Hate 150lb Packages
Well-Known Member
So I've been a Ground driver for a bit now... I've put up with the bull 
day in and day out. I've watched people come and go and some have become close friends. Everyone ends up hating this cesspool. I've seen some pretty fishy stuff... Scanner time violations (I've fraudulently logged my scanner times every day this week)... vehicles in poor condition... packages thrown and smashed into oblivion... people getting into fistfights... "driver releasing" those empty DirecTV boxes that are bad addresses into the trash can... A contractor who lies to his employees and treats us like animals... I've put up with it all because I do actually enjoy the job, and it's just a means to an end.... But today was the worst. The story I will tell you is 100% TRUE.
So today started normal, with a heavy load. I am usually in a Sprinter, which is plenty of room for me. It needed some work done and it couldn't wait... so I ended up in the POS spare.. which is a small cargo van. I've only driven this piece a few times.. It is similar in operation and appearance to Jim Carrey's dog cleaning van on Dumb and Dumber...
Anyway, early this morning, I was approaching a daily bulk stop at a school's food distribution warehouse. This is a pretty happening place, and it's not uncommon to run into FDX Freight, UPS, sometimes Express, and other freight companies... There's about 5 or 6 docks, and there's usually only one open. I was pulling in and the Freight guy was there, along with UPS. The docks and the space in front are very narrow, so there is a tight left turn required before backing. I was cruising at about 15 mph, hit my tight left turn..... and sure as.... MY FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE COMPLETELY FELL OFF. MY AXLE WAS DRAGGING AND GOUGED A HUGE LINE INTO THE PAVEMENT. It rolled away and landed on it's side and my head hit the window hard, but not enough to cause injury... I was so pissed I started screaming, worrying about getting a jack and a spare, or a rental... and about being out till midnight again.... Then I started laughing uncontrollably.
UPS and some of the dock workers ran over and were watching me and I told them I was okay... They were dumbstruck. My tire literally fell off and my van was idling in this narrow dock with the axle resting on the ground. Who knows if any of the components were damaged in that area... So here's what I did...
My first thought was to call the contractor.... get that towed.... and get a rental and get delivering... but this was the straw that broke my back. I got my scanner, logged out (after reconciling all the packages), and in my Vehicle Inspection Report, I downed the van for bad tires. LMAO. I then got out, left the van idling, and I walked my ass home. And the best part is... I didn't tell anyone at the hub. Not only did they have a 3 legged van to deal with full of packages, but they had no scanner logged in and the van was out of commission. Now, I don't want you to think I'm a typical Ground slouch and I don';t do proper inspections, because I do. But it's peak, and I got this van at the last minute during the sort and was scrambling... I had no idea the lugs were so loose. It had been sitting there for months.
Anyway, this story is 100% true, and I hope you guys can appreciate the humor. This did actually happen, and more than likely the dock guys probably just called the cops and had that thing towed. I didn't tip anyone off, so as to delay them as long as possible... but logging out probably raised some flags. I am seriously considering showing up to the sort Monday and acting like nothing happened. My phone's been off so I'm sure I have a missed call or two.....
Stay safe guys. I will read and post occasionally.
day in and day out. I've watched people come and go and some have become close friends. Everyone ends up hating this cesspool. I've seen some pretty fishy stuff... Scanner time violations (I've fraudulently logged my scanner times every day this week)... vehicles in poor condition... packages thrown and smashed into oblivion... people getting into fistfights... "driver releasing" those empty DirecTV boxes that are bad addresses into the trash can... A contractor who lies to his employees and treats us like animals... I've put up with it all because I do actually enjoy the job, and it's just a means to an end.... But today was the worst. The story I will tell you is 100% TRUE.So today started normal, with a heavy load. I am usually in a Sprinter, which is plenty of room for me. It needed some work done and it couldn't wait... so I ended up in the POS spare.. which is a small cargo van. I've only driven this piece a few times.. It is similar in operation and appearance to Jim Carrey's dog cleaning van on Dumb and Dumber...
Anyway, early this morning, I was approaching a daily bulk stop at a school's food distribution warehouse. This is a pretty happening place, and it's not uncommon to run into FDX Freight, UPS, sometimes Express, and other freight companies... There's about 5 or 6 docks, and there's usually only one open. I was pulling in and the Freight guy was there, along with UPS. The docks and the space in front are very narrow, so there is a tight left turn required before backing. I was cruising at about 15 mph, hit my tight left turn..... and sure as
.... MY FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE COMPLETELY FELL OFF. MY AXLE WAS DRAGGING AND GOUGED A HUGE LINE INTO THE PAVEMENT. It rolled away and landed on it's side and my head hit the window hard, but not enough to cause injury... I was so pissed I started screaming, worrying about getting a jack and a spare, or a rental... and about being out till midnight again.... Then I started laughing uncontrollably. UPS and some of the dock workers ran over and were watching me and I told them I was okay... They were dumbstruck. My tire literally fell off and my van was idling in this narrow dock with the axle resting on the ground. Who knows if any of the components were damaged in that area... So here's what I did...
My first thought was to call the contractor.... get that
towed.... and get a rental and get delivering... but this was the straw that broke my back. I got my scanner, logged out (after reconciling all the packages), and in my Vehicle Inspection Report, I downed the van for bad tires. LMAO. I then got out, left the van idling, and I walked my ass home. And the best part is... I didn't tell anyone at the hub. Not only did they have a 3 legged van to deal with full of packages, but they had no scanner logged in and the van was out of commission. Now, I don't want you to think I'm a typical Ground slouch and I don';t do proper inspections, because I do. But it's peak, and I got this van at the last minute during the sort and was scrambling... I had no idea the lugs were so loose. It had been sitting there for months. Anyway, this story is 100% true, and I hope you guys can appreciate the humor. This did actually happen, and more than likely the dock guys probably just called the cops and had that thing towed. I didn't tip anyone off, so as to delay them as long as possible... but logging out probably raised some flags. I am seriously considering showing up to the sort Monday and acting like nothing happened. My phone's been off so I'm sure I have a missed call or two.....
Stay safe guys. I will read and post occasionally.
LOL!
