What's with all the inefficiency?

This is a truckers wife rant, if you don't want to hear it, feel free to hit the back button.

Today was just one of those days. Those days that I absolutely hate my husbands job.

He has been gone for a week and a half now. He was stuck in TN for a few days and then sent on a wild goose chase to find his new truck. The truck was in NC, over 6 hours away.

Luckily his new partner had his car with him so they were able to drive to the truck instead of taking a bus. They get to the truck and it obviously has been in some sort of wreck. Now they have to drive the truck somewhere to get it fixed before they can even accept a load. Not to mention they have an expired IFTA sticker. That means when his company finds out, they will have him drive all the way back to the terminal and pick up the stickers and paperwork. More wasted time

I will never understand how an industry that deals with time sensitive deliveries, has no concern for a drivers time. One department doesn't have a clue what the other department is doing. They have trucks and trailers just scattered around and don't have a clue where they are.

One department told Chris the truck was good to go, meaning everything was in order and once they get to the truck, they would be ready to roll. Another department said they had the truck flagged as needing work done before it could be put back into the fleet. Still another department said that the truck just had maintenance done but that it was still flagged for some reason as needing maintenance.

Why do they not have a program that allows them to bring up all the info needed on a particular truck. Why does one department say one thing and others say something completely different? Why is an industry that prides itself on being efficient when getting you your product, so inefficient in the way they keep track of their business?

I know I haven't been around the business long enough to know the in and outs of it, but I will tell you this. I worked in the mortgage business for over 5 years as a loan processor. The largest pipeline I ever had was somewhere close to 250 mortgages. That's 250 mortgages that I was responsible for at any one time. I ran a tight ship and knew EXACTLY where a piece of paper was in a file that was as thick as a phone book. I was efficient.

I had to be!!

Being inefficient wasn't an option. I have to wonder, is every trucking company like this? Do they not know what is going on between departments? How can a company survive with such inefficiency?

See, told you this was a rant. But I sure feel better after getting all that out.

Saturday with the kids

On Saturday I took the kids to the park for a picnic and some much needed play time. It was a GORGEOUS day outside and there was no way I was staying indoors!

I took my camera and made sure the battery was charged and do you know I didn't take one picture. We got to the park and started to eat when everyone decided they had to go potty. Figures. Luckily I had some diapers in the car so I slapped a couple on the little ones. I don't think they ever went in them though. Anyway we finished eating and then came straight home.

The park was packed and I don't think I would have been able to keep an eye on them both AND take pictures. We settled for our little neighborhood playground and they loved it just as much. Play time was cut a little short when Lilly got a splinter, but after all that running they were pretty worn out.

Back in December we drove down to St. Augustine to see the Night of Lights display they have. Oh my word it was packed. They had the main roads closed off so we couldn't even get close enough to take pictures. Lucky for me they keep the lights up until the end of January!

We decided to take a little ride down there Saturday night and look at the lights sans crowds and road blocks. This is definitely the way to do it! There was so little traffic, I was able to stop on the road and get some pretty good shots.

This was NOT one of them. :) I was going to delete this one but Caitlin likes how it looks, so it stays.

We were going to ride the carousel, but the sign clearly says no pets allowed.

Look Out Cat Woman

This is Lilly. Or as I lovingly call her, Silly Lilly. Here's why.

She cracks me up on a daily basis. Her sense of fashion is eclectic to say the least. I need to remember to take some pictures of the outfits she like to wear when we go out shopping. The girl marches to her own drummer that's for sure. I love that about her.

Drawing a dinosaur.

She's showing me how the dinosaur walks.

She is totally rockin' the cat eye glasses.

Random Foto Friday

I recently found a disk containing some pictures from my husbands laptop.

I found LOTS of pictures I had forgotten about. I thought I would share some today.

Aren't you lucky? :)

I can't imagine why I never posted this picture. Isn't it lovely?

Chris likes to teach the girls to NOT be scared of bugs. Cause I am a big ol' chicken when it comes to creatures like this. 

Welcome to Jacksonville. 

Good thing they caught up to her. I was too busy taking pictures obviously. 

The first picture was zoomed in. Here you can see how far she ran from us. She's a fast little booger. 

 

Some restaurant Chris ate at while on the road.

Sunrise somewhere in the U.S. 

Sunset somewhere in U.S. I think this is somewhere in KY or TN. I know I have seen this cross before.

How's this for random. I have lots of pictures to go through. Chris has taken lots over the past year, but some just are too blurry.