
But wait! There's more! The twelve gallons give me about eighty miles of range. This might mean the differnce between paying 2.99 now, a lower price later. Plus, the cheapest fuel on this route is ON I-90, so I'd have to get up there anyway.
Also, I consider wear and tear. 90 is smooth. 20 would abuse Herbie much more. I want to preserve him.
Then there's the chance I can deliver later today rather than tomorrow if I take the fastest route. (I won't bother checking. I like surprises.) Get empty early and I can get to the next pickup early--if Courtney has it ready for me yet, or can at least give me a city.
Then there's the variables: Traffic and construction on 90. That plus terrain and obstacles on 20. (I also haven't ckecked for low bridges and weight restictions either. On that road a re-route up to 90 isn't hard).
I also estimate conservatively. 6.2 are the lowest mpg's I get on I-90; I could get up to 6.4. 5.2 on the low side is a guess. Probably a safe one. And then there are probably a lot of cops on 20 waiting for a hill to tug me up over the speed limit on 20.
Then there's my mental health. I see myself getting angrier and angrier every time I have to use up my brakes going down a hill I should be using for momentum--because there might be a cop waiting for me. Then angrier when I hit the bottom of the next hill at near the legal speed limit and am going 30 mph at the top...knowing I've just burned a whole extra gallon of fuel for no good reason.
Angrier at the clown in front of me who thinks physics is what you do in the bathroom, and stifles me going up a hill. Stopping and starting and stopping and starting...
Guess which way I'm going. It's worth the extra 17 bucks.
So there.
CORRECTION: I completely forgot the MA. tolls. Probably another 22 bucks or so. Call it an extra 40 bucks I paid to avoid insanity.
But now I go from here to Philly, know all those roads, and know I can avoid the tolls without beating Herbie up or burning all my fuel.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Cookin (Worcester, MA)
Well, I just added up what I've made so far and feel much better now. I've had a couple 60+ mile deadheads, but the average is actually lower than I had at USA. With my former company...sometimes 300 or more miles (no I aint kidding).
Don't like it much up here. It's like somebody kicked over an anthill. And the ants all drive cars.
Oh, and you can ignore the speed limits here. You can go 20 miles over or 15 miles under if you want, in any lane you want. Just match speeds with a big truck, set the cruise, and wait for the turn signal as he closes in on the guy going 50 mph in front of him. Great fun! You get to watch him hit the brakes and holler at you!
Tolls everywhere. That's a drawback--I'm learning that the company moves a lot of freight up here in New England. Many drivers reguse to drive the northeast because of the tolls and stupid ants driving cars. And having to run over curbs on ancient streets built for wagons.
But this is just my first couple weeks. Courtney did mention a twice weekly from Ohio to here, for example. After I've run around randomly for awhile, I'll ask about that, or something like it. If a lot of their business is up here, then that's that, but...
Well, here: If I drove out here from Ohio and back twice a week, I could take I-76/I-80 (etc.) and avoid a lot of the tolls--and even most of the ant-hills full of careening spastic cars. But then James, the driver who referred me to Medallion and Courtney, said he's got a sort of circular regular route, and that sounded great.
I just had to tell her I need to get back to Ohio when it's convenient. I ordered some stuff and got a phone call informing me that I had enrolled in a money-saving program for only 24 bucks a month and if I didn't like it all I had to do was call the number in the mailing to cancel--otherwise they'd just take the money off my card.
Yeah. So I need to cancel that.
"But it doesn't cost you anything just to look---"
"I didn't want this! Cancel it right now!"
"--have to do is call the num--"
"No-take me off right now!"
"--?"
"Wait what did you ask me? NO! Nevermind! What's the freaking number I gotta call to cancel?"
"--certificate from Wal-Mart--"
And of course there's the stuff I DID order. And of course Damien has stopped charging my batteries again. Yeah it's about three months. That's about right for his alternators. It's under warrantee, but I have to get to Sapp Bros or Colyer's to get it fixed. That's Clearfield PA between here and there, or Cincinnati.
...where I got my POS trailer, which I'll probably need to take back before I can replace it. No rush on that, though. After I got some grease on the sliders that part got better, and I think the pins partly stuck because of all the rust. 2 pitted surfaces stick more. I left about half a pound of rust at my last pickup. Had to wear my wraparound shades or I might be in a hospital with rust in my eye. That's real bad.
Boring. I know.
Anyway, I'm still happy. Best deal I've ever had. My next one picks up tomorrow morning, goes to Buffalo, and pays really well. No cheap fuel between here and there, but I've still got some range...damn I'm boring my own self!
Speaking of which, when I need to sleep I turn my Sirius radio to the classical music station. Knocks me out. Plus I'm reading a pretty boring book. Almost like I wrote it!
I guess adversity does make you stronger. Damien's alternator going out hardly bothered me this time. Plus I've changed some stuff. Like I've plugged my microwave and toaster oven into him, bypassing both his alternator and my batteries. If I cook something while I'm rolling, I can reach behind me and turn him on and off.
Plus now I can toast a Tortino's pizza without overheating my inverter.
Since he's been reliable as for a/c for some time now, I don't even hate Damien much anymore. Maybe this alternator will be the one to outlive it's warrantee! Yeah...positive vibes...
-Yawn- yeah...sorry. Okbye.
Don't like it much up here. It's like somebody kicked over an anthill. And the ants all drive cars.
Oh, and you can ignore the speed limits here. You can go 20 miles over or 15 miles under if you want, in any lane you want. Just match speeds with a big truck, set the cruise, and wait for the turn signal as he closes in on the guy going 50 mph in front of him. Great fun! You get to watch him hit the brakes and holler at you!
Tolls everywhere. That's a drawback--I'm learning that the company moves a lot of freight up here in New England. Many drivers reguse to drive the northeast because of the tolls and stupid ants driving cars. And having to run over curbs on ancient streets built for wagons.
But this is just my first couple weeks. Courtney did mention a twice weekly from Ohio to here, for example. After I've run around randomly for awhile, I'll ask about that, or something like it. If a lot of their business is up here, then that's that, but...
Well, here: If I drove out here from Ohio and back twice a week, I could take I-76/I-80 (etc.) and avoid a lot of the tolls--and even most of the ant-hills full of careening spastic cars. But then James, the driver who referred me to Medallion and Courtney, said he's got a sort of circular regular route, and that sounded great.
I just had to tell her I need to get back to Ohio when it's convenient. I ordered some stuff and got a phone call informing me that I had enrolled in a money-saving program for only 24 bucks a month and if I didn't like it all I had to do was call the number in the mailing to cancel--otherwise they'd just take the money off my card.
Yeah. So I need to cancel that.
"But it doesn't cost you anything just to look---"
"I didn't want this! Cancel it right now!"
"--have to do is call the num--"
"No-take me off right now!"
"--?"
"Wait what did you ask me? NO! Nevermind! What's the freaking number I gotta call to cancel?"
"--certificate from Wal-Mart--"
And of course there's the stuff I DID order. And of course Damien has stopped charging my batteries again. Yeah it's about three months. That's about right for his alternators. It's under warrantee, but I have to get to Sapp Bros or Colyer's to get it fixed. That's Clearfield PA between here and there, or Cincinnati.
...where I got my POS trailer, which I'll probably need to take back before I can replace it. No rush on that, though. After I got some grease on the sliders that part got better, and I think the pins partly stuck because of all the rust. 2 pitted surfaces stick more. I left about half a pound of rust at my last pickup. Had to wear my wraparound shades or I might be in a hospital with rust in my eye. That's real bad.
Boring. I know.
Anyway, I'm still happy. Best deal I've ever had. My next one picks up tomorrow morning, goes to Buffalo, and pays really well. No cheap fuel between here and there, but I've still got some range...damn I'm boring my own self!
Speaking of which, when I need to sleep I turn my Sirius radio to the classical music station. Knocks me out. Plus I'm reading a pretty boring book. Almost like I wrote it!
I guess adversity does make you stronger. Damien's alternator going out hardly bothered me this time. Plus I've changed some stuff. Like I've plugged my microwave and toaster oven into him, bypassing both his alternator and my batteries. If I cook something while I'm rolling, I can reach behind me and turn him on and off.
Plus now I can toast a Tortino's pizza without overheating my inverter.
Since he's been reliable as for a/c for some time now, I don't even hate Damien much anymore. Maybe this alternator will be the one to outlive it's warrantee! Yeah...positive vibes...
-Yawn- yeah...sorry. Okbye.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
In My Humble DaVinci-like Opinion
1: Quit calling football players "labor". That's pretty insulting, when the rank and files of most unions can't afford to attend a damn football game. Sure they work out hard for several months a year, but they're millionaires living a dream. Give me the league minimum for two years and I own a tavern or a couple apartment complexes or something. Labor? Wow.
2: Owners buy, build, and run businesses. They market, lease, account, pay taxes, etc. and make it possible for employees to be employed. Jobs come from the private sector. Risk-taking entrepreneurs and very smart people create them.
In this country, you get to own things. You make it or buy it, and it's yours, period.
NFL owners are entitled to make as much of a profit as they want. The head of the Players Association hears them complain of diminishing returns and pending losses, and he says he'll be reasonable and invites them to open up their books to him.
This guy is not a real american. He's an employee, and thinks he has the right to stick his nose in his bosses books and determine what he should be paid. No doubt, he intends to generously permit his boss to keep two percent of the dividends if he takes a salary cut as CEO. Maybe he'll even be able to net the league minimum!.
Yes, the owners want an eighteen percent reduction in pay. That's because the last deal was horrific and the employees "own" two thirds of the revenues!!! The owners got screwed, and want it to stop!
Kevin, you have NO RIGHT to see your owner's books. You have a right to force a lockout and blame the owners for it. You have a right to wreck football. But you have no more right to your boss's books than you do to barge into my house and help yourself to my TV. I bought the house and TV. It's mine. Your boss bought the team. It's his.
3: I wouldn't have you on my team either. They need players, not uninvited partners. PLAYers.
2: Owners buy, build, and run businesses. They market, lease, account, pay taxes, etc. and make it possible for employees to be employed. Jobs come from the private sector. Risk-taking entrepreneurs and very smart people create them.
In this country, you get to own things. You make it or buy it, and it's yours, period.
