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OntarioVanMan

OntarioVanMan

Retired Expediter
Owner/Operator
divadriver01 said:
My last 4 weeks in a BIG nutshell and the things I am thankful for. A great load from Buffalo, NY to Nogales, AZ...made it to Albuquerque, NM...truck ovetheats but I was able to limp to a shop that came with a great recommendation from a fellow driver, only at the time I didn't realize I had accidently found the shop he had suggested. Found out the following day that my engine had blown (talk about a gut wrenching feeling) but I was glad I was not out in the middle of the desert in the middle of the night on the side of the road... .I am thankful that the initial shop swapped my load on their dock and didn't charge me a dime... After a couple of days of trying to figure out what I was going to do, I thought I was just going to junk my truck and that was sickening for me... and while I was walking back to the shop from my hotel I was thankful for not getting abducted because had I made that decision to jump in that econoline van, because I thought that guy was going to the shop on the deadend street that I was walking, I might not be telling this story. So for that, I am thankful and thankful I was on the phone because at the time I wasn't scared until I saw the guy turn around and not go into the shop I was headed for but indeed he turned around and went back out the way he came (that's when the reality hit me after his 4 attempts to get me to get into the van.) Made my way to the shop and they were so nice and helpful and called police and made sure to drive me back to my room. ..so I am thankful to be alive..now back to the blown engine....I am thankful that I had a place to stay for 3.5 weeks...nice people and great service....i am thankful that I was on a busline that was only 2 bucks a day all day...I am thankful for the salvage guy that really didn't want to "steal" my truck for $3,500 and he called his buddy at the dealership and got a price and said could be shipped in about 10 days...I am thankful for the parts manager who was honest with me to tell me it would take 2 months to get done in the shop and he recommended a great shop to put it in rather quickly and I'm thankful for that shop for having the knowledge to do the job correctly. ..I'm thankful I had nice weather on my unplanned summer vacation. ..I'm thankful I have my truck. ..I might be waiting for a load in El Paso, Texas of which I deadheaded 285 miles but I don't care...I'm glad to have my truck back and MOST OF ALL, I AM THANKFUL FOR JOHN K.ELLIOTT II AND LOAD ONE. All that would not have been possible. ..I could have been bankrupt 1500 miles from home, no shelter, not knowing a soul. I am truly thankful. ...so some of you might be a little bummed that you have sat a few days or you might have to deadhead a little ways to get into a better freight area.....just know it could always be way worse with some other Joe Blow company that doesn't give a crap about its owner operators or drivers. Just please be thankful...I know that I am.

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That is one of the greatest assets of being at Load 1....never, ever will you be stranded at the side of the road!!!......:)
 
divadriver01

divadriver01

Expert Expediter
jelliott said:
I am glad our team was able to help make a bad situation work out with a good ending. Hopefully great luck and things ahead for you! Thanks again for the kind words :)
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I want everyone to realize how good we have it here and I truly mean it. I drove for one of the big companies for 4.5 years so I am a stick to it type person and believe me bigger would not have been better in this case. Where else can we own our own business and work like we are on perpetual vacation and not have to deal with the corp rat race and have the support and safety net that we have here? I have done both. I choose this and I choose to do it at Load One. Some of you know who I am and you know I don't just blow smoke. I can be brutally honest and I say it how it is. Truth only hurts for a minute but a lie hurts for a lifetime. So my small piece of advice, don't sweat the small stuff....if you don't want to sit for a week then drive to where you can get a load and keep moving. ..spend pennies to make a dollar. It's part of being in business. Load One spends money so they and we can make money. We all need to do the same.

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guido4475

guido4475

Not a Member
OntarioVanMan said:
That is one of the greatest assets of being at Load 1....never, ever will you be stranded at the side of the road!!!......:)
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The peace of mind knowing that is priceless, to know that they have our backs not only in this way, but so many others...

Now, how'd that go?.....Oh yea, Two, Four, Six, Eight....Who do we appreciate?.....

