Bad Run

Last night I had a fairly bad bus run. I was moving a conference from their hotel to Folsom Field for a relaxing evening of fun, gambling and socializing. I was driving an articulated bus, which forced me to park awkwardly for picking up the group. I had several ladies in high heels trying to walk down a short, grassy slope to board. However, no harm done, we continued on our way. I dropped the group off, then went back to base and post-tripped the bus and ate dinner. I came back to the bus and drove back to the pick-up point, where I was slated to shuttle for a couple of hours. Very few people came out during the shuttle period. When 10:30 rolled around and I had still only shuttled a fraction of the group back, I began to get a little nervous. However, my trip ticket said I ended at 10:30. Maybe the party went later? They were probably still partying and would find alternate transportation back to the hotel. So a few minutes afterward, I drove out, fueled up, and went back to base.

As I was attempting to park the bus, my boss Scott called me over the radio sounding sleepy and slightly annoyed. He asked if I had picked up my group, and I told him what had happened. He then informed me that the bulk of the group was waiting up at Folsom Field still and very angry that I had left them. I immediately drove up to the pick up point, and was assaulted with all sorts of accusations. I had left 10 minutes early; I waited until I saw people walking out, then drove off; I had spent the last half hour sleeping somewhere. I didn't retort that they didn't have the courtesy to be on time, not even one of them. I made a mistaken judgment call last night, and I took for granted my own obsession with being on time. I wasn't supposed to be a bus service last night, but a chauffeur. I talked to Dien and Scott about it today. Dien, an experienced staff driver, suggested that I could have gone up and checked. Scott thought that my mistake was not grossly out of line, and agreed that the incident might warrant changing some procedures, perhaps including requesting approximate passenger counts on reservations. I don't know what could have helped the situation, but I've learned a little for next time.

Other than that, I've been working hard on my run, with the assistance of SPC Pritchett. He also goes to CU, and he's one of the fastest guys in our company, so I'm glad to have his help. We've been working hard; I don't think I've ever worked my legs this hard over a two-week stint. I just hope it's enough.

Today is the last day of class, and tomorrow is the June drill. Wish me luck with finals!