NFL owners are entitled to make as much of a profit as they want. The head of the Players Association hears them complain of diminishing returns and pending losses, and he says he'll be reasonable and invites them to open up their books to him.
This guy is not a real american. He's an employee, and thinks he has the right to stick his nose in his bosses books and determine what he should be paid. No doubt, he intends to generously permit his boss to keep two percent of the dividends if he takes a salary cut as CEO. Maybe he'll even be able to net the league minimum!.
Yes, the owners want an eighteen percent reduction in pay. That's because the last deal was horrific and the employees "own" two thirds of the revenues!!! The owners got screwed, and want it to stop!
Kevin, you have NO RIGHT to see your owner's books. You have a right to force a lockout and blame the owners for it. You have a right to wreck football. But you have no more right to your boss's books than you do to barge into my house and help yourself to my TV. I bought the house and TV. It's mine. Your boss bought the team. It's his.
3: I wouldn't have you on my team either. They need players, not uninvited partners. PLAYers.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Yay (Apex NC)
They finally fixed it, but hang-ups with the invoice (it was like they just had to kick/stomp me a couple more times) had me scrambling for the load Courtney had arranged. (It was 1600 friday, and I gather they don't get a lot of weekend stuff--I would have been stuck).
So far, by the way, I've only run (in one case partly run) three loads for them, but I don't think I've deadheaded over 35 miles once. Plus, the next loads are lined up in advance. This is too small a sample to be definitive, but so far they're the most efficient people I've run for.
When the other day another driver took my load, he told me my trailer was crap. I was surprised, because I was used to hauling junk worse than that. I was also pleased--Courtney had already told me that he'd told her that, and is going to send me someplace to get a better one.
My trailer is functional but has a freakish amount of rust for an '07, and some old sidewall repairs that he said were substandard. The company wants to look good: cool. More practicly speaking, the corrosion came into play vs. me when I tried to move the sliders with a load on. First I had to beat the pins out with my sledge hammer, and then it took a running start to make them slide.
Common enough for any trucker--but one with a newer-looking undercarriage usually slides better.
Anyway, I made it to the shipper 30 minutes before they closed despite horrendous traffic and a bad route I plotted because I had no time to waste (ran over some curbs, bullied spastic 4-wheelers, etc.) (OK I just mean that I had to take wide turns and they had to stop short when they saw me; you have to move quickly sometimes to make sure they see you before they seal you off from the rest of your turn).
This one came from Lansdale, PA here to Apex NC. It delivers monday. I'd planned to hit a truckstop, but got bad info (plus failed to do my normal research-my bad) and my truckstops had no parking for me.
It's a real nice area with woods, though. I'm secure here near their back fence. I'd prefer to be inside and on a door already, but it's fenced off, so I'll have to wake up at 0645 monday. Probably later I'll search for Wal-Marts so I can restock my food (I'm out). This is a secure drive with the reciever's company trailers parked in it, so I can slap a padlock on it and drop it for an hour or so.
This load paid about a buck a mile. That's a backhaul rate, but Courtney needed to get me to a better area, plus to get me to the next load she wanted me on--which pays a great deal more.
Plus, her buck a mile isn't the same as my former company's buck a mile. When they said it's a buck a mile, they meant gross. I'd do the math in my head for 72% of that. When Courtney gave me the total pay (which I calculated at 1.00/mile), she meant "to the truck"--what I would get paid. So far, my two backhauls paid 20% more than the ones I got from my old company.
My former company finally responded to my email in which I warned them that I was about to go to the Attorney General and seek other legal remedies. "Warning" is the right word, since they're embroiled in a civil war there, and my side was chosen for me. Junior is owed 90k, for example--and he's the guy I'm bugging for money.
I was finally able to talk to him, and found this out. He's also apparantly re-checked my application, as he was careful of what he said, like I might be taping him or something. When I asked him: "Would my going after them from the outside help you or hurt you?", he said "I'd never tell you what to do, but basicly all that would happen would be all the creditors would come in and it's get broken up." "Bankruptcy?" "Yes, that's what the assholes would do".
Junior is trying to hold onto at least twenty company trucks as they dissolve the old company and form a new one in which he has bottom-line authority and control of the books. He needs those trucks so he can hold onto certain of his contracts. If I sic any dogs on them, it probably means they lose all the trucks and trailers, too.
AND we probably never get paid anyway.
All the same, I did get 250 from them, which I was able to put on my repair bill. I still asked Courtney for 1800, because I was close to empty, and the 35% I'd get put onto my fuel card (like a debit card, plus we use it at the pump) wouldn't be enough to keep me out of trouble. Plus I'd had a flat re-inflated, and if it didn't hold air I'd need to get it patched.
I'm still running underwater here, flat broke, in debt, etc., but feel great. I made it all the way here without any electrical issues, so at least Philly Freightliner did a proper job of it. The new harness is warranteed. My APU is running fine. Got a load right away and a high-paying one monday. Can go shopping tomorrow and be all set.
I haven't added everything up yet, but I know I owe Courtney 827 for the tow, 1800 for the repair, and at least 500 for the hotel. They were very interested in when I'd mailed in my first bills, and I get the distinct impression I've really dented their operating fund; they need that cash-flow.
I want to have them just intercept all of my settlement checks til I'm square, but I got my monthlies coming due--however half would be no problem. All I need is enough to retain internet/prepass for weigh stations, BestPass for tolls, Driver's Legal, Lifelock, etc., and otherwise don't spend much (except for hotels--which I won't for now, and hope I'll be too busy to consider.)
They haven't addressed that with me yet. I could also send them a check or e-check. That way I could calculate my balance and bills and send them everything I wouldn't need. They might not have an easy way to intercept monies to drivers for legal reasons or something.
I don't care! Repaying them is priority one and who cares how? And I CAN--I just love being in control again!
When I get my next load, I'll feel even better. So far, I haven't been able to "shop around" (http://www.findfuelstops.com/?gclid=COmQ45mB0ZkCFR9hnAodCVnytw) for my fuel. Last time I got 60 gallons and paid an extra 20cents per gallon because I couldn't make it here.
My next load will put enough on my fuel card (paid when you pick up the load--a kind of advance) to top of here where it's cheap. This will give me a 1200-1400 mile range, and I should be off and running; all set for controlling my fuel costs from then on.
Junior and Ed at my former company appear to be more sympathetic to me now, and Ed said to call back monday, as they expect to have some larger payments ready by then.
I've heard that before, and the reason I was angry enough to try to take them down was the fact that I've heard it about eight times, and each time...nevermind old news. But now I'm quite sure: The assholes promise Junior. He promises me. They stiff Junior. He stiffs me. I blame Junior, but it's not him.
Now I feel bad about ever yelling at anybody there. Except Dee, the bookkeeper. She and her boss are corporate raiding crooks.
I was tempted to ask for a small percentage of the new company in lieu of what I'm owed, but hate complications, and want to keep my head down.
Anyway, I'm just so lucky. Yeah the last couple weeks were hell, but they didn't cut me loose and now my harness is solid from top to bottom. Now I'm back and running--and I'm GLAD that awhile ago I got rejected by other companies, because these guys pay better, keep deadheads low, and so far keep me really busy. No Qualcom or other BS.
Yeah it'll take awhile to rebuild my maintenance fund and stuff, but every mile I run takes me closer. Life is good.
So far, by the way, I've only run (in one case partly run) three loads for them, but I don't think I've deadheaded over 35 miles once. Plus, the next loads are lined up in advance. This is too small a sample to be definitive, but so far they're the most efficient people I've run for.
When the other day another driver took my load, he told me my trailer was crap. I was surprised, because I was used to hauling junk worse than that. I was also pleased--Courtney had already told me that he'd told her that, and is going to send me someplace to get a better one.
My trailer is functional but has a freakish amount of rust for an '07, and some old sidewall repairs that he said were substandard. The company wants to look good: cool. More practicly speaking, the corrosion came into play vs. me when I tried to move the sliders with a load on. First I had to beat the pins out with my sledge hammer, and then it took a running start to make them slide.
Common enough for any trucker--but one with a newer-looking undercarriage usually slides better.
Anyway, I made it to the shipper 30 minutes before they closed despite horrendous traffic and a bad route I plotted because I had no time to waste (ran over some curbs, bullied spastic 4-wheelers, etc.) (OK I just mean that I had to take wide turns and they had to stop short when they saw me; you have to move quickly sometimes to make sure they see you before they seal you off from the rest of your turn).
This one came from Lansdale, PA here to Apex NC. It delivers monday. I'd planned to hit a truckstop, but got bad info (plus failed to do my normal research-my bad) and my truckstops had no parking for me.
It's a real nice area with woods, though. I'm secure here near their back fence. I'd prefer to be inside and on a door already, but it's fenced off, so I'll have to wake up at 0645 monday. Probably later I'll search for Wal-Marts so I can restock my food (I'm out). This is a secure drive with the reciever's company trailers parked in it, so I can slap a padlock on it and drop it for an hour or so.
This load paid about a buck a mile. That's a backhaul rate, but Courtney needed to get me to a better area, plus to get me to the next load she wanted me on--which pays a great deal more.
Plus, her buck a mile isn't the same as my former company's buck a mile. When they said it's a buck a mile, they meant gross. I'd do the math in my head for 72% of that. When Courtney gave me the total pay (which I calculated at 1.00/mile), she meant "to the truck"--what I would get paid. So far, my two backhauls paid 20% more than the ones I got from my old company.
My former company finally responded to my email in which I warned them that I was about to go to the Attorney General and seek other legal remedies. "Warning" is the right word, since they're embroiled in a civil war there, and my side was chosen for me. Junior is owed 90k, for example--and he's the guy I'm bugging for money.
I was finally able to talk to him, and found this out. He's also apparantly re-checked my application, as he was careful of what he said, like I might be taping him or something. When I asked him: "Would my going after them from the outside help you or hurt you?", he said "I'd never tell you what to do, but basicly all that would happen would be all the creditors would come in and it's get broken up." "Bankruptcy?" "Yes, that's what the assholes would do".
Junior is trying to hold onto at least twenty company trucks as they dissolve the old company and form a new one in which he has bottom-line authority and control of the books. He needs those trucks so he can hold onto certain of his contracts. If I sic any dogs on them, it probably means they lose all the trucks and trailers, too.
