Break with tradition.

When I decided to write this blog,  It was with the intention of  telling the story of my life on the road and not to discuss the company be it good or bad, however, after the conversation I had with a senior member of management today I have decided to break with that rule and let you know what I have had to deal with this past few days

As I have outlined below I am at present in a Hotel in Buffalo as a result of my truck breaking down again, I get a phone call from said member of Management this afternoon to discuss the next move as the repair shop confirmed it will be mid to end of next week before my truck is ready.

I was asked if I would contact one of the drivers passing Buffalo to pick me up and I was to ride shotgun back to to PEI. From there I was told if a trainee driver was going out I could jump in with him then jump out in Buffalo to collect my truck on the way up to Ontario! Basically nurse maid them around free of charge for a week!

During this conversation I requested a new truck due to the amount of time mine has been in the shop over recent months, I was told NO, there are drivers who have been there longer than I and they would take priority, which is a direct crock of crap as a driver from another company joined us a few weeks ago and he got straight into a brand new truck.  Never mind the fact that my truck is costing me in earnings, and the company in repair bills, hotel costs, etc. They still have half a dozen brand new trucks parked up at the shop doing sweet F/A but we are expected to continue with  unreliable equipment. That really pisses me off, I hate being lied to. So I am now expected to share trucks with other drivers while all my gear is in my truck, so I'm expected to live like a frigging tramp for the next week or until I can get back to buffalo to collect my truck.  Great way to look after your staff, they are really going to get a lot out of me in future! NOT!!!!!!!!!
I have tried to let things like this go over my head and tell myself this is how it is, but this has crossed my line of decency. Christ this is how life on the road was 20 years ago.  I will not name the individual with whom I had the conversation however those who work with me will know exactly who I am referring to.

Its quite clear and has been for quite some time this individual does not give a shit about the drivers or their welfare. Its all about making $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.   We make the sacrifice put in the effort go beyond the limits and what is our thanks?  Sweet F*** All.  It seems we have a 3 tier workforce here,

1. New drivers who have next to nothing expect the desire to succeed and want to earn a living and who get pushed and pressured into running long hours and delivery schedules which are nigh on impossible to achieve legally.
2. Drivers who have obtained their PR who are not pressured so much as they can go to any other company they want if they are pushed too far and are treated like the new drivers above.
3. Canadian or American drivers or drivers who come from other companies who demand they get a new truck and  from what I have seen get preferential treatment of equipment, loads, etc etc.

Its not sour grapes on my part and I accept there is a seniority tree in any company, but when there are drivers having to use equipment past its best and new equipment standing idle, well there is a serious problem which needs to be addressed. I came here to earn a living and create A FUTURE for my family however its becoming clearer by the day us European drivers are a dime a dozen and our welfare, feelings or driver comfort are completely ignored so long as the trucks move that's all that this company representative cares about.

I'm sure that representative's from the company will at some point read this and I would welcome the opportunity to discuss the content of above in greater detail.  

However if such a invite is not forthcoming then I know that they really don't give a damn.

 If this post ends up being my demise with this company so be it, I will no longer be treated as a commodity.  I have standards and I have a right to speak my mind, this is my personal blog. To my understanding free speech has not been outlawed and therefore I will exercise my right to free speech. And if I upset or offend any individual or party, well tough shit, I have always spoken my mind and will continue to do so when I feel the need to do so.

I hope the next post will be on a more positive note and topic. Time will tell.

Sorry its been a while, but to bring you all up to date, we have had a bit of fun.

Well guys and gals, its been a while since my last update, that in part to the fact I have been so busy and now living out of the truck, makes getting a good wi-fi signal near immpossible.

I am at present sat in a hotel in Buffalo NY, as my truck decided to twist a shaft in the transmission just as i was going up the bridge that links Buffalo to Grand Island in Niagra.  Result, no low range gears, picture the scene, its rush hour, a 10 lane toll booth that reduces to two to go over the grand island bridge and a tractor trailer broken down in one of the two lanes.  Some very unhappy motorists. Well after much fishing for a gear with no success, I made a 911 emergency call to the NEW YORK State police department to advise of the situation and resulting chaos i was causing, the officer I spoke to said "we will despatch a state trooper to you straight away" this was at  3pm local time, The wrecker arrived an hour later and hooked up to my truck. An hour later we were ready to leave and guess what, still no sign of a trooper!!!!  I bet if I told him I had a bomb there would have been hundreds of the buggers, but hey its only a truck blocking a major route.

Looking Back at the bridge which I broke down on

The recovery truck hooking up to my Truck.

Recovery complete, arrived at International at Buffalo

Its a sad sight, again my truck behind a wrecker

You have to admire the guys that do this job, over a 100 feet of trucks.

Now not all my time over the last several weeks has been spent broken down in repair shops, I have managed to do some work, mainly on the Triangle which did include back to back deliveries to the Evil Twins down in Goshen!  However I have had a little more interesting work including, deliveries of plants and trees from a nursery in Ontario to Canadian Tire Garden Centers in Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

Message To Russell's Grandma.  Did he tell you he locked his keys in his truck when fuelling at the Flying J in Napanee a few weeks ago. 7.30 in the morning the two of us trying to get into his truck on the fuel island. Funny as hell.  Bet he kept that quiet. lol.

All in All not a great deal to write about over the last few weeks just same old as you were, but I have taken a load of photos to show my travels.  

One point of interest was I got to try my first PEI lobster last week. My good friend Donny one of our fitters was passing the shop and saw me and Dominic fitting a new fridge to his truck so called over for a chat and presented us both with a freshly cooked lobster each, caught that morning.  I have to say it was beautiful despite having to crack the claws with a rock. 

Anyway Photo Gallery.

Unloading fresh fish at a company in Rochester NY

Heading east towards Boston on the I90 saw this on a hillside, made me laugh. 

Hope I never need to use one of these.

Its not an island!

Van on fire southbound on the I95 heading towards New York City

In the process of putting it out

Rear ended in the traffic from the fire.

Nova Scotia with 3 drops, Truro, New Glasgow & Port Hawkesbury.

Heading into the countryside of Nova Scotia

Crossing the causeway into Cape Bretton

Swing Bridge going into Cape Breton

Caribou Ferry Harbour waiting for the ferry back to Wood Island, PEI

Caribou Harbour from the ferry

Leaving the port

Islands just outside the port

Passing the Island outside the port

Looking back at the port

Another part of the island leaving the port

Guess who was first off the Boat.

Nursery collections and deliveries plus a new friend

Toronto airport with leaving flight

Crossing the bridge from the US back to Canada at Queenston.

My new friend at the loading point

This is the view i wake up to at the Nursery in Southwold, Ontario.

One of the roads to the nursery loading point

As if they dont have enough trees in Canada.

Who said the Americans don't have a sense of humor!