has been spent delivering lumber to these three organizations. While I applaud the dedicated people who work there and the “officers” of the DDS – Defense Department Security - who guard the facilities – dealing with these folks trying to deliver to their “depots” has been unnecessarily time consuming, extremely inefficient, unproductive and totally frustrating.
First, the security. While I see the need to guard military and DOD supply depots from terrorists and other “undesirables”, the entire process of entering and exiting these places is highly questionable. There are inconsistent rules and procedures, considerable duplication of effort, wasted manpower, lack of proper communications and a clear need for better training. And most importantly, the security – the searching and checking of ID – is “over-the-top and just not necessary.
Second, receiving. Horrible. Phones unanswered. One worker does not communicate with another. E-mails are not read. There is a clear need for a posting of signs to direct drivers where they need to go. The appointment setting procedure is way too time consuming. And, receiving does not effectively communicate with security, making the whole process worse. Not one thing these people do is efficient in any way, shape or form.
I was cleared though one security area, then had to drive to another. The entire process employed at the first “station” had to be “re-employed” at the second. Why? There is no reason. Then I drove to another area where I was told to put my drivers license, clearance pass and BOL into a vacuum tube system. Other drivers did the same thing. We sat there waiting. Nothing. Turns out the “system” had been “abandoned” some time ago. The equipment was a new as the day it was installed. No sign. I forgot, truckers are supposed to be mind readers. Absolutely, positively absurd.
Just like at the ports, the “area” where freight is delivered is almost always (approximately) 100-300 yards from the main gate. What can be an easy in-out has been complicated beyond belief. And, unlike the ports, your TWIC is useless to the Department of Defense, the Army and the Navy. An easily forged drivers license remains the sole form of identification into these “supposedly” secure facilities.
If it wasn’t for some very aggressive tactics on the part of my carrier, I would still be sitting at the Flying J in Carlisle PA awaiting clearance into two of the depots. Again, these are LTL loads. 5-10 minutes “tops” are needed for a fork life to get them off the trailer.
In addition, I, as a driver, had to go way above my “pay grade” and comfort zone to “smile and be a politician” going into these “depots” without the necessary approvals, codes and clearances to try to get the material delivered. The broker who booked the load was a useless as a tit on a bullfrog, as the old expression goes.
So, I picked up this load last Wednesday in South Dakota. 1600 miles to the first stop near Carlisle PA. I arrived there last Saturday. It is now Wednesday night. I am finally MT. In the “system” of the DOD – Department of Defense - I am still “scheduled” to deliver stop #2 tomorrow and the last stop (the final) Friday morning.
Dealing with the “government” as a truck driver trying to make a living in a very depressed economy is, without a doubt, exasperating. And completely unnecessary. I, as a taxpayer, am very, very disappointed. I would prefer to leave this “type” of freight to owner/operators.
