FIRST DAY FAIL!!

Yesterday was a sucknado of fail. I felt like I was turning around in circles (and in fact, I basically was, one big circle between two different areas of the same plant). First I had to get an empty trailer, which had zero fuel in it. I couldn't even turn on the reefer to run a pretrial. So I had to go 45 miles in the opposite direction to get to the next fuel stop. Then it was a nightmare getting my fuel card opened up, and then the pump didn't work! By the time I could pull around and get to another pump, I had to have the card opened up again because too much time had passed. Then I dropped my empty at the shipper and picked up an already loaded trailer. Easy drop and hook , right? NOPE!! I was at the shipper for over 5 hours because every time I was ready to go the guard shack had something new I needed to do before they let me leave, after it took me driving to 3 different shipper offices to figure out where the trailer was. So, first it was the wrong trailer. Then they forgot to tell me I had to scale the load before leaving, then my box temp was 8 degrees too high so I had to wait until it dropped before they would give me my bills and let me leave. Through all of this, every time I had to turn around I had to go down the street to the other facility, turn around there, then come back again because the guard shack area at the location I was in was so tight you definitely can't just make a U-turn to come back in. So, on the 4th time or so I came back to sit on the box temp, they wanted me to park directly to the right of the guard shack. By that time the sun was setting and I had full sunlight in my mirrors. So, to top off a craptacular day, I managed to run over a fence because I thought I cleared it when I didn't. Trailer was fine, just a few dings, but the fence was toast. When I could finally give this load to a guy that had the hours to run it I was spent. I didn't have a chance to eat or use the bathroom or walk and feed my dog since 10am, and I finally was able to go to my sleeper at about 11:30pm. In all, yesterday sucked, and now I know why new drivers give up easily. But I'm not going to. I'm hoping I front loaded all the kinks on my first solo run and got them out of the way so the next few months at least will go smooth as a whistle.

New drivers, don't let it get you down. I was super frustrated because it was just one thing after another, and when the fence thing happened half the warehouse came out to hoot and laugh and take photos. I've never wanted a hood-mounted flame thrower more in my life than at that moment. But in reality, nothing was damaged (other than the fence), product was able to keep moving, and my FM was really cool about it. Hang in there if you're having a bad day. The good ones will more than even them out.

Yesterday was a sucknado of fail. I felt like I was turning around in circles (and in fact, I basically was, one big circle between two different areas of the same plant). First I had to get an empty trailer, which had zero fuel in it. I couldn't even turn on the reefer to run a pretrial. So I had to go 45 miles in the opposite direction to get to the next fuel stop. Then it was a nightmare getting my fuel card opened up, and then the pump didn't work! By the time I could pull around and get to another pump, I had to have the card opened up again because too much time had passed. Then I dropped my empty at the shipper and picked up an already loaded trailer. Easy drop and hook , right? NOPE!! I was at the shipper for over 5 hours because every time I was ready to go the guard shack had something new I needed to do before they let me leave, after it took me driving to 3 different shipper offices to figure out where the trailer was. So, first it was the wrong trailer. Then they forgot to tell me I had to scale the load before leaving, then my box temp was 8 degrees too high so I had to wait until it dropped before they would give me my bills and let me leave. Through all of this, every time I had to turn around I had to go down the street to the other facility, turn around there, then come back again because the guard shack area at the location I was in was so tight you definitely can't just make a U-turn to come back in. So, on the 4th time or so I came back to sit on the box temp, they wanted me to park directly to the right of the guard shack. By that time the sun was setting and I had full sunlight in my mirrors. So, to top off a craptacular day, I managed to run over a fence because I thought I cleared it when I didn't. Trailer was fine, just a few dings, but the fence was toast. When I could finally give this load to a guy that had the hours to run it I was spent. I didn't have a chance to eat or use the bathroom or walk and feed my dog since 10am, and I finally was able to go to my sleeper at about 11:30pm. In all, yesterday sucked, and now I know why new drivers give up easily. But I'm not going to. I'm hoping I front loaded all the kinks on my first solo run and got them out of the way so the next few months at least will go smooth as a whistle.

New drivers, don't let it get you down. I was super frustrated because it was just one thing after another, and when the fence thing happened half the warehouse came out to hoot and laugh and take photos. I've never wanted a hood-mounted flame thrower more in my life than at that moment. But in reality, nothing was damaged (other than the fence), product was able to keep moving, and my FM was really cool about it. Hang in there if you're having a bad day. The good ones will more than even them out.

You are now an official rookie solo driver!!!! Can't truly be one until you mess something up. Keep up that great attitude. Tomorrow is another day..... next year you will be laughing about it.

Thanks love. I know it. It was just so much fail yesterday, but I'm over it now.

We all had starts like that. My first few weeks i got lost soo many times it wasn't funny.

But it really does get better!

Congrats on surviving your first solo day. You got this.

You're tough.Damn the torpedoes !

Wow! You paid so much karma in advance that you should buy a lottery ticket. You're gonna be charmed for a long time.

Sorry that first day was so rough! Just working from 10-2330 in and of itself is enough to wear anyone out. Hang in there!

...and thanks for sharing my new favorite word--"sucknado"

I've been known to turn a funny phrase or two.

We all had starts like that. Ny first few weeks i got lost soo mant times it wasnt funny.

But it really does get better!

Congrats on survivg your first solo day. You got this.

Hahhaha I still get lost... now I just plan it into my trip haha

I've been on my phone with my FM a lot today, mostly because I've been at this Tyson plant since 10:30 am this morning and I'm still not loaded. (It's 7:45pm now.) She was apologizing and explaining to me how detention pay works and I said it was all good, and that at least I'm not hitting any fences while I'm sitting still.