Co drivers, what’s your relationship like with your dispatcher?

Do you believe your travel agent? I don’t. Your company has
1. TONU
2. Detention Pay
3. Relocation fees
…all for the driver.

They have ways to right the wrongs and PLENTY of money to do it. If your dispatcher just gave you the “I’m sorry I didn’t know there’s nothing I can do” speech, he/she knew. If he/she didn’t know, he/she would raise holy hell with the operations manager to get a few bills thrown your way. If the receiver screwed up, you bet your bottom dollar they would hit them for their truck being delayed.

This is why you identify yourself as the driver. You are the actual person doing the work. Your ETA is the official ETA. The appointment you make is the official appointment. You introduce yourself to the contact person. If anyone else from your company calls, your contact knows that they aren’t the driver and will stick to the appointment that was made with the driver.

So, when an office jock calls a customer after a an office screw up and tries to throw the driver under the bus, guess what happens? Customer calls out the liar. Office jocks learn really quick who they can’t run game on when you have your end covered completely.

BONUS: By calling the shippers and receivers, you can also get
1. Hours of operation
2. On site parking if available (really helps your clock $$$$$)
Dispatch might set the appointment for Tuesday 0700, but the customer runs 24-7. You get there the evening before and park where they need you to be. OSOW and high dollar loads can usually get parked on site. No metro curfews and you can shave quite a bit of time off your clock. I’ve gotten to shippers in the afternoon and wait until dark to tarp…main one that comes to mind is aircraft engines. Worth millions. I’ve always been able to park aircraft loads on property, be it shipper or receiver.

 

Word, Six....

 

Ask about a dispatcher and everyone replies that in it self says everything.They are a lot like brokers if there mouths are moving there lying.Dispatchers come in different forms you have the one more pick up guy that one more pick up on the way home until it turns into 5.You have the ones that beg come on I need you to come in and do this run on your day off your all I have so I say yes I will let me finish my beer and I will be right there after I make that statement you find out that you’re not really all he has just his buddy who wanted to go home and not do he’s load will have to do itYou have the one’s that was a driver and couldn’t do it but can tell you how to.They are like used car salesman try to sell you a lie and want you to just believe it he’s your best friend.

 

Dealing with the office personnel and politics can be annoying, especially for guys who went back to being a company hand for whatever reason after getting used to doing their own thing in their own truck with fewer people to appease or ask permission of. With other drivers I am polite and will make some small talk if they approach me but generally don't like listen to a lot of typical truck driver BS and don't really need those conversations to complete my day. Occasionally somebody will mention some useful intel I wouldn't have otherwise known.

 

Actually, that one usually ends up with a long speech before you are told which clinic to go to for a random drug test.
In my experience, at least.

 

I read threads like this and realize I had such an amazing working relationship with my dm at Western Express. It’s been almost six years since I’ve been there and we still catch up at least once a year. Landstar couldn’t get anyone at WE to verify my employment (such as WE thing) so my dm told me to give them his office number. He gave me a glowing review.

I learned a longtime ago to listen to @TripleSix and @D.Tibbitt but life is still a day by day and person by person endeavor.

 

Tip of the day:

https://youtube.com/shorts/svP7QYsJmdM?si=ff_mcxN6_7r8czuW

 

Since I posted above about my pickup and delivery times being tinkered with and frustrating me, it has stopped. I wonder if someone is reading these threads.