Is that load worth going to prison?

... I need to stop you right there. The driver KNOWS he is almost out of hours. he is wrong to accept another load without a break. Dispatcher probably should know also but the driver is the one at fault here.

 

Ok I read the first one first and responded, now I read this! I guess you understand the fact you are somewhat responsible and you are correct in what you are saying above!
You know the reason Dispatchers get the blame is because you are the one dispatching them and you are the main contact they have; therefore you get blamed for everything that goes wrong (that's the only reason I don't want to be a dispatcher).. It's just like logs, I don't make the rule's I just enforce them, but the drivers think log department is the worst place and we are evil and drivers actually quit over the log's; when they go to another company they will have the same issue's (unless the company is not going by the law) because what I have found is many of the drivers have 1) no patience 2) Got a bad dispatcher and didn't go above their heads and just quit (that is a no no, drivers always talk to the owner or someone above them and keep going up the ladder) 3) are having family problems or issue's and over react to everything (not intentionally they don't realize it) and want to blame someone else. If the company is a good company the driver will realize the issue and come back. If you are a bad company THEY WON'T COME BACK!

Now I have seen many dispatcher's be obknoxious and just down right heartless to drivers; I CRINGE at some of these guys, but remember if you the driver complains enough them dispatchers will/should be taken care of. If not then move on; but try first. I always say wait 1 month @ least before you decide to quit, this gives the situation time to cool down and you to think!

We can't hold 1 drivers attitude and blame all drivers. We can't hold one dispatchers wrong for all dispatchers. GIVE EVERYONE A CHANCE! I am not an evil woman, but some think I am because I tell them they can't run illegal. What is wrong with me telling them not to kill them selves or someone else? NOTHING!
I am sorry, but I hate to see anyone beat the other up! We are a T-E-A-M! Like Colts! YEAH!

 

AGREED....AS STATED BEFORE I HAVE 350 DRIVERS ON MY BOARD AND THEY COULD BE IN ONE OF 500 DIFFERENT TRUCKS...KEEPING TRACK OF THEIR HOS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS POSSIBLE...I HAVE TO RELY ON THE INFORMATION I GET ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS...IF A DRVR TELLS ME HE HAS 10 HOURS TO DRIVE...I GIVE HIM A LOAD HE CAN DO IN 10 HOURS...A DRIVER GIVING ME FALSE OR INACCUATE INFORMATION IS SOMETHING I DO NOT HAVE CONTROL OVER...MOST OF THE TIME THE ERROR IS NOT CAUGHT UNTIL AFTER THE LOAD HAS BEEN DELIVERED AND THE LOGS HAVE BEEN PORCESSED....

 

The dispatcher should have also known the driver just drove 11 hours and then turned around and dispatched the driver again to pick up another load.
In DOT's eye's they are both wrong. This is why many company's are now montioring the drivers HOS via qualcom to assure they are not driving over their HOS of course we can't stop everyone, but we must show we are trying.
Dispatchers have to be aware many drivers will try to run illegal and we "UNFORTUNATELY" are responsible in stoping them.
Again I stated they both are responsible!
In this dispatchers situation the DOT will be all over the company for allowing 1 dispatcher in control of 350 drivers. He should not be in charge of 350 drivers alone!

 

Let me also make a statement to the below Q & A. DOT audits the company and finds the driver drove 11 hours and was dispatched with no 10 hour break, and DOT audits that guy, they will give you the fine's listed below.
Now what the company usually does (not all) is make theirselves look good by getting rid of the person that did the dispatching and try to convince DOT to lower the fine or to get out of it by stating we took care of the problem, we did not realize the Dispatcher was not doing his job. I know there is a story out there about his same issue, I will try and look it up tonight!

B-2. What are the penalties for violating the HOS rules?
Drivers or carriers who violate the HOS rules face serious penalties:

Drivers may be placed out-of-service (shut down) at roadside until the driver has accumulated enough off-duty time to be back in compliance;
State and local enforcement officials may assess fines;
FMCSA may levy civil penalties on driver or carrier, ranging from $1,000 to $11,000 per violation depending on severity;
The carrier's safety rating can be downgraded for a pattern of violations; and
Federal criminal penalties can be brought against carriers who knowingly and willfully allow or require HOS violations, or drivers who knowingly and willfully violate the HOS regulations

 

I find that hard to believe....I am not aware of any requirements for a ratio of dispatchers to drivers...especially considering I am the night coverage...not the driver manager...

 

Couldn't agree more with this statement!

Here in the ladn down under we have a slogan "Don't die for a deadline". In other words, so what if the freight is late as long as the most important piece of it on board, the guy or gal behind the wheel, gets there alive and undamaged!

I've been in this industry 26 years years. Have always run legal and smart. When I'm tired, I pull over, call operations, let them know what I'm doing and get in the bunk.

Only once was I told by a dispatcher I'd better keep moving and get the load in on time or start looking for another job. My reply was simple. There's an airport here in this town. The truck will be parked there, the keys will be at security and I'll be on the first plane home.

An hour after the eta the next day my cell phone rang, it was the dayshift operations manager. Conversation went like this.

OM. "Where are you?"
ME. "Home. Why?"
OM. "What about that load to ####?"
ME. "What about it?"

I then went on to explain what had happened the night before with the N/S dispatcher.

Company flew me back to pick up the truck after arranging for a labour hire worker to pick it up and deliver the freight. They also fired the N/S dispatcher.

Moral of the story. The most important freight on your truck is YOU! Don't die for a deadline and if you're threatened with being fired if you don't get a load in to anywhere at a specific time, quit and let the ######## sort it out for themselves!


Rod

 

I have heard that brooks is running their drivers hard, and if that is the case it will be proven in court (hopefully) and unfortunately the driver will still be on the same boat because; both the dispatcher and the driver are responsible. Drivers must understand you have the law on your side if you say no I can not do that load legally. YOu must understand if you are tired just because and you tell your Dispactcher you are tired he/se is supposed to listen to you!
DRIVERS! RUN LEGAL AND DO NO MORE! What you need to do is understand alll the regulaations INCLUDING split breaking!

 

Brother, if you make it up here or I make it down there, I'm definitely going to buy you a cold one for that post. :smt038

 

No need to penguin. I'm just telling it like it is.


Rod