OK, What Do You Make Of This

Kurt, to say you're over-thinking it is the understatement of the year.

Listen, trucking companies make money hauling freight. Drivers make money hauling freight. When your wheels are turning, you and your company are both making money together. When your wheels are not turning, neither of you are making any money.

So why would you constantly keep thinking that your company is conspiring against you when you win or lose together? You really are part of a team. They need you, you need them.

Give me an example of a scenario where you think your company will win by making you lose. If there's really a conspiracy against you then there must be something they will gain by making your life miserable. What do you think it could be?

Well, it would make sense for a large company to have more drivers than they can keep busy, and I know there are drivers who would like to be moving but aren't, we hear about it all the time. And I've seen it posted here more than once, by you not too long ago, about the importance of having a good relationship with your manager because there are people who have the power to make you sit. So it doesn't seem like much of a stretch to think that I could be getting limited miles because my manager has a problem with me. And it's also very possible that my manager has the power to do this but not the power to fire me.

Also, this only started happening a few weeks ago. before that I would usually see my assignments days ahead, often on Tuesday afternoon my entire week would be set. And I don't remember ever having one that I couldn't see.

Anyway, we'll see what happens today.

I just had a drop dispatch told me "your Appt is for 0800 but it's a drop so get there ASAP ovrnt parking avail".

I ran my clock out which I never do on purpose in case of emergency. I called the customer "yes you can drop it. My shift leaves at 0030 but the new shift comes in at 0200". I got there at 0400. Gate open.... but no one home!!! Office wide open ... I could walk thru it and go through the drawers. Both gates open...then I figure I'll just wait for the appt.... the supposed parking was a single driveway across the street NOT owned by the customer and for sale. It was a horseshoe and once I got in.. the trucks parked every which way and I could not get out. So I went to sleep for a couple hours.

At 0700 I had to bang on doors to wake drivers up and have them move. Every street in this town said no trucks no u turn no parking.... the street customer was on said "not a designated truck route". I was supposed to pick up a load too... sooo.. no hours I couldn't off duty to real parking. I did 8 in sleeper with 1 hour coming back to me... enough to get me south of Chicago before afternoon rush hour. Did 2 more hours... ate showered... headed to next customer... where they wanted me to blind side "put it right next to the other trailer... really hug it". Well I didnt. And the yarddog told.me to get it closer. I did.. but still had room. He chased me down and told me I better do better than that when I come there. No lines... no lights.... and no space to pull forward. I told him i didn't hit anything.. and he can move it if he likes. I had too long of a day to get annoyed by him. Hahha

Kurt still not getting it:

So it doesn't seem like much of a stretch to think that I could be getting limited miles because my manager has a problem with me. And it's also very possible that my manager has the power to do this but not the power to fire me.

Also, this only started happening a few weeks ago. before that I would usually see my assignments days ahead, often on Tuesday afternoon my entire week would be set. And I don't remember ever having one that I couldn't see.

You are like a broken record. STOP worrying about what your manager is doing and focus on doing your job and let him do his. You are behaving like you are the only driver working for your manager. If indeed he does have a problem with you, it's understandable. Get a grip, drive your truck, get it done and stop worrying about stuff out of your direct control.

You are behaving like you are the only driver working for your manager.

This right here. For example, my fleet manager has over 70 drivers on his board. Do things occasionally get lost in the shuffle? Sure, but he fixes it right away when it is pointed out to him (politely and not in an accusatory manner).

Work hard for your fleet manager (without complaint) and he will work hard for you. I got stuck on a trip that put me behind my usual miles for the week and he made up for it by getting me 1700 mile trip.

If you continue with this they're out to get me mentality, you're only going to accomplish one or both of a couple of things. 1 you're going to create problems for your fleet manager and therefore yourself. 2 you're going to have a mental breakdown from worrying all the time. Neither is good.

Remember, things don't always go well in this job, your fleet manager is looking for people who handle the bad just as well as they handle the good.

Kurt, you made this post to ask if you were being paranoid. The consensus is clearly yes. But you keep trying to explain why you're not.

So it seems less like you were asking for advice, and more like you were just hoping to have your fears validated.

Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Let it go. As everyone else has said, you are going down a dangerous path with this way of thinking, and you seriously need to change course.

Here's what you should have done after you were told about the 2 loads and only saw one:

JUST GET THE FIRST LOAD DONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

If, after that is accomplished, you still do not have your promised long load, then you at least have a bargaining chip. You can say something like, "Hey I knocked out that short load like you asked, just wondering what happened to the long one?" Then he will owe you a favor.

