Actually, the company asked me to try a few different places to hang out and wait for a load, and I did as they suggested. I dropped in St. Louis and told them I would remain on duty. I asked them where would be my best bet to wait for a load, dispatch said to hang in St. Louis for a little while (made sense) before I try to re-position myself, I agreed. I found the nearest truck stop and went to bed.
I called in sometime before 0700 and dispatch suggested I move to Effingham, I questioned it but hoping they knew something I didn't, I went to Effingham IL.
Around noon, I saw a guy walk by my truck yelling and screaming at himself at the top of his lungs so I called dispatch and asked for a load or anything to get me outta there, I suggested Indy and they agreed.
I got to Indy and after only about 45 minutes, they offered the 100 mile run, I politely and professionaly let them know I had just DH'd out of St. Loius, only had 455 miles for the week (its Friday) and chose to wait for better load or loads to make up for the bad week. Dispatch did not like that one bit, but said "OK".
About 15 minutes later, another dispatcher called, and informed me that they really needed me to take the load as p/u time was in jeopardy of being missed. I politely told him what my situation was but he was just as uncaring as anyone would expect. I had the feeling I was REALLY pi$$ing him off so at the risk of further alienating him, I took the load knowing that it was my last one with this company.
Either you seriously torked some chains in orientation, you have no idea what you're doing, or you're the unluckiest guy in expediting. Ppl who have that hard of a time are doing something wrong, cut and dry! And don't say it was that you signed on with the wrong company. Did you ask the dispatcher's advice? Did you ever ask if you were doing something wrong? As far as calling twice a day... anyone who's successful will tell you once every 3 hours is cool... just to let them know you're still alive. Did you move around during the 4 days you were empty? Where were you located during those days? All these questions are pertinant<sp> in knowing why you're not doing well. If you're having a hard time now, you'll have a hard time with any expediting company unless you find the problem. Your company is not fly-by-night, and they are not out to screw you. However, they cannot drive your truck for you.
If I torked anyone there, I wish they would let me know how I accomplished that when I did not refuse any loads, was early for each p/u & delivery and remained on duty 99.4% of the time.
Please give me at least a little bit of credit, I did ask the dispatcher's advice numerous times, I did ask if I was doing something wrong, the owner and I both spoke with at least three different folks in positions of higher authority. Communication was not the problem. They kept saying "freight was slow" - short of us demanding they pull a load outta their @ss, what other recourse could we have possibly had?
I sat on a load that delivered in Saginaw Mi. from Saturday till Tuesday. Consignee was closed so I could not deliver sooner. I delivered the load at 0500 Tuesday and did not get another load till Thursday out of Grand Rapids headed for St. Louis.
I never said they were fly by night and I never said they were out to screw me. Perhaps by us expecting them to actually do what they promised is expecting too much too soon - but perhaps not.
