I worked 70 fuckin' hours last week in 5 fuckin' days

[Droopy]

6pm to 8am every day. I need a fuckin' drink.

I'm a trucker. I started a new position at work last week hauling trailers around our terminal yard sticking them in dock doors and then pulling the loaded ones out. It's a good job and it's going to mean that I won't have to drive in the snow and ice this winter. The problem last week was that all of the drivers started new routes and I had to go with one driver on her route every night, as well as working my terminal hours, to learn it just in case they need me to cover for her. I was also with her to help her out on the route which involves loading and unloading a truck.

Next week promises to be better. Thank God. One good thing about last week is that I'm going to have one hell of a pay check. I think I'll use the money to buy myself a new brain. Mine is fried.

[billyoc]

1. Good news, help is on the way!

Bad news, it's coming from Mexico. :(

[Droopy]

2. Maybe

If they can get a Mexican truck to pass a D.O.T. inspection. I've been down to the border and had a look at them trucks. Most of them aren't road worthy.

[Kali]

6. the ones onthe border aren't the ones they use for long hauling, I do know that

I'm not sure of the details, but the way they seem to do it around here is trucks haul long distance from the south, then one or two transfers happen at the crossing, and then the long haulers on this side pick up the loads. So its like 3 or 4 different trucks for one load and the ones they use for those short transfers at the border tend to be older/junkers.

I am trying to figure out what the controversy is. Can't the Mexican truckers join the union? Every Mexican trucker I have ever driven around down there was more than courteous and while I have seen a few turned over on mountain roads, I don't think any worse or more than I have seen wrecked right near me on I-10.

[Droopy]

14. The problem with Mexican trucks operating in the U.S. is

that they take away jobs from American drivers. There is also the issue that if they are not fluent in English then they may not be safe on our roads because all of the signs are in English. They would also have a hard time communicating with the customers.

[Kali]

16. I would consider the loss of American jobs a legitimate argument

is it real? Seems like there is a real need for drivers - or is it the same game as with other Mexican workers (undocumented) - where it is at least partly about keeping wages down?

[Droopy]

18. Mexican trucks operating the in the U.S.

would probably have some impact on freight rates as well, but I don't think it would be as big a deal as the loss of jobs.

Mexican trucks would probably run in our country the same way that Canadian trucks do currently. They are allowed to bring Canadian freight across the border then they have to immediately take a load out of our country back to Canada or return to Canada empty. They are not allowed to move American freight within our borders.

There are companies that specialize in "international" moves- that is running freight to Mexico and Canada. A lot of them would probably go under if Mexican trucks were allowed move freight in and out of our country.

[Kali]

20. hmm I dindn't know that about the Canadian trucks - thanks.

As usual with any issue there is a lot more to the story than what you get in the regular media.

[freethought]

3. I am sympathetic.

I left a business some years ago that had me going nearly 80 hours a week, and that's a 5-day work week. My weekends were spent doing little more than trying to recover best I could since I knew I would have another 75+ week coming. Didn't do much, didn't go anywhere, most of weekend would be spent sleeping. I kept this schedule for about a year. I would probably be married now if it wasn't for this particular stint in the workforce.

Your paycheck will likely be pretty nice but don't expect a huge windfall. After 60 hours on the clock, I found the extra amount on the check wasn't that great. Withholding taxes will take their toll, even if your on time-and-a-half wage. Factor in fatigue, stress, loss of social life, and negative effects it has on your work and non-work relationships. To me, the sacrifice wasn't worth the extra cash.

[NMDemDist2]

4. my hubby does that most every week

he hauls water in tanker trucks to the oil fields

I've got his resume out bigtime.....

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. My dear Droopy!

Oh, that sounds just awful!

You have my complete sympathies...

I'm sure your brain will recover.....

Enjoy that paycheck! You sure did earn it!

:hug:

[LostInAnomie]

7. 70 fuckin' hours!

Damn! My junk starts getting chaffed after three. :P

[YDogg]

8. No wonder you're Droopy.

I'd be Droopy, too.

[Swede]

9. 70 hours! Wow.

I just phoned a buddy,also a trucker. He hadn't made it home yet,his wife said. He had seen a terrible accident in Winnipeg last night. He had to make an eyewitness statement to the police,by then it was the middle of the night,so he decided to sleep there. I really don't know how you guys do this job.

[malta blue]

10. Get some sleep my friend....

:hi:

[liberaltrucker]

11. Join the club, bro.

:hi:

on edit: Federal HOS regs mandate 34 hrs OOS for ya. Enjoy!

[Droopy]

13. Yeah I've got the weekend off including Monday

I used to work 70 hours quite often when I was out on the road, but it was in 7 days and I didn't have a half hour drive to and from work. I think the most sleep I got last week in a day was 5 hours. I just got out of bed and I slept 12 hours. That was soooo nice.

[liberaltrucker]

17. ......

:toast:

[Skittles]

12. I had it rough too

ten nights straight of 12-hour nights, one of which turned into 14 hours....I cannot imagine such hours trucking though

[texanwitch]

15. I work those hours at early voting.

The hours are killing.

I couldn't kept those hours for more then 2 weeks.

Hope you get some rest.

[idgiehkt]

19. Wow, I hope you get some rest this weekend

I am glad to hear you won't have to drive in the bad weather. I know that the semis are really heavy but still I don't see how y'all do it...I am scared to drive a car in that stuff, much less something with 18 wheels. I hope next week is better. :hug: :hug: :hug: