Doesn't happen very often, actually rarely, but I'm on a bit of downer right now.
We delivered Wednesday morning. Finished at 1000 am, then sat all the rest of the day. About 2100 we get our next w/a for Thursday. Another short run to Opeluesas, LA, 230 miles. Can't pay the bills with 230 miles in two days. After we delivered and I waited 19 minutes on the phone to determine whether I should pick up a trailer to take out, they said yep.
Went over to a closeby truck stop and started steaming. I called Cathy, my DBL and started in. The crux of the issue is; when I started Schneider had an obligation to make sure each driver got 2,500 miles per week. Now with slow freight and what looks to me like too many drivers. So far this week we're at about 800 miles. Now to be fair the three days we were in layover status last weekend we got paid $80 per day. That compares to a fairly normal day of 400 miles that at .33 cents per mile is 133. So $80 is better than a kick in the head but not good enough.
So I said to Cathy "I need to get the 2,500 miles or Schneider needs to lay me off." Schneider's position is they aren't laying off drivers. If I quit, no unemployment. If I stay, insufficient income and lots of sitting. I haven't quite figured out why they won't lay of drivers but I'm guessing it's so that they cannot collect unemployment benefits. I don't know where this is headed.
On top of that Cathy instructed me to head to New Orleans, they were ready to trade in my truck. It's a 2003 with 630,000 miles. I figure no problem, the next truck will have to be better. I'm not sure of the year but it already has 513,000 miles on it, no passenger seat, no working radio, and who knows what else. You know the feeling; take your wife to look at a new place, and it's a dump. Teresa was pissed. How can you make someone move into a dump ? I'm not sure. But so far I haven't moved any thing into it. It's not like I have much choice, but I guess I'll have to get it up-to-snuff before I move anything. So that means we're stuck here for the day probably.
Anyway, with the lack of miles and the truck change scenario, I'm on a little of a downer.
The good news is that I'm showered and it's warm out and we have each other, so like they say "make lemonade from lemons" we're pretty good at that. Let you know how it works out.
1 comment:
That does stink about the lack of freight. It happens every year at this time. But because of the economy it's much worse.
I can't believe they would put you in a junker like you describe. I don't blame you for being a little Po'd.
Post a Comment