AND we probably never get paid anyway.
All the same, I did get 250 from them, which I was able to put on my repair bill. I still asked Courtney for 1800, because I was close to empty, and the 35% I'd get put onto my fuel card (like a debit card, plus we use it at the pump) wouldn't be enough to keep me out of trouble. Plus I'd had a flat re-inflated, and if it didn't hold air I'd need to get it patched.
I'm still running underwater here, flat broke, in debt, etc., but feel great. I made it all the way here without any electrical issues, so at least Philly Freightliner did a proper job of it. The new harness is warranteed. My APU is running fine. Got a load right away and a high-paying one monday. Can go shopping tomorrow and be all set.
I haven't added everything up yet, but I know I owe Courtney 827 for the tow, 1800 for the repair, and at least 500 for the hotel. They were very interested in when I'd mailed in my first bills, and I get the distinct impression I've really dented their operating fund; they need that cash-flow.
I want to have them just intercept all of my settlement checks til I'm square, but I got my monthlies coming due--however half would be no problem. All I need is enough to retain internet/prepass for weigh stations, BestPass for tolls, Driver's Legal, Lifelock, etc., and otherwise don't spend much (except for hotels--which I won't for now, and hope I'll be too busy to consider.)
They haven't addressed that with me yet. I could also send them a check or e-check. That way I could calculate my balance and bills and send them everything I wouldn't need. They might not have an easy way to intercept monies to drivers for legal reasons or something.
I don't care! Repaying them is priority one and who cares how? And I CAN--I just love being in control again!
When I get my next load, I'll feel even better. So far, I haven't been able to "shop around" (http://www.findfuelstops.com/?gclid=COmQ45mB0ZkCFR9hnAodCVnytw) for my fuel. Last time I got 60 gallons and paid an extra 20cents per gallon because I couldn't make it here.
My next load will put enough on my fuel card (paid when you pick up the load--a kind of advance) to top of here where it's cheap. This will give me a 1200-1400 mile range, and I should be off and running; all set for controlling my fuel costs from then on.
Junior and Ed at my former company appear to be more sympathetic to me now, and Ed said to call back monday, as they expect to have some larger payments ready by then.
I've heard that before, and the reason I was angry enough to try to take them down was the fact that I've heard it about eight times, and each time...nevermind old news. But now I'm quite sure: The assholes promise Junior. He promises me. They stiff Junior. He stiffs me. I blame Junior, but it's not him.
Now I feel bad about ever yelling at anybody there. Except Dee, the bookkeeper. She and her boss are corporate raiding crooks.
I was tempted to ask for a small percentage of the new company in lieu of what I'm owed, but hate complications, and want to keep my head down.
Anyway, I'm just so lucky. Yeah the last couple weeks were hell, but they didn't cut me loose and now my harness is solid from top to bottom. Now I'm back and running--and I'm GLAD that awhile ago I got rejected by other companies, because these guys pay better, keep deadheads low, and so far keep me really busy. No Qualcom or other BS.
Yeah it'll take awhile to rebuild my maintenance fund and stuff, but every mile I run takes me closer. Life is good.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Reality Is
Believe it or not, the rest of my harness was alledly delivered today, but of course the work wasn't done, so here I am again.
Big surprise: At 4 pm Ed at Jamestown tod me Junior was gone. I said "Oh--we're doing this again?" and Ed hollered that I should call "that bitch from hell" and hung up on me.
Ed's explosion didn't bother me--that's just Ed. It told me, however, that he himself was boiling over, because the intra-company cabal was STILL screwing everybody!
I did just what he suggseted, and called the bitch from hell. I told her that at noon tomorrow I was calling the attorney general and tha they were about to get investigated. (Ed might have made a mistake hanging up on me.)
Afterward, when Brian the desk guy at Philly Freightliner (which should be avoided at all costs) almost predictably informed me that my truck wouldn't be ready til tomorrow--I called Courtney.
While updating her and asking for more money (dammit), I also asked her: If she were stiffing her drivers, who would scare her. (She knows all about my situation. Since she's shelling out for all this, I'm sure she's kinda irked too). She conlulted her associate Corina, who I gather has some legal background. They'll get back to me.
Meanwhile, I can't trip over nickels on my way to dollars, and will focus on running all the loads I can get for them.
They can't get away with this. It's war now. But I can do what I need to on the internet and phone without losing one precious mile. I care less for the money now than I do about justice.
I emailed Randy and Brian--I don't know if my actions will help or hurt the good people at my former company, and I'm asking them to either tell me to back off, or to help me.
Since all along Junior could have at least approved some smaller payments, I think I'm being about as reasonable as I can. 100 drivers got stiffed. That's a class-action suit, aint it? What am I missing here?
Big surprise: At 4 pm Ed at Jamestown tod me Junior was gone. I said "Oh--we're doing this again?" and Ed hollered that I should call "that bitch from hell" and hung up on me.
Ed's explosion didn't bother me--that's just Ed. It told me, however, that he himself was boiling over, because the intra-company cabal was STILL screwing everybody!
I did just what he suggseted, and called the bitch from hell. I told her that at noon tomorrow I was calling the attorney general and tha they were about to get investigated. (Ed might have made a mistake hanging up on me.)
Afterward, when Brian the desk guy at Philly Freightliner (which should be avoided at all costs) almost predictably informed me that my truck wouldn't be ready til tomorrow--I called Courtney.
While updating her and asking for more money (dammit), I also asked her: If she were stiffing her drivers, who would scare her. (She knows all about my situation. Since she's shelling out for all this, I'm sure she's kinda irked too). She conlulted her associate Corina, who I gather has some legal background. They'll get back to me.
Meanwhile, I can't trip over nickels on my way to dollars, and will focus on running all the loads I can get for them.
They can't get away with this. It's war now. But I can do what I need to on the internet and phone without losing one precious mile. I care less for the money now than I do about justice.
I emailed Randy and Brian--I don't know if my actions will help or hurt the good people at my former company, and I'm asking them to either tell me to back off, or to help me.
Since all along Junior could have at least approved some smaller payments, I think I'm being about as reasonable as I can. 100 drivers got stiffed. That's a class-action suit, aint it? What am I missing here?
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
DAMMIT
Now they say that MOST of my new engine wiring harness was delivered, but not all of it! And they can't find the rest of it! OK I got an 'o4 and it's a Mercedes I got that this harness isn't common anymore--but...now I got part of it but not all of it...
I've been aware that THEY have been out to destroy me ever since in some past life I did something real bad or something...but...are you KIDDING ME? Every freaking time I think it can't get worse it DOES!
The guy told me that if the "rest of" the harness doesn't show up in a second Fedex "overnight" shipment tomorrow, it could take up to another WEEEEEEKKKK to get the rest of it! They can't "find" it on the internet. They say it "doesn't exist, unless that's because it's in transit...but it did exist when we ordered it, but didn't show up with the rest of the harness"...
Nothing makes my blood boil more than a bunch of people kicking and stomping somebody after they've stopped moving. I mean, it's just so evil and sick. The cruelty is beyond my comprehension.
Goddammit get up off me you bastards!
I've been aware that THEY have been out to destroy me ever since in some past life I did something real bad or something...but...are you KIDDING ME? Every freaking time I think it can't get worse it DOES!
The guy told me that if the "rest of" the harness doesn't show up in a second Fedex "overnight" shipment tomorrow, it could take up to another WEEEEEEKKKK to get the rest of it! They can't "find" it on the internet. They say it "doesn't exist, unless that's because it's in transit...but it did exist when we ordered it, but didn't show up with the rest of the harness"...
Nothing makes my blood boil more than a bunch of people kicking and stomping somebody after they've stopped moving. I mean, it's just so evil and sick. The cruelty is beyond my comprehension.
Goddammit get up off me you bastards!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
I Think I See Light...
What I'm owed:
Ok friday, saturday, and yesterday I made a project of getting some part of the 2,600 my old company owes me. I called at 9:30, then: I was told they had to wait for Junior to get there. Then I was told that he was on the phone and they hadn't had a chance to ask him yet. I was told this five or six more times, then was told that Junior was gone for the day.
Now yesterday was different. Brian told me they were waiting for a big cash transfer. Until he was gone for the day and I was told to call back this morning.
This morning Brian said the transfer went through, but he has to ask Junior how much of it I can get. First and second time, Junior wasn't there yet. Now Junior is there, but Brian hadn't had a chance to talk to him. HERE WE GO AGAIN.
I emailed Randy, who does their hiring and compliance stuff and is a trucker himself. I asked him to print the email out and put it on Junior's desk.
It's obviously a shell-game, but I'm pretty sure Randy will do that for me. Brian kind of confirmed it by telling me that he was alone at dispatch today, so it would "be awhile". That meant it would be never. Junior will be on the phone or in a meeting all day, until finally he has gone home, and I'm out in the cold again--and all the money that was deposited will be gone.
Herbie needs a new wiring harness, plus an air valve blew out. They have to order it from Memphis. They'll get it done tomorrow afternoon sometime and the estimate is a little under 2 grand...which is 600 bucks less than what I should HAVE NOW, DAMMIT!
Courtney and Corina (or Korina--not sure) have been very cool about this, and will cover it as an advance if I'm not able to get some of the money I've been owed for over three months. It's infuriating.
I'll have no problem paying it back quickly once I'm running, though. The reason I see light is the fact that I'd been planning to replace the harness anyway. Herbie's got over 740,000 miles on him, and I've taken excellent care of him so he's in great shape. The problem is, there's not much you can do about wiring. It WILL corrode, and 700,000 miles is about where the problems start.
This is why I was "fixed", and then broke again. It wasn't the same connection. The corrosion is generally uniform. You see the condition of one connection, and you have a good idea of what the rest look like.
I see light because with a new harness, it's my major preventive maintenance issue knocked out for the life of Herbie, and should be Mister reliable again.
I got lucky on the air leak too: My gas-operated fifth-wheel jaws were failing to work, etc. and that's why: the line burst while they were working on it. For some reason, when compressed air failed to open the jaws, it locked up, and it took a lot of grappling and shifting to get out from under a trailer.
