A Diesel Haze

I Mean it, they really do. Just try hauling them.

Ok I know some of you have, that only means you know what I'm talking about.

These things are one of the most fragile things you can put on a truck, the temp has to be maintained at a PERFECT setting, around 35 degrees constant. The unit better be a new one or damn close and ONLY air ride trailers can be used. (the trailer I'm under right now is NEW, brand NEW) The longer they are in the truck, the better the chance you have of loosing them or having them rejected by your customer. I've determined by a VERY scientific method (Chicken bones and Tarot Cards) that you have about a 50/50 chance with any load of berries that it will be rejected.

I protested this load the second I inspected the first couple of pallets. I protested it to the shipper and my company. The problem? The berries were PERFECT. I mean get the whipping cream and some short cakes PERFECT. You don't want perfect berries at the shipper, you want slightly green berries, the longer the trip the greener the berry. For long trips you want berries "bagged and gassed" (Each pallet encased in a large baggie and filled with an inert gas, like argon) I still wont give you better than 50/50 of getting the entire load off without a problem.

WalMart determined that of 2870 cases, (22960 1 Pint boxes), 2750 of them were at a decay level of 1%... Can someone tell me how the HELL you determine a 1% decay level?? I've been around produce most of my life, citrus and other products were part of the family business for years. I've hauled produce for at least half of my trucking career of 21 (and counting, slowly...) years. When I'm not pulling over sized loads, I move produce and temp control loads. I know this job. I've seen USDA inspectors tear through a whole load of produce and I have never been told "these have a 1% decay level".

WTF?

Sigh... anyway, stuck with 2750 Cases (25 pallets) of berries for the moment, have a new destination but no appointment or unload data.

Hope I don't have to eat these things... well, no more than a pint or so...

t

What we have here is called, in the industry (this one and just about any other) a "Clusterfuck"

This is the back corner of other the Flying J in Peculiar MO. (Hwy 71 just south of Kansas City) If you enlarge the image and look to the right of the headlights, you will see one (1) open parking spot.
To the left you will see the hood of a red truck and the trailer of another. Niether of these trucks are in parking spots, they are parked in EASY spots, outside of regular parking. NO backing or effort was required, I watched both of these and almost every truck in this image park.

The "open" spot is virtually impossible to back into or pull into because of the two trucks on the left.


This will not keep trucks from trying. Truck after truck. The "drivers" will pull up, maybe even set up, then see the angles, the space, recognize the space needed for the tractor to swing and leave. Can't. Be. Done.

This guy tries it, sets up, looks at it and moves on. He finds a spot around the corner up against the building. There's more room up there and he still had a fight on his hands. Honestly, had this spot in the rear been usable, he probably should not have tried it. (not that good) Backing is an art form. Knowing where the end of a trailer is that is almost 65 feet from you, takes practice. Then there is the part that people forget or don't realize for a long time; the tractor has to go somewhere and CAN'T go over the top of the tractor or trailer next to it. (this is expensive)

The "clusterfuck" happens when a driver that does not realize that either the space is impossible, like this one, or that he or she simply does not have what it take to back into it.