I've been watching my phone blowing up for a couple of days now.  Drivers pissed about the new rule that basically gives us the shaft.  

There are so many versions of what is actually happening that I decided I would try to get my manager to tell us what is actually going on.

I wrote him a short text, it wasn't long before he called me back.

I do mean, call, not text.  The ensuing 40 minute conversation was appalling. Not because of anything he is doing, but what the company is doing to him.  I have a lot of respect for this guy, he makes things happen and he has 84 drivers under him. 

He started out with 14.  They didn't give him a pay raise to be elevated to a regional manager ...well this is way too long of a story to go into right now. I'm fixing to go to bed and I just have to say, my company is even worse than I thought it is. 

Whatever the case, he said that the detention pay isn't going away, at least as far as he knows it. Yes, they were trying to do away with it, some lady that got hired over the safety department attempting to reinvent the wheel.  

There was so much information he gave me.  Our main competitor is getting more trailers converted to the product we haul from a different product they used to haul.  We will see even more work going away I guess.  I don't really care at this point, this is the way the trucking industry goes and it's cut throat.   

Anyway, he suggested that if I don't get paid for any detention time that I am owed, call corporate and threaten to quit.  Huh?  Yes, just tell them you are quitting. They aren't letting anyone go at this point.

Interesting, because my observations are that they get rid of people at the drop of a hat.  

Right now? I'd be happy to just have an empty down there waiting and not have to try to push this thing.  Not saying I won't push it if push comes to shove, I just rather wouldn't have to deal with it.  

Oh, and nothing that has been told any of us drivers: my manager has been put "out of service" and he doesn't know if he's coming back or not.  He is not actually our manager right now, even tho the company hasn't bothered to tell us that little tidbit of information.  

He is righteously pissed about the way the company is treating him, I can say that much.  For me? Yup, just laying low and seeing what's going to happen. No threats of quitting coming from me, other drivers are out looking for new jobs.  One of which apparently already found one.  

They were having a job fair today and hiring drivers on the spot, so he told me and I looked it up and sure enough, they were. However, I'm not interested in finding a new job, I'm interested in just keeping this one and making the same damn money I've been making, not taking a pay cut.  

Whatever.  

I'll drive all day long tomorrow and operate normally, empty or no empty available, it's after the fact that the fireworks may fly.  

Price of everything has, of course, gone up.  By 4 grand just for the water and septic install. That's how much the price of pipe has gone up since I got the first quote. I don't even know about the electrical but I intend on finding out soon.  Like, now.  Totally forgot about it today, I got back from Oklahoma and then got the news that the AC in my vehicle has another bad valve. 

This valve is allegedly located in a box in the middle of the dashboard.  Like take the dashboard off to get at it and an accompanying large price tag to fix it.  Call me spoiled, but it's hot out and I"m not going to be driving all summer long in a hot vehicle.  I'm going to be driving the thing to work and back until they get the part in, I went to get it today. 

They wanted to keep it for 4 days sitting there doing nothing while they wait for the part to come. Uhh, no thanks.  I have to go to work, I'll pay up whatever now and the rest after you get the part in and then get it going.  

I dunno what else. Between everything going on at work and trying to get this park going, my mind is rather preoccupied.  

Not to mention the fact I've been off work for 13 days up until this Oklahoma run and not going to see any paycheck this week and a very small one next.  I'm going to have to keep busy until vacation at the end of next month to even think about getting caught back up.  

Yeah.  No. No as in gag, I don't want to be driving all over creation but it's how I make money currently and it is what it is.

Anyway, it's bedtime and I need to get offa here.