They made another offer (the State) and it's now at about 1/3 of the original fine. I don't think my lawyer is going for it. He finally got some stuff he has been requesting and said he will get back to me next week.

You're right GMAN, I believe in hiring people with an education (street smarts are sometimes just as good if not better I admit) but to have to study and get a degree does take discipline. I could never do it. My wife has a masters degree and I never finished high school but in the end, although she's highly intelligent, I believe I have a better education as I read a lot on my own. However she has a fancy job which requires a degree.

The main dispatcher is great at booking freight and analyzes lanes and daily movement but I took him on a delivery to a Publix DC which is only a couple of miles up the road. We had to wait in the staging area and when I backed in, he said "now what"? I said now we wait. He had a computer with him and all yet he was going stir crazy within 5 minutes. Then when we backed into a door, (he tried to assist as a spotter and I had to get out of the truck and show him he was about to have me crash on the blind side) we went in and handed in the paperwork. I went back to the truck and waited and he ran around like a tourist driving people up the wall.

At the end of the load we called in empty and he asked what I was doing. I said calling in empty to the customer as we tell the drivers to do everyday and he turned a bit red as he realized how stupid of a question that was. It was a good experience for him that's for sure.

 

That is great news about the fine being reduced. It sounds like your lawyer is on the ball. Perhaps he can get the entire fine eliminated.

I am firm believer in getting a good education, but you don't necessarily need to go to college to get a good education. I have known a few very successful people who never completed high school. Some people just like to learn, even if it is on their own. My wife and I are both avid readers. It has only been about 100 years ago that most graduated after only 8 years of education. A degree is more important when you work for someone else and want to work your way up the corporate ladder. I learned a lot in college, but I think that I gained more practical knowledge away from the classroom. Still, I don't think that my time was wasted. We should never stop learning. I think your dispatcher learned some things on your trip. Hopefully, he can utilize the experience as he deals with drivers.

 

How did they come up with the fine being $14,000? That seems like a huge amount of money for no damage being done.

 

It was calculated per the statute in place. But the guy calculated wrong and it should have been about $11,000. It was so many cents per pound over 6,000 lbs. They took him to a weigh station and thus that number.

 

Well it seems this ticket is not going to get resolved anytime soon. The lawyer filed a motion to dismiss (still waiting on that) and also a motion to delay the trial until all requested documents are given. From what I gather, these DA's are so overworked that they aren't going to be trying to push a case forward that involved no threat to the public. So no instead of me possibly having to come up there in January for trial it might get pushed to May. Hopefully the motion to dismiss will just be granted.

 

Congrats Merrick, im glad everything is working out for you. Keep us posted.

 

So don't believe it.

Anyway while I'm here, the broker bond got approved. They want $4,000 or so and I need to find out if that's a year. Unfortunately my wife has to sign on it too. I set up another company and she's off everything but something to do with Florida law.

Trailer has not been found yet. Doubt it will. We have the company name in huge letters on the side of the trailer so you can't miss it. They even pulled over a driver in Miami to check if it was him. I have 5 more trailers coming in about 2 weeks. Having a lot of problems with these auto-inflation systems. That's why I'm not buying any more equipment. All leased. If they break let the company fix them.

 

Keep digging yourself deeper into your tale.... It's an entertaining read. BTW post up your company name so we can be on the lookout for your trailer and help to get it found!!

 

You go first....Name your company!