Hauling Air Freight
Charles and I have been hauling (truck lingo for pulling a trailer that is filled with - in this case - air freight) for almost four years. In air freight, you pick up freight from one airport and then, running your butt off, to deliver it to another airport. We don’t actually go into the terminals (well, actually, once we did), we go to the terminals conveniently located near the airports. Apparently, with all the changes to our airline industry lately it is much quicker than moving freight in a plane all the way. It must also be cheaper too. Although I must mention here that while we don’t get paid the big bucks, the customer is certainly charged the big bucks!
Hurry up and wait is exactly what hauling air freight is all about. You pick up your load at one terminal and are given a running time to get it to the next terminal. At our company, that running time averages out to around 55 mph. On the shorter runs the running time is even tighter, averaging out to around 57 to 58 mph. That doesn't leave you a lot of time to take care of your more humanly needs. We are lucky in that we have a truck with a sleeper that has a shower, bathroom, sink and refrigerator. We can get regular showers and, even though most of the time we do it while we are driving, we can also eat healthier. We purchased the kind of truck known as a "big house" for that very reason.
When we arrive at our destination, we may have another load waiting for us. We have run as much as 8,600 miles in one week. We have also run as little as 1,500 in a week. That is very bad for a team who can average out at 5,500 per week. Remember, for us revenue is based on how many miles we run. Our loads usually deliver early in the morning and don’t leave until either very late that same night or very early the next morning. As professionals we make sure that we have had the proper rest in order to get the job done. Sometimes that means trying to fall asleep in the middle of the day so that you don’t fall asleep in the middle of the night. That can really wreck havoc on your circadian rhythm. Charles and I try to work it so that he mostly works nights and I mostly work days. But, still, some days I start at 10 or 11 a.m. and some days I start as early as 1 or 2 a.m. and for him vice versa.
Sometimes I get upset at all the negativity that is directed to the truck drivers of America. After all, we haul the kind of things that Americans cannot live without. We haul everything from what you find at your local grocer to what you find at your local mall. We haul medical supplies. The list goes on and on. There is one saying that I am especially proud of: If you bought, it a truck brought it. I am very proud to be a truck driver. I am also very proud to be a business owner. My business cards say it all: Working for America – Coast to Coast.
While we as truck drivers need to do our part to help improve our image, there are also some things some of our carriers can do (but many choose not to) to help us as well. You can read about that in an article I wrote for Inside Trucking at: http://www.insidetruckingonline.com/IT/index.cfm. Also, go to http://driverhealth.org/DH/Archives.cfm and click on the July issue to see what a few of my friends and I are doing to bring about a positive and healthy change to our industry. As a flegling writer, I am proud to say that article was my very first opportunity to flex my pen. Thanks Driver Health!
I’ll keep you all posted on our adventures, so make sure to visit from time to time. In the mean time, take care and drive safely.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
Travel Centers of America, the new breed of "Big Corporations"
Hubby and I want to send a shout out to Travel Centers of America. You know, nowadays, it seems as if the “big corporations” are only out for themselves. Oh sure, they talk the good talk, but when it really comes down to it they are only interested in one thing: M O N E Y. We’ve all experienced it out here on the road. We buy something only to have it go bad way past the 30 day period. Then, just try to get the item replaced or, better yet, just try and get your money back. I think three little letters says it all: you are SOL.
We are happy to have found out that is not the case with Travel Centers of America. Recently we went to one of their shops to get some work done. Unfortunately, in spite of everyone’s best efforts, it didn’t turn out the way we had hoped. We ended up with a very big problem on our hands. Our transmission was blown. So there we were, shut down in Abilene, Texas. We got a room at the Whitten Inn (a very nice little hotel by the way), rented a car and prepared ourselves to do battle with our truck’s manufacturer.
Along the way, while we were trying to get the manufacturer to fix a problem we thought they should fix, we also contacted the Travel Centers of America. We explained the problem and to our surprise, they were willing to work with us on our transmission problem. Mind you, we still hadn’t heard back from the truck manufacturer yet. But here was Travel Centers of America willing to step up and help us out all because that’s who they are!
As it turned out, the truck manufacturer agreed to replace our transmission at no cost to ourselves. But to us, the fact that Travel Centers of America was so quick to step up to the plate went a long way. Not only that, but even when they were “off the hook” so to speak, they even agreed to cover any expenses we incurred (hotel, car rental, etc.) while we were down. We just don’t know what to even think about that. It kind of messes up our whole mind set about the so called “big corporations.” Well, let us tell you, the Travel Centers of America aren’t your regular “big corporations.” They are a new breed of corporations who believe in corporate responsibility. It kind of makes our eyes water a little bit. Here we were all set to hate all “big corporations” and along comes a “big corporation” that gives us pause.
Way to go Travel Centers of America. You guys went out of your way for us and we want everyone to know about it! Thank you so very much for renewing our faith in your “big corporation.”
Hubby and I want to send a shout out to Travel Centers of America. You know, nowadays, it seems as if the “big corporations” are only out for themselves. Oh sure, they talk the good talk, but when it really comes down to it they are only interested in one thing: M O N E Y. We’ve all experienced it out here on the road. We buy something only to have it go bad way past the 30 day period. Then, just try to get the item replaced or, better yet, just try and get your money back. I think three little letters says it all: you are SOL.
We are happy to have found out that is not the case with Travel Centers of America. Recently we went to one of their shops to get some work done. Unfortunately, in spite of everyone’s best efforts, it didn’t turn out the way we had hoped. We ended up with a very big problem on our hands. Our transmission was blown. So there we were, shut down in Abilene, Texas. We got a room at the Whitten Inn (a very nice little hotel by the way), rented a car and prepared ourselves to do battle with our truck’s manufacturer.
Along the way, while we were trying to get the manufacturer to fix a problem we thought they should fix, we also contacted the Travel Centers of America. We explained the problem and to our surprise, they were willing to work with us on our transmission problem. Mind you, we still hadn’t heard back from the truck manufacturer yet. But here was Travel Centers of America willing to step up and help us out all because that’s who they are!
As it turned out, the truck manufacturer agreed to replace our transmission at no cost to ourselves. But to us, the fact that Travel Centers of America was so quick to step up to the plate went a long way. Not only that, but even when they were “off the hook” so to speak, they even agreed to cover any expenses we incurred (hotel, car rental, etc.) while we were down. We just don’t know what to even think about that. It kind of messes up our whole mind set about the so called “big corporations.” Well, let us tell you, the Travel Centers of America aren’t your regular “big corporations.” They are a new breed of corporations who believe in corporate responsibility. It kind of makes our eyes water a little bit. Here we were all set to hate all “big corporations” and along comes a “big corporation” that gives us pause.
Way to go Travel Centers of America. You guys went out of your way for us and we want everyone to know about it! Thank you so very much for renewing our faith in your “big corporation.”
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