Catching up

Ok fam.... get comfy, get some popcorn, get some soda, & get ready to read!

First off, props to the bro & sis-in-law for hooking this up; I think it's fantastic! Hopefully I'll be better at this than I am at responding to emails!!

Well, tomorrow is my one month anniversary at my new job. To refresh everyone's memory, I am now a Customer Solutions Specialist for Pacer Global Logistics in Dublin. For those of you interested in browsing, our website is www.pacer.com. Under "Logistics" on the right, click Pacer Global Logistics & you'll see what we do. Basically we are a 3rd party logistics company that provides transportation for freight. We do moves by truck, moves by truck AND rail combined (called InterModal) & moves by rail. We work with many, many companies in Ohio, throughout the U.S., & we also go into Canada & Mexico.

I've been on the floor full-time about 2 weeks now. The first week was solid training in classrooms; the 2nd week was 1/2 day on the floor, 1/2 day with the On the Job training coach, going more in-depth into the system. And let me tell you, I've never been so tired in my life as I was after those first two weeks!! I learned SO much information & felt like I was back in school, b/c we had to pass quizzes! And I'm sure you'll be glad to know that I'm now HazMat certified, so I am now able to handle HazMat loads that come through!

The Customer Solutions department is broken up into large teams, comprised of about 5-10 people apiece per shift (we're open 24-7, 364 1/2 days a year). I'm on first shift, 8-5. Each team is broken up into 2 areas: pick-ups & deliveries. And each person has a certain number of accounts to work with, depending on the size & scope of the customer. Some customers run 10-15 loads PER DAY, some customers load 10-15 per week, etc. etc. I'm on the pick-up side of things for my team, Team 10. I started out with about 7 accounts, 4 of which aren't going to be any big deal. One of my accounts goes in & out of Mexico, so I've had the joy of learning & dealing with brokers. I have to admit, things have been pretty slow, at least for me. I've mainly been helping out other people on the pick-up side of my team, b/c my accounts haven't been very busy lately.

Until Monday afternoon/Tuesday a.m. One of the girls on my team was fired after 6 years with the company & she had some pretty large accounts, 2 of which are White Glove. Now, White Glove accounts mean one of two things: they're either really anal retentive about their orders, demanding things just-so; or we've had some problems with these accounts in the past & we have to watch them every day. Each team has at least 4-5 White Glove accounts. I'd been helping her with one of the accounts, ConAgra Foods, since I started working on the floor, mainly scheduling the pick-ups. And I can tell you that from what I heard her deal with, I was REALLY glad I didn't have that account.

But be careful what you think.... she was let go on Monday afternoon, & I was informed that I'm being trusted with her accounts, including the White Gloves! Now, I guess to have 2 White Gloves handed to someone brand new is almost unheard of, so I know I should feel good about that; & I do. But it's been a definite shift going from asking for stuff to do to having TOO much to do! :-)

But I'm not complaining. I am SO much happier here than I was at Everest, & LOVE going into work each day! I love my co-workers & am really enjoying getting to know other members of the company.

Other than that, things are good here. I'm still working part-time at Things Remembered, but obviously the hours have cut back. Things will probably pick up here in a few weeks though, I'm sure.

That's really all that's going on with me. I hope everyone is doing well, & if I've confused any of you with what I do, please don't hesitate to ask!

I look forward to checking this out & seeing what everyone's up to!!!

Much love to everyone,

Erin