Back in the day...2008
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Did I mention rules? Boy, do I have rules!!!! Every state is different too, different travel times, different mandated max speeds, different curfews, as well being routed. It’s a lot to keep up with, and it changes constantly. Some guys do it on their own, kinda, sorta. Not me. I can’t afford the fines. I have help.
Mission Control
I have Mission Control. My wife at home is Mission Control.
I have more electronics in my truck and at the House than did the Gemini Astronauts. (metaphorically if not literally). The wife and I use these telecommunication and computers as tools to make my life tolerable.
A Typical Load
A typical load goes something like this:
I receive a load offer via email. Normally I accept but occasionally not. If I accept the load then I receive, via email/fax what we call a “HardCopy”. The HardCopy or LoadSheet has all the information available concerning that particular load. Since I’m normally driving I don’t usually SEE the email, the wife does.
I’ve got the electronics setup such that whenever I get something the wife (ground control) also gets it. The advantage of this is that while I’m driving down the road trying to avoid running over idiot 4-wheelers she can analyze the load, do some things needed with the carrier, the customer, even the DOT as needed.
She calls me. Many, many times a day, and vice versa. We have phone plans such that home/mobile is free and free long distance from the house. That’s key, Mission Control is apt to call anyone anywhere at anytime. Without free long distance we’d be up a creek.
Teamwork
We discuss the load, the route and the particulars.
Shortly I receive an “inbound map file” That’s a Delorme “thing”. We both have Delorme Street Atlas 2008 on our computers.(2009 is unsuitable) When she gets a HardCopy she then proceeds to “route” me from wherever I am to wherever I need to be. This is sometimes tricky and might involve a few phone calls. Typically she’ll call the shipper for inbound directions, then “routes” it, producing a “map file”. Then she sends the map file to my computer, via wireless internet (air card). Upon receipt I then execute that file and bingo, follow the yellow brick road to the shipper.
After I load it gets tricky. By this time we usually have at least one State Permit. The states normally route oversize loads. Mission Control has produced a map file of the route. I have it on my computer. The only problem now is time. Am I in a “curfew” zone? Will I be in one soon? Are there any other time provisions that disallow travel? (Some places won’t allow travel on Friday afternoon for crying out loud!!!)
If all is clear I go.
Enroute
If I have ANY problems I call her, she then calls the appropriate person.
In addition to specific load associated problems there are other niggley things she takes care of. Like Settlements. For example, this last load we got overpaid. That’s bad, I want what I’m entitled to and not a penny more (or less). The problem with being overpaid is that eventually the carrier will discover it and take the money. I might be without a paycheck when I NEED one, best to not let that happen.
And then there’s the endless inspections, insurance updates, stickers of various kinds, and keeping all the permits up to date.
It’s at LEAST a half time job, more maybe.