Courtney sort of shocked me by calling me saturday and asking if I was okay for money. In this business, dispatchers don't do that. They want to know about the equipment and stuff, but if you need help personally, you need to call them. Anyway, that was very cool.
I suspect that she may have read this or something--which would also shock me. I mean, my own brothers never read it.
Anyway, they've gone out of my way to tell me not to worry about the money, and that I'm not "going anywhere".
It's still just rediculously assenine that I HAVE TO get advances from them when...
The hell with it.
Ok friday, saturday, and yesterday I made a project of getting some part of the 2,600 my old company owes me. I called at 9:30, then: I was told they had to wait for Junior to get there. Then I was told that he was on the phone and they hadn't had a chance to ask him yet. I was told this five or six more times, then was told that Junior was gone for the day.
Now yesterday was different. Brian told me they were waiting for a big cash transfer. Until he was gone for the day and I was told to call back this morning.
This morning Brian said the transfer went through, but he has to ask Junior how much of it I can get. First and second time, Junior wasn't there yet. Now Junior is there, but Brian hadn't had a chance to talk to him. HERE WE GO AGAIN.
I emailed Randy, who does their hiring and compliance stuff and is a trucker himself. I asked him to print the email out and put it on Junior's desk.
It's obviously a shell-game, but I'm pretty sure Randy will do that for me. Brian kind of confirmed it by telling me that he was alone at dispatch today, so it would "be awhile". That meant it would be never. Junior will be on the phone or in a meeting all day, until finally he has gone home, and I'm out in the cold again--and all the money that was deposited will be gone.
Herbie needs a new wiring harness, plus an air valve blew out. They have to order it from Memphis. They'll get it done tomorrow afternoon sometime and the estimate is a little under 2 grand...which is 600 bucks less than what I should HAVE NOW, DAMMIT!
Courtney and Corina (or Korina--not sure) have been very cool about this, and will cover it as an advance if I'm not able to get some of the money I've been owed for over three months. It's infuriating.
I'll have no problem paying it back quickly once I'm running, though. The reason I see light is the fact that I'd been planning to replace the harness anyway. Herbie's got over 740,000 miles on him, and I've taken excellent care of him so he's in great shape. The problem is, there's not much you can do about wiring. It WILL corrode, and 700,000 miles is about where the problems start.
This is why I was "fixed", and then broke again. It wasn't the same connection. The corrosion is generally uniform. You see the condition of one connection, and you have a good idea of what the rest look like.
I see light because with a new harness, it's my major preventive maintenance issue knocked out for the life of Herbie, and should be Mister reliable again.
I got lucky on the air leak too: My gas-operated fifth-wheel jaws were failing to work, etc. and that's why: the line burst while they were working on it. For some reason, when compressed air failed to open the jaws, it locked up, and it took a lot of grappling and shifting to get out from under a trailer.
Courtney sort of shocked me by calling me saturday and asking if I was okay for money. In this business, dispatchers don't do that. They want to know about the equipment and stuff, but if you need help personally, you need to call them. Anyway, that was very cool.
I suspect that she may have read this or something--which would also shock me. I mean, my own brothers never read it.
Anyway, they've gone out of my way to tell me not to worry about the money, and that I'm not "going anywhere".
It's still just rediculously assenine that I HAVE TO get advances from them when...
The hell with it.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
It Just Keeps Getting Better!
When I called this Dealership from my stranded truck on the turnpike, they told me they could look at my truck the next morning. When I woke up as they opened their gates and went in, I was told that they were swamped. All day they never got my truck in, and now the weekend boss has informed me that they will get to my truck monday morning.
I had to call my agent and tell her this. She sounded weary. That's just peachy.
I called my old company six times yesterday dogging them for money. They gave me Dee's number. Dee is the "bookkeeper" for the intra-company cabal which has to be committing a crime by withholding the money, and left two messages for her begging for the money I'm owed.
I can't do anything about the late load, but my blood is boiling about the fact that I'm personally on life-support and will have to take advances from the people who gave me my first load for them about five days ago to bail out the trailer and truck! I swore I'd never be in this situation again, I did everything right, and now here I am! THREE MONTHS I held out--how can you get burned with a 90-day pad plus 1800 bucks I've spent for repairs? Are you kidding me?
I can't stay in my truck. They lock it in at night. I have to stay here at the hotel. I found just enough for one more night in my corp. account--so now my monthly billables will come up "nsf"--50 in my personal account, and 150 on my comdata card which I'm supposed to use for fuel.
I need to talk to Junior. He's not the bad guy and is caught in the middle of this (they owe HIM money too!). I don't want to hurt him, and need to find out if going after them legally will harm him, Ed, or the other good people who work there. I know it's too small an amout for a lawsuit, but maybe the Ohio Attorney General or some commission would be interested in auditing them.
After another call to Dee, restating my desperate situation and plea, I called Brian at my former company. I said I knew who the bad guys were and had called them. I asked for anything I could get. Brian was obviously busy because I got the "uh-huh" parade as I spoke. No doubt my situation is common knowlege there, and in reality the fact that I'm not with them anymore has probably put me at the bottom of the pay-list.
He said I should call back after 11:00.
I don't know that I've ever been in such an outrageous situation before. Yeah--the truck thing could have happened at any time and is just sort of an act of God. But my agents shouldn't have to cramp their budget to PAY for it TOO when...
Well, I'm being redundant again, and apologize to anybody who might accidentally read this.
Now I take a shower and go visit Herbie. I've got a fridge in the room so I can take food out of my truck's fridge and at least not pay for food. Plus I think I've got some change lying around.
I'll pay for saturday night with my Corp. Card and put it on ice, withdraw 50 and 100 from the ATM. If my former company can squeeze out any money for me in a comcheck, I can sign that over to pay part of my repair or tow bills.
Dammit.
I had to call my agent and tell her this. She sounded weary. That's just peachy.
I called my old company six times yesterday dogging them for money. They gave me Dee's number. Dee is the "bookkeeper" for the intra-company cabal which has to be committing a crime by withholding the money, and left two messages for her begging for the money I'm owed.
I can't do anything about the late load, but my blood is boiling about the fact that I'm personally on life-support and will have to take advances from the people who gave me my first load for them about five days ago to bail out the trailer and truck! I swore I'd never be in this situation again, I did everything right, and now here I am! THREE MONTHS I held out--how can you get burned with a 90-day pad plus 1800 bucks I've spent for repairs? Are you kidding me?
I can't stay in my truck. They lock it in at night. I have to stay here at the hotel. I found just enough for one more night in my corp. account--so now my monthly billables will come up "nsf"--50 in my personal account, and 150 on my comdata card which I'm supposed to use for fuel.
I need to talk to Junior. He's not the bad guy and is caught in the middle of this (they owe HIM money too!). I don't want to hurt him, and need to find out if going after them legally will harm him, Ed, or the other good people who work there. I know it's too small an amout for a lawsuit, but maybe the Ohio Attorney General or some commission would be interested in auditing them.
After another call to Dee, restating my desperate situation and plea, I called Brian at my former company. I said I knew who the bad guys were and had called them. I asked for anything I could get. Brian was obviously busy because I got the "uh-huh" parade as I spoke. No doubt my situation is common knowlege there, and in reality the fact that I'm not with them anymore has probably put me at the bottom of the pay-list.
He said I should call back after 11:00.
I don't know that I've ever been in such an outrageous situation before. Yeah--the truck thing could have happened at any time and is just sort of an act of God. But my agents shouldn't have to cramp their budget to PAY for it TOO when...
Well, I'm being redundant again, and apologize to anybody who might accidentally read this.
Now I take a shower and go visit Herbie. I've got a fridge in the room so I can take food out of my truck's fridge and at least not pay for food. Plus I think I've got some change lying around.
I'll pay for saturday night with my Corp. Card and put it on ice, withdraw 50 and 100 from the ATM. If my former company can squeeze out any money for me in a comcheck, I can sign that over to pay part of my repair or tow bills.
Dammit.
Friday, July 9, 2010
THEM
Happened again. On Jersey pike. Never break down on Jersey Turnpike. Towing restricted to certain contractors.
This time I had a load. Had to drop the trailer at the towing yard and get towed to a Freightliner in Philly. I was flat broke from the last time and had to get an 800.00 advance from Dispatch to bover the tow bill. Storage is 75.00/day. 400.00 of the tow bill was for the two from their yard to here: 14 miles, calculated by my truck-specific GPS router, which I took out of the truck and showed them. The boss's answer was to repeat "Four hundred".
Some people, when they know they've got you, take all they can get, and sleep like a baby. What a wonderful world this could be if we could weed them out. Put them on an island with others like them. Boy would THAT be a great reality show!!!
Freightliner can't look at it til this afternoon. I suggested an exorcist. I'll have to borrow more to cover repairs and bail out the trailer. THEY must have read my last blog and been dissatisfied with merely breaking me--I'm real hard to bum out.
Meanwhile I owe Road use taxes and am collecting toll bills. I call my former company daily and am daily told that they can't pay me any part of the TWO THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED BUCKS they owe me.
I got one ray of hope this time. I smelled burning wires before the permafailure. It might have been another truck, but if it was mine, they'll find it quickly, and have a strong clue as to what caused it.
Oh...and I got a flat tire...one of the new expensive ones. It's intact, at least.
I found a few bucks left in one account and walked to this hotel. Dammit I sweated about two gallons, they don't have a shower, and lately people can't seem to stand looking at me. I think I look like a bad combination of rage and self-pity.
My agents aren't set up to subsidize drivers. They have a budget. This might be hurting them more than it does me, and I can't stand it.
I told the guy at Freightliner to make sure this wouldn't happen again. I'll wait til 2 pm and call my former company again. They'll tell me the same thing, and I'll do some arm-twisting and take what I can get. If/when I DO get a good chunk of what they owe me, at least I can repay some of what I'll owe the agent.
Otherwise, I already told them they could take half of my pay--probably more. I do need to cover those bills--and get two tires before too long, but I don't have other expenses. They seem to be able to keep me running--not many deadhead miles, nor much time between runs, so I should "get right" in a matter of weeks.
That's it. No Family Reunion, probably no Thanksgiving or Xmas. I'm running hard the rest of this year. What if I break down again? Beyond the bills, I have to be ready for stuff like this. I always was...til my former company stopped paying me and I "bled out"...dammit.