But I can almost guarantee that if you just go along with the plan, they'll do their best to keep you happy and moving.

Show a little good faith, and it will be returned to you, I promise.

I don't want to sound nasty... but... you are complaining of not enough miles but then complaining it is going to be tight. You stated you could be late due to not trying harder today to ensure on time delivery for tomorrow. If you were a dispatcher would YOU want to pike loads on you? Not knowing if the driver would make it on time?

The first 24 hours of load is critical. Take it as far as possible. My Appt is 0800 to 1600 tomorrow. I'm parked 20 miles away as of 1400 today. I set driving goals for myself... run x number of miles the first day so the last day of load can be fewer miles and gives me time to get to next load.

Sounds like you need to learn time management and stop complaining. Maybe you could ask your FM for suggestions on how he wants you to run. I'm sure he deals with rookies all the time.

Every month I ask my FM for suggestions and anything I need to work on. Then I work on it. He actually told me that at this point there isn't a way to get more mikes cause he gives me the best available... cause he KNOWS I'll be way early and tell him 9f issues.

PersianConvesion checks-in with some much needed wisdom:

Here's what you should have done after you were told about the 2 loads and only saw one:

JUST GET THE FIRST LOAD DONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

Well put PC...!

Kurt...if you are still out there. That all by itself, LIKE. If nothing else has struck a chord with you, the above are words to live by each and every day of your truck driving life. Case in point, I occasionally get put on loads of 100-150 miles. Typically they were left overs from the overnight routes or T-calls from a driver running past their 14. Now I know, without asking or wondering or worrying, my DM and planner has something bigger and better once I return to the terminal and it will be waiting for me, to get under it and go. It took me 3+ years to get to this level of trust, but I didn't arrive here by constantly worrying about their jobs and their ability to keep me moving. They are paid to maximize utilization rates for every driver. Know how the business works...and just do your part.

This is just a memory, when I worked for Stevens 10 years ago, if you wanted a few minutes to breath you didn't send Qualcomm msg you were done at receiver or you would receive immediate instructions on where to go next. Run run run. But that's the reefer business also.

Rainy makes a profound statement:

Every month I ask my FM for suggestions and anything I need to work on. Then I work on it. He actually told me that at this point there isn't a way to get more mikes cause he gives me the best available... cause he KNOWS I'll be way early and tell him 9f issues.

Rainy...dang! Takin' care of business Driver. I just nominated you for rookie of the year...that my friend is such a great way to show Prime you are striving for excellence. Huge Props...huge...! Take a page from this lady's book, really good.

Than for the replies everyone. Yes, it's just the way I am. I worry about things when I don't understand what's going on.

I don't want to sound nasty... but... you are complaining of not enough miles but then complaining it is going to be tight. You stated you could be late due to not trying harder today to ensure on time delivery for tomorrow. If you were a dispatcher would YOU want to pike loads on you? Not knowing if the driver would make it on time?

Actually I was worried that it might have been made *too* tight on purpose. I don't complain about things being tight, except that I don't like it when they're too tight so I'm late and I can't do anything about it. Like when it involves driving over the GW bridge at rush hour and they don't seem to think that's going to slow me down. But it turned out, I think, the reason it was made that tight is because my manager could see the next load I was supposed to do, and if it hadn't been tight I wouldn't have been able to take the next one. In fact I'm on it now and it's probably going to be a little late in spite of my best efforts. I picked it up and didn't stop until I shut down for the night, and I'll be back on the road again after 10 plus a short pre-trip, but I'm afraid there's just not enough time.

So it seems that the idea of my manager trying to give me low miles wasn't true. But I do know one thing: for some reason I'm only being shown one load at a time. When I did the "arrive" task for this morning's delivery, the next assignment showed up almost immediately. And I still don't see the next one. This kind of creates planning problems. Yeah, I know, get the next one done as soon as possible. That's what I'm doing.

BTW, I was able to make this morning's deadline, but I get there at 0800 only to be told that I have a 1200 unload appointment. Fortunately they were able to get me done earlier than noon, but that's why I'm now in trouble on this load. They almost took it off me. They probably should have but I think my manager stuck his neck out a little to keep me on it, and now I'm afraid it's made him look bad to have to tell them I'll probably be a little late. I'm expecting that "assignment has been withdrawn" announcement any time, as they change it to be relayed somewhere.

The only other thing I have to say in my defense, I *did* ask my manager straight out if I was doing OK or if there was some problem with my work, and he said everything was OK. But clearly something's going on.

miracleofmagick, I probably am headed for the mental breakdown. I think this job just has too much time for me to think.