Sometimes The Wheels Fall Off

This weekend was set perfect. A couple 600 mile trips to keep us running and then we were going to do a reset in Ohio after delivery Sunday.

We got to our first delivery got checked in and went back to the truck to wait for our door assignment. Two hours later I got a call informing me that the appointment was set for the 27th not the 22nd. I have to get with planners and customer service to figure it out, but they don't get in until 0800. That means we are going to be late for our pick up. Nothing we can do about it.

Get up this morning and take our load to our Jonestown terminal. Grabbed an empty and started to head for New York as instructed. I called the shipper to verify what temp they wanted the trailer cooled to and was informed they wouldn't be loading us until Tuesday morning. Back to the terminal we went.

Poor student only needs 70 more hours and we are sitting instead of running. But it gives us a chance to get that reset in and do some laundry. My student only had two hours left on her 70 hour clock.

These things happen sometimes. You will do everything correct and the wheels will still fall off. Do your laundry, catch up on sleep, and relax. Getting upset doesn't fix or change anything.

These things happen sometimes. You will do everything correct and the wheels will still fall off. Do your laundry, catch up on sleep, and relax. Getting upset doesn't fix or change anything.

I completely agree with this. Trucking is never perfect. I'm constantly sharing in here, the virtues of good planning and communication. These things are important, but not foolproof. Somedays we roll with the punches. Flexibility is another virtue that's very important.

I remember the first business plan I ever laid out when I was a much younger man. The banker I was seeking financing from told me he approved the loan based on one simple statement in my plan. Here's that statement: "I approach business like a boxer approaches a fight. I study my competition, and make a plan for the fight based upon what I know they do well. Once the punches start getting thrown I may have to adjust the plan a little, or it's possible I have to throw out the plan completely and just fight to survive. The end goal is to win - that always requires vigilance and the ability to make quick and effective changes to the plan."

The ability to accept the inevitable disruptions to our plans, and make the most of those disappointments is a valuable trait for any truck driver.

Those things do happen now and then. In the past month I have been dispatched on 5 different loads, then at the last minute find out the load either pushed out or was completely cancelled. It is disappointing but nothing we can do. 2 weeks ago they gave me a load and after I accepted they said it pushed out 24 hours. The next morning it pushed out and 36 hours. The planner assumed I was going to wait. Short answer is I didn’t and got some replacements through calling in some favors. I turned a disaster into a good week.

A funny side note was the next week the central dispatcher didn’t even realize the load had been reassigned. She found out when she asked my DM some questions regarding delivery.