Shuttle: Not Too Big, Not Too Small
Topic 9656 | Page 1
Since I started this thread (yes, yesterday), my trip has been cancelled two times - yesterday and today. This is a problem with shuttles. If the DM/ T-call person can do this, they can check with the planners to find something to make up for it. (The T-call lady tonight did check, came up with zero.)
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.
So no money since the trip was cancelled? That sucks but I would like to be home that much. I would still have to pay the bills though.
So no money since the trip was cancelled? That sucks but I would like to be home that much. I would still have to pay the bills though.
Right. In a bit today I'm calling the shuttle lane coordinator. As an OTR driver, you have some big runs, and some short ones. Sometimes you wait. But the shuttle lane is supposed to go on a scheduler, and when I get a call two days in a row saying "stay home", that means this system isn't working right.
And for any Per Mile driver, there's the trade-off of being at home 
and no income for that time 
.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Ouch! I've worked in a segement of transportation (aviation) where we had 100% cancellation pay. I've got to quit comparing the two industries in my mind.. There really is none..... Other than the fact you are moving things between points A and B.
Ouch! I've worked in a segment of transportation (aviation) where we had 100% cancellation pay. I've got to quit comparing the two industries in my mind.. There really is none..... Other than the fact you are moving things between points A and B.
Trucking has some similar "problem" payouts. There is cancellation pay, detention (waiting at the dock) pay, layover pay, breakdown pay. True, these don't pay out equivalent to things going as planned (like your 100% canx pay), but it takes the edge off, at least!
It would be nice to get something for me to cover a problem on the other end of the shuttle.
I respect your continued positive perspective despite the challenges of the industry as a whole. It has been reflected consistently throughout your posts. Better luck with your scheduled route in the coming days.
I respect your continued positive perspective despite the challenges of the industry as a whole. It has been reflected consistently throughout your posts. Better luck with your scheduled route in the coming days.
I agree Errol I really appreciate the positive attitude about the industry.
Slim, Andrew,
You get into your truck, heading out on the 450 mile stretch of your trip. The interstate starts getting really rough. (For me that means you're in Louisiana.) You might as well be on a washboard dirt road, but you're really doing 62 mph on I-10. Your head keeps bumping on the headrest, and you hold tight to the wheel so you can drive the thing. But, damn! you get to watch a beautiful sunrise!
Interstate:
Commercial trade, business, movement of goods or money, or transportation from one state to another, regulated by the Federal Department Of Transportation (DOT).
Slim, Andrew,
You get into your truck, heading out on the 450 mile stretch of your trip. The interstate starts getting really rough. (For me that means you're in Louisiana.) You might as well be on a washboard dirt road, but you're really doing 62 mph on I-10. Your head keeps bumping on the headrest, and you hold tight to the wheel so you can drive the thing. But, damn! you get to watch a beautiful sunrise!
That sounds like a bunch of my days, only replace Louisiana with California. But sunrise over Mt. Shasta is nothing short of breathtaking.
Interstate:
Commercial trade, business, movement of goods or money, or transportation from one state to another, regulated by the Federal Department Of Transportation (DOT).
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Recently I was recruited to running a shuttle route for Swift. So, every day (actually around midnight) I get a day cab , pick up my assigned trailer and drive from the Swift Memphis terminal to a swap point at a truck stop south of St. Louis. I swap trailers with a guy who drove from Kansas City, and we both go back home.
My original trailer is heading somewhere west and my new trailer is on its way to its eastbound destination.
As for a trucking job, this is what I get: every day I drive, I get two loads, both are 256 booked miles, so I'm paid for 512 miles every day. I am home every day, though for me I get home around noon, and need to sleep so I can drive safely through the early a.m. hours.
My shuttle schedule is to drive 4 days then off 2. This (duhh) does not match a 7 day week, so my schedule rotates through each week. If there is a problem and the Kansas City driver can't make it, I lose too. But sometimes my local Memphis DM can get me local stuff to do to make up.
I lose out on the Open Road part of trucking, but I have lots and lots of home time. And it's the same route every day. I don't really need a GPS and I get to know all the truck stops, all the exits, all the trees, all the scenery each and every day. (Does that sound boring? it's the trade off for being home daily.)
This is very similar to team driving. I see the guy from Kansas City each day when we swap. But if you think about it, us two drivers are moving two trailers in the same time you as a solo or even a team, will move one. Such a deal for the company! In this route, I don't get paid anything more than my regular CPM of 0.36. But each day I drive over 500 miles, and I'm not sitting at truck stops waiting for a dispatch, or working my recap or sitting 34 hours for a reset.
Each shuttle route is different in distance and schedule Keep that in mind if you are interested in this kind of work.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
Day Cab:
A tractor which does not have a sleeper berth attached to it. Normally used for local routes where drivers go home every night.
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.CPM:
Cents Per Mile
Drivers are often paid by the mile and it's given in cents per mile, or cpm.