First Year Solo. Knight Flatbed

Say you do decide to leave, do you think your three incidents there at Knight will show on your DAC Report?

No no, not three. Just two and I assume you are telling me they will show on my DAC report.... I'm well aware that one of them is on there, the second one I got the citation for and would be surprised if the first one is on there. Seeing how I didn't receive a ticket or citation. But I do get what you're saying Pack....

If I have to stay a full year or more then I will do so. If there's a possibility another company will accept me, then most likely I will move on....

Hay, 2sides . . . what are the 'odds' of you bouncing over to dry van , within the same company? I mean .. you DID get acclimated to it, for a bit .. awhile back! You won't have to worry about tarping (or tarp pay!) etcetera. It doesn't VOID your man card, by any means. Some folks just aren't flatbedders. Doesn't make you any less of a person. Tom hated it, too. Had to 'deal w/it' every winter, when asphalt wouldn't flow and wasn't needed, anyway. Heck, does Knight/Swift have a tanker division?

I'm just thinking 'in the box' whilst 'outside the box' for ya, man... no pun intended!!!

Best wishes always, man. Always.

~ Anne ~

TwoSides11, I really am sorry about your pay situation. I can't fathom the frustration that is causing you. It doesn't make sense to me. I've been on this flatbed account for eight years. My pay is always accurate and I definitely double check it each week. The things you mention as being missing are all things that Shawn has to enter. How does he defend himself and claim you're wrong in your understanding of your paycheck?

I know sometimes my tarp pay or stop pay gets paid before my mileage and other times it may follow on the next week's check. Those things depend on when my DM enters them. Is that happening? Maybe your getting those things but not exactly when you expect them? I'm just puzzled and really frustrated for you. I wish I knew a way to help. I know Carlisle has had a lot of trouble keeping flatbed drivers on this account. I can understand why if what you're describing to us is the normal way things take place.

They need a strong manager there who can take charge of a bad situation. Unfortunately they haven't found that person yet.

As I recall, you were towed once, then hit two poles. Incidents and accidents both can end up on a DAC.

Dang Mr. Pack. I hit two poles?? Lol. I only have two incidents. The first one was taking a right turn to wide and slid into a ditch on the other side of the road. The second incident is where I hit the pole on a right hand turn, and I never got towed.. Maybe you have my story confused with someone else?? It's all good, I know you are reading a lot of drivers threads... I will look into them like Chief said and call the safety department here to see what they put on my DAC. Hopefully it's just the one I got the citation for which was the second incident...

Davy, I have thought about changing terminals but I only know of OS terminal and mine that do flatbed. My attitude does stem from a lot of small things that build up then on top of that my pay is habitually incorrect.

I am an over thinker, also a perfectionist. Every Minute detail has to be in sync for me to feel comfortable with doing something. Being here has really tested that trait and that is one of the reasons for my constant frustrations. Not having the proper training and being thrown out to the wolves is definitely not what I'm use to or was expecting.

Old School, Shawn's defense at first was that payroll isn't putting it in. Then when I got Ashley involved he acted like it was an honest mistake. The most recent one he said " you should have received x amount for tarp and stop pay and that's what it shows you were paid for" Those were his exact words. Usually he just asks for the trip number but this time was different. Shawn can be condescending at times so I took offense and responded in a not so nice way. I'm always professional and cordial with him but my response was anything but.

I know sometimes my tarp pay or stop pay gets paid before my mileage and other times it may follow on the next week's check. Those things depend on when my DM enters them. Is that happening? 

That happens sometimes, but in most cases I'm waiting 2-3 weeks to get my tarp or stop pay. Now if he was to say, sometimes it gets paid out slow, like detention and layover, then I would respect that. But when I ask him why tarp pay isn't in a check, he blames payroll....

Completed my weekend run on Monday. The first stop I had in Elkhart did not have overnight parking so I'm glad I followed my gut and stayed at that Pilot in Fremont. I did show up earlier than my 10am appointment time and there were two trucks in front of me, ended up getting unload at 0900. Headed into Illinois for my other two stops. My second stop needed an appointment time. I didn't call my DM that morning but instead called the receiver before I left out to my first stop and made the appointment for 1300. I arrived there at 1240. The last stop was first come first serve so no problems there. Came back empty to Cressona and arrived there Tuesday evening.

