What's Up With This???

[PantherPower]

Hello everyone! Haven't posted in a while, but I'm always reading whenever I can.

Yesterday I got an offer for 635 miles + 39 to P/U. Pick-Up was 14:00 and delivery was 07:30. I accepted the load knowing full well that I couldn't run the whole thing as I am a solo D-Unit. I make my P/U and then send a message asking if they have any idea where the switch will take place.

The dispatcher was taken by surprise that I couldn't run the whole thing. I decided to call in to discuss it. I figured he must be a newbie as everyone at Panther knows that the 47mph formula only allows you 517 miles.

To my surprise, he is not new. He said that he just goes by what the driver tells him. Since I accepted the load, that told him that I figured I can make it. I explained to him that my clock started at 13:00 and would run out at 03:00 and there was no time for a break. Being that it picked up in North Carolina and went to Indiana, I had to run I-77 to I-64 and then across. Anyone that has been that way knows that it can be a snail's pace up and down those hills. Even if I wanted to, there was no way I could average 63mph the entire 10 hours I had left (remember, 39 miles to P/U).

It just surprises me that they were caught by surprise when I asked where the switch will be. If he were a new dispatcher, that's one thing. I wonder if I should make it a point to inquire about a switch when I get the load offer and see that it is more miles than I can do. It sure seemed to put them in panic-mode and that is no fun on my end either.

 

[panther_art]

There are different divisions at panther dispatchers dispatch loads and safty watches loads to keep you legal.
When you pick your load up remember there are questions that you are asked to fill in before you take off and one of them is can you legaly do this load and you push no then its up to them to switch the load out I am sure that the swap division would have let you know where the swap would have been after they got it pinpointed down.

A lot of things take place--how fast are you moving--available trucks--a place you can do the swap. But if you get close to running out of time (hrs) and nothing happens then just shut down and let them worry about it. But remember to say no to can you legal do this load that clears you.

I may be wrong about this but I do believe thats why that question is on the qc.

Panther Art

 

[panther_art]

I forgot one thing I have gotten loads that picked up on Sat that supposed to deliver on Sun morning that you would need a jet to get there in time and it would be a typo and the deliver really was Mon morning.
Don't happen often but it does happen.

Panther Art

 

[x06col]

Wow! I get to read em all here. Some folks complaining about short loads. Some complaining about long mileage loads. And, most wonder why dispatchers are like bears with sore a$$es. I might have a clue. I'm interested in reading what others figgure.

 

[Broompilot]

You would not attempt to run 674 miles in 11 hours?

If you have a real nice truck, let us know when the bank comes to take it back since you can't run that in 11 hours. Average of 61.2mph one I would even be comfortable running thru Ohio (62) they do not mess with ya.

Gotta read between the Col lines and I agree with his lines.

You blew a great run, one I would love to have offered to me.

 

[cheri1122]

What I figure, is there ought to be rules that are fair, clear, and followed all the time, except in emergencies. Dispatchers and drivers need to be 'on the same page' to avoid misunderstandings. Van drivers fall into a gray area, with some loads of 700 plus miles requiring a switch, some requiring a safety-mandated break enroute, and some needing to go straight through, so which 'rule' applies needs to be clarified before accepting the load.

 

[Zoli]

I would take it!!!I can run easy 650 miles in 11 hours!!!

 

[cheri1122]

Maybe. But unforeseen delays happen, and then what? This time of year especially, if you count on running that fast, you're gonna run into trouble, I think. Snow, ice, accidents, detours, the possibilities are many.

 

[greg334]

I am so d*mn glad I am not being paid by the mile.

650 in 11 hours? OK?

Has anyone thought that this is estimated miles, not actual miles. with the addition to the pick up and possibly getting on and off the freeway (just grasping a straws there) the actual miles may be more of less.

I guess they lost their safety department at the mall shopping.

 

[Broompilot]

This is business not babysitting. I cannot estimate what will or wont happen. I can only depend on history, so if weather slows me up I keep in touch with dispatch, acccident etc....

The run can be legal, I for one stand up for disptach and the suprise of ARE YOU KIDDING?

 

[nightcreacher]

>This is business not babysitting. I cannot estimate what
>will or wont happen. I can only depend on history, so if
>weather slows me up I keep in touch with dispatch, acccident
>etc....
>
>The run can be legal, I for one stand up for disptach and
>the suprise of ARE YOU KIDDING?
Broom
your not going to average 60+ mph when you have to cross the WV.turn pike,or is your D unit a jet
I cant average 60 in my truck top to bottom with an empty trailer,not
if I run the speed,limits,there are spots at 70 but also at 50 and 60,and you have to stop at 3 toll booths
if you run that load in 11 hours,when did you get fuel,when did you pick it up,he already lost driving hours picking load up,and when dot has there little check,big if,but if they do,what does panthers customer say when they shut plant down cause load is late,or GOD forbid,hes haulling butt to make delivery and crashes in one of the sharp turns on WV tp

 

[davekc]

Technically, I think the run can be done legally assuming there wasn't alot of DH to retrieve the load.
The second part as someone else mentioned, the company isn't your babysitter.
If we are talking Panther, you can accept the load on one message, and on the second, indicate you can't complete it.
Then it is there responsibility to set up a transfer etc. This is where weather, traffic, and other issues come into play.
Unless you know you are heading into rough weather, everything would be full steam ahead. If a problem is encountered along the way, then you deal with it like any other issue.









