Maverick Driver general bs thread

Finishing up at Majestic Steel a driver came by and said, "that tarp job looks good". I turned and said, "It's more than good (wait for it . . . Wait for it) It's plentygood"!

 

Okay so you go in the Pilot and your refered to as a "Professional Driver" when they are pimping their showers. All the while selling tee shirts that stereo type you as a booger eating moron. How lovely!

 

I resent that booger eating part! I pick um and flick um.

 

So now that I've slept (twice) on the events that pissed me off (see post from Friday 05/24) I have come to a few conclusions. I feel it's always best to find resolution through understanding opposed to belligerent behavior. So in order for me to put things behind me I have to understand them, and in the process of understanding comes learning. This is well expressed in the old adage "If you do not learn from your mistakes, you are destined to repeat them"

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Conclusion #1
The driver is the lest important element in the trucking equation. Accepting this truth gives a proper perspective. The driver is easy to replace, it only takes a couple of months to train one up, and it doesn't cost all that much thanks to ol' uncle sugar.

Conclusion#2
Your FM only has your six up to a point. That point is quickly met when freight needs to be moved. Once again, understandable, that's what a trucking company needs to do.

Basically you are just the meat in the seat. Shut up and drive, don't think too much and everything will be just fine, just fine. That's trucking Bubba!

 

I can understand that you feel this way. But in reality, the driver is the most important element in the trucking equation! Though it might not seem that way. Good drivers are getting harder and harder to find. That is why you are seeing a drop in the quality of drivers. Standards seem to have been lowered in order to keep drivers in their seats. Now I agree that there are times that we get treated like we are the least, but I would imagine that this feeling is not shared by the upper management in Maverick.
The loads are assigned by the CSR. As you said, the FM only has your back to a certain extent. I do not believe that they can override a CSR. They can only lobby for you and try to get the desired result for a driver. They can swap loads that have been set up for their drivers, or they can get a load swap once they have been assigned. I know that all of the FM's are not equal in their ability or concern for their drivers. I have experienced the entire range over my three years.
I refuse to think of myself as just the meat in the seat as you put it. I will not shut up when things are not done properly. Their are avenues to voice your opinion and effect change. You may not get the immediate issue resolved in time, but there are those in the management line that really do care and want to make things better. If we all shut up and do not voice our opinions respectfully and professionally, then the sub par FM's and CSR's will continue to give sub par performance.
But as I started, I understand how you feel and why you feel that way. I would just suggest that you shot an email off to John Compens (spelling) when you feel things are not being handled in a professional manner.
Hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend! God Bless!

 

I'ts a tuff biz alright, I'd rather be home with "Sweet Cheeks" instead of being at a Pilot 30 miles from a Tuesday drop. That said, I understand being upset about not getting home for a special request.

 

I have never felt like such a idiot till yesterday but learned something from it

 

No longer "upset" (AKA Pissed Off) I have accepted the reality of this job. That's Trucking Bubba!

 

Okay I'll bite, what happened?

 

I know things didn't come out exactly as you had them planed. But you did make it home and you will be able to make it to your dentist appointment. Trying to accommodate your shippers needs and your driver needs is a hard act to do.

If you were just meat in a seat. Guess who would be delivering that load Tuesday. So they made things work as best as they could.

When I was working for another company. They had a APA shuttle run between Chicago and Fairlawn New Jersey. I would make it home on Fridays and guess what APA would come up with a extra load. Guess who would get a phone call. So instead of getting the weekend off I get to run out to New Jersey and back. It would happen two out of three weekends. I wasn't the least important asset I was the most important asset. and the company knew it they would take care of me on other things.it's hard to work in a customer service industry. That is what trucking is.

There's a lot of times I am not happy with the things that I need to do. But this is the life that I have chosen.Do I get frustrated and pissed off you bet I do. And when I do I call up a few select friends of mine and give them an earful to get it off my chest.

have a happy Memorial Day. And thank the men and women who serve this country.