March Banter and Location

jelliott · Mar 24, 2012

Had a Jameson at the Makers Mark Bar last night, lol.

Dynamite 1 · Mar 24, 2012

i can see that we are on the same page. look out !!!!

ChrisGa23 · Mar 24, 2012

Anyone ever take a sprinter to walmart for a oil change? Gonna go buy the oil and take it down there for them to change I'm hoping they got the oil there but who knows

Turtle · Mar 24, 2012

OntarioVanMan said:
Attaboy.....

40 minutes before the pickup time, Dispatch calls and tells me that, unless I really want it, they'll take me off that load and look for something better. Says they'll get someone local to do that. OK, sure.

Couple hours later, called and said there's not much, but they have one Monday at 1300 going down to southern Indiana. Got me pre-planned on that one, but will still look for something.

Ironically, I could have run the one over the weekend and delivered it at 0600, then made the 1300 pickup 20 miles south of Port Huron. So, I've swapped the weekend load revenue for a couple days layover. It's about a wash, I guess.

shadow7663 · Mar 24, 2012

golfournut said:
I have the proof of the driver I spoke about. That is for him to post, not me.

When I finish mine, I'll post them.

Some other issues I helped some with, and these 3 drivers drive for fleet owners, are:
One is calling dispatch for layover approval. Didn't know all he had to do was fill in dates and times and put in Tim's name.
Another didn't know he could go on FV and see his numbers. Thought only the owner had access.
Another forgot about the expense sheet and hasn't turned in toll receipts for reimbursement, so he doesn't run tolls when he can avoid them.

Had I not asked the questions, these drivers would have never known to ask.

Not only do these new folks coming in have to learn new freight areas, they also have figure the culture. It is different than other company. Where else do you have access to everyone, from the CEO on down.
Most companies we all came from all operate as a voice on the phone.
Dispatching is buried behind locked doors, smoked glass windows or separate buildings. You can't even sleep in your truck on Panther property.
We have all come from different carriers or different type of driving experience. Those of us that have been here longer should help those coming.

Where is the fine line of being family vs individual business owners or working for or working with. Are the load one employees the family or are we all part of the family.

In my family, we all help each other. We don't wait to be asked. We look for issues. That's how families grow and stay together, isn't that part of it.

Ron,

First off , if a driver that is driving for a fleet owner and has any questions in regards to FV those should be directed to the fleet owner and honestly is absolutely none of your concern.There is nothing on FleetVision that a driver really needs access to that said driver can't keep records of on their own or ask their respective fleet owner for said information. Second , if a driver FORGOT about expense reports that doesn't mean nobody helped him or her, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink! Third about the layover approval, drivers are informed in orientation ( and by most fleet owners ) on how this is to be entered in the system, further more don't you think after a few phone calls into dispatch for said approval they should have just told the driver just use Tim's name? Most likely they did , again you can only lead a horse to water!

I help drivers out every single day of the week. Just because you may not hear about it or do not witness it with your own eyes does not mean others do not help. I personally do NOT spend very much time in the yard but Brian Welsh and John E. do have free will to give my number to any potential new hires and any drivers currently with the company for help and they do that quite often. It's also the same with Steve Wolf and others. Just because we don't try to boost our egos here on EO saying "oh today I did this and that" like others do or maybe we don't need to take credit and puff our chests out for things that may or may not happen at Load 1, but that doesn't we didn't have any input behind the scenes or help out any other drivers.

You have some nerve telling ANYONE to get out of their trucks and knock on doors! It is ABSOLUTELY none of my business to be asking drivers their rates and miles or yours for that matter. Now if a driver comes to me with that info and I see his / hers numbers appear to be off then and only then will I ask more questions to determine where the potential problem may be and offer my advice where it's needed

As for rates being down .30 cents on any of the said drivers you speak of is ludicrous! There is obviously way more to the story and before I buy into it I would need to see the load history, rates, percentage increases , locations, in service dates , OOS dates, everything I mean EVERY single detail of any of the said drivers in question for the past 12 months. I'll bet money I could pin point the problems and I bet it would upset those drivers when I was done. Sometimes reality checks are a slap in the face! I already have a feeling I know who one of those drivers might be. If its the person I am thinking of, it COULD be a case of him beating up dispatch on nearly every single load for higher rates and they are simply sick of it, in other words you CAN over negotiate rates to a point you will NEVER EVER get a single penny over your percent rate. There is something to learned here!

