So, they screwed up… again? (Patreon)

I apologize for the lack of journal last week. it was an uneventful week, and I couldn’t find anything to talk about.

This week thought…

I knew this week was going to end on an interesting note. Anytime I deliver in BC on a Friday, it’s interesting because I never know if they’re going to find me a reload or I’m going to spend the weekend there. It used to bother me, because the only 2 truckstop in the area are Petro-pass, and they only allow customers to park there overnight, but we now deal with them, so I don’t mind.

What I didn’t realize was that this is a long weekend, actually, I didn’t realize that until after everything was resolved.

And the company was dealing with another problem(screw up) they were going to send my way.

Here is the situation I was offered. the company missed a pickup in South Dakota on Friday, the customer absolutely needs the load in Gramby, QC, by the time they open their doors this coming Friday otherwise it will cause a shut down of the production line (this is what’s called dumping your inventory on the carrier, or the official term “Just in Time Delivery”) and my company isn't willing to sell the load to another carrier so they can ensure it's there on time. (this is my guess, not what I've been told)

The plan on how to execute this is to give me a reload in BC that I’ll drop in Calgary, grab a new trailer and drive enoty to South Dakota for the pickup on Tuesday, since they are closed on Monday (due to the holiday, but I hadn’t realized that at that point). I ran the numbers, it meant running hard, but I was okay with it, I tend to be more liniant when with the company when I’m given time to work things out. It’s the “youi have to do this now” that makes me balk.

So I said yes, with the addition that any delay would screw things up. I wasn’t surprised when the reply was “well then, make sure you don’t have delays”. Like I’m the one who controls that.

Once I’m at he dock, first thing Friday morning, I check for my reload, and there’s nothing assigned to me yet. I check with the scheduler, and they are still working on it.

This is why Fridays are interesting. Because it’s now looking like I’ll be dealing with a delay, and it might be a big one.

Half an hour before the unloading is done (I know this company quite well) I check in again, still nothing, so Again I contact the scheduler. In the mean time I get my next assignement, which is the pickup in South Dakota.

Instead of wasting time with calls to confirm, I immediately ask for my paperwork to cross the border empty, and I’ll admit I’m surprised when I get it. At the same time as the scheduler replies to my email explaiing that because they can’t find anything, and that having me sit for 3 days (this is when I learned about the long holiday) would end up costing them about the same as paying me to drive empty, they want me to just drive to South Dakota for the pickup.

Which is what I’m doing. Somewhat surprisingly, the rest fo Friday went without major problems, and because I drove in the US, my long day ended 2 hours earlier than it would have if I’d driven to Calgary. (IN Canada I can drive for 13 hours, while in the US it’s only 11)

Writing wise, this coming week should be when Stepping Up will move to posting every other day. there should be 2 posting this week, after that it will be 3 a week.

Also, Fenclaw named another character. Johanna Cross will be making her Debut in chapter 12 of Stepping Up.

And with that. I, will wish you a good day.