Do dispatchers and load planners bully drivers?

If it’s not working out, time to move on.

 

It starts here and ends here. No one is going to do what you do not allow. If you get bullied, you need to make changes.

“Do you have any tips on dealing with dispatchers who may try to bully a driver, Six?”

Sure do.

1. Don’t be nice. A nice person is looking for a reward. A nice guy wants the dispatcher/travel agent to like him. We, you and I, are here to do a job, not win a popularity contest. People, especially women, can tell when you are trying to get her to like you. She’ll step on you. “Can you do me a favor, Six?” No ma’am, no favors. I am here for the money. (Ego Stroke Card) “But Six, you’re the only one who can do this, you are the only one I trust…”. Great, let’s talk money. “Six, you are an A Hole.” It pays the bills. Mission accomplished.

2. Do your absolute best, every job, every run. If you agree to do the job, you are obligated to bring that A Game. BRING IT. This should be your default setting. Anything less is unacceptable.

3. If you do what you said that you would do, demand that your employer do what they said. If you are supposed to go home, be off, go on vacation and you put your time in, DO NOT allow them to guilt trip you into changing your plan. They may get pissy or belligerent, but by this time you should have already established how you roll. They will fold.

4. Keep your business YOUR BUSINESS. Familiarity breeds contempt. The less they know, the less they will try to bang heads.

5. Stay calm. Calmness shows mastery. Don’t ever vent to the office people. It’s a sign of weakness. Weaknesses will be exploited and buttons will be pushed. If they can push your buttons, they control you. Expect to be bullied.

Luck in battle.

 

They analyze everything, your night driving vs day, on time vs late ect, our DM have a quto to achieve for them which = bonus plus whatever little pay they're paid, load planners get you home, and give your DM a jump start on the new weak to move things around ie load ect there in constant communication.

 

Whatcha' haulin', driver? Got a load of dispatcher brains on,,,was a familiar ring, indicating an empty wagon. Most dispatchers I've dealt with, knew little, if anything about trucking. Many times they were the bosses nephew who needed a job while training to be something better. Took a lot of patience, and more than once, you'd see one of your companies drivers going the other way to pick up a load from where you just left. I got along with most dispatchers, a favor would go a long way sometimes. I knew guys that dated( ahem) dispatchers in an attempt to make more money, but rarely worked out that way. One thing was clear, didn't like the dispatcher? no worry, another will be along shortly.