Davekc
owner
22 years
PantherII
EO moderator

 

[Turtle]

If the clock started at 1300 and the pickup is at 1400, and you run out of hours at 0300, doesn't matter if you can run it in 11 hours or not, if the consignee doesn't even open until 0730. You'd be SOL at 0300 while waiting for them to open. If they are a 24/7 operation, then the load is definitely doable. Otherwise...

 

[PantherPower]

I'm not complaining at all. I was just wondering how the 47mph formula was tossed out the window in favor of going by what the driver says. I took the run, answered "no" to can I run it safe and legal and that's when they started to panic.

I used up an hour to go pick it up and that left me with 10 hours for 635 miles. Up through Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky. I don't drive a jet so I would never say I could make it in ten hours. Out west is a different story. But through that neck of the woods? Mathematically, yes it could be done. Realistically, I better hope I don't have a silngle hold-up THE ENTIRE TEN HOURS.

I got 433 miles out of it and was happy. I was simply wondering how they could be surprised that I said "no" to the safe/legal question.

 

[PantherPower]

IF I made it there by 03:00, I would have been OK as I would be "On Duty Not Driving" while they're unloading me at 07:30. I would just have to camp out right there for 10 hours.

I agree that they are not babysitters. But how can they be taken by surprise when I said I couldn't make it? I've always had to beg and plead to convince them I could get a 518 mile run done in 11 hours. I don't know how many of those have been switched on me while en route.

 

[PantherPower]

Blew a great run I did not. I got 433 miles out of it and was left on a good board versus swapping in the middle of nowhere. Plus I was on-time and didn't have to worry about it. I don't enjoy having to run where every mph counts. Gets to be too stressful. Like when you're running right at the wire and then you come up on a two mile back-up that eats away 30 minutes. Now how fast do I have to run to make that up?? No thank you. I'm happy with what I got out of it.

 

[nightcreacher]

>Technically, I think the run can be done legally assuming
>there wasn't alot of DH to retrieve the load.
>The second part as someone else mentioned, the company isn't
>your babysitter.
>If we are talking Panther, you can accept the load on one
>message, and on the second, indicate you can't complete it.
>Then it is there responsibility to set up a transfer etc.
>This is where weather, traffic, and other issues come into
>play.
>Unless you know you are heading into rough weather,
>everything would be full steam ahead. If a problem is
>encountered along the way, then you deal with it like any
>other issue.
>
>
>
>
>
dave
not knowing the exact cities,I ran raleigh to indianapolis
630 miles at a 65 mph average,thats average speed limit not what the truck would be able to do,computer says 10hrs 39 mins,now he had 39 miles to pick up,another 45 mins,he cant make it and besides that dispatch should never had asked

>

 

[LDB]

Can those miles be done in the available time? Sometimes yes and sometimes no. Averaging 62mph for 11 hours with stops for fuel, tolls, toilet etc. is running well above the limit in OH, MI and other areas. Taking out the time stopped for the ticket in one of those states puts more strain on your time and Murphy will see to it you are more likely to get stopped on this run than any of the dozens of shorter runs through there.

The key point is to run what you are comfortable running and don't run anything you aren't comfortable with. You'll find some who chastise you here and give you a hard time but in the end it's your truck, your business and your responsibility. Good luck.

Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA Life Member 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5508, 5509, 5641
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
----------
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

 

[Moot]

I have found with Panther, in a van, on loads exceeding 700 miles, if I get ahead of schedule they will force me to take a 4 hour break. If there is no time for a 4 hour break then it is straight through. It is all about time not safety.

Personal note to Kenny G. Are you the guy that composes all that elevator music?

 

[greg334]

Dumb questions and a statement;

If the initial run was given at 1300 and the delivery was at 0730, why is the run plsn for over 11 hours anyway?

Shouldn't there be a split regaurdless in the run just because it is over 11 hours?

Shouldn't the driver have the option to split the load on his ablity to plan the load?

I reference another thread that I think that the company needs to look into their inablity to plan the load the right way.

If the driver is worried about their ability to deliver on time or not getting a ding for a late delivery, I would say that the company needs to accomidate the driver. If this was me, I would call them when I ran out of hours and tell them the delivery will be made at 1300.