In most families, most don't stick their noses where it doesn't belong but are always there to help when it's needed!

chefdennis · Mar 24, 2012

Turtle said:
Yeah, but they paid me 100% of the load. That means they needed it covered, probably for an important customer (and aren't they all?), and if they're going to pay me 100%, the least I can do is give 100% in return.

Good goin!! The funny thing is when they tell you they are giving you 100%, you believe them and don't think twice about them being honest....That was a new "deal" when it 1st happened to me here...

Rocketman · Mar 24, 2012

ChrisGa23 said:
Anyone ever take a sprinter to walmart for a oil change? Gonna go buy the oil and take it down there for them to change I'm hoping they got the oil there but who knows

Chris, I had problems with them being able to fit my CargoMax in their doors and on their lift system. I think a lot of guys are using DRS if you can wait til you get to the yard.

chefdennis · Mar 24, 2012

Empty in York Haven Pa. Headin to Hagerstown for a good "resta" the weekend!!!

ChrisGa23 · Mar 24, 2012

Rocketman said:
Chris, I had problems with them being able to fit my CargoMax in their doors and on their lift system. I think a lot of guys are using DRS if you can wait til you get to the yard.

I tried drs but they never called me back Friday

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Turtle · Mar 24, 2012

Most places like Walmart and the quick oil changes won't be able to accommodate a Sprinter, even the places where they have an oil change pit and you just drive through, no lift. The door opening just isn't tall enough. If you have the oil and the filter, then any dealer can do it. So can the TAs, Loves and other service points.

I have a Fumoto Drain Valve on the Sprinter, to eliminate any chance of stripping the drain plug in a parking lot, and a 3 gallon gas can to catch the oil. It's quick, easy, and no mess. That's not much help for this weekend, I know. But it's something to consider.

xiggi · Mar 24, 2012

A lot of walmarts will change the oil for you. Maybe 25% cant accomadate you for reasons like turtle said. They usually charge 15 18 dollars. Theres a quick change place on telegraph that will do it with your stuff I think it's 18. Any of those places I tell them to put in about a half qaurt less than the specs say and top it off myself.

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xiggi · Mar 24, 2012

Just to add Walmart does not have your oil. There is a pep boys on van :censoredsign:

bur they often dont have enough. Not sure if crestwood dodge is open today or you could check freight liner. Oreilys on telegraph has filters.

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ChrisGa23 · Mar 24, 2012

Hard part is finding oil filter i called everywhere. Walmart in Taylor has the Mobil one esp oil that this srinter takes according to Mobil one website .

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Dreamer · Mar 24, 2012

I got mine done at Sterling Heights Dodge... LOF about $60

shadow7663 · Mar 24, 2012

Try Van

Dodge or Sterling Heights Dodge.... Both may be open today but not sure.

golfournut · Mar 24, 2012

shadow7663 said:
Ron,

First off , if a driver that is driving for a fleet owner and has any questions in regards to FV those should be directed to the fleet owner and honestly is absolutely none of your concern.There is nothing on FleetVision that a driver really needs access to that said driver can't keep records of on their own or ask their respective fleet owner for said information. Second , if a driver FORGOT about expense reports that doesn't mean nobody helped him or her, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink! Third about the layover approval, drivers are informed in orientation ( and by most fleet owners ) on how this is to be entered in the system, further more don't you think after a few phone calls into dispatch for said approval they should have just told the driver just use Tim's name? Most likely they did , again you can only lead a horse to water!

