Question:
I went on 'personal leave' from Werner the end of December. I have been hired by a 'better' company and needed to take care of some business. Basically I had to run a female Neapolitan Mastiff from Roswell New Mexico to a good friend in North Carolina who will take care of her and whelp her puppys for a reasonable price. I allready have 2 people willing to pay $2500 a puppy. But alas she isn't cooperating and Im still waiting for her to come in heat(overdue). I began to run low on $$ and knew the answer- WORK LOL. But didnt want to start with the new company then have to take off for another week or so while I get her bred. So back with Werner untill she is ready .
Got to the Lithia Springs terminal Friday....couldnt get the kind of truck I wanted(and had trained in and drove the last 6 months). Why?- EVERYBODY wants Centuries. Call my dispatcher- she has no pull she says- its all done by computor in Omaha....bs bs..
Then I have to meet with Safety and talk with logs. I had violated the HOS Dec 22 because after running out of hrs at a wallmart DC I had to leave and find a safe haven- that or get arrested. Found a rest area 10 miles away- not good enough for Werner. Also violated their VR report(macro 46) a couple times. So I got shut down for 24 hrs. The safety man tells me- if you fuel after midnight stop just before the fuel island, do the 46 THEN WAIT 15 MINUTES TO FUEL.- "Any questions ?...any Answers?" I kept my mouth shut but wanted to tell him- YES- QUIT THIS LOUSEY COMPANY LOL. Before I leave he tells me- next time its 72 hrs.
Ok- I got my older classic but do a pretrip and find the brights wont shut off. 25 hrs after turning my key into the shop Im still number 10 on their list- "dont ask me the guy says- OMAHA MAKES THE LIST...LOL.
Well at least there are showers here(cleaned once a day) and internet.
God I cant wait untill this dog of mine comes into heat !!

Answer:
I would take the Century over a classic any day. I would take it over a Pete as well.
Dosn't and shouldn't matter what you trained in . A CDL CLASS a DRIVER. Should be able to figure it all out.
Even a 2 stick chit spreader is simple.
It comes down to you wanting to work or wanting a certain truck..202 N Main Street
Summerfield Il 62289
TRUCK PARKING AVAILABLE!

Answer:

I got a classic- Im ok with that-like I told a driver here- just need a truck to make $$ with- I guess Im just (edited). I drove a 98 FLD with a million miles on it for 2 weeks during training-was fine. Then a classic my first 3 weeks on my own. Just prefer a century in tight situations- but what do I know.

Answer:

You can get a truck that you want provided one is available, Your FM can have some pull as to the assignment of your truck. You can also call Fleet assignments directly at the terminal you are going to and see they have the truck model you want available. I just got my third truck in Springfield, I wanted a Classic, my FM called to make the arrangements but told me no Classics all they had left was a Century. I called Fleet assigments in Springfield and asked directly if i could get a Classic, she said sure but your FM reserved this Century for you, I told Fleet assignments that I would like a Classic, she said no probable and gave me the truck# and to move into it when I get their, and to get with her in the AM to do the paperwork.
Trucks may be assigned by the computer, but Fleet assignments puts it into the computer.
Keep in mind the VR is not a Werner requirement( "their VR") it is DOT/FMCSA requirement. Also since Werner drivers cannot "Sign" their logs, the VR serves as you signature.

Answer:
Thanks Drew- its as I thought. My first dispatcher obviously DID had some pull because there were two guys ahead of me that wanted centurys and were told there were none- I got an 05 with 34,000 miles. When I drove for team werner our dispatcher deadheaded us home 200 miles one time and we went on personal drive time. But the dispatcher I have now is pretty good- just perhaps unsure of what she can do. Im not really worried- Ill run a month straight(unless my dog comes in heat lol) then thats it.
And yes- I know the VR is a DOT requirement- but surely DOT would not insist it be done before fueling after midnight and then WAIT 15 minutes. I doubt very much drivers on paperlogs would get hauled in for heading to the nearest safe haven from a shipper/receiver if their hrs were up- after all its hard to tell JUST HOW LONG you were there(unless its time stamped).

