All and All, not bad-- at least they are keeping me moving...

But, I thought the objective was to be home on weekends with the family?

 

the real objective -- Of mine-- was to eliminate the setting over the weekends-- pulling my hair out-- because of stupid 500 mile trips that couldn't be delivered until... Monday...Tuesday, etc...

There's nothing worse than seeing WHY your weekly miles are so low-- and knowing you're being screwed out of a life- by a company.

Then the option of solutions open up-- and you are told you could hire on here-- run 2100 to 2200 miles 5-6 days per week and be home 3 out of 4 weekends per month. The very time that's been the problem area.


So now, I'm running more miles-- staying busy-- it's just the "program" isn't working as laid out.

The .43 cents per mile is at the top of my "list" of places to fall back to-- after leaving Shaffer.

Poly Trucking didn't call me back.

KLLM-- they are still at the table at .43 cpm--- but- that's .43 OTR Reefer-- and that's a crap shoot at 1) making good miles 2) getting home time.

but on the plus side--- much nicer equipment to "live" in- while doing the endless OTR "lifestyle".


at this stage-- I need to be positive about something--- at least I'm moving-- and making good "hassle- free" miles here.

Now, if I don't start getting home-- I'm going to really start to hate "living" in this stripped... crappy ... "work" truck. It just won't do for 14 days at a time.
There's no cabinets, not even nets for the two small cubbies...... every thing-- bounces off the bed onto the floor.. and the dash board( once considered my Desk) is only 4inches deep-- every thing bounces off it too and lands in my trash can.

This is definately not a "road" truck-- it's a "work" truck--- maybe one step above the old "coffin" sleeper boxes.


Seems my "theory" about "controlling" the amount of time I give away to a company-- by only working Regional--- there was a major flaw/ over sight in my reasoning....
I'm only a lowly "coolie" driver-- I have no "control". Once you're in their
equipment-- out here ON THE ROAD-- going where they tell you. You have NO CONTROL---- other than finally saying .....so long.


Interestingly, Shaffer is still sending me Pay settlements--- 0 amounts of course-- but strangely still sending pay settlements.

 

Waiting for you to quit having a temper tantrum and come home !!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

LOL-- no, I really believe it's a computer generated automatic thing.... after all-- the benefits department was real quick to notify me-- I had to elect to do something with my profit sharing-- since I was no longer employed there.


there are moments.... when I consider that very carefully....the "going Home" to Shaffer/Crete, but, who really wants the "black sheep"--- and I don't think they either would take me back or I certainly wouldn't like the punishment of a very sizeable paycut. And I know they haven't got the zone dispatch/ low miles on the weekends fixed yet.
Maybe, years from now-- when my home is paid for-- and if I were to buy my own truck--- I'd strongly consider-- Crete/Shaffer to lease onto.

 

Today, all is right with the world....we are seeing blue skies...clear to the house...hopefully.


Deliver at Wal-mart- Temple, Tx tonight 21:00-

Deadhead up to Roanoke, Tx- drop empty at KimClark-

bobtail over to Garland and grab load to Manteno, Il-- take through the house for weekend+ Monday-- drop it Tuesday midday.

Total Miles for Week#4( 7 day week)= 3,048 miles


so now Heartland is 3/4 on the Weekends home--- minus( about 24hours-- as I ran last weekend- wanting 2 days during this week- and will only get 1 day(Monday))

Maybe I can just drop off my Bronco at shop-- have a family member pick it up later in the week.

 

Ok they changed plans on me-- cut out the Roanoke-- gonna have me drop the trailer in Dallas-- so the final miles for the week are 3,012.

So far:

Week#1: 2988
Week#2: 1885
Week#3: 2514
Week#4: 3012 * pending

2599 average

 

Home tonight( this morning)

Will be home for Sat, Sunday, Monday until after 5pm/

so all and all--- Heartland hasn't been that bad... scoring about 75% on delivering the promised home time.

The miles have been exceeding expectations-- but of course that's proportional to the lack of 100% on that home time.

The truck scores negative-- it's a real piece of junk. But like they are fond of saying-- trucking "aint all wine & roses"

The customer base( freight) from what I've seen--is excellent.
Equipment( Trailers) are so far in excellent condition.

The preplanning-- and keeping 2-3 loads planned ahead + the computer information asked for with each loaded call and empty call-- really gives me the impression-- that they are serious around here with keeping the truck moving-- maximizing my hours-


I do have some concerns with all their "antiquated" policies ---- really does give me the feeling I've stepped back in time to -- JBHunt ( 14 years ago) only without the 4000 miles per week.


then again-- I'm the FNG, how long before the honeymoon ends?-- the gravy train stops?-- and I find myself in the back of the trailer-- tailgating a insulation load in 110 deg heat -- for the ridiculous rate of $60.00.

 

Well it is what you make of it

 

Do you mean loose on the logs? I don't get it.


Lol. I had to do this with my trainer for Crete. fbs.
Heartland cares might give you $65.

 

No I didn't mean "loose" on the logs-- I was actually referring to stuff like-- Hair cut policy & uniform- dress code-- "chain of command"--- all reminds of JBHunt years ago.