I help drivers out every single day of the week. Just because you may not hear about it or do not witness it with your own eyes does not mean others do not help. I personally do NOT spend very much time in the yard but Brian Welsh and John E. do have free will to give my number to any potential new hires and any drivers currently with the company for help and they do that quite often. It's also the same with Steve Wolf and others. Just because we don't try to boost our egos here on EO saying "oh today I did this and that" like others do or maybe we don't need to take credit and puff our chests out for things that may or may not happen at Load 1, but that doesn't we didn't have any input behind the scenes or help out any other drivers.

You have some nerve telling ANYONE to get out of their trucks and knock on doors! It is ABSOLUTELY none of my business to be asking drivers their rates and miles or yours for that matter. Now if a driver comes to me with that info and I see his / hers numbers appear to be off then and only then will I ask more questions to determine where the potential problem may be and offer my advice where it's needed

As for rates being down .30 cents on any of the said drivers you speak of is ludicrous! There is obviously way more to the story and before I buy into it I would need to see the load history, rates, percentage increases , locations, in service dates , OOS dates, everything I mean EVERY single detail of any of the said drivers in question for the past 12 months. I'll bet money I could pin point the problems and I bet it would upset those drivers when I was done. Sometimes reality checks are a slap in the face! I already have a feeling I know who one of those drivers might be. If its the person I am thinking of, it COULD be a case of him beating up dispatch on nearly every single load for higher rates and they are simply sick of it, in other words you CAN over negotiate rates to a point you will NEVER EVER get a single penny over your percent rate. There is something to learned here!

In most families, most don't stick their noses where it doesn't belong but are always there to help when it's needed!

Go back and read original post. I didn't ask. I was called.

During casual conversation with other drivers, things come up in conversation.

I wasn't tootn my horn, wasn't saying no one else is helping. Trying to encourage more of it. Just throwing my experience of the type of stuff we can help with.

When folks are in orientation, a lot of stuff is thrown at them. Some easy to forget.

Maybe that's how it is in your family, not mine. We don't call it sticking your nose. We call it participation, caring, helping.

You do it your way, I'll do mine.

golfournut · Mar 24, 2012

jujubeans said:
Good morning gang! and here's my two cents for the day.

Ron, while we are all part of one big family and we try to help each other out, we are also independent business owners and run our business the best we can. Posting numbers is simply no body else's business. Not only to Load 1 people, but also remember this is the MOST read forum in EO and they watch us all the time.

so everyone quit pickin yer nose.*LOL*

I wasn't posting numbers. I made 1, uno, one statement of a driver who called me with his numbers and wanting help. The other folks are the ones that posted their numbers. I did not ask them to do that.

Anytime anybody posts anything negative in this forum, people get real defensive.

shadow7663 · Mar 24, 2012

golfournut said:
Go back and read original post. I didn't ask. I was called.

During casual conversation with other drivers, things come up in conversation.

I wasn't tootn my horn, wasn't saying no one else is helping. Trying to encourage more of it. Just throwing my experience of the type of stuff we can help with.

When folks are in orientation, a lot of stuff is thrown at them. Some easy to forget.

Maybe that's how it is in your family, not mine. We don't call it sticking your nose. We call it participation, caring, helping.

You do it your way, I'll do mine.

Never said you approached the drivers for rates. Awful defensive there! Hmmmm

If you weren't saying that nobody else was helping then just what did you mean by telling some us that are living in a Rosey world to get out of our truck to knock on others doors to try helping out?

As far as your comment about caring goes your way out of line to make that comment! You'd be hard pressed to find anyone else that cares more about the success of Load 1 and it's drivers / contractors than me. The only thing you care about is YOU! Bottom line that's it. YOU YOU YOU! Your comment of you do it your way and I will do it my way shows just type of person you are and only proves my point it's all about YOU!

Next time I'm in the yard at 3am I will be sure to knock on your door to ask how things are going and offer some help to you.