From the desk

Big Don, you are right.
I just wanted to post some things I thought it would be nice if some drivers thought about, but knew it would be met with much belligerence. I neglected to consider the rational, reasonable people who could discuss without being insulting. My mistake, I apologize.

But with that said, I see I wasn't far from wrong on the belligerence thing, was I? Same type of attitudes I have to deal with at the desk if dare to say something.
But I don't want to be rude to the people who are open to a reasonable discussion, and some of those posts I would like to address;

This is so wrong! I was not telling anyone I "set them dumb ### truckers straight", I 'm sorry if that's what you think.
I really thought I did a reasonable job of not being belligerent or insulting, but I know my original posts weren't perfect.

As for yours, and others, comments along the lines of not liking the job, I don't know where anyone got that, because I dared to bring up things I see that shouldn't be happening, or shouldn't be done.
Did I write on and on about all drivers are this or that, insulting with every phrase?
I don't think so. In fact some people I consider some of my best friends are drivers I've met while working there, or as best of friends as we can be considering that we don't live close enough to get together. And I have so many of my regulars, and not-so-regulars, that I have a lot of fun with kidding around or just talking about stuff, so I don't know where the "not liking job" thing came from. Maybe it's just easier to put what I wrote off on that.

I'm sorry that you only saw my posts as derogatory. Of course a great deal of that was probably my own fault for the "hit & run" posture I took, and again, I apologize for that.

As for attitudes you've encountered at fuel desks, and other things mentioned like someone talking on a cell phone, etc., as I mentioned in one of my original posts - I know, I've seen it. I've seen it from others where I work, I saw it when I took road trips and stopped other places.
I'm sorry for that, but at the same time, sorry, but I'm not responsible for the way every other fuel desk people act, even where I work, I have no control over it, I'm nobody's boss. I am only in a position to shake my head, and do the best I can when I'm working.

As for the paid parking and safe parking for drivers - I understand about the safe parking problem for drivers, I understand it is a problem, but wouldn't it be fair for you (and others) to understand that we need to take care of our customers, and not TA's customers?
We had drivers, regular customers, the ones who actually support our business, who would stop in and say they weren't coming there anymore because there'd be no place to park.

See, this is an example of what I was talking about - tell someone not to do what they are not supposed to do, and look at the attitude.
But that's okay, I'm used to that. I don't expect you to not park on the fuel island because I said something, but here's the part that amazes me;
Before I started working there, I thought that drivers would have consideration for other drivers.
For example, you mention nothing about what I said about people like you being rude to other drivers, who pull in and want to use the fuel island to, you know, get fuel. That's not even the slightest consideration?

And I see a lot of this type of attitude - an "I don't care where I park as long as it gets me closer to the door", with no concern or consideration if they will be hampering other drivers from being able to manuever easily in or out of the property.
It's odd, that I have to be the one to mention stuff like that. As drivers, you know what it takes, the room needed, or what it's like to wait for someone blocking your way, I would think you, of all people would be mindful not to park in a way that interferes with other drivers.

Okay, that's it for now. I apologize again for the hit and run. I shouldn't have worried about those that would just be insulting or belligerent. It's easy to scroll on by those.

 

Oops, I forgot this last post;
Again, I did not come on here just to cause problems, but I answered that in my last post.
And as for the paid parking thing, we are not biting the hand that feeds us, we are actually protecting the hands that feed us - the customers who do business with us. As I mentioned previously, many of our customers actually told us they were glad we started the paid parking. The only ones who have complained are the ones who just wanted to use us for a place to park.

 

You are right, I can only go by what my customers tell me. And for years, it was complaints from paying customers that made it clear we had a problem.
So what are we doing wrong - listening to our customers? I thought that is what we should do.

Wait a minute, I was knocked for saying I was posting and and saying I wouldn't be back, now I'm knocked for coming back? Okay.
As I said, I came back because I realized it was rude, but I guess it's a losing proposition either way.

Hahaa, yes, as for being back, like I said, I considered the "rude" factor. I know I've gotten in discussions with drivers at work about these very topics, reasonable discussions, don't know why I wasn't considering that possibility here.
And thank you, now this is the kind of reasonable "discussion" I was afraid I might not see.
When you said,
"for the most part your complaints about some drivers and the same things that drive many of nuts also." - a lot of what I wrote is from my customers, drivers complaining about others blocking the fuel island or parked so they can't get out. Frankly, it doesn't affect me at all. No matter how any drivers park, when it's time for me to go home, I'll still get out.

As for the space on the fuel islands, that is our circumstance, we don't have the room for pull ups, otherwise, it's probably not an issue that would have ever come up.
And also thank you for seeing both sides of the issue on the parking.
Our regulars that we get to know, of course, myself and others just give them a permit without a second thought whether they get fuel or not. Yes, I know that's probably not fair to drivers we don't see as often and get to know they fuel there, or eat there regularly, etc., I'll be the first to admit that it's not perfect, probably never will be.
But in the end, it was a result of listening to our paying customers. Like I mentioned about parking at the fuel island or parking so it's blocking other drivers in some other way, it doesn't affect me, or anyone else that works there, we will still have a place to park.

Maybe the lesson to be learned from this is not listening to the customers?