Even the newest of newbies knows that waiting is a big part of driving, (which, now that I think of it, might explain why JoeBob needs that footrub), but, just when I was feeling smug about the fact that the wait time is much less in a van than it was in a t/t - this happened.
Arrived at the Widget Co at 3:15, for a 4:00 delivery. Present paperwork to dispatcher Bozo, tell him van is backed up to overhead door, ready to unload.
Bozo: Ok, but only Queenbee can unload it, & I don't know if she's here now.
Me: Is she due in at 4:00?
Bozo: No, she's due in at 3, but she might come in at 4, or 5, or whenever, really. She has some medical excuse, so we never know.
Me: Could we page her, or call her? How can I find out if she's here or not?
Bozo: Did you see a forklift, when you came in?
Me: Uh, yeah - I saw a lot of them...
Bozo: Well, if she's not here, hers will be parked by the door - just go wait there.
After 20 minutes waiting, some nice forklift driver unloaded the van, so it's back to Bozo for a signature. Back in the van, I find a message asking if I want to take a load picking up where I am, to Toledo - yes, please! Drive to the stop sign where security told me to wait for someone to come out & collect my pass, & wait. & wait. & get out, walk around, looking for anyone - nobody. Realizing that I have my POD, I drive on out, giving a nice cheerful wave to the security guys in the booth as I pass, (Not sure if they're waving back, or waving me down - but I've had enough of that place already!) Park down the street, read the load offer - picking up at the Widget Co, (!) ready now, just one little thing: it's 2" too tall for your van. "Use your sweet, helpless voice, & see if you can get it onboard - ask for Joe." Back to the Widget Co, apologize to the nice security officer for having forgotten to stop on the way out, give the last pass back, & go see my friend, Bozo again.
Me: I'm here to pick up a load for Toledo. Where can I find Joe?
Bozo: I think he went home already.
Me: (deep, calming breath): Is there someone else I should see?
Bozo: Just go to the shipping dock, there's probably somebody there.
To the shipping dock, where Joe is still, & give him my best impression of "sweet & helpless": "Here's the deal - I'm ready & willing to take the freight to Toledo, right now, if we can make it fit. If we can't, then I don't know when it will get there - it's your call." The freight was the size of a watermelon - it was the rack it was in that wouldn't fit, so they removed it from the rack, I strapped it down securely, and, once more, back to see Bozo for the paperwork. But - no Bozo! A woman at his desk said "He had to go help out somewhere, I have no idea when he'll be back, you just have to wait" Resigned, I sat down to wait. Two other drivers arrived, I explained that we were waiting for Bozo, take a number. Thirty minutes later, Bozo returns, & asks who's first.
Me: I was here first.
Bozo: Really? Are you sure?
Me: It's 5:45 - I arrived at 3:15, remember?
Bozo: Yes - & you've been very impatient, the whole time! x(
Just another day in (expediting) Paradise.....:+
