A Royal Christmas Story

Hello Merry Christmas to all on Planet Earth
First allow me to thank everyone involved with HWYBLOGS:Creators,Administrators,Users, and Readers. This is trully a great service Thank You!I am putting the word free back in my vocabulary.
Me:Ed(mr-ed)Villarreal
50 YO Male La Feria, TX
edwardv555@yahoo.com
TRK#376
My Employer:Royal Freight LP
407 W. Sioux Rd.Pharr, TX 78577
800-945-6116,800-687-6098
Company:250 Trucks & Drivers 48 State & Canada Dry Van
Trucks: 2004 and newer 379 Peter Builts 475 CAT 12 Speed Meritor Automatic Trans.
Drivers:start at .027 cents per mile 1 cent raise after 1 year....
$50.00 cash advance availiable every other day costs driver 7.00 for each advance.
Drivers pay for FED EX envelope each trip at 16.00 each.
Drivers Put up a 450.00 Escrow at 22.50 per week to start work refundable 90 days after termination if you are clear.
Drivers buy there own washer fluid if you want to use it. No reimbersment for this. Driver pays for initial drug screen and Physical. We use company issued loose leaf logs.
Why am I sitting in Dallas, TX. on Christmas day 2005, I have been here since Fri.12-23-05 and will prob. be here till tomorow If I get a load going back to the house.
Well I delivered a load of Magazines to R&R Donnaly Memphis TN on Mon 12-19-05.When I got there they told me the load is for Tue the 20th. After a little pleading they gave me a door unload and drop MT in their yard. I go to PETRO W.Memphis AR.as is custom here, Donnaly in Memphis is a regular customer for ROYAL. I do the TS thing at PETRO Wash, Shower, Eat,...At 5:00pm I get Qual-Com Message Pick-Up load R&R Donnaly Memphis Going to Houston, TX at 6:00pm Deliver Houston 8:00am Tue. At 8:00pm I call Donnaly load not ready at 9:30 not ready at 10:00pm I and another Royal driver go to Donnaly and they are clossed for the day.Bobtailing back to Petro my Transmission is acting up shifting up and down and going to neutral on it's own.At 6:30 amTue the other driver wakes me up he is going back for his load that he was supposed to pick-up Mon at 6:00pm. I have to wait and call shop, I said have a safe trip.Our shop opens at 8:00am Dispatch sends me message what are you doing in Memphis you should be in Houston you are a day late.I explain I called after hours got no ansewer.I take truck to PB of Memphis They fix a wiring harness prob. I go back to PETRO send Message am ready to role.5:00PM I get Message pick-up pre loaded at Donnaly 6:00pm One problem here Donnaly does not pre load Royal Trailers.Iget to Donnaly at 5:45pm sign in find MT wait in line for door, again about 6 other Royal trucks here all going to TX:
All Donnaly loads are heavy and uneven this has always been a problem I address to our safty dept.These loads always shift no way to load lock staks on staks of magazines.First week of Dec. I scaled a Donnaly load from Lancaster PA to Memphis TN. Heavy but leagle. Untill I got to last East bound scale in TN Pre Pass turns RED I pull in Bring in Paper work. Officer tells me My trailer is 4000 lbd over.I tell him must be a load shift I check sure enough. I still get ticket road dammage 280.00 over weight 170.00 I am stuck with fine company wont help me.Back to Tue night waiting at Donnaly Again all Royal loads to TX are not ready untill after 11:00pm mine and another drivers were last 12:00 midniteWed. 12-21-05. Load gauge on dash shows load is heavy so we have the privilage of going to the wonderfullPILOT on US-78 Lamar street in Memphis We are both heavy on trailer and adjust weight.In the prosses of sliding my transmission goes out again I call shop after hours they tell me how to do a quick reset this gets me back to Petro, other driver goes to TX I am still in Memphis.I take truck to PB again another harness is replaced. I go back to PETRO at 2:30PM. 5:00PM message again go to Donally pick up pre loaded to Coppel TX west of Dallas, Did I mention there are no p.Loaded Trls at Donnaly EVER.Well at 1:00AM thurs. I get my bills. Remember the no sleeper spliting rule? And I have been working since 8:00am Wed.My gauge shows heavy again, at this point I decided this is not where I want to work. I drive out and Stop at scale house in W. Memphis AR. and ask that they PLEASE PUT ME OUT OF SERVICE. I dont want to fall asleep on I 40.In the morning I call in tell dispatch I was put uot of service for violation of 14 hour rule, They tell me that is imposible.You have not even driven 100 miles yesterday.I get the feeling they know I put myself out of service.It is Friday morning and I am on my Way to Post office in Copple TX, I get there at 4:00PM. Send in MT call no response.I have not heard from company since.By this time I know they know that I am upset.I belive they want me to deadhead to the house or yard keep my escrow and fire me.
We have to pay Royaly for every thing at ROYAL FREIGHT,I just wonder why the Company Supplies The Loose leaf log sheets at no cost to the driver. Just a perk I guess.
It is Christmas and I thank GOD for all my blessings, And I wish every one a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a SAFE New Year
THX MUCH
Ed (mr-ed)Villarreal

Category Posted: General