This time I had a load. Had to drop the trailer at the towing yard and get towed to a Freightliner in Philly. I was flat broke from the last time and had to get an 800.00 advance from Dispatch to bover the tow bill. Storage is 75.00/day. 400.00 of the tow bill was for the two from their yard to here: 14 miles, calculated by my truck-specific GPS router, which I took out of the truck and showed them. The boss's answer was to repeat "Four hundred".
Some people, when they know they've got you, take all they can get, and sleep like a baby. What a wonderful world this could be if we could weed them out. Put them on an island with others like them. Boy would THAT be a great reality show!!!
Freightliner can't look at it til this afternoon. I suggested an exorcist. I'll have to borrow more to cover repairs and bail out the trailer. THEY must have read my last blog and been dissatisfied with merely breaking me--I'm real hard to bum out.
Meanwhile I owe Road use taxes and am collecting toll bills. I call my former company daily and am daily told that they can't pay me any part of the TWO THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED BUCKS they owe me.
I got one ray of hope this time. I smelled burning wires before the permafailure. It might have been another truck, but if it was mine, they'll find it quickly, and have a strong clue as to what caused it.
Oh...and I got a flat tire...one of the new expensive ones. It's intact, at least.
I found a few bucks left in one account and walked to this hotel. Dammit I sweated about two gallons, they don't have a shower, and lately people can't seem to stand looking at me. I think I look like a bad combination of rage and self-pity.
My agents aren't set up to subsidize drivers. They have a budget. This might be hurting them more than it does me, and I can't stand it.
I told the guy at Freightliner to make sure this wouldn't happen again. I'll wait til 2 pm and call my former company again. They'll tell me the same thing, and I'll do some arm-twisting and take what I can get. If/when I DO get a good chunk of what they owe me, at least I can repay some of what I'll owe the agent.
Otherwise, I already told them they could take half of my pay--probably more. I do need to cover those bills--and get two tires before too long, but I don't have other expenses. They seem to be able to keep me running--not many deadhead miles, nor much time between runs, so I should "get right" in a matter of weeks.
That's it. No Family Reunion, probably no Thanksgiving or Xmas. I'm running hard the rest of this year. What if I break down again? Beyond the bills, I have to be ready for stuff like this. I always was...til my former company stopped paying me and I "bled out"...dammit.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Herbie wasn't brain dead. The problem took a lot of exploratory surgery to locate, but was a butt connector. I didn't think Herbie had a butt, and am going nuts trying to figure out what it's connected to, but I didn't ask.
I checked my accounts and found a total of 890 bucks between them. The bill was 855. So I made it without having to ask my brand new company to advance me money right away.
I personally get irked with drivers who need money immediately ASAP each and every week. How can you stand living like that? I never cared if it took 2 or 3 weeks--just get it in the pipeline, and meanwhile I'll get the one before it, and I've got some saved.
But this time it's different. My comfort margin is all gone. I got food for awhile...
They got me a load out here to western NY pretty quick. It was short, heavy, and I think pays peanuts, but I understand they're just moving me, and I'll get my better loads. The two I missed because of Herbie's siezure were good ones.
My former company still has not paid me any of the 2600 they owe me.
I checked my accounts and found a total of 890 bucks between them. The bill was 855. So I made it without having to ask my brand new company to advance me money right away.
I personally get irked with drivers who need money immediately ASAP each and every week. How can you stand living like that? I never cared if it took 2 or 3 weeks--just get it in the pipeline, and meanwhile I'll get the one before it, and I've got some saved.
But this time it's different. My comfort margin is all gone. I got food for awhile...
They got me a load out here to western NY pretty quick. It was short, heavy, and I think pays peanuts, but I understand they're just moving me, and I'll get my better loads. The two I missed because of Herbie's siezure were good ones.
My former company still has not paid me any of the 2600 they owe me.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
THEM again.
The ECU is the electronic control unit (module), or Herbie's brain.
After finding my first load to Cambridge undeliverable, being directed to an intermediary warehouse to deliver my one pallet, and heading out for my pickup going to WV, the stalling came back with a vengeance, and finally shut me down for good.
I had had it pegged as a bad connection, but after resetting the computer and turning the key to "on", the check engine light remains on, and the screen says "ECU 12 8". It's telling me that after shut down and reset, and without the engine running, the ECU is malfunctioning.
Herbie is brain-dead.
THEY did this, of course. Waited until I finally got a new job with a great company, and was on my very first load to trigger this failure. Well, THEY were a little late, since I delivered that first load (preserving my perfect record...I mean perfect except for the time my clutch went out). (I have NEVER failed to deliver...except then. Even when I had other breakdowns, I managed to get it fixed or else limp down the home-stretch. Once I even had a towtruck go out if it's way to drop my trailer at the reciever the night before the appt. time.)
The tougher part is this: My former comany still owes me 2600 bucks and has still not paid me, and I won't have enough to cover the repairs!!!
I hate this. After being the thing that wouldn't go away and becoming a trucker, I've never needed help. I took care of my own problems, and made sure I had the money saved to cover it.
Now I might well have to ask for a big advance from Medallion. I THINK they'll do it, but this is a hell of a way to start a new gig: In the hole.
Well the towtruck driver just called--gotta get ready. At least the place I found is only 7 miles away.
After finding my first load to Cambridge undeliverable, being directed to an intermediary warehouse to deliver my one pallet, and heading out for my pickup going to WV, the stalling came back with a vengeance, and finally shut me down for good.
I had had it pegged as a bad connection, but after resetting the computer and turning the key to "on", the check engine light remains on, and the screen says "ECU 12 8". It's telling me that after shut down and reset, and without the engine running, the ECU is malfunctioning.
Herbie is brain-dead.
THEY did this, of course. Waited until I finally got a new job with a great company, and was on my very first load to trigger this failure. Well, THEY were a little late, since I delivered that first load (preserving my perfect record...I mean perfect except for the time my clutch went out). (I have NEVER failed to deliver...except then. Even when I had other breakdowns, I managed to get it fixed or else limp down the home-stretch. Once I even had a towtruck go out if it's way to drop my trailer at the reciever the night before the appt. time.)
The tougher part is this: My former comany still owes me 2600 bucks and has still not paid me, and I won't have enough to cover the repairs!!!
I hate this. After being the thing that wouldn't go away and becoming a trucker, I've never needed help. I took care of my own problems, and made sure I had the money saved to cover it.
Now I might well have to ask for a big advance from Medallion. I THINK they'll do it, but this is a hell of a way to start a new gig: In the hole.
Well the towtruck driver just called--gotta get ready. At least the place I found is only 7 miles away.
The Other Shoe
Well, my cruise kept disengaging. Then the disengagements became stalls. I strongly suspect an electrical problem, since an issue presenting some of the same symptoms was repaired five weeks ago. Prior to finding that genius in Cincinnati, I'd been told that I needed to replace all my injectors and that they'd have to replace my wiring harness.
It was a plug/connection, but I don't know the exact location.
But I got here to Cambridge, MA.
Can't get the truck in. In seven years I have never failed to deliver, and here we go: My first load with this company, and I got mechanical issues AND can't deliver.
I don't get paid to unload, but would break it up and take it in piece-by-piece if I had one guy helping me--but they won't. Plus, it's 1200 lbs. I might not be ABLE to do it; the boxes might be too heavy, and insurance won't let an employee into my truck.
Jeez...and I already told the company about my stalling issues. They have me heading to west VA from here for a load going to Cinci, so that I can get the genius to fix me. I get the feeling that I can control the problem by shutting down every couple hours. You know--drive like most truckers do: from truckstop-to-truckstop).
The only other option would be a Freightliner, and they'd shut me down for awhile, plus hose me--and I haven't got much money yet.
The heat-wave up here doesn't help, since it seems like heat makes it worse.
Well, I called the reciever's emergency number, looked over the bay's equipment and found out nobody would help me even if I could break up the pallet, called dispatch, and now I wait.
It was a plug/connection, but I don't know the exact location.
But I got here to Cambridge, MA.
Can't get the truck in. In seven years I have never failed to deliver, and here we go: My first load with this company, and I got mechanical issues AND can't deliver.
I don't get paid to unload, but would break it up and take it in piece-by-piece if I had one guy helping me--but they won't. Plus, it's 1200 lbs. I might not be ABLE to do it; the boxes might be too heavy, and insurance won't let an employee into my truck.
Jeez...and I already told the company about my stalling issues. They have me heading to west VA from here for a load going to Cinci, so that I can get the genius to fix me. I get the feeling that I can control the problem by shutting down every couple hours. You know--drive like most truckers do: from truckstop-to-truckstop).
The only other option would be a Freightliner, and they'd shut me down for awhile, plus hose me--and I haven't got much money yet.
The heat-wave up here doesn't help, since it seems like heat makes it worse.
Well, I called the reciever's emergency number, looked over the bay's equipment and found out nobody would help me even if I could break up the pallet, called dispatch, and now I wait.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Other Stuff I Got
1: Electronic cigarrettes from AZsmokefree.com After getting stuff from truckstops and China on-line, I found a lot of them that didn't work well or consistantly. But the "pen style" vaporizers and batteries I got from this company were the best--at a competitive price.
The ones at Pilot Truckstops also work pretty well, but are a little pricier. If you look around and order from China, they're extremely cheap, but also extremely crappy. After just ordering five or more of everything in order to find one or three units that worked, I got sick of fooling around, and got lucky with AZ Smoke free.
These things vaporize a diluted nicotine solution, and you inhale the steam. It delivers nicotine. I first got one so that I could go to a hotel bar and smoke, but when I tried it, I instantly quit cigarrettes-automaticly.
The ones at the truckstops expect you to buy pre-loaded cartridges for an outrageous price. The cartridge (called "cart" in slang) is the mouthpiece. The vaporizer is the part which contains a heating element, and the cartridge is inserted into it. The end you insert contains padding, which is saturated with the nicotine solution.
You buy your own solution! Less than 20 bucks for 30 ml, which lasts me 6-8 weeks! Then you can just drip some more into the padding and re-use your cartridges. Eventually the cartridges get dirty, and you just replace them. I got a bunch of "blank" cartridges (from China--they're fine).