Was given a load assignment to Port Newark in Elizabeth, NJ for Wednesday. Only 120 miles smh. Wasn't even one of Knights customers, it was for this company AIM. I did have the pleasure of pulling one of their Conestogas and it was delightful. It rolled back with ease and had a properly working string to lift up the back flap.

Did a thorough trip plan and glad I did. The GPS did not know what to do at the Port. Had no problems with that but was amazed at how busy it was over there. Container trucks everywhere! Traffic was heavy and I thought to myself, these drivers have to spend most of there clock just trying to get in and out of there.

Came back to Cressona empty again and now I have a three stop run in Ohio for tomorrow. Warren, Canton and Bolivar. I've been to those places before but not recently. Matter of fact, the place in Bolivar was where I got into my second incident back in March and hit a street sign making a right turn lol. My first stop isn't until 7pm Thursday, which is weird because I never had an appointment time after 4pm. Hopefully it won't throw me off my routine. The second stop is for 8am Friday and the third stop doesn't have a time yet. This is loaded on a Conestoga and I miss the other companies trailer already. I would rather tarp and re-tarp a five stop run than have to deal with these Conestogas.

At the terminal now doing much needed laundry and waiting to roll out tomorrow. I will be coming back empty on Friday and cut my time out on the road short because I'm going on vacation next week. A much needed vacation at that. I have to say my DM looked out for my interest by giving me this run. I will be able to get back to the terminal at a decent time and get home. I thanked him for that...

Yep, two not three. My mistake.

First day back from vacation. I went to the beach in Destin, Florida with my family and had a wonderful, relaxing time. Went to the beautiful beach, did Go-Karts, Jet skiing, and a boat tour. It's nice down there. Came back home Monday but took Tuesday off to recover, now it's back to the real world.

Got my load assignment and it's a 3 stop run to VA on a flatbed, not a Conestoga. Even though it's on a flatbed and tarped it's an easy run, straight down I-81s. The week off did not make me soft. I did a decent tarp and backed between 2 trucks here at Pilot in Greenville. There were spots with multiple empty spaces but I chose this one to continue practicing. Needed 1 pull up with this and a little close on my left but it's fine with me. First day back is going smooth so far, wishing the rest of the week emulates this day....

Keep on keepin on driver! Great feed!

First day back from vacation. I went to the beach in Destin, Florida with my family and had a wonderful, relaxing time. Went to the beautiful beach, did Go-Karts, Jet skiing, and a boat tour. It's nice down there. Came back home Monday but took Tuesday off to recover, now it's back to the real world.

Got my load assignment and it's a 3 stop run to VA on a flatbed, not a Conestoga. Even though it's on a flatbed and tarped it's an easy run, straight down I-81s. The week off did not make me soft. I did a decent tarp and backed between 2 trucks here at Pilot in Greenville. There were spots with multiple empty spaces but I chose this one to continue practicing. Needed 1 pull up with this and a little close on my left but it's fine with me. First day back is going smooth so far, wishing the rest of the week emulates this day....

I agree with George, TwoSides ;

I'm thinking that vacation was the REAL reset you needed, man!! Keep on keeping on, good sir.

~ Anne ~

Thanks George and Momma Anne. Yes I think that vacation was the reset I needed....

Well that easy care free day didn't last long.... It rained all day Thursday delivering in VA. Luckily my first stop was indoors but the tarps were soaked. The second and final stops were unloaded outdoors and it was a joy un-tarping and folding the tarps in heavy rain. When that run was completed I received a load assignment for a four stop Texas trip. One stop in Alabama two in Arkansas and finishing in Fort Worth. I'm excited about that because 1. That's a lot of miles plus stop pay! lol and 2. It's new places I would travel to. I didn't have enough time on my clock to make it back to Cressona so I parked at the flying j exit 80 on 81.

Arrived at Cressona Friday 11am. I received a call from my DM saying something went wrong with that Texas run so he is sending me on a two stop Milwaukee run. That sucked, I was looking forward to doing that trip. So I drop my empty trailer, get the paperwork for the Milwaukee load and go around to this Conestoga trailer. I check it out and notice the hub seal is leaking Now I know things breakdown in trucking but everytime I get to a Conestoga trailer there is always some type of issue. Whether it be major or minor, it's always, always something with these trailers...

Called breakdown and they asked if I could bring it to a Loves shop to get fixed. Yea, no problem. I back under the trailer, do a tug test, then like I always do, I look to see if the locking jaw is actually locked on the kingpin. While doing that I noticed there is a space between my fifth wheel and trailer on the right side It's weird to me because it's only on the right side. The other side is fine. I'm thinking maybe its on uneven ground, let me raise the legs and maybe it will even out?? If not I would move the trailer to a flat surface, drop the legs and hook back up. While I'm cranking the handle I noticed only one leg is going up. Hahaha that's the problem. The trailer wasn't on an uneven surface, the one leg was higher than the other.

I call breakdown back and told them the new problem with the landing gear. I saw that there was a bolt missing and told him that may be the problem. He asks if I could find a bolt to temporarily put in there so the legs can lift and take it to a Loves shop. I get a bolt, which is not the correct size but it holds, and try to lift the trailer. It's a no go, I get two good turns and that's it. This load is 36,484 Lbs. I'm not about to strain myself on company equipment. I did however ask a forklift guy to lift the trailer so I can have a better go at it but they are all too busy. Now I'm waiting 3hrs for a Loves guy to come out. Hopefully this gets fixed so I can get to my relaxing weekend drive. This load isn't due till Monday but I don't want to have to rush to get it there.

Also I'm not sure if I should go off duty or use the sleeper berth split. What I have learned so far about the split, I think it is best to use it. So I will see how that works out...

Thanks George and Momma Anne. Yes I think that vacation was the reset I needed....

Well that easy care free day didn't last long.... It rained all day Thursday delivering in VA. Luckily my first stop was indoors but the tarps were soaked. The second and final stops were unloaded outdoors and it was a joy un-tarping and folding the tarps in heavy rain. When that run was completed I received a load assignment for a four stop Texas trip. One stop in Alabama two in Arkansas and finishing in Fort Worth. I'm excited about that because 1. That's a lot of miles plus stop pay! lol and 2. It's new places I would travel to. I didn't have enough time on my clock to make it back to Cressona so I parked at the flying j exit 80 on 81.

Arrived at Cressona Friday 11am. I received a call from my DM saying something went wrong with that Texas run so he is sending me on a two stop Milwaukee run. That sucked, I was looking forward to doing that trip. So I drop my empty trailer, get the paperwork for the Milwaukee load and go around to this Conestoga trailer. I check it out and notice the hub seal is leaking Now I know things breakdown in trucking but everytime I get to a Conestoga trailer there is always some type of issue. Whether it be major or minor, it's always, always something with these trailers...

Called breakdown and they asked if I could bring it to a Loves shop to get fixed. Yea, no problem. I back under the trailer, do a tug test, then like I always do, I look to see if the locking jaw is actually locked on the kingpin. While doing that I noticed there is a space between my fifth wheel and trailer on the right side It's weird to me because it's only on the right side. The other side is fine. I'm thinking maybe its on uneven ground, let me raise the legs and maybe it will even out?? If not I would move the trailer to a flat surface, drop the legs and hook back up. While I'm cranking the handle I noticed only one leg is going up. Hahaha that's the problem. The trailer wasn't on an uneven surface, the one leg was higher than the other.

I call breakdown back and told them the new problem with the landing gear. I saw that there was a bolt missing and told him that may be the problem. He asks if I could find a bolt to temporarily put in there so the legs can lift and take it to a Loves shop. I get a bolt, which is not the correct size but it holds, and try to lift the trailer. It's a no go, I get two good turns and that's it. This load is 36,484 Lbs. I'm not about to strain myself on company equipment. I did however ask a forklift guy to lift the trailer so I can have a better go at it but they are all too busy. Now I'm waiting 3hrs for a Loves guy to come out. Hopefully this gets fixed so I can get to my relaxing weekend drive. This load isn't due till Monday but I don't want to have to rush to get it there.

Also I'm not sure if I should go off duty or use the sleeper berth split. What I have learned so far about the split, I think it is best to use it. So I will see how that works out...

Almost hate to say it; 'party's over!' Told ya, you needed it ... tho!

I've got NO advice, whatsoever. Old School ... where ARE you ?!?!?!? He's on that Texas load they pulled from you, wanna bet?

I'm just playing; no clue!

It's always something, but in reality...especially in YOUR situation... I'd go with the split. (What do 'i' know?)

Best always, you're still killin' it, man!!

~ Anne ~