Damm...I just ripped my leotards in the crotch trying to do the splits....
 
1

1expeditor

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
guido4475 said:
The peace of mind knowing that is priceless, to know that they have our backs not only in this way, but so many others...

Now, how'd that go?.....Oh yea, Two, Four, Six, Eight....Who do we appreciate?.....

Damm...I just ripped my leotards in the crotch trying to do the splits....
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Good Lord no1 needs to see that mr.guido LOL...:p
 
jelliott

jelliott

Veteran Expediter
Motor Carrier Executive
US Army
Lost a good long time owner operator today. Why? Because Load One company policy is zero tolerance on seat belt compliance. Hate losing good people but we have a strict policy on both seat belt usage and cell phone hands free usage. It's the law! Don't risk a ticket or your career.
 
guido4475

guido4475

Not a Member
jelliott said:
Lost a good long time owner operator today. Why? Because Load One company policy is zero tolerance on seat belt compliance. Hate losing good people but we have a strict policy on both seat belt usage and cell phone hands free usage. It's the law! Don't risk a ticket or your career.
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That sucks. Good owner-operators can be a hard thing to find once in awhile.

I love those seat belt neon colored things, an awesome idea, the only problem is, they won't let my seat belt wind back up, and I end up closing the door on the seat belt. So mine is on the shelf, unfortunately, until I can figure out a solution. I have been thinking of just ordering a new seat belt for the van, in neon orange or green itself.

Headsets....I see so many drivers from any carrier, drive down the road, backing up, going through an intersection, cranking up their landing gear, whatever, while trying to hold the phone and do whatever they are doing....is 89 bucks for a blue parrot wireless headset too much of a price for you're career, to avoid a steep fine, or both?

Just like the other day..I'm in Wal-Mart at the check out.....the lady in front of me is holding the cell phone to her head while, one item by one, by one hand, trying to empty the already overflowing shopping cart onto the conveyor belt...If I hadn't of moved to a different checkout line, I still would of been there, or until the coming of Christ. Stupid is as stupid does, I guess.

Sorry to hear of that drivers, and Load One's, mis-fortune.
 
Last edited:
Dynamite 1

Dynamite 1

Moderator
Staff member
Fleet Owner
we use the spring loaded paper clips to hold them in place while driving and take them off when not using them. put them on a little loose and your seat belt will slide through them easily.
 
jelliott

jelliott

Veteran Expediter
Motor Carrier Executive
US Army
Agreed. I hate losing a good owner operator over something so simple. I guess the fact that it is so simple actually is what makes it so frustrating.
 
guido4475

guido4475

Not a Member
Dynamite 1 said:
we use the spring loaded paper clips to hold them in place while driving and take them off when not using them. put them on a little loose and your seat belt will slide through them easily.
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The thing for the seat belt is too thin for anything except the seat belt to slide through.
 
jelliott

jelliott

Veteran Expediter
Motor Carrier Executive
US Army
OntarioVanMan said:
So speeding or any other law breaking will result in termination as well?....
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They can depending on severity.

The policy on seat belts and cell phone usage were clearly conveyed. Not only are they the law but they have some of the greatest impact on the companies CSA scores. Those scores have an effect on everyone's earning potential.
 
divadriver01

divadriver01

Expert Expediter
I hope everyone back home in the Detroit area is okay and not flooded.

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jelliott

jelliott

Veteran Expediter
Motor Carrier Executive
US Army
Terminal docks and the streets around the office were all flooded earlier. But it has cleared up. WE have a lot of employees with flooded basements or streets completely flooded out. It was a heck of a storm.
 
divadriver01

divadriver01

Expert Expediter
I'm reading on the news that people are stuck in their cars on the lodge freeway and in random driveways.

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jelliott

jelliott

Veteran Expediter
Motor Carrier Executive
US Army
divadriver01 said:
I'm reading on the news that people are stuck in their cars on the lodge freeway and in random driveways.

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It is true. A lot of flooding and highway interchanges flooded out. Pumps can't keep up.
 
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