Driver Manager / Fleet manager

**frago** · 11.07.2010

A bit embarassed to ask but I have never worked for a company that used these before. I always just had a dispatcher.

Anyway what is his job? Is he just a fancy dispatcher , or is he my boss? Am I his boss? Do I have to worry about keeping him happy? Can I make demands? Etc Etc.

In a nutshell can someone explain the role of the DM/FM people that we get assigned to? It might help more than just dumb ole me to know what kind of relationship I need to have with this person.

Thanks.

**statikuz** · 11.07.2010

It's sort of a name for a fancy dispatcher, but you are a "driver" and he is your "manager" so it is in your best interest to keep him happy. I wouldn't go so far as to say he's your boss, but you're definitely not his boss.

You can try and make demands, but if you haven't been trying to keep him happy, he may very well shoot them down. Just like anything else, try to work together and you should get along. Try not to take the attitude that one or the other of you is in charge. Your DM also has a bunch of other drivers under his umbrella so you want to try to stay at the top of the pack. If you start to annoy him or make unreasonable demands you can quickly fall to the end of the line.

**kdryan** · 11.07.2010

He's the guy whose job it is to tell you the company is screwing you over in such a way that you think they're doing you a favor.

**FLATBED** · 11.07.2010

Being a DM is sort of like being in charge of an ADULT DAY CARE and is a job I would not wish on my worse enemy.

He / she has to keep the wheels rolling to please Sales , try and make all the promises RECRUITING made actually happen , fufill the whims of the drivers ( its a trucking operation not a travel agency ) juggle the impossible to try and achieve the possible and at the same time not upset anyone.

**frago** · 11.07.2010

Yea I wouldn't want his job. It's just a bit weird cause I don't know what he does lol. I know he is the one that any time I hear from him it is most likely bad news. "Aww man we are in a pinch here can you take one more load to Florida before going home?"
Hehe poor guy. I envision him as getting crapped on all day by the load planners and he is the one to break the news to the drivers.
Oh well I never really talk to him but I guess I should a bit more. One thing I was glad to have him when I started he was like doing orientation on the road via quallcomm with all my dumb questions about everything they never mentioned in the actual orientation.
Thanks folks.

**ChromeDome** · 11.07.2010

A driver manager is a dispatcher.
They changed the name for legal reasons. Since a dispatcher is not management, and thus the would have to pay them overtime.
A "driver manager" however is not a line worker but a manager, at least by title. And thus they do not have to pay them overtime.

The problem with this structure is the question as to if they are really managers.
Do they have the power to hire and fire? This is what makes a manager an actual management position.
In many cases the answer is no, they do not have direct power to hire and fire drivers. And thus they really are subject to overtime rules.
And in a few cases they have won court cases on this.

**FLATBED** · 11.07.2010

90% of anyone with the MANAGER title in any type of operation has no FIRING / HIRING authority anymore.

**Flying Dutchman** · 11.07.2010

Originally Posted by FLATBED

90% of anyone with the MANAGER title in any type of operation has no FIRING / HIRING authority anymore.

Yep! My last position in the company I work for (before being a driver), I was under an Assistant Manager and a Store Manager, neither of which could hire or fire. It was up to the General Manager....who was in HQ about 350 miles away. Asst could suggest to Store Manager, who would pass on the info to GM, but SM could not make the call on his own. He is merely a stool pigeon for the big man.

In regards to the OP, I am not sure how that works. In our location, we have a BUL (Business Unit Leader) who is our direct supervisor. We also have a dispatcher, but he is not at the terminal that we park our trucks at. He is in another truck terminal which has its own BUL. In my case, we report to dispatcher for load handling, routing issues, and truck issues that would immediately affect our ability to deliver, etc. Any truck issues at the end of the day, comments about how dispatch is doing, employee relational issues, etc. all go to the BUL at our location.

I know at our HQ in Southern Cal they have "Truck Manager" positions, but I do now know how they relate to the drivers, if they do at all. It may be an equipment based title only. I am not sure.

**High Desert Dweller** · 11.07.2010

Shareholders
^
^
Chairman/Board of Directors
^
^
President/CEO
^
^
Vice President/Operations
^
^
(Regional Manager)
^
^
Terminal Manager (Has firing power)
^
^
Fleet Manager
^
^
Dispatcher/Driver Manager
^
^
you, the driver

**orion3814** · 11.07.2010

and it all rolllls down hill ahhahahhahah

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Thread: Driver Manager / Fleet manager

Driver Manager / Fleet manager

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