Last night at 23:45 I turned down a 993 mile load. The dispatcher was in shock. He said: "but this is a 1000 mile load." Then he said: " If you are afraid it will swap, I can assure you it won't!" I wasn't about to argue with him. I told him I wasn't interested and thanked him for the offer.
The details he offered me about this load over the phone; 100 boxes measuring 12x12x18 @ 2000 lbs. The load picked up at 11:00 this morning and delivers direct at 09:00 tomorrow morning. That's 22 hours and at 45 mph it is still 22 hours. My cruising speed is 63 mph which would get me there in 15¾ hours without stopping. Sure I could push it and make up time but this dispatcher did not have the authority to assure that the load would not swap. The safety department makes that decision. I don't believe I could make up enough time to get it there within my 16 hour limit and provide safety with a comfortable time cushion that they could live with.
I was 200 miles from the pickup and I had time to drive there and get a five hour plus break before picking up. The 200 mile dh was one factor in my decision to refuse this load. I could do the dh and then end up swapping in 400 or maybe 600 miles. Despite this dispatcher's assurance, this load was going to swap.
Also, 100 boxes that measure 12x12x18 seemed like it would be close to cubing me out. I really didn't want to take a chance and drive 200 miles for a $50 dry run. This morning after a cup of coffee I did some math. My cargo area dimensions are 100" long, 52" wide and a door opening of 48". Once inside the door the height dimensions go to a whopping 52". You do the math, would this load fit in my van.
I checked online this morning to see if I get hit with a refusal, even though the load was dispatched more than 8 hours in advance. I didn't get an official refusal but under AVAILABILITY the dispatcher enter: refused a 1000 mile load. I had to call in to get an explanation for that remark. The nice driver relations lady said it was probably added to show I was a choosey driver. Me thinks its actually a code for, dispatch around this trouble maker unless we really need him. I'm currently 1 0f 3, so.... Last night I was 1 of 1. The load got brokered out. It did get picked up so somebody had room.
The details he offered me about this load over the phone; 100 boxes measuring 12x12x18 @ 2000 lbs. The load picked up at 11:00 this morning and delivers direct at 09:00 tomorrow morning. That's 22 hours and at 45 mph it is still 22 hours. My cruising speed is 63 mph which would get me there in 15¾ hours without stopping. Sure I could push it and make up time but this dispatcher did not have the authority to assure that the load would not swap. The safety department makes that decision. I don't believe I could make up enough time to get it there within my 16 hour limit and provide safety with a comfortable time cushion that they could live with.
I was 200 miles from the pickup and I had time to drive there and get a five hour plus break before picking up. The 200 mile dh was one factor in my decision to refuse this load. I could do the dh and then end up swapping in 400 or maybe 600 miles. Despite this dispatcher's assurance, this load was going to swap.
Also, 100 boxes that measure 12x12x18 seemed like it would be close to cubing me out. I really didn't want to take a chance and drive 200 miles for a $50 dry run. This morning after a cup of coffee I did some math. My cargo area dimensions are 100" long, 52" wide and a door opening of 48". Once inside the door the height dimensions go to a whopping 52". You do the math, would this load fit in my van.
I checked online this morning to see if I get hit with a refusal, even though the load was dispatched more than 8 hours in advance. I didn't get an official refusal but under AVAILABILITY the dispatcher enter: refused a 1000 mile load. I had to call in to get an explanation for that remark. The nice driver relations lady said it was probably added to show I was a choosey driver. Me thinks its actually a code for, dispatch around this trouble maker unless we really need him. I'm currently 1 0f 3, so.... Last night I was 1 of 1. The load got brokered out. It did get picked up so somebody had room.
