I'm not a new driver but I do have a question

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by drivingmissdaisy, Jun 26, 2021.

  1. drivingmissdaisy

    drivingmissdaisy Road Train Member

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    Last week I picked up a multiple stop load from a shipper right near our yard. I'd gone there many times and even had that same dude load my trailer before. I've done this multiple stop trip from this location to these same stops several times before without a hiccup.

    Until last week.

    I get there and hop out the truck. The guy is standing in an open dock already waiting for me. I walk up to him, tell him I have a pickup, give him my pickup number and him and I check his stack of BOL's that he already had in his hand for the one I had. He said "Ok you're going to Tennessee and Michigan right?" I said yes sir. He said back into this dock that we're standing in. I said you got it.

    I back in, he loads me, gives me the BOL I sign it, he makes a copy and I roll out. I get to my first stop and the trailer is unloaded. I go to close the door and I notice THE TRAILER IS EMPTY. There is nothing for the 2nd stop. I call my dispatcher and they call me back about an hour later asking me why I wasn't loaded for the 2nd stop. I said because the dude didn't put anything on the trailer for the 2nd stop. It's not my job to make sure the right cargo is loaded because I don't know what cargo it is anyway, the BOL just lists some random numbers that are meaningless to me.

    FF a few days and they wind up saying it was MY fault that the right freight wasn't loaded because the BOL only listed the first stop in the address area. Well, I've done MANY multi-stop deliveries for this company and the BOL NEVER HAS all the stops on there. Usually it just has the last one or the first one. So I saw the BOL had the TN address I was going to and that was it. I never paid attention to the BOL before when I went there and never had an issue.

    I don't feel I did anything wrong. I ensured the right pickup number was given and received, the BOL matched the pickup number I had and the guy confirmed the two addresses I had to go to. But he ACTUALLY only loaded the trailer with the empty crates for the first stop, not the 2nd. I'm 100% no touch freight and not even allowed in that warehouse to observe the loading of the trailer. But I wouldn't know what goes where anyway, I'm not into that. I drive the truck.

    Is this mess really my fault? My company is complaining that their customer was mad at us for "not ensuring the paperwork was right" and that we lost a ton of money on the trip. Um, I lost a ton of miles too but the paper work WAS right, the BOL number was in complete agreement with the pickup number I had.
     
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  3. truckdriver31

    truckdriver31 Road Train Member

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    so did the BOL have both del's and del numbers or one number. if its a 1 pick 2 del's. it should had 2 bol's. 1 for each. always put SLSC on bills
     
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  4. slow.rider

    slow.rider Road Train Member

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    If all they're doing is complaining then just sit tight and let it blow over. There's a vast subsection of American culture which operates on the notion that a man''s role in life is simply to "try harder," and they might see this event as an opportunity to heap undeserved guilt on you so you will entertain them by giving extra effort somewhere or having some sort of emotional outburst.
     
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  5. NorthEastTrucker

    NorthEastTrucker Medium Load Member

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    For some it might sound like a waste of time but I always take picture of the BOL's just in case something happens with the paperwork and I feel that it protects me if there's any discrepancy. However, I don't see how it can be your fault if the right freight was not loaded when that the only BOL listed was for the 1st stop. For me, when leaving a pickup I take the extra time to check the load address's on the freight in order of making sure it is all these (especially during these times of covid because they no longer let us on the dock to see what it being loaded). A lot of times Shippers make errors with the freight so I just try to make sure the paperwork and loaded freight match.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 26, 2021
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  6. drivingmissdaisy

    drivingmissdaisy Road Train Member

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    Only one number given by company. Same as before.
     
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  7. MACK E-6

    MACK E-6 Moderator Staff Member

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    From where I sit that isn’t your fault in the least. The shipper needs to take that one up with the idiot that loaded it.

    You delivered what they gave you. Your job is done.
     
  8. Linte_Loco

    Linte_Loco Road Train Member

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    BOLs always are right
    Never check them before

    translation

    I usually am in a hurry and never bother checking them and it bit me good this time
     
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  9. Kyle G.

    Kyle G. Road Train Member

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    Are you sure the first receiver didn't unload the second receiver's stuff by mistake?
     
  10. SoulScream84

    SoulScream84 Road Train Member

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    I do multi-drop loads at times, and typically there are sets of paperwork for each stop. It's your job to verify the paperwork matches the information gives you, prior to leaving the shipper. If the paperwork you have doesn't match the information you were given, and you didn't verify, then regardless of "that's the way we always do it"; you are responsible.
     
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  11. Espressolane

    Espressolane Road Train Member

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    Your over thinking and over reacting to the situation. You claim you did your part correctly. If that is true and correct. Then the rest does not matter. The shipper has the rules they have, they made the error and want to pass it on to who ever they can to take the heat off them. Sorry way to do things, really shows the integrity of the company. As the driver, you have limited number of way to verify the load and documents are correct. A pick up number, maybe a BOL number, and destination are about all. It is inherent to the shipper to ensure the materials loaded and the documents are correct. You can not be held accountable for others errors when you have no ability to check, verify or otherwise confirm the loading and documents.
    Unless you have been denied payment for your work, don’t sweat it, move on. It will ride it’s self out in time.
    This is a “welcome to trucking” moment.
     
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