Please forgive me, but I need to vent. We messed up on our planning on this critical delivery. We didn't think of time zones and we're an hour late because of it. So I call the receiver to let them know...oh boy! This load was dispatched to us almost two hours after the pick up appt. Now I find out that our delivery appt is two hours after the receiver expects the load and the supervisor might refuse it. I don't know how to feel...angry with myself or afraid of losing my brand new job. Any thoughts? I feel very frustrated!
I've been doing some reading lately about time management, as my husband and I are only doing about half the miles we thought we would...about 3000/week... and still not really getting shopping, laundry, and showers as often as we should.
It will get easier as you get more accustomed to it. However, at 3k miles a week you shouldn't really be having trouble. That's solo miles, which means you're likely sitting at least 10 hours a day. Showers shouldn't be an issue. Shopping and laundry are a little more difficult to attend to depending on your routes, but there should be an opportunities to do either at least every other day (and if you have to do laundry every other day you need to get more clothes). Use google maps to find Wal-Marts or other grocery stores along your route that allow truck parking so you can shop. Plan to stop at a truck stop with laundry facilities when you need to.
This is our 3rd week on our own and we've come to realize the biggest of our mistakes is running as a couple rather than a team, helping each other and keeping each other company...but hey, we're new at this and we're newlyweds lol
This isn't a mistake, especially when you're new. It's far better to lose ten minutes of sleep because you're helping your other half back up than it is to have a backing accident. I've been driving team for going on a year and a half and we still run like this. Of course, we help each other far less than when we were new simply because we're more experienced. In my opinion this is the best way to keep a team together. Teaming means being a team all the time, not just when it's convenient.
I cannot express how thankful I am for this website!! ...this morning we were three hours early for a drop and received a critical delivery load as we were being unloaded. I was on my way to pick up that load when another another dispatch came in. When I pulled over to see if we could do it (we're running on recaps), my first action was to macro our DM... estimated driving hours 45, time from pick up to drop 44.
We avoid running on recaps whenever possible. For one, it limits the team freight you will be able to run, as most of the time you will not have the correct hour availability to get the really time sensitive runs. And as a result you will get less miles overall than having a full clock. We'll run a load or two on recaps no problem, but after that we take a reset, primarily because of the hours issue mentioned above but also because at that point we usually need a break to get laundry done, clean the truck up, etc. However, you shouldn't be on recaps if you've only done 3k in the last week. Those are half the miles you could pull, leaving plenty of time for both of you to get a reset in. Take a reset if you can get it. It's nice to keep your hours even, but it's also critical to take what you can and leave your clocks as full as possible.
As to the load ETA, FedEx and UPS loads have a tendency to really push the limit (although they're not the only ones). If it can't be done it can't, send in your estimated ETA when you get your load assignment. If they're not happy with that, tell them you'll do your best and then do it. Update your ETA as necessary while running. No one is going to chew you out for not making an impossible timeline, and if they do gently explain the reasons why it couldn't be done in the time expected. I don't worry about telling my DM that I can't make a certain delivery, because he knows that we don't mess around. We run hard and we do what it takes to get it done. If we say it can't be reasonably done, then he knows it can't.
Please forgive me, but I need to vent. We messed up on our planning on this critical delivery. We didn't think of time zones and we're an hour late because of it. So I call the receiver to let them know...oh boy! This load was dispatched to us almost two hours after the pick up appt. Now I find out that our delivery appt is two hours after the receiver expects the load and the supervisor might refuse it. I don't know how to feel...angry with myself or afraid of losing my brand new job. Any thoughts? I feel very frustrated!
I doubt you are going to lose your job over a late load, especially three weeks in. It would be a damn poor business decision to let go of a potentially very productive team because of a simple rookie mistake. Everybody makes mistakes, don't beat yourself up. You are being hard on yourself and I can tell you're pretty stressed, which is to be expected when you're new. It gets easier, it really does. Keep doing your best, admit your mistakes when they come up (and they will) and apologize for them, and always look on the bright side. A late load is nothing in this job, it happens all the time. Of course, we should do everything we can to deliver on time, but on the scale of things that could go wrong it barely registers.
Awesome response C.S., thank you. I need to sleep, so I'll just say this for now...this week we're more in line with about 5000 miles and that's why we're in need of resets. I will stay alert for reset opportunities now though while on the road and not just between loads. And no, showers should NOT be an issue. We just need to get in and get them done. A lot more is "clicking" in my head now that we are seeing how things work. For now...thank you, and good night. Stay safe!!
I need to sleep, so I'll just say this for now...this week we're more in line with about 5000 miles and that's why we're in need of resets.
That makes more sense. As a new team just learning the ropes of everything and adjusting to the life, 5k is a heavy week.
And no, showers should NOT be an issue. We just need to get in and get them done.
I get it, I really do. Exhaustion, stress, and everything else can make showers take a back seat. Focus on being hygienic as you can, when you can. Don't feel bad about taking a "hobo's bath" to make yourself presentable.
A lot more is "clicking" in my head now that we are seeing how things work.
It'll continue this way for awhile, until 5k seems like a slow week and you'll wonder why you ever thought it was hard to do 1300 miles in 24 hours. Once you get your rhythm down, all the things you're stressed over will seem almost insignificant.
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I've been doing some reading lately about time management, as my husband and I are only doing about half the miles we thought we would...about 3000/week... and still not really getting shopping, laundry, and showers as often as we should. Yeah, eewww!! This is our 3rd week on our own and we've come to realize the biggest of our mistakes is running as a couple rather than a team, helping each other and keeping each other company...but hey, we're new at this and we're newlyweds lol.
I cannot express how thankful I am for this website!! ...this morning we were three hours early for a drop and received a critical delivery load as we were being unloaded. I was on my way to pick up that load when another another dispatch came in. When I pulled over to see if we could do it (we're running on recaps), my first action was to macro our DM... estimated driving hours 45, time from pick up to drop 44.
Clockwork...I get that this can be done, but that's about four shift changes -2 hours in DOT breaks and 1hour and 15 min in pre/post trips added to those 45 driving hours, not to mention we're governed at 62mph and there'll be mountains into CA.
Sounds more like Clockwork Orange to me lol. Good advice, this site's forte, welcomed here!
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.