Beautiful in Baltimore
by Simon - 17:46 on 06 August 2008
When its a beautiful day the sun is shining I get up with a spring in my step even if I don't get much sleep due to the heat and it takes a lot to upset me or change my happy mood during the day.
Today was going to be a trying day indeed! My route to get to the Baltimore docks was all done and looked simple enough, should take about 2.5hrs to get there. My first problem of the day came when I was about to turn onto the 295 and there was a huge no truck sign, shit ,and no truck alternate route signed! Managed to stop and asked a kind elderly gentleman the best way to Baltimore he told me the I495 turn off was on this road about 2mile keep going and you can't miss it and follow the signs to Baltimore. I thanked him, jumped in my truck and drove off.
Let's be honest that aint really a problem for a truck driver discovering you can't take a road you would like to, taking a wrong turn, missing an exit, to me its all part of the job a trifle annoying but it happens.
Arrived at the docks showed my drivers licence for id purposes. Where you going she asked in a I am here I am bored and just looking to upset somebody kind of way, told her port of baltimore care of dundalk to load tractors, yes but where are you loading she retorted snapily! That's all the info I have I don't know. Smiling now she replied well you will have to turn round go out of the gate and find out .Jesus look at this place where do I turn there aint many places?
Eventually found somewhere kind of pissed now phoned dispatch which costs 2 bucks a minute and low and behold some crucial info missing from the load assignment. Reluctantly returned to the lovely gate lady who surprisingly was so much nicer this time round, I couldn't believe it was the same person!! Eventually found bldg 100 booked in at the shipping dept and joined the queue.
An hour or so passed and my loading number was called over the cb and proceeded as per my instructions to ramp 3, reversed up to it got out of my cab to be told by the shipper they couldn't load me as the tractors are too big and I would be just under 16 foot high not good as the max in America is 14'2" and Canada is 13'6". Now I can understand that mistakes can happen hell, I have made plenty myself and I am sure I will make plenty more but to send a flat deck 400miles to collect a load only suitable for a step deck to me is just pure bloody carelessness. Not only does the company lose money, but I do as well having to sit about waiting to get another load unpaid! Sit and wait I was told we are looking into it...... 2hrs later head to the nearest truck stop and await further instructions-bloody marvellous, yes my good start to the day certainly didn't last for long.
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