This has been a difficult winter. Actually, I'm inclined to say that it has been the most challenging winter season I've had in my entire trucking decade. For whatever reason, the variety of trips I used to get from Pohl has disappeared, and I have spent 99% of my time simply running back and forth between the east coast and the Ohio/Indiana area. I've frequently bitched in my blog about how atrociously bad the Pennsylvania roads are during winter weather conditions. The worst in the country (of the places I go, at least). Ohio is usually pretty good, but for whatever reason they are just not on the ball tonight. I-70 and I-71 were both littered with wrecks. I spent (a very illegal) 13 hours behind the wheel today and didn't even make it to where I was supposed to be. That's pretty rare for me... but I spent at least half the day moving at 20mph or less. What more can be expected? It gets there when it gets there. Keeping myself and my cargo intact is a lot more important than anyone's appointment schedule.
Anyhow, I've also got my eyes and ears open for a new employer. I've been with Pohl for a number of years now, and have weathered a few changes that I was less than enthusiastic about... but something is happening tomorrow that I simply cannot tolerate. I'll be heading into the shop for a bit of scheduled maintenance, but they will also be turning down the speed limit of my truck. It'll only go SIXTY with my foot on the pedal, and 64 in cruise control. I have a problem with this for several reasons:
-The owner of the company THINKS this is going to save fuel. If you measured fuel mileage on a flat surface, that might be so. But considering the hilly terrain and the extremely heavy loads we usually carry, turning the trucks down this much will actually make them all work that much harder trying to maintain momentum and climb hills. It's simple physics, and I am virtually certain the result will not be very good.
-Longer hours with less accomplished. It's minor, but it still means less money in my pocket.
-I refuse to drive for one of the slowest fleets on the road. I mean this is NOT EVEN the speed limit in most places. Unacceptable. I'm hardly a lead-foot. Even though I was disappointed a couple years ago when they turned the trucks down from 68 to 65, I could live with it. So I couldn't really pass many people anymore... but at least I could usually maintain the speed limit. Not anymore.
-Safety. There are times when I over-ride the high-tech radar based cruise control system on my truck. It's normal behavior is to slow the truck down when it senses a vehicle in front of you. Sometimes it sees "ghosts" (ie - there isn't anything there, but it "senses" something anyhow and slows you down). Other times (and particularly while climbing a hill), I simply need to maintain all the momentum I can get, and not have the system back me off from whatever is in front of me. So putting my foot down on the pedal and the actual result of that being my truck SLOWS DOWN... it's a recipe for disaster. It's simply unsafe. Believe it or not, I'm actually smarter than my truck. I'm the driver. This is just a ridiculous decision.
Naturally I could mention all of these things to any of the several people named Pohl at the company. But it's already too late. The decision is made, I don't own the truck, and I'm just a peon.
So I guess despite the fact that they generally treat me a lot better than most places would, it is perhaps time to move on. I'm not in a hurry, at least. I guess the best time to look for a job is when you already have one and aren't desperate. Fact of the matter is, I'm a very desirable employee. I'm young (by trucking standards) but come with 10 years of experience and a PERFECT driving record. I'm no longer licensed to carry hazardous materials, but I could pick up that endorsement again without much difficulty if it were necessary.
I'm actually giving a bit of consideration to pulling a refrigerated trailer, despite the fact that I've always been pretty opposed to doing so in the past. The main reason I'm considering it this time is I know of a company that would give me coast-to-coast runs as a SOLO driver. Most runs like that are given to teams, for reasons of expedition. It's tempting. I could really hit areas of the country I'm not used to going to (ie - Los Angeles, Portland/Seattle, across the Dakotas). Plus I'd get down to Miami and Laredo a lot more often.
Anyhow, that's one possibility. I've got a lot of homework to do before I make any decisions.
Anyhow, I've also got my eyes and ears open for a new employer. I've been with Pohl for a number of years now, and have weathered a few changes that I was less than enthusiastic about... but something is happening tomorrow that I simply cannot tolerate. I'll be heading into the shop for a bit of scheduled maintenance, but they will also be turning down the speed limit of my truck. It'll only go SIXTY with my foot on the pedal, and 64 in cruise control. I have a problem with this for several reasons:
-The owner of the company THINKS this is going to save fuel. If you measured fuel mileage on a flat surface, that might be so. But considering the hilly terrain and the extremely heavy loads we usually carry, turning the trucks down this much will actually make them all work that much harder trying to maintain momentum and climb hills. It's simple physics, and I am virtually certain the result will not be very good.
-Longer hours with less accomplished. It's minor, but it still means less money in my pocket.
-I refuse to drive for one of the slowest fleets on the road. I mean this is NOT EVEN the speed limit in most places. Unacceptable. I'm hardly a lead-foot. Even though I was disappointed a couple years ago when they turned the trucks down from 68 to 65, I could live with it. So I couldn't really pass many people anymore... but at least I could usually maintain the speed limit. Not anymore.
-Safety. There are times when I over-ride the high-tech radar based cruise control system on my truck. It's normal behavior is to slow the truck down when it senses a vehicle in front of you. Sometimes it sees "ghosts" (ie - there isn't anything there, but it "senses" something anyhow and slows you down). Other times (and particularly while climbing a hill), I simply need to maintain all the momentum I can get, and not have the system back me off from whatever is in front of me. So putting my foot down on the pedal and the actual result of that being my truck SLOWS DOWN... it's a recipe for disaster. It's simply unsafe. Believe it or not, I'm actually smarter than my truck. I'm the driver. This is just a ridiculous decision.
Naturally I could mention all of these things to any of the several people named Pohl at the company. But it's already too late. The decision is made, I don't own the truck, and I'm just a peon.
So I guess despite the fact that they generally treat me a lot better than most places would, it is perhaps time to move on. I'm not in a hurry, at least. I guess the best time to look for a job is when you already have one and aren't desperate. Fact of the matter is, I'm a very desirable employee. I'm young (by trucking standards) but come with 10 years of experience and a PERFECT driving record. I'm no longer licensed to carry hazardous materials, but I could pick up that endorsement again without much difficulty if it were necessary.
I'm actually giving a bit of consideration to pulling a refrigerated trailer, despite the fact that I've always been pretty opposed to doing so in the past. The main reason I'm considering it this time is I know of a company that would give me coast-to-coast runs as a SOLO driver. Most runs like that are given to teams, for reasons of expedition. It's tempting. I could really hit areas of the country I'm not used to going to (ie - Los Angeles, Portland/Seattle, across the Dakotas). Plus I'd get down to Miami and Laredo a lot more often.
Anyhow, that's one possibility. I've got a lot of homework to do before I make any decisions.
VIEW 4 of 4 COMMENTS
fierfly:
Yep indeedie. Brign on the sun, sea and sand.
pandara:
OK. I've been out of the country for awhile. Can you fill me in on the politics??