Really Slow Right Now
Topic 33932 | Page 2
Slow, erratic load times. They're keeping me moving, but having a hard time in some markets.
Average 3k to 3500 miles a week, but it's dropped down recently.
Corporate is once again pushing some equality policies and wants loads in depressed areas to be dispersed in the order the trucks got there. My DMs, the planners and my TM are working around it as best as possible, but it puts a dent in me getting the load.
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.
I just hit my one year mark with Jewel a month ago. Seems busier this year than it was this time last year. But we also have had quite a few retirements. And a lot of drivers on the verge of retirement. Overall it’s been consistent.
Hey Bird-One, I was looking at the Jewel site recently in case I decide to make a change. Do you unload the product off your trailer or just bump the dock? I think it also said two years experience required, do you happen to know if they're strict on that?
On the first of this year my company switched all regional drivers to CPM (they did let us know several weeks in advance). I was getting a nice flat rate per day prior to the switch and loving it.
CPM is not so good. My rate is .70CPM which is great, but the total miles are crappy. I'm making close to $500 less PER WEEK since the new year started.
I drove 568 miles yesterday and shut down at 1400. I'm still waiting on my next load assignment 17 hours later and judging by recent history chances are it will be a short one. Hopefully things pick up...for all of us.
Regional:
Regional Route
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.
CPM:
Cents Per Mile
Drivers are often paid by the mile and it's given in cents per mile, or cpm.
I'm still as busy as ever. But then I work out of a grocery DC, and people always gotta eat.
I'm making close to $500 less PER WEEK since the new year started.
This is the alternative to downsizing the fleet. Freight is slow overall, and hiring is weak, but companies keep hearing the hype (lies) from our government that the economy is strong. So, from what I'm reading, many companies in all industries are trying desperately to keep their headcount in the hope things will pick up for them soon since it "seems" to be going so well for others, or at least that's what they hear on TV.
As always, dry van companies will see bigger ups and downs than most refrigerated carriers because of the larger swings in freight volume from season to season and year to year.
Dry Van:
A trailer or truck that that requires no special attention, such as refrigeration, that hauls regular palletted, boxed, or floor-loaded freight. The most common type of trailer in trucking.
Hey Sandman happy to answer. You are unloading the trailer most of the time. But we use an electric pallet jack. Sometimes the store will assist but most of the time it has to be taken to either a cooler or another part of the store. Some of the loads are drop and hook. Jewel is union so everything is seniority based.
As far as the two year requirement goes I believe that is an insurance requirement unfortunately. I don’t think transportation has a say in that. Also understand that there are some days I barely drive 50 miles. I think the most I’ve run is 160 miles roughly. We do have mileage runs that go to the jewel stores in Iowa and Bloomington but those are 10 am start times. I can double check on Friday about the two year requirement. I can answer any more questions you have .
I just hit my one year mark with Jewel a month ago. Seems busier this year than it was this time last year. But we also have had quite a few retirements. And a lot of drivers on the verge of retirement. Overall it’s been consistent.
Hey Bird-One, I was looking at the Jewel site recently in case I decide to make a change. Do you unload the product off your trailer or just bump the dock? I think it also said two years experience required, do you happen to know if they're strict on that?
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.Drop And Hook:
Drop and hook means the driver will drop one trailer and hook to another one.
In order to speed up the pickup and delivery process a driver may be instructed to drop their empty trailer and hook to one that is already loaded, or drop their loaded trailer and hook to one that is already empty. That way the driver will not have to wait for a trailer to be loaded or unloaded.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
I appreciate the info Bird-One! I'll ask you more as I think of them, but it's probably moot since I don't have two years in.
No problem man. How much experience do you have so far?
I appreciate the info Bird-One! I'll ask you more as I think of them, but it's probably moot since I don't have two years in.
No problem man. How much experience do you have so far?
I am just shy of 1 year and 3 months.
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I’m sitting again for the second time this week. I got layover on Monday and it looks like I’m gonna get it again today. Hometime is coming up on Friday so I’m sure that’s part of it.