so who has the problem here?

I've always been able to have an "adult" conversation with shippers/consignees during situations whether I created the problem (by being late etc...) or they created the problem (taking too long or ignoring me etc...). I do have a "button"...and that is do NOT talk 'down' to me.

I honestly believe that you are no better than me, and vice versa---we need to work together---do not act like you're better than me by talking down to and/or belittling me, because I have an extremely difficult time holding back (no I'm not talking about physically).
I have gotten MUCH better at controlling myself in those situations throughout time, and just make a phone call to dispatch and let THEM handle it while I walk away.

I have NEVER embraced the motto "The Customer Is Always Right", because my brain won't accept information that is false.

 

[QUOTE="semi" retired;4174313]Hi milkinitman, I believe you answered your own question. As a driver, you have to remember, there are 2 parts to this equation. The driver and the receiver. You are on their turf, and they call the shots, just like you wouldn't want a receiver's opinion on how to drive your truck. Getting upset in those situations only throws gas on a fire, and rarely has a good outcome. I've dealt with hundreds of receivers in my time, and just accepted that we don't know what goes on behind the scenes at these places, just like they don't know what you deal with as a driver. It's just part of the job.[/QUOTE]It is true that we don't know what goes on behind the scenes at customer facilities...but it is high time someone 'educates' shippers and consignees about a drivers 14 hour clock, and let them know that they are in essence messing with a drivers check/livelihood.
Doesn't necessarily mean they would give a crap...unless there was some kind of penalty for detaining a driver.

Example: YOU (customer) ordered the product that I am delivering...shouldn't be MY problem that you have no where to put it.

We as drivers are bound by time constraints...and are penalized (financially) if we don't abide by them. Now shippers/consignees need to be held responsible for stomping on our income.

 

This is why you should never ever be late with that doggone freight!

 

While in a perfect world, that's true, but what if you are stuck in a road closure for 6 hours or weather related delay, or breakdown? Again, we don't know why a receiver would be upset. Once, when I was on a line-haul, before I left the terminal, the driver before me left me with a blown drive tire, it was 1 am, nobody around, by the time I got the owner up, and a service truck with another tire, my load was 3 hours late. Well, turns out, I delayed several of the receivers trucks on the other end who were waiting for that freight, and I cost him hundreds of dollars(he claims) in drivers wages. So again, we just don't know.

 

In every situation involving humans, some are great, some are awful, most fall in between somewhere. And, let's not forget, everyone can have a bad day. Doesn't mean that every day is bad. Shippers and receivers are like mechanics, truck drivers, and doctors. Some are better than others. It averages out. If every trip was a great money maker, nobody would ever quit. Take the bad with the good, enjoy the ride.

 

That's how trucken is and always will be.There's no getting around it.Would be nice if everyday was smooth sailing but that'll never happen.Drivers need to be the bigger person and let everything flow off their backs.Remember the customer is always right and they pay our wages.If you're having a bad day because the customer made you that way,just call your dispatcher and take your anger out of them,lol.They rather you do that then yell at the shp or receiver and risk losing their account.

 

I used to just go to sleep and tell them to call me when you're done with your bullcrap

 

Ha, no wonder there's such a high turnover rate for dispatchers. A while back, someone was asking about starting a dispatcher service, and I tried to tell them, they get all the crap from everybody. BTW, still raining in Iowa, hey? I have a friend that runs a dozer on that new wind farm project in Ft.Dodge, and he's off yesterday and today too.

 

If in the rare instances I have to deal with an irate customer, I narrow my focus on A) where do you want my trailer, B) will you be able to load/unload it, and C) how long it will take. If there is a problem with any of those three, I call my people and we go from there.

The customer only sees two sides of me. The happy-go-lucky side and the stoic side coupled with my "#####y resting face" (look up the #####y resting face video, it's funny). But both are professional in work and attitude.

 

I once said.....give me a freaking forklift and I will unload the $&&: trailer myself ! Not rocket science....