Dispatcher's Calling???

My new QC can be shut off completley no noise at all from messages.
It does have a great alarm built in too....

 

You are captain of your telephone. Operate it like you're an adult. One guy at work is constantly complaining about the dispatcher calling him often and asking stupid questions numerous times per night and per trip. No matter how many times I point out the company rule book says NO TALKING ON CELLPHONES WHILE DRIVING, he still answers each and every time. He also will not read his caller ID because it's too small to see while driving, he will not turn the phone off because he likes to be available 24/7 for emergencies.

Dispatchers usually call those drivers that play their "telephone is life" game and answer and give useful info. My phone doesn't seem to work except in emergencies and I go months without having to tell the dispatcher that the load will arrive about half a second after I do.

If you can't manage a phone you have no business managing a truck.

 

There is a quick disconnect. Take the plate off the back that looks like a battery cover and unplug the cable. It's a network cable the same as a computer uses. Unplugs just like a phone line. Nice and quiet.

 

BINGO!

No QC, and my mantra for years has been, "just because it rings, it doesn't mean you have to answer it."

The phone is mine and for my convenience. The fact that the company owners (family) that I'm currently leased to are control freaks and this makes them crazy is just an unintended benefit.

 

and get caught and you might as well apply at arrow...

 

I was at arrow when I was doing it, lol.

 

as long as you plug it back in later, i dont see why you'd get caught. just, oh, i dont have a signal right now.

 

Sure!
Dispatchers can do that, and I don't doubt some do. As of this post, I've read the first 28, or 29 replies in this thread and they mostly seem to be annoyed by cell phone and/or Satellite Tracking communication.
That's interesting.

I'll admit right up front here, the first company I drove for had orange Big trucks and, as a result of quick advancement based on performance, I sorta by-passed the good and gettin' good dispatchers and was assigned to the more experienced dispatcher's board. I thought she was pretty good back then, but as I look back, she was awesome.

I never received unnecessary phone calls. I did receive calls advising me of a sudden change of plans as soon as the change arose, which saved me a hassle.

Next company I drove for had no satellite tracking, and a dispatcher with around 30 years runnin' his own Big truck, assisted by one with close to that many years. They knew how to dispatch and better yet, they knew how to back up their drivers should a problem arise.

If a driver was in the right, and some customer is goin' off over whatever, --- and demanding to speak with your dispatcher, --- Just smile and dial the number for them. When that conversation is over there'll usually be an understanding. The customer understands customers aren't always right.

I'd run 8 or 9 weeks out, then take a week to 10 days off in a row. When I received calls from them off duty, it was to let me know if a particular run I like enough to put off my home time to grab comes up. Never hounding calls. And on the road the drivers had issued pagers -- and no cell phones required.

I received one call about 4 days into 10 or so off duty, --- as a last resort. I was the last driver able to run a load of show stuff to Reno that had to arrive ASAP or the big show wouldn't go on.

A dispatcher askin' for a big favor?
What would you say?

But here's the catch to havin' a really experienced dispatcher.
Think putting a 16 year old who barely passed the learner's permit test, behind the wheel of a Viper, or 800 HP barely street legal door-slammer. Can Jonnie keep ez foot outta it?
Get either one crossed up and they'll chew y'all up.

A good, experienced dispatcher has the ability to either
make, or break a driver. Never unnecessarily leave a bad taste in y'all's dispatcher's mouth.
I'm not suggesting kissin' buttoxes, but being fair is reasonable.

I suggest making it a point to meet your dispatcher face to face while on good terms. Put a face with your company number. Send a post card to your dispatcher just on a whim. Say it was a nice load and thank 'em.
How often do you reckon they hear that?
Y'all just made an impression.
And don't be surprised to see that/those post cards y'all sent tacked to their cubicle wall when y'all stop by to say hi.

And I would think this isn't the easiest of times for dispatchers either.
Hmmmmmmmmm

I wonder if some of these train 'em & cane 'em companies run through dispatchers like they seem to prefer to do with their drivers?
And, is dispatchin' really gettin' that bad?