Laziness Or Correct Caution?

Was on a load of pallets to be picked up from a sams club. 275 mile deadhead from Amarillo to it. I get there at 6pm. I just did one from there to Amarillo the day before. It's been windy and I had a few hours of empty chasing in the wind in Amarillo, ended up shutting down up there due to T storms the night before. Probably could have pushed it, but didn't feel like it and didn't want to play with an empty in the bursts that come with t storms.

I get to the Sam's, they're very disorganized, no paperwork on the pallet load. It's not ready, won't be till 11 pm. I have 5 hours left on my 14. I could have split berth, got the load and gotten some of the way up to Amarillo for my next load. Once again though evening winds and I'm tired. So I shut down. Could have gotten up at 4am. Gotten the load and done it. I'm getting paid layover, and I'm usually running til about 4 or 5 am. I couldn't sleep til 3 am and didn't want to be on the road with little or no sleep.

In the meantime, someone grabbed the load of pallets, (it's only going 2 miles away) so even though I'm dispatched on it, it's gone. My DM is ok with it, he's paying me the deadhead miles, layover and detention pay.

By this time, there's a dust storm and 60mph winds. I'm empty, so not going anywhere.

While I get paid for all the waiting. It makes me feel like I'm being lazy and making excuses. At the same time, I really don't enjoy hauling an empty across north Texas winds. I keep thinking I should be pushing harder and moving no matter what. I've struggled with it since starting trucking. I have that conflict though because I really am cautious about wind and not enough sleep.

Well, that sucks,Amarillo is known for high winds I hated going thru there sometimes, due to such. As well as into OK. 1 my last loads thru both were bit sketchy from high winds with under 10k in the box

It makes me feel like I'm being lazy and making excuses.

We often get NO acknowledgement of our correct decisions. But make the wrong decisions and you HAVE TO get lucky…A LOT.

Stay motivated AND STAY SAFE.

I'd rather err on the side of too cautious, than end up with my truck napping in the median.

I made it across Wyoming for the first time since October without having a weather delay, or "closed to light high profile" just a few weeks ago. I was doing circles in the mountains with super lightweight loads. Was NOT a fun winter.

Back in February there was a snow storm forecast for my route, my gate time is 9 am but it wasn't supposed to start until after noon. I didn't want to hit the road and get stuck someplace since that would really suck with a day cab , so I spoke with one of the operations guys and they had me do shuttles until the weather started.

I was feeling like a fool since no snow had started however it turned out to be the correct call since there was a large accident on I-65 right about the time I would be getting there and the entire highway was shut down for over 24 hours. Trucks and cars crashed and stuck everywhere, had I not played it safe I would have been stuck sleeping in a day cab in the middle of 65 until someone could pull me out. My neck and back would probably still be hurting from that.

I live by the "Better to be at home wishing you where on the road rather than in a ditch wishing you where at home" motto

Here you go 😁😂🤣

Laura

Safe is better. Don't make the news!

“Laziness is the mother of caution”. Lol

Ask yourself this... i get paid layover for staying due to high winds would i get paid if a lay my down due to high winds?

Ask yourself this... i get paid layover for staying due to high winds would i get paid if a lay my down due to high winds?

Indeed. Layover pay is WAY better than Lay It Over 'you pay!'

~ Anne ~