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Estes | Snow

Cab Lizzard said:
Fed X Ground is scary any time of the year ...
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I'd say the same thing about a bunch of our drivers. I've spoken with a few new hires who have never pulled a set and were thrown out there without the proper training.
When I was an owner operator with FDX GRD, I had to go through a lot training. Their equipment (trailers and dollies) was a whole lot newer than here in Estes.
Then again it could be that since 90% of their drivers are foreigners (Russian) they didn't comprehend any of training; and who knows how they had cdl's because most of them hardly spoke English.

Any who,
Happy New Year!
 
WTF So it was your bad to have moving violations, trying to get on with them ? And some foreigners good not to able to comprehend english ?
 
I know they were very strict with any kind of tickets (dont know about now), but back then they had a point system for bidding on runs, e.i. If u were late on so many occasions you got a certain number of points, or if u got a speeding ticket u got whatever points they had for speeding. I was out of their Charlotte hub (tues-sat) and most of their drivers were russians. All in all it was a good company, but IMO not enough $$ to be an owner operator and have no benefits at all
 
I find that NOT conveying my discomfort with a particular run will get me in trouble for sure at Estes, meaning if I feel uncomfortable about running a trip on a route that is expected to be bad, heavy snow and what not, and take the run, it's on ME!

3 Winters ago?(Just before thxgiv 2009 or 2010), I was in the motel in SLC and due to run in the late evening. I called in, and who ever it was on duty told me I was going to go to Grand Junction. Well, I had already been through 2 out of 3 "waves" of snow the past few days and done great, running to Tri-Cities (laydown) and back, then trying to go to Tri-Cities again, but only making it to Boise(too many spinouts & slide offs on the road between Burley and MTN Home that night!), then back to SLC. This third wave had me concerned big time!

I did my research VERY well that night in the motel, and UT6/HWY6 was expecting a foot or so of snow. I70 would have been fine based on my research, but getting to I70 was the problem! LOL

The dispatcher told me to call back in an hour, after I mentioned all the above. I called back, they had decided to cancel ALL Grand Junction runs that night! I was obviously relieved! ;) (p.s.-ended up staying in the motel until the next day)

I am coming up on 20 years of having a CDL (where the hell did time go?!?!?!?!?), and STILL don't have a lot of snow & ice experience, it just panned out that way! 12 Years over at CWX/Con-Way, is most of the reason, 6 years in Phoenix, no chains there, and six years with a dock bid mostly (did little line runs to local towns) in Pasco WA. No chains there either! LOL

Any way, I realize that when the snow hits the fan, it is BEST to make a logical choice. Take into consideration what time of the day it is, what day of the week it is, how much snow, for how far, how many hours I have already worked (...or not) etc, THEN decide if I should take the run or not. Of course, I ASK dispatch if I can or not, take the run, you know what I mean.

I have had to look at reality MANY times in my trucking career, and say to myself, "Hey, a hell of a lot of truckers are making that run tonight, so can I!", especially if I have already had 10 off or more. Some of you guys are just GIFTED and/or GREAT drivers! I applaud that, but unfortunately, I am a "Timid Turtle" LOL ;)

Happy New Years everyone, and what ever you do, do it safe huh? :)
 
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I drove 24 years without throwing a single chain, lived in So. Cal I had run 48 and 11 western but always stopped when it got to where chains were required...I had that choice. Then I took the run between grand Junction and Denver and that was no longer an option, I sat out a couple of storms mostly when the interstate got shut down and I layed down in Denver a few nights after burning to many hours getting there but after driving in So. Cal traffic all those years throwing chains and going was not bad. With that said had they changed my run to a daylight run I would not have done it because of the ski traffic!
It is funny you mention Soldier Summit ( UT/6 HWY6 ) I used to joke with our Poc. drivers that came across it, that the top of that summit (elevation about 7000 ft) was about the same elevation of Vail Co. where my climb into the mountains started.......And before someone gets offended read where I said "JOKE with them. Truck safely everyone.
 
nctruckdriver said:
I know they were very strict with any kind of tickets (dont know about now), but back then they had a point system for bidding on runs, e.i. If u were late on so many occasions you got a certain number of points, or if u got a speeding ticket u got whatever points they had for speeding. I was out of their Charlotte hub (tues-sat) and most of their drivers were russians. All in all it was a good company, but IMO not enough $$ to be an owner operator and have no benefits at all
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They must start "giving a damn" after you hire on... I know that one driver has 6 moving violations on him and he's still there... It could be an Affirmative Action thing though, if ya know what I mean...
 
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