How do you get dispatched?

Qualcomm or PeopleNet. It will tell you the details about the next load, pick uptimes and whatnot (I’m thinking company driver ‘go where they tell you’ mode). If you can’t make, message them back telling them negative on the next run and give them your reason. If you’re a decent hand, they will understand and work with you. If you’re a slacker, they’re going to do everything they can to get you off their board.

 

I get the dispatch message on a smartphone app. It has names, phone numbers and load numbers. After that it's all up to me to call, get directions and figure it out for myself.

 

I get mine over Qualcomm. We have the option to accept, decline, or counter. Counter means you giving the times you can pick up/deliver the load.

 

Melton (like other bigger companies) are forced dispatch, if you are a company driver. Meaning you will your load assignments via whatever computer system they have installed. Whatever company you end up working for will go through all that and more.

The tricky part is getting a fleet manager, who knows how to assign your runs and not let you sit long in between loads.

 

I get a msg over QC and a text to my phone. I have a 1/2 hour to respond. If I don't, I get a phone call telling me to check QC. By that time, chances are good someone else took it. I can also lose points on my employee rating if I go too long without responding. My trips aren't forced per se, but I lose my spot in the queue if I decline and I have to wait longer for the next opportunity. The exception is if it's close. Dispatch boomerangs it right back to me.

"I know you said you didn't want this but the computer says you do..."

Another thing that happens is I'm already on a run and I get a message saying I have a P/U in whatever town I'm going to (or somewhere nearby) and the time they expect me to be there. These are often shorties. I don't get a choice on them, but sometimes I wind up in a better spot for the next load. I'd rather do that than sit in Nevada's armpit for three days.

 

'Armpit' means dead zone. No loads nearby. It means you're sitting and not making any money until someone deadheads you. Even then, you're only getting fuel until you're under load again.

 

You sit quietly in the drivers room watching the "View" on a 30 year old television set listening to the lunch counter BS.

Suddenly you hear your name prefaced with profanity. HEY! Yes YOU. Take this down to Atlanta, be there in the morning, get going *&^% you are late.

And there you stand with a small pile of papers in your hands that has been through a thousand peoples before it reached you. So you spent all day telling stories and wasting time, now you have 15 hours to get to atlanta and already know you need 16 to get there legally at the speed limit. Never mind the logs.

Right. Off you go. You took the load and trailer as it sits. If something is torn or broken you did not have time to fix all that. Get going already.

That is trucking. People make promises in sales and brokering that you don't know anything about until dispatcher tosses it at you. 10 minutes before he is going to clock out and go home to the kids ball game or something really important.

One big difference between my time and today. In those days you were told to be somewhere far away by say monday 7 am. Call when empty. Git.

Today you cannot hardly move a inch without being micromanaged, your every decision if you are allowed to make any at all is second guessed or questioned in a bad light... you are not allowed to know anything or set the route or whatever. You will do this, that and other without talkback or sassy. With a appointment time 10 minutes after which your load will be rejected and told to sit a week. Prior to your firing for service failure.

Choose very carefully what you do in trucking. It will be very fulfilling to you or a exercise in drudgery and burnout.