Fuel for Thought

One of those days...

              Yeah, today was one of those days... we all like to talk about the good days... the long runs, the high paying runs... the days we 'save the day' for someone.  Today wasn't it.

            Last night I accepted a relatively short run, that paid ok.. but involved higher deadhead to get to it.  The trade-off was that I would get a <75 status for running the short run.  Well, I arrived this morning at the appointed time to find an upset customer. Apparently there was a break-down in communication, and this customer requires appointments... the shipper set delivery time, but didn't confirm with the receiver.  I sweet talked them into taking it... then moved around to my dock assignment.. to realize there was NO RAMP.  I go back in, to find out they only take dock high vehicles, and they didn't realize I was in a cargo van.  So, the only way to get the load off was to break it down by hand, and restack it on the dock.  FedEx paid for the extra work, but it was just unexpected to be 'lumping' a load! 

         Load broke down, restacked, off back to home... get offered a short run from Columbus to Southern Ohio. Lil 100 mile run, delivering this afternoon.. I figure 'what the heck' and grab it, knowing there will still be time for another.  Well, of course after I accept it, the customer changes the delivery time to TOMORROW.  dang it.    So that's the way my day went LOL... I can chalk it up to 'that's the way it happens sometimes' now.. but believe me, when that time changed this morning, I was not happy!

Dale is a solo van owner operator leased to FedEx Custom Critical, and can be reached with comments at [email protected] ,or by using the comments section below.