Paul John:
Perhaps if we all chip in a few dollars, or promise to buy Newmercman a few pints, he may well do a few more stories of Across the Pond.
I’ve got plenty of material for T&D, I enjoy writing for them too, got some trip diaries already written, some really good pictures to go with them too, nice long trips like down to North Carolina, then up to the Oil Sands in Ft McMurray, then Vancouver and back to the yard, a diary of the music tour that I did around British Columbia, got a few things (not for public consumption) to sort out, so the ball’s in their court…
shauntel:
H&R in print in November issue of Truck and Driver mag, diary of 6000 miles in a freightliner by driver Keith Revell. How weird I got job offer yesterday from HR then get this with my morning paper, good Oman or bad■■?
It depends whether it’s a positive story, or a negative one, but do H&R advertise with the mag, and if so, would T&D publish a critical story concerning a big customer of theirs?
In my experience under the same people who run T&D today, they wouldn’t hesitate to call a spade a spade, so I would say that they would tell it as it is
The thing you have to consider Mick, one man’s meat is another’s poison. I had the same at Big Freight, it’s the worst job I’ve ever had, by far, I really don’t like some of the people in the office, not just because of their job either, I have a genuine dislike for them as people, but I have friends who work there and they’re happy, so my story of BFS and their view of the job will be poles apart
I do understand the ‘one mans meat’ anology and have also said many times in forums and the blog that there are happy people there, and guys who make plenty of miles, but I find it trying when some people make personal attacks on people who criticise companies. I just wanted miles at H&R and didn’t get them, nor layover when I was willing to role, and it still goes on with some. This Qtr at W&S I will have done over 37,000 miles, which, if it had happened at H&R would probably have kept me there! I have also said, and will say it again, I wish anyone the best of luck there (H&R) and I do like reading the different views.
a note for anyone coming over there is nowhere safe to park in the Wilmington/ Long Beach area lol did my tip of hay after sitting there for 8 hours some problems with the docks being closed for recieving or some rubbish so the yard was chocker. Nearest parking I could find was 50 miles away in the TA at Ontario CA not that I’m complaining was some nice food in there and sat there for the next day waiting for reload (good job get layover for that) so plenty of chance to sample the fine menu and couple dvd’s, 2 pick ups this time one in Vermon CA and the other in Oxnard CA. First collection no problem done and dusted after getting my wash out but the second one…
Waiting for crops to come in and get chilled so in the end myself and another driver gave them out phone numbers and bobtailed (run solo) downtown and ended up parked by the marina for the afternoon and a stroll along the beach not a bad way to spend the afternoon ran a few hours back up the road and parked up in Barstow for the night pinching the free wifi from Mcdonalds lol 2 day run now back to Lethbridge and must remember to check on the way to see if pars have cleared this time lol
Hi taffytrucker,
this is my first post here on this forum, please apologize for my crappy english, I’m originally from Germany.
I’m reading your posts since a while and I’m really surprised, what trips you have and especially the layover pay! Was working for H&R for more than 15 monthts and I wonder how much you get paid for posting these info’s about H&R.
You will soon realize that you waste a lot of time waiting unpaid for loads.
You are new here in this business in Canada and especially at H&R, you will see after a few months that your miles are dropping especially after the XL-Foods facility shut down for operations throughout Canada and the U.S.
It’s your experience what you have now with H&R but I think, it will not last for a long time, so will be aware that you will end in low miles and long waiting times for your next loads. Talked to lots of drivers over the last few months, Brits , Canadians and other foreign workers, They only got crappy trips and not lots of miles. Didn’t you get the messages about XL-Foods? There are not many loads going South but they try to keep everybody running?
Wish you best luck with H&R!
Hey kraut
Yea I know about XL foods and would be very shocked if they open back up this year, as for the loads right place right time I guess but also you have to remember that a lot of drivers want to be home at weekends and some of the best loads leave at the end of the week as most of mine have. I don’t think I have had a full weekend off since start of my mentor trip. Off on reset now so back in wednesday sometime so who knows where ill end up. Some guys moan about doing trips to BC but its still 600 miles or so and you still getting paid for it
Everything I’ve posted has been the truth how I find it others are different. I have always got my layover pay no problems, longest had to wait for a load is just over a day I use that time to do admin such as clean inside of truck or go do something like go down the beach like I did saturday while waiting to load. Its how YOU find it that matters as I have said and others here have said its not for everyone
Hi Taffy,
wish you all the best with H&R, but it was my experience as a foreign worker on a work permit…
Hope yoy have more luck, but that’s what i’ve heard from other drivers who are there for a longer time than you. In the first months it’s all rosy, but then…
Whatever, I’m done with H&R and wish you all the Best
Just read this months t&d there’s a diary by a H&R driver about 6000 miles in 15 days he seemed happy enough although I suppouse he ain’t going to slag them off in print.
Accoring to the news XL workers are going back to work so fingers crossed the loads be pilling up soon to head back south. Heard I’m off back to woodburn OR not a great long run but last time I was there ended up going to to CA for reload so fingers crossed
Bit of a strange week this one. As have heard XL beef been closed down so that’s a big chunk of work gone but they are back to precosseing meat that’s in stock but nowt to shipped out yet till another check is done, no kitty litter in stock from suppliers so again work gone there so been a couple days R&R back to it tomorrow down to Fullerton CA nice miles there to make up for time off. Even though been a slow week been kinda glad as got most of my winter shopping done at Marks works and got my snow chains sorted out and know how to put them on so fairly well prepaired for the winter ahead. Touch of snow in Lethbridge other night but rained and all gone the next day
Take it from me Taff, a set of chains and a wooly hat will not prepare you for winter
40c below freezing is FFFFFFFFFF[zb]ing cold, so cold that your snot freezes and your skin goes rock hard
And the snow you’re going to get if you carry on with the Cali runs is a total nightmare, you’ll have a completely different perspective of winter by the time spring comes around
newmercman:
Take it from me Taff, a set of chains and a wooly hat will not prepare you for winter
40c below freezing is FFFFFFFFFF[zb]ing cold, so cold that your snot freezes and your skin goes rock hard
And the snow you’re going to get if you carry on with the Cali runs is a total nightmare, you’ll have a completely different perspective of winter by the time spring comes around
Enjoy…
Haha listen to what he says Taffy ,not only will your snot freeze but you’ll also feel the water around your eyes freezing too.Thermal cacks are a must,and when the wind blows a balaclava helps even when fueling.
If it’s time to chain up it’s time to get the jarmies on,draw the curtains and retire to bed,end of It’s fun really
My snow chains look really pretty in the buckets and same condition they were bought in 5 years ago
If the weather is that bad it is no place for a truck
Put my chains in the side locker the other week, which is where theyll be staying on the order of the boss man, so who am I to argue :smiley: On a more serious note though, my new motor has low pro tyres so theyll be a bit slack anyhow
The way I look at it the chains are there to get me outta trouble not into it. I know a hat n chains not keep me going but its a start lol get some linned gloves tomorrow when I pass Idaho Falls they got some in there for a decent price as for heading Cali way a lot that’s just fluke atm I think and I don’t want a regular run as want to see more of the country but ill take any run they offer me. In a sadistic way I’m looking forward to my first winter here as it will be an experience that probs never forget
Taff,a sadist does it to others where as masochist does it to themselves so unless you’re really looking forward to seeing other drivers hit the ditch I’d say you were the latter regards the oncoming season Not meaning to be pedantic of course
Just take your time,drive to the conditions and when you don’t feel comfortable park it,oh and don’t listen to the pricks on the chicken box who want to drive at 120 in a blizzard
My company has an unwritten rule (but adhered to ) that when we can only average 60kph over a relatively short period of time due to road conditions that we can park and still be paid hourly ,it’s our choice,there again they have a policy of two preventable incidents of any significance in 24 months and we’re out the door.They’d rather pay me a few bucks to eat/sleep/rest a while than have to recover and repair a damaged truck trailer combo . Have personally only parked twice,both times running empty,and dispatch never questioned my decision.
That’s irrelevant really,it’s your job and you’re the captain of your ship .Just remember that when the brown stuff happens it only flows one way ,and that’s always downhill towards you
aye i agree sometimes it takes more balls to stop and park up than run wi the pack…ie. couple o yrs back i stopped at Dafoe truckstop(hwy16) because it started to sleety rain and temp was in the – negs.
phoned up dispatch and told them was stopping for a while,lallaaalaaa so and so is in front of you having no probs …
phone ran a little later (was still in cafe lol)…
so and so stopped at an accident and his truck slid off the road while parked !!.
DONT move for a couple o hrs till road s better.
jimmy.
It’s fun really 
