new law and broker calls

They all get the same treatment from nearly every driver they call. Had a Landstar Agent calling me a few times a day on a 900+ mile JIT load that paid well over $2 a mile to my truck including 175 deadhead in that. You think it's ok to shirk customer service? I don't. He was apologizing every time he called, I said look, call me any time with any questions. I tell every broker that.

 

If you guys would read the rate conformation sheet most the time it will tell you if you have to make check in calls some make you call when you drop for a pro-#Sr# or pod-#what ever they want to call it. If it's not on the paper work when you invoice them you don't get paid
Landstar sent me one a few weeks back was a load of tractors from galveston,tx up to WV soon as I looked at it
"must call for dispatch"
"must call when loaded"
"must make two check in calls daily"
"driver must call between 9:30-10:30 than again at 2:30-3:30"
"must give location and ETA"
" must call with any delay longer than 30 min"

I was picking this up on thrusday for a Monday del I took a marker and drew a line right thru it when he called me back I told him I take my 10 hour brake during the day and drive at night less traffic he said well I don't want you waking me up don't worrie about it just call me Monday when you drop......Just need to know what to say

 

Consider the sad excuses out there not getting the job done. Much of our freight is with new brokers who don't know us from Tom, Dick, or Harry. Do you think any of them ever worry about a load? Service is what you're selling. Rudeness is what they get every day all the time from drivers. You don't have to have long conversations about life stories just make your point. Along the lines of what Bayou Hotshot was saying (of course read the conf sheet to see what they want) it's up to you to communicate well enough right from the start to put their mind at ease and if they check call you, big deal, deal with it.

 

When I'm driving I don't answer the phone, my message says; "Due to recent changes in federal regulations I will no longer answer the phone while driving, please leave a message and I will call you as soon as possible".

Read the law folks, the penalties are clear. A cop could write you a ticket based on what he/she thinks they saw, it's up to you to dispute their claim, to me it just isn't worth a serious violation ticket.

 

I am waiting for the shippers/brokers that pay well to have messages: "Due to recent changes, drivers with no common sense or willingness to have the tools to conduct business will not be hired."

Stop reading un-informed news reports. HANDS FREE. Sad we needed a law for that. But plenty of idiots running around with phone to head, elbow holding steering wheel while trying to shift.

 

I responded to a quote the other day that required GPS tracking or location checks every 200 miles. Some carriers because they have GPS have contracts that state position update requirements.

I have conversations with TQL about this (and other things). Last load was told they need 3-updates a day per contract. It paid well so OK.

 

All it will take is another high profile fatality then phones/blue tooth will be banned while driving altogether, it's ultimately what they want.

 

I have a Motorola speaker box that clips on the visor. Hit one button on it or hitone button on the phone. Can hear it perfectly and have ye to have an issue with it. I'm not getting a $2000 fine for a dang broker calling me.

 

whats gonna happen when they ban CBs