Answer:

Thats right, the only stipulation is that it is the last entry on the logs of the duty day. If you are driving past midnight, then you should do the VR on your next duty status change, before you proceed again with your driving. As far as waiting 15mins, thats not necessary as the VR doesnt have a duty status associated with it and it is not "charged" against the HOS. Unlike the VI which is the first logable entry following a completed 10hr break, then you must wait 15mins after the break, because the VI entry to line 4 is automatic. If you dont wait the 15min the VI will "cut" into your 10hr and cause a violation.
If your wait at the shipper or reciever is going to cut into your HOS, there isnt much I can say about that but to try and flat line your drive to the "Safe haven". I had to do the same as you did a few nights ago, I got loaded and ran out of 14, I sent my load msg (mac2) and flat lined a line 3 for about 3 miles to a safe haven. Logs questioned it and violated me. but when I reviewed my logs for the day it didnt show any driving past the 14hr. (im doing some research and fighting with logs on it).

Answer:
Your first duty change after midnight must be a macro 46 VR. The problem with fueling (or emptying or loading) around midnight is that the system back-logs the 15 minutes from the time you sent the message. If you hang-up the fuel handle and complete your fuel tansaction more than 7 minutes past midnight, the system puts the line-4 fuel at 000-0015. So your VR must be sent (and leave your truck) before you fuel in the 0000-0015 quarter hour.
But don't feel bad. You're in good company with the 46 violation. I just got one last night because I decided to stay where I was instead of move the truck again. that's where I get them -- when I change plans and space-out off duty while the clock slips past midnight......
There's a whole lot of stuff the paperless logs "make" you do that a paper logging driver could routinely fudge. Technically, you're supposed to have your paper log signed and start drawing a line on the next day at midnight. But I have yet to meet a driver who sets their alarm to wake up and do this instead of putting it off till the next morning when they get started again. By the way -- talking to three different Swift drivers this last week and all said they've been told Swift is going to the same paperless log system somethime this year.
And while I've got you -- you mentioned going to Swift to make more money? if you want to make more money at Werner, go 48-state instead of regional. It's about 10%-20% more gross on average and you get full cpm for deadhead instead of having to negotiate with your fleet manager for extra money on the long ones. Then become a trainer -- like you were talking about at Swift anyway -- and you'll be doing good dollar and keep the annual service and safety bonnuses you've accumulated time to. Maybe you have other reasons to leave Werner -- wouldn't blame you -- but if it's just money, a 48-state trainer should do just as well at Werner as at Swift.
Freight's slow right now -- our west at least -- worst January I've had in a long time. They're in no hurry to fix your truck like they would be if operations really needed you. And yes -- unfortunately -- Gra-Gar Omaha extablishes the shop priority list. The mechanics work on the next one Omaha tells them to. Your fm's supervisor, the Fleet Supervisor, can contact Omaha to move you up the priority list if you're caught in an endless cycle of getting bumped on the shop list. If nothing else, you should be able to negotiate a little PX pay on top of the shop layover come Monday when your daytime fm comes back. Remember to ask for these extra payments (including ecessive DH) because they won't offer them otherwise.

Answer:
Thanks....Well if Swift does go paperless Ill have a head start. I did run 48 states for 4 months- just switched after my EX Fiance ruptured a disc.As for pay- Swift will pay 34cpm for 6 months experiance on 48 states- you know what Werner pays. They are paying out a penny per mile bonus I believe on trainies miles run for the 3 months after they leave the trainer. Flat line the line 3- Believe me I try that alot LOL... I call it lurking or 'stealth mode'Best was running up a couple exits from the Omaha terminal, having the trl refused then back to the terminal. I was never picked up on line 3. I believe not crossing a zip code has a lot to do with it. You can run around the Lithia Springs terminal while on a 34 hr restart and wont be picked up either. A couple of months ago I picked up a loaded Trl at colgate Palmolive(about 4-5 miles from the terminal)- sent in my loaded message- and went to line 3(no I didnt try to combine the loaded macro with the VI LOL) But one time in Billings it backfired- I ran about 7 miles to the Flying J and the $%#@ log lady put me down for 45 mins on line 3 LOL.

Answer:
A couple of months ago I picked up a loaded Trl at colgate Palmolive(about 4-5 miles from the terminal)- sent in my loaded message- and went to line 3(no I didnt try to combine the loaded macro with the VI LOL) But one time in Billings it backfired- I ran about 7 miles to the Flying J and the $%#@ log lady put me down for 45 mins on line 3 LOL.
Sometimes logs will do a combination sometimes they wont, just check the log detail if it doesnt show a combo, send macro 50 correcting one of the line 4 to line 1. in the explaination specifie the combo i.e "combine VI+load", or "combine VI+fuel", etc. If logs tries to "sell" you more line 3 time than you actually drove, again send a mac50 with the accurate line 3 time and in the explanation, write "check odometer".
Sometimes log department thinks that they control your logs, they do not, in fact one of the stipulations of the exeptions from paper logs from the FMCSA is that the driver must retain control of the logging. Our log department, in its basic form is no different than any other company, except they get to see or logs in real time at that time. Your really cannot "cheat" the logs but you can use them to your advantage, when you really learn how to work them.
I also know its not zip code to zip code. I think the satilite has grid lines over the ground that tracks the trucks movement, (as well as actual moverment) as long as you dont cross the line you can move about freely, without tripping to line 3. probable is you dont know where the grid lines are. Ive learned through experimenting in a few selected locations where i can move the truck without triping to line 3.
One of the worst offending locations is our fuel stop at the Lamar Pa TA. I moved the truck from fuel island to parking, not only did it put me to line 3, it also put me into a different city. (I almost busted a gut laughing). a simple mac50 "check odometer" solved the problem.
I cannot imagine Swift on electronic logs, man, they would have to change the whole way they operate. (Swift operating legal, yuh right), that should just about put them into a tail spin.

Answer:
PS:
Just wanted to add: Im finishing a 34hr break (I really needed it, Been running wild, and scraping the bottom of the 70 for a couple of weeks. ill be heading out, and probably wont be back on the net for awhile.
Dont be discouraged, make the best of the company you stay with or go to. Dont expect any company to hand you anything. If you do your best each and every load, keep a good attitude with everybody you come into contact with (shipper/receivers/FM's, whomever) you can be having the worst day of your life but always be kind and presentable to these people. they will make or break you, if really is your choice.
PSS:
(I really do not suggest you go to Swift,bad, bad, bad move. Ive meet very few "happy" Swift drivers. One other company I wont get anywhere near, I dont want to say there name but there initials start with JB. Im sure you will do no better at these two companies, than if you stay put for awhile.
Keep smiling, and maintain the patience the Lord bless' us with.

Answer:
I think the worst part about this is the fact that you are breeding a dog for money - the AKC strongly suggest that you are what is considered a "puppy mill" - breeding should be done to improve the breed as a whole.

Answer:

revassago- you dont know a damn thing about me so shaddup lol... if you did you would find out i am known in many countries and am well respected by many. breed for $$- thats mostly a joke- but here you have no idea.

Answer:
To Drew10- perhaps you may be right about cheating the electronic logs but how would you explain driving 814 miles (MM 176 route 80 in Nevada to east of Cheyanne) in 11.25 hrs ? LOL.

Answer:

You're right - I only know you by what you post here - and by that I know that you are a know-it-all bum.

So now you're Mr. International?

Hey - you're the one who posted that you were looking forward to the dog going into heat so you could get - what was it - $2500 a puppy? Sounds like a puppy mill to me.

Answer:

revassago- i dont doubt you know trucking, but you have little need to know the market on neapolitan mastiffs- and you dont. Actually puppy millers probally dont get as much $$ per puppy as I will.