The tubular, cigarrette-like battery screws into the vaporizer.
The batteries I got from China had some sort of timing program, and they sucked. ALL of them.
I tried other types of electronic cigarrettes. The industrial strength "screwdriver" type worked great, but wore out quickly. On this type, you have to press a button to activate the vaporizer. Predictably, the switch wears out.
Another type has the cartridge and battery in the same piece. I don't like them. Not much vapor, and you get nicotine in your mouth. I always seem to come back to the pen style.
This company sells starter kits, of course. Personally, if I were just starting out, I'd augment these. I'd get extra blank cartridges and batteries, and make sure I got at least two vaporizers (nothing lasts forever). Also, a good supply for "e-liquid" (do a separate search to find the cheapest).
Always charge each battery for a full eight hours before the first use, regardless of what the charger-indicator says. If you don't, it's possible for the battery's "chip" to think it's charged when it's not, and not allow you to get a full charge.
Now, I don't have to clean my windshield weekly, smell like cigarettes, or burn holes in my shirts. Every smoker should do this--I never committed to quitting--just did. (Be real: I'm still addicted to nicotine, but that's not what kills people.)
2: I got a "shake-weight" for men. It's a dumbell-shaped thing that you shake. I hate it. But I hate it because it works. It's really painful--it burns and exhausts your muscles in no time.
You're supposed to do a 6-minute routine daily, but I do it every other day--like with weights. As a real OTR trucker, I can't always shower every day. If you have to shower every day no matter what, you've got OCD or something, and you sure couldn't keep up with me. I do when I can, like now--but I like to deliver early, every single time, and get the most out of my 14 hours.
But I digress: Anyway, doing it every other day lets my muscles recover. I'm trying to regain some of my mass, and after a week think I see a difference.
There is one side-to-side motion you can use to get your abdominals, sort of, but there's just not much help there. This works the upper body, mainly: Delts, traps, triceps, biceps, forearms. I watched the video. I don't do what it did; I sort of circuit-train with it, taking shorter breaks and going from one excercize to another, rather than doing one, resting for 15 seconds, and resuming.
There's a range-of-motion issue here. I just do "stiff" katas--extending the muscles fully and rotating and stuff, while resting between my two circuit-sets and afterward.
Truckers don't have room for home gyms and what-not, and these things are perfect.
3: I'm going to Wal-Mart today and getting one of those abdominizers again. I had one before but never replaced the battery when it wore out, and lost it. This one is better anyway.
But I do have experience, and can tell you: Hell yeah, the electroshocks do work your abs, just like they say!
But you have to be realistic. It will tighten your abs, but won't burn much fat. I'm probably 30 lbs. overweight, but if I can tighten my abs under it and get my upper body back to where it used to be, at least I'll look adequate, I think.
4: I just ordered 30smile.com I currently use a sonic toothbrush and am fighting gingivitis. I use a peroxide-based pre-rinse, the best toothpaste I can get, and ACT mouthwash.
But I saw this thing on the infomercial and instantly wanted it. The brushes automaticly wrap around both your upper and lower teeth, and some of the bristles angle up and down to the gums, both outside and inside. It's just about impossible to consistantly get into all those gaps with any other toothbrush.
Well, now I've got to do the shake-weights (also at Wal-Mart by the way) and pay for another night here.
The ones at Pilot Truckstops also work pretty well, but are a little pricier. If you look around and order from China, they're extremely cheap, but also extremely crappy. After just ordering five or more of everything in order to find one or three units that worked, I got sick of fooling around, and got lucky with AZ Smoke free.
These things vaporize a diluted nicotine solution, and you inhale the steam. It delivers nicotine. I first got one so that I could go to a hotel bar and smoke, but when I tried it, I instantly quit cigarrettes-automaticly.
The ones at the truckstops expect you to buy pre-loaded cartridges for an outrageous price. The cartridge (called "cart" in slang) is the mouthpiece. The vaporizer is the part which contains a heating element, and the cartridge is inserted into it. The end you insert contains padding, which is saturated with the nicotine solution.
You buy your own solution! Less than 20 bucks for 30 ml, which lasts me 6-8 weeks! Then you can just drip some more into the padding and re-use your cartridges. Eventually the cartridges get dirty, and you just replace them. I got a bunch of "blank" cartridges (from China--they're fine).
The tubular, cigarrette-like battery screws into the vaporizer.
The batteries I got from China had some sort of timing program, and they sucked. ALL of them.
I tried other types of electronic cigarrettes. The industrial strength "screwdriver" type worked great, but wore out quickly. On this type, you have to press a button to activate the vaporizer. Predictably, the switch wears out.
Another type has the cartridge and battery in the same piece. I don't like them. Not much vapor, and you get nicotine in your mouth. I always seem to come back to the pen style.
This company sells starter kits, of course. Personally, if I were just starting out, I'd augment these. I'd get extra blank cartridges and batteries, and make sure I got at least two vaporizers (nothing lasts forever). Also, a good supply for "e-liquid" (do a separate search to find the cheapest).
Always charge each battery for a full eight hours before the first use, regardless of what the charger-indicator says. If you don't, it's possible for the battery's "chip" to think it's charged when it's not, and not allow you to get a full charge.
Now, I don't have to clean my windshield weekly, smell like cigarettes, or burn holes in my shirts. Every smoker should do this--I never committed to quitting--just did. (Be real: I'm still addicted to nicotine, but that's not what kills people.)
2: I got a "shake-weight" for men. It's a dumbell-shaped thing that you shake. I hate it. But I hate it because it works. It's really painful--it burns and exhausts your muscles in no time.
You're supposed to do a 6-minute routine daily, but I do it every other day--like with weights. As a real OTR trucker, I can't always shower every day. If you have to shower every day no matter what, you've got OCD or something, and you sure couldn't keep up with me. I do when I can, like now--but I like to deliver early, every single time, and get the most out of my 14 hours.
But I digress: Anyway, doing it every other day lets my muscles recover. I'm trying to regain some of my mass, and after a week think I see a difference.
There is one side-to-side motion you can use to get your abdominals, sort of, but there's just not much help there. This works the upper body, mainly: Delts, traps, triceps, biceps, forearms. I watched the video. I don't do what it did; I sort of circuit-train with it, taking shorter breaks and going from one excercize to another, rather than doing one, resting for 15 seconds, and resuming.
There's a range-of-motion issue here. I just do "stiff" katas--extending the muscles fully and rotating and stuff, while resting between my two circuit-sets and afterward.
Truckers don't have room for home gyms and what-not, and these things are perfect.
3: I'm going to Wal-Mart today and getting one of those abdominizers again. I had one before but never replaced the battery when it wore out, and lost it. This one is better anyway.
But I do have experience, and can tell you: Hell yeah, the electroshocks do work your abs, just like they say!
But you have to be realistic. It will tighten your abs, but won't burn much fat. I'm probably 30 lbs. overweight, but if I can tighten my abs under it and get my upper body back to where it used to be, at least I'll look adequate, I think.
4: I just ordered 30smile.com I currently use a sonic toothbrush and am fighting gingivitis. I use a peroxide-based pre-rinse, the best toothpaste I can get, and ACT mouthwash.
But I saw this thing on the infomercial and instantly wanted it. The brushes automaticly wrap around both your upper and lower teeth, and some of the bristles angle up and down to the gums, both outside and inside. It's just about impossible to consistantly get into all those gaps with any other toothbrush.
Well, now I've got to do the shake-weights (also at Wal-Mart by the way) and pay for another night here.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Recommendations and Stuff.
OK so I'm cool now. Got my Prepass and Bestpass stuff switched over (it's all on the Corp. I hate stopping for every weigh station and toll booth, and messing with reciepts.) Cancelled my old insurance. I'm placarded, IFTA'd, plated and briefed.
Never saw any of the people I deal with. Kristy, who principly handled my application, is a Compliance Officer or Safety Director at the central office in NC. I don't have a printer, so I had to email the hotels I was at, then help them open the files, print them, fill them out, and get them to fax the pages.
The first hotel charged me a buck a page at first, but I somehow made them feel sorry for me, and then acted like I just forgot, and they let me go. After all, they want me to come back and spend more money, and I let it show that I was irked.
Had to dig up some of my own stuff from various government sources on-line, and send them in. Found out I was delinquent on my road use taxes and paid them. It's been a hassle--but boy, it was worth it.
The main company provides authorities to the owner-operators, and assigns them to independant agents. (by the way--everybody including my agents is female. Which I like. I find women generally sharper and more reasonable than men. Generally, okay-so no PC BS. Reality is what it is-get used to it.)
My agents are in MD. I thought I'd have to go there for orientation or some sort of thing, but Courtney (one of the agents) told me no--they'll get me a trailer near where I am, and load me too. That's different...
Landstar has a similar business model, except they have a network of agents and are much larger. This company is, I believe, Texas-and-east regional.
With my former company, I didn't pay trailer rental, but made 3% less (72% of the load vs. 75%). That company owned its' trailers, but this one leases them from trailer companies. They don't have a company logo on them. After I've learned the ropes, I might consider buying my own trailer to save the 120/week, but doubt it.
When you own your own trailer, you have to pay for its' maintenance and insurance. Then, whenever you need to get away from it, you have to find someplace to drop it. Sometimes you have to pay for that--and if you don't, and it's not a well-lit secure location and it's stolen, your insurer won't cover it. You can't drop and hook, either, so it's like an anchor.
They sent me only 50 miles to get a 2007 from a trailer rental place. It had JUST been inspected and tuned up. Sliders slid like butter, too. Rusty, and wood chips inside, but I don't care. It's nice to know that the trailers are well-maintained.
Economic comment: See, the trailer rental companies compete with eachother. They know that if drivers get trailers with problems, they won't come back. They're MOTIVATED to keep them up, plus they're specialists. And why do they do this? To make money. Freedom works, understand?
Anyway, my former freight paid less than 2 bucks; probably 1.50 average going out, with a 1.00 backhaul. That is, until Jim took over the backhauls and dug up a bunch of 1.20-1.50 backhauls.
This company evidently hauls more high-value stuff, since per James, (the other owner-op who first told me about this company) (and who I owe a beer if I ever see him again), these "outbounds" gross between 3 and 4 bucks a mile.
