I got to the port in Tampa around 8:00 this morning in hopes of getting loaded and rolling in short order. I was wrong.
Post 9/11, ports have a lot more security. It takes about an hour to go through all of the ID check, background check, and vehicle inspection just to get in. Once I was finally allowed in I asked the guard where this company was located in the port. "Oh, ummm, I don't know. But there are signs." *sigh* Ports are very large places ya know.
I knew which street they were supposed to be on so I just looked for that. I finally found it and eventually found the office I was looking for at berth 204 which matched the berth number I had been given. I talked to the guy there. "No, we don't have that. Try Steve at berth 202".
I found berth 202. "Nope, not here, try berth 208." I was starting to get really pissed at this point. Each berth is a long way from the other and there is always a wait in line just to talk to someone.
At berth 208 I waited in line, finally got to the window and gave the guy the paperwork. I told him if this one isn't the right berth they could find somebody else to haul the shit because I was done playing musical berths. It was the right one this time.
I finally got the stuff loaded and secured and made my here to the truckstop.
This is the 21st century. The security checkpoint has the ability to do an instant background check on their computer, but it seems the port people themselves haven't caught up with the technology. How hard is it to keep track of where the damn cargo is being loaded? Every desk I saw had a computer monitor and keyboard sitting on it. I guess they're just for looks.