Dedicated Logistics (DLI) St Paul, MN

I drove for DLI.

I don't want to trash them, as they do have some good to them.

My direct supervisor was also my dispatcher. I will not say his name, nor will I pass any information that would give it away. He was not a bad guy, as a person, but as a dispatcher...

I hauled from IL to MN, then p/u a backhaul out of MN returning to IL. The delivery times, and load production times for the product going to MN was very tight, and it could not be late. I would take my load out to MN, get my backhaul then take my 10. I would drive back to IL, deliver and then run a local shuttle, which would chew up my 11/14. After which, I would not have 10 hours before I had to p/u my load going to MN.
The company trucks have peoplenet paperless logs and GPS. On more than 1 occasion I was told to disable peoplenet and use a log book and run illegal. I am not above running that way. I will do everything I can to run clean though.
1 particular trip I was to get my loaded trailer from the drop yard in IL. The paperwork was supposed to be in the trailer. When I got there I found no bills or manifest, or any documentation of any kind, for the load. When I contacted my dispatcher (it was a sunday night) he was so drunk that he was passing out on the phone. If you want to drink, I have nothing against that at all, but at least refer me to someone else who is not passing out.
He demanded that I take the load without the paperwork then hung up on me. When I called the 24 hour dispatch line they told me that I was not to take that load and that they would call my boss and let him know. Well, my boss called me back yelling at me to take the load. I refused, and went home. The cost for that? Well, they called in a temp driver, put him in my tractor and sent him. Since he was in my tractor, I got no miles for the week. The temp driver damaged my tractor. Fortunately I document everything and had date/time stamped photos showing the new damage. My dispatcher tried to write me up anyways, but Safety threw it out.

The company as a whole is a good one. I just got stuck with someone who has no business trying to dispatch.
When I notified the main office that I was going to be quitting, and told them why, they offered me another position out of a different terminal. I declined the offer.

I have nothing against the company as a whole. I would even say they are decent to work for. The folks at the main office treat drivers well, and from what I can gather most account managers take care of their drivers. I just got lucky enough to get someone that should not be in the position he is in.

 

Yeah I know a guy that works for them loves it and does good. Only downside is all your eggs are in one basket your run gets cancelled you usually sit at the house....it goess bye bye you see the un-employment line. Dedicated runs are great while they are there but I always have one thing to say about dedicated runs......here today gone yesterday.