I was told on this particular load that if I need to go back to the area I came from, I'll probably gross 1.00/mile on that.
However, I suspect that the agents haven't beaten the bushes like Jim did, and I know which brokerage he got his higher-paying backhauls from. I also have experience calling brokers and dispatching myself--during a really tough period in the industry. I'm being quiet until I get my feet wet here, but I think I can help them out with the backhauls a little later.
However, James--who is married and needs hometime sometimes, said that (after three weeks with the company), he actually has a sort circular "route" that he runs, with zero backhauls. That's what I'll be working on. Plus, I don't need home time. If not a route, I'll try to just run around and not go to the dead zones.
Backhauls for my former company were just the way they're set up. They only have one yard, and not that many trailers. Many of their loads are outbound, and they have to dig for stuff to bring you back.
I already know from this load that MA, and perhaps the upper northeast, is a dead zone for this company. (Actually it just is--like Texas). You can get a high-paying load there, but there are too many trucks always trying to get back out, and the market prevails.
For now, though, I stupidly told them that I'd deliver this load on tuesday instead of today, which I easily could have. I wanted to stay around Ohio where I was so I could get the rest of the money my former company owed me. The reason that was stupid was because Junior doesn't intend to stiff me at all, and I don't need to be there. He can send me the payments via comcheck.
...which...it's 1530, I just called, they're still in a meeting, it's friday.....
Well I'm not worrying about it. I'll get it eventually.
Anyway, so I just went ahead and took this massive 700 lb. load to this hotel that I'm fond of with a bar in it, and will reside here til monday. I'll be at the recievers at o800 tuesday, and see what I can get next.
This company doesn't use qualcom, which is cool. I opted to scan my bills in--7.50/week is worth it. I found out today that I'm supposed to call in my location each morning by 1100, which doesn't bother me at all. I get to show off for them, since I tend to get way ahead on every load.
That's one of my best motivations, by the way. I allow me to be a child and try to impress everybody. He hopes they hang up the phone and say to somebody else "Damn! He's 150 miles out already!", and that somebody else says "Guess we'd better keep him!"
It's juvenile, but the social instincts we've evolved have real reasons for them. They help you do your best.
Political comment: Our founding fathers (and Adam Smith) also understood this, which is why they designed a free and open economic system while creating the land of opportunity. Which marxism poisons and eventually destroys. GET IT? FREEEEEDOOOMMMM!!!
Anyway, they also didn't need to know the weight, count, who signed, etc. on the load like some other companies do. You know--like when you're trying to fill out the screen or read the bills while the yard dogs are telling you to get the hell out of here? (I wonder how many accidents are caused by red tape.)
I have only two issues remaining, really. First, the money I'm owed, of course. Second, I'll have to renew my PO box next month. I'll really need to move it, since I only chose it because it was near my former company's yard.
For the next few weeks, I'll feel around and determine what to do about that.
THIS time, I can take my time and pick a good spot. Maybe where I can drop a trailer, or near Cleveland (doubtful), or maybe at a place I deliver to or pick up from weekly.
But for now, I'm real happy. Everybody affiliated with my new company seems very nice, I know James told the truth about everything, and that this is the best company I've ever worked for. Now I'll take a shower...I'm going to the hotel bar...
Say.......I really like this hotel, so maybe if...they could take my mail...hmmmmm....
Oh yeah! I got a new bluetooth earpiece and love it. It's a Plantronics discovery 975. There's no loop. It just goes right in (not inside) your ear and sort of magicly sticks firmly (you get three earpieces to choose from). I could take a PUNCH and not lose this thing!
I don't like having my earpiece in all the time, though, but this thing has it's own little charging station. I mean: You charge the charging station, and then it charges your earpiece. It comes with a lanyard. I hook the lanyard to my keychain or my shirt, and put the earpiece in it. It has a quick release thing so you can get it out with one hand and stick it in your ear before the third ring.
Every pro driver should have one.
Okbye.
Never saw any of the people I deal with. Kristy, who principly handled my application, is a Compliance Officer or Safety Director at the central office in NC. I don't have a printer, so I had to email the hotels I was at, then help them open the files, print them, fill them out, and get them to fax the pages.
The first hotel charged me a buck a page at first, but I somehow made them feel sorry for me, and then acted like I just forgot, and they let me go. After all, they want me to come back and spend more money, and I let it show that I was irked.
Had to dig up some of my own stuff from various government sources on-line, and send them in. Found out I was delinquent on my road use taxes and paid them. It's been a hassle--but boy, it was worth it.
The main company provides authorities to the owner-operators, and assigns them to independant agents. (by the way--everybody including my agents is female. Which I like. I find women generally sharper and more reasonable than men. Generally, okay-so no PC BS. Reality is what it is-get used to it.)
My agents are in MD. I thought I'd have to go there for orientation or some sort of thing, but Courtney (one of the agents) told me no--they'll get me a trailer near where I am, and load me too. That's different...
Landstar has a similar business model, except they have a network of agents and are much larger. This company is, I believe, Texas-and-east regional.
With my former company, I didn't pay trailer rental, but made 3% less (72% of the load vs. 75%). That company owned its' trailers, but this one leases them from trailer companies. They don't have a company logo on them. After I've learned the ropes, I might consider buying my own trailer to save the 120/week, but doubt it.
When you own your own trailer, you have to pay for its' maintenance and insurance. Then, whenever you need to get away from it, you have to find someplace to drop it. Sometimes you have to pay for that--and if you don't, and it's not a well-lit secure location and it's stolen, your insurer won't cover it. You can't drop and hook, either, so it's like an anchor.
They sent me only 50 miles to get a 2007 from a trailer rental place. It had JUST been inspected and tuned up. Sliders slid like butter, too. Rusty, and wood chips inside, but I don't care. It's nice to know that the trailers are well-maintained.
Economic comment: See, the trailer rental companies compete with eachother. They know that if drivers get trailers with problems, they won't come back. They're MOTIVATED to keep them up, plus they're specialists. And why do they do this? To make money. Freedom works, understand?
Anyway, my former freight paid less than 2 bucks; probably 1.50 average going out, with a 1.00 backhaul. That is, until Jim took over the backhauls and dug up a bunch of 1.20-1.50 backhauls.
This company evidently hauls more high-value stuff, since per James, (the other owner-op who first told me about this company) (and who I owe a beer if I ever see him again), these "outbounds" gross between 3 and 4 bucks a mile.
I was told on this particular load that if I need to go back to the area I came from, I'll probably gross 1.00/mile on that.
However, I suspect that the agents haven't beaten the bushes like Jim did, and I know which brokerage he got his higher-paying backhauls from. I also have experience calling brokers and dispatching myself--during a really tough period in the industry. I'm being quiet until I get my feet wet here, but I think I can help them out with the backhauls a little later.
However, James--who is married and needs hometime sometimes, said that (after three weeks with the company), he actually has a sort circular "route" that he runs, with zero backhauls. That's what I'll be working on. Plus, I don't need home time. If not a route, I'll try to just run around and not go to the dead zones.
Backhauls for my former company were just the way they're set up. They only have one yard, and not that many trailers. Many of their loads are outbound, and they have to dig for stuff to bring you back.
I already know from this load that MA, and perhaps the upper northeast, is a dead zone for this company. (Actually it just is--like Texas). You can get a high-paying load there, but there are too many trucks always trying to get back out, and the market prevails.
For now, though, I stupidly told them that I'd deliver this load on tuesday instead of today, which I easily could have. I wanted to stay around Ohio where I was so I could get the rest of the money my former company owed me. The reason that was stupid was because Junior doesn't intend to stiff me at all, and I don't need to be there. He can send me the payments via comcheck.
...which...it's 1530, I just called, they're still in a meeting, it's friday.....
Well I'm not worrying about it. I'll get it eventually.
Anyway, so I just went ahead and took this massive 700 lb. load to this hotel that I'm fond of with a bar in it, and will reside here til monday. I'll be at the recievers at o800 tuesday, and see what I can get next.
This company doesn't use qualcom, which is cool. I opted to scan my bills in--7.50/week is worth it. I found out today that I'm supposed to call in my location each morning by 1100, which doesn't bother me at all. I get to show off for them, since I tend to get way ahead on every load.
That's one of my best motivations, by the way. I allow me to be a child and try to impress everybody. He hopes they hang up the phone and say to somebody else "Damn! He's 150 miles out already!", and that somebody else says "Guess we'd better keep him!"
It's juvenile, but the social instincts we've evolved have real reasons for them. They help you do your best.
Political comment: Our founding fathers (and Adam Smith) also understood this, which is why they designed a free and open economic system while creating the land of opportunity. Which marxism poisons and eventually destroys. GET IT? FREEEEEDOOOMMMM!!!
Anyway, they also didn't need to know the weight, count, who signed, etc. on the load like some other companies do. You know--like when you're trying to fill out the screen or read the bills while the yard dogs are telling you to get the hell out of here? (I wonder how many accidents are caused by red tape.)
I have only two issues remaining, really. First, the money I'm owed, of course. Second, I'll have to renew my PO box next month. I'll really need to move it, since I only chose it because it was near my former company's yard.
For the next few weeks, I'll feel around and determine what to do about that.
THIS time, I can take my time and pick a good spot. Maybe where I can drop a trailer, or near Cleveland (doubtful), or maybe at a place I deliver to or pick up from weekly.
But for now, I'm real happy. Everybody affiliated with my new company seems very nice, I know James told the truth about everything, and that this is the best company I've ever worked for. Now I'll take a shower...I'm going to the hotel bar...
Say.......I really like this hotel, so maybe if...they could take my mail...hmmmmm....
Oh yeah! I got a new bluetooth earpiece and love it. It's a Plantronics discovery 975. There's no loop. It just goes right in (not inside) your ear and sort of magicly sticks firmly (you get three earpieces to choose from). I could take a PUNCH and not lose this thing!
I don't like having my earpiece in all the time, though, but this thing has it's own little charging station. I mean: You charge the charging station, and then it charges your earpiece. It comes with a lanyard. I hook the lanyard to my keychain or my shirt, and put the earpiece in it. It has a quick release thing so you can get it out with one hand and stick it in your ear before the third ring.
Every pro driver should have one.
Okbye.
