What is the purpose of a DM?

Discussion in 'Swift' started by Switches, Jan 5, 2012.

  1. Switches

    Switches Light Load Member

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    I guess i did not get the memo but I received a fleet message 2 days ago that basically stated DM's are not responsible for payroll issues. I.E. Submitting for layover/Breakdown and that all submissions for those things should be done by mac 13 to PAYHELP.So my question now is this,There not helping on my payroll issues.I don't need them to get a different fuel route. They are of little to no help getting me loads let alone getting me home and other then the occasional fleet message I never hear from them.

    I don't like to rant but this is getting ridiculous. The little things i do ask of them like attach this trailer and dispatch me please or please reset my pta to what i had it set at from my ecall.I get the answer of basically do it yourself. I know the pod fleets manage a lot of drivers but that doesn't mean anything to me when Payroll says get your dm to submit it and then the dm's tell me to do it and when i send it in i never see or hear anything about it.
    For those of you who have a good DM I am jealous of you.
     
    scottied67 Thanks this.
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  3. otherhalftw

    otherhalftw R.I.P.

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    What is the purpose of a DM?

    That is one question that even the head DM can't answer.....most feel it stands for "dumb mudder".....
     
    bluebonn and silentlysailing Thank this.
  4. dancnoone

    dancnoone "Village Idiot"

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    Job Description ---- Driver Manager --- Or whatever silly ### name you want to give to a person hired to act like a punching bag.

    Duties Include, but are not limited too....

    Block and/or prevent driver from communicating with the REAL person responsible for screwing up ALL aspects of drivers life.

    In the event a driver goes postal while on company property. The primary duty of a Driver Manager is to take a bullet for all essential personnel.

    These actions are not restricted to projectiles fired from a hand held weapon, and may include a knife, fist, hammer, and many other manners of projectiles.

    The ability to lie with a straight face is not required, but is considered a recognized talent of use.
     
  5. Switches

    Switches Light Load Member

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    PHX,AZ
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    Thank you. This actually put a smile on my face and i think i understand now.
     
  6. WitchingHour

    WitchingHour Road Train Member

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    Broomfield, CO
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    If you get a good one, there'll be no question as to what their purpose is.
    There weren't a whole lot of good ones I can recall from my time with Swift, and I get the impression it's more the same now, but the good ones really do stand out. Remember that you can request to be dispatched out of a different terminal or transferred to a different board.
     
  7. rookietrucker

    rookietrucker Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    No matter what company your driving for, a good DM that actually cares, will make sure your getting paid for everything you do. Some DM's know in mindset, if your getting paid for everything your more likely to be satisfied with the company. Your also less likely to complain and leave. Of course this has a lot to do with the driver as well. They need to be doing their part out on the road. Driver and DM is a team effort or should be.

    The problem I have with some of these mega carriers. They pushed the qualcomm onto the drivers with all the codes and think that's the only line of communication period. :biggrin_25512:
     
    Last edited: Jan 7, 2012
  8. ZippyNH

    ZippyNH Medium Load Member

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    Like said before, at a good company, a dm will act as a go between the driver and load planners and ensure you are happy.
    Communication is key....
    if you work at a crappy place, i guess dm's just shovel crap....
    I find i tell my dm if i want to go in a general direction, if i want to run nights, run hard, have an easy day, get home in x days, they orchastreate it all, and simply ge it done...
    when you act like a professional, and get to deal with a professional, the system works great. Any brakedown, and all bets are off.
     
  9. scottied67

    scottied67 Road Train Member

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    I haven't heard of this PayHelp thing yet. Of course that would make sense as my DM is so busy I don't get the memo on things til I'm already on safety hold. I've asked several times about detention pay from a load months ago, still waiting. Also did not get my $0.03 cents per mile fuel surcharge for West Coast states last week and only did 2 loads, from El Paso to SLC and SLC to Dallas. They tried to tell me El Paso is Central Standard Time therefore is not considered 'West Coast'.

    My DM knows my name when I call in. I need more than that though in this supposed business relationship. Things like offering me loads up into the Colorado mountains delivering on a Saturday when 10 inches of snow are expected or offering from SLC to Cheyenne WY load when the wind is blowing 102 miles per hour knocking over miles of trucks is not what I would call synergy.

    Most recently I emptied out near Dallas. Sent in mac 30 every few hours, no loads. So took advantage of the time and got my elogs installed. No hurry to take the class sent in mac 30 for a few hours til the class came around the next day, no loads. OK fine. Friday after sitting around all day mac 30ing and no loads, 5 minutes after the last 'no loads' message voila, a load. But I have to drive across the Dallas Metroplex on Friday late afternoon mega traffic to get there, was late of course. The big window for delivery was trimmed down to just 14 hours drive time plus a 10 hour break factored in. That means I'd have to run 65 the whole way which is not part of my business plan. If they had given me the load hours earlier when I was sending in mac 30 I could have easily gotten the load on time and on time to the final with the traveling speed I prefer. I'm not really feeling the love over here.
     
    capthook Thanks this.
  10. bluebonn

    bluebonn Road Train Member

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    What's a DM? Oh you mean the lady who thinks I never need sleep? Who loves to call me @ 6:30 Am central time when I am in Cali to give me a review.

    The lady who calls me to tell me I need to start parking under a shade tree in the summer to bring down my idle?

    The lady who I tell I need to fill my wagon who says I will message planners and I never hear anything back.

    The lady who I will no longer tell I am in shop status until I am about to get out so she don't try to offer me a piece of crap Volvo so she can just take my break down pay because she knows I will refuse.

    The lady who says your truck was going 64 MPH for 58 minutes and you need to slow down... Hmmm as far as I know I am going slow when the speed limit is 80 and everyone is blowing bye me.


    Should be labeled something other than DM because from what I remember from long ago driver managers work for the driver. Mine seems to work for the company.
     
    Switches, White Knight and scottied67 Thank this.
  11. Switches

    Switches Light Load Member

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    Dec 15, 2011
    PHX,AZ
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    I am both glad i am not the only one having these issues and disappointed about it at the same time. is there anyone out there that has a DM/Terminal they would recommend? I run hard i rarely take home time 100% p/u & on time no serv fails and no preventable's. under 20% idle. The only thing i ever complain about is not getting the pay i am suppose to 24hrs no PPLN=Layover. Not an argument.
     
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