I'm Back
Well, my company started bouncing checks again 12 weeks ago--same two twice. My Business account got restricted even before it shrank to nothing. I went "on strike" and shut myself down. Stayed in hotels while they paid me a little at a time through partial payment company checks and comchecks.
They STILL owe me 2700 bucks.
Your first impulse is to blame everybody, but the situation here is more complicated. Minority owner Junior can't see the books for some reason, and doesn't know where that (from a LOT of freight they moved) went. The woman who does the accounting and payroll came in with the new "money" partner--which is when checks started bouncing.
Junior is reorganizing with Ed and others. They'll form a new company, and Junior will oversee payroll and make damn sure everybody gets paid first.
I believe Junior. The new company will be as solid as he is.
Unfortunately, while I was down I had plenty of time to interrogate other drivers about where they worked, and to send out applications.
I got rejected by Liberty Transportation again, despite the terminal manager's efforts on my behalf. The damage that some scumbag(s) did to my DMVR while running around like maniacs with MY CDL was still there. You can't fix it without an attorney and 8-12 grand.
(By the way, these are the lowest of the low. The very reason they need to destroy other people's driving records is because they are the most reckless, dangerous idiots on the road. THEY are the ones the Safety and Compliance officers are intending to keep away from their loads and equipment. WORSE: Because they screw guys like me up, they're on the road and I'm NOT. Burn in hell!
Only later, I discovered that one of the tickets (which was mine) was the one time in seven years I missed a weigh station. That's not a moving violation, and shouldn't have even been ON my DMVR. A phoney ticket will also drop off my record in 9 days, and another in two months, leasing me almost sparkling clean. I'll only have one legit conviction and one BS one.
SO, 5 weeks after Liberty, I tried a new company that another owner-operator drove for. He told me about it while we were standing around waiting for repairs at T/A.. I applied. They leased me on, and now here I am on my first run. 836 miles, less than 1k, 1600 to the truck!!! Direct deposit--no bounced checks.
I set it up to send 60% to my corp. account, 20% to my SEP IRA, and leave 20% on my Comdata card.
The 20% is paying my ungrateful employee, me. He loaned the corp. over 29k to buy the truck and APU 3 years ago and was never repaid. Up until now, his compensation was peanuts, as a lot went into truck repairs and enhancements, and the business.
However, me the driver got to stay in hotels, use the coprporate internet and laptop to fool around, got all his meals and cash whenever he needed it. All the other drivers make more than he does, however, and I'm sick of his whining.
NOW, he's going to get 20% of the net in addition to his expenses and bennies. However, for his own good, I heve to lock it into his SEP IRA. This of course means that the Corp. earns 20% less, but I have to repay the money I owe me eventually, with interest, and I've decided that half of his 20% will be payments on his original loans. So, as I've already heard from him, he STILL makes less than the other guys. Can't make the guy happy!
Now me still gets his hotel stays and grub and clothes and stuff, plus 20% of the net. He's terribly irresponsible, and putting in into his IRA is for his own good. Me is about to turn...what is it--54--so we gotta get some dough in there ASAP.
For no charge, I am going to manage me's IRA portfolio for him. Me has seen my track history and is screaming about that, but I insist. I promise him I'll be more responsible this time, and take fewer risks than I did as a trader. We're several weeks away from any unconventional moves in that area, and I'll do some more home-work and check out various strategies. I'll keep at least 40% in interest-bearing or high-yield investments, leave the Gold microcaps alone, etc. and only trade in weeks or months to reduce slippage and commissions.
What's screwed up here is that I had to set up a Huntington bank account in Me's name to simplify cashing company checks which might bounce. I needed a brick and mortar bank, and chose the one that my old company used to write their checks on.
E-Trade...wow...
First off, when these checks TO the account bounced, the account was restricted. I mean, I didn't WRITE any bad checks. There was no hint of impropriety. Checks TO the account bounce, and it gets restricted!
In order to lift the restriction, the guy at E-Trade has to get me in a 3-way call with the company that bounced the checks, and they have to say why the checks bounced on a recorded line! Whywhywhy?
After setting up the Huntington account and getting some debt-payments from my lessor into it, I linked the accounts and transferred money to fund my E-Trade Corp. Account. They never acknowleged reciept. It was mailed, so I cancelled those checks and re-submitted another one.
E-trade never acknowleged this either.
THEN, they found out that my restricted account would not let any money IN!!! I told them: "Those checks were cancelled. They're gone. Here's money for the account. Why are you doing this to me? Are you insane?"
Of course, they just work there, and policy is policy, no matter how idiotic. Finally got BJ on the phone (Junior is ALWAYS too busy). She doesn't directly handle payroll, and was naturally not about to get herself in trouble. But I did get her to say that there was a cash-flow problem, and several of us got stiffed. There is was--the reason for the bounce on the recorded line.
Isn't this just freaking...I mean...
So NOW, here comes another E-Trade issue: I and only I own my corporation. MY NAME is on the debit card and checks. So when I set up the SEP IRA for me and tried to move funds into it, I was not allowed to.
Why? Another E-Trade policy...I can't link the accounts. Apparantly they're afraid I'll steal from the other shareholders (myself and I) or something.
So NOW, I will have to transfer the money from the Corp. account to me's Huntington account, and trust that irresponsible bastard to transfer that money into his IRA. It's assenine.
More later.
They STILL owe me 2700 bucks.
Your first impulse is to blame everybody, but the situation here is more complicated. Minority owner Junior can't see the books for some reason, and doesn't know where that (from a LOT of freight they moved) went. The woman who does the accounting and payroll came in with the new "money" partner--which is when checks started bouncing.
Junior is reorganizing with Ed and others. They'll form a new company, and Junior will oversee payroll and make damn sure everybody gets paid first.
I believe Junior. The new company will be as solid as he is.
Unfortunately, while I was down I had plenty of time to interrogate other drivers about where they worked, and to send out applications.
I got rejected by Liberty Transportation again, despite the terminal manager's efforts on my behalf. The damage that some scumbag(s) did to my DMVR while running around like maniacs with MY CDL was still there. You can't fix it without an attorney and 8-12 grand.
(By the way, these are the lowest of the low. The very reason they need to destroy other people's driving records is because they are the most reckless, dangerous idiots on the road. THEY are the ones the Safety and Compliance officers are intending to keep away from their loads and equipment. WORSE: Because they screw guys like me up, they're on the road and I'm NOT. Burn in hell!
Only later, I discovered that one of the tickets (which was mine) was the one time in seven years I missed a weigh station. That's not a moving violation, and shouldn't have even been ON my DMVR. A phoney ticket will also drop off my record in 9 days, and another in two months, leasing me almost sparkling clean. I'll only have one legit conviction and one BS one.
SO, 5 weeks after Liberty, I tried a new company that another owner-operator drove for. He told me about it while we were standing around waiting for repairs at T/A.. I applied. They leased me on, and now here I am on my first run. 836 miles, less than 1k, 1600 to the truck!!! Direct deposit--no bounced checks.
I set it up to send 60% to my corp. account, 20% to my SEP IRA, and leave 20% on my Comdata card.
The 20% is paying my ungrateful employee, me. He loaned the corp. over 29k to buy the truck and APU 3 years ago and was never repaid. Up until now, his compensation was peanuts, as a lot went into truck repairs and enhancements, and the business.
However, me the driver got to stay in hotels, use the coprporate internet and laptop to fool around, got all his meals and cash whenever he needed it. All the other drivers make more than he does, however, and I'm sick of his whining.
NOW, he's going to get 20% of the net in addition to his expenses and bennies. However, for his own good, I heve to lock it into his SEP IRA. This of course means that the Corp. earns 20% less, but I have to repay the money I owe me eventually, with interest, and I've decided that half of his 20% will be payments on his original loans. So, as I've already heard from him, he STILL makes less than the other guys. Can't make the guy happy!
Now me still gets his hotel stays and grub and clothes and stuff, plus 20% of the net. He's terribly irresponsible, and putting in into his IRA is for his own good. Me is about to turn...what is it--54--so we gotta get some dough in there ASAP.
For no charge, I am going to manage me's IRA portfolio for him. Me has seen my track history and is screaming about that, but I insist. I promise him I'll be more responsible this time, and take fewer risks than I did as a trader. We're several weeks away from any unconventional moves in that area, and I'll do some more home-work and check out various strategies. I'll keep at least 40% in interest-bearing or high-yield investments, leave the Gold microcaps alone, etc. and only trade in weeks or months to reduce slippage and commissions.
What's screwed up here is that I had to set up a Huntington bank account in Me's name to simplify cashing company checks which might bounce. I needed a brick and mortar bank, and chose the one that my old company used to write their checks on.
E-Trade...wow...
First off, when these checks TO the account bounced, the account was restricted. I mean, I didn't WRITE any bad checks. There was no hint of impropriety. Checks TO the account bounce, and it gets restricted!
In order to lift the restriction, the guy at E-Trade has to get me in a 3-way call with the company that bounced the checks, and they have to say why the checks bounced on a recorded line! Whywhywhy?
After setting up the Huntington account and getting some debt-payments from my lessor into it, I linked the accounts and transferred money to fund my E-Trade Corp. Account. They never acknowleged reciept. It was mailed, so I cancelled those checks and re-submitted another one.
E-trade never acknowleged this either.
THEN, they found out that my restricted account would not let any money IN!!! I told them: "Those checks were cancelled. They're gone. Here's money for the account. Why are you doing this to me? Are you insane?"
Of course, they just work there, and policy is policy, no matter how idiotic. Finally got BJ on the phone (Junior is ALWAYS too busy). She doesn't directly handle payroll, and was naturally not about to get herself in trouble. But I did get her to say that there was a cash-flow problem, and several of us got stiffed. There is was--the reason for the bounce on the recorded line.
Isn't this just freaking...I mean...
So NOW, here comes another E-Trade issue: I and only I own my corporation. MY NAME is on the debit card and checks. So when I set up the SEP IRA for me and tried to move funds into it, I was not allowed to.
Why? Another E-Trade policy...I can't link the accounts. Apparantly they're afraid I'll steal from the other shareholders (myself and I) or something.
So NOW, I will have to transfer the money from the Corp. account to me's Huntington account, and trust that irresponsible bastard to transfer that money into his IRA. It's assenine.
More later.
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