Dealing With Dispatch

I completely agree. My opinion is somewhat ignorant since I never worked as a dispatcher - but working with them convinces me they are under unreasonable pressure. We have better jobs and better pay, far as I can tell. I thought I might retire from trucking into dispatch ...but the culture worries me.

Your point that they have to deal with 50 co workers while we mostly only deal with one is an important too - it explains a lot.

 

My experience is that, over time, a "bad" dispatcher can be influenced to perform better (at least toward me) but that as soon as we get to that level, I get thrown to some new guy and have to start over.

I say, "start over" because the dispatchers who learned not to say or do certain things with me are telling the new guy to say and do the same problematic things.

Old timers tell me dispatch used to be populated with retired drivers; today, I never talk to a dispatcher who has driven or is over 30 years old.

 

I think the current me might "not last". Ten years ago I was more engaged and would fight to improve and change the company I worked for - a determined person can really do that.
Now, I just want peace and look more for strategies to avoid problems than fix them.

 

I don't quite understand that. Would you tell us a little more of your story?
Also, any advice or success you could share about getting your dispatcher "in line"?

 

We sure do need accurate info to do proper business. We have a problem at my company where corrected info from drivers is ignored. Do you have that problem at your company?

I make an effort to get more functional interaction with my dispatch. This may be an example of success in that direction. Feedback and advice on these issues is much appreciated.

 

Yeah, trying to look trucker-sexy for my 6 followers

 

If I were a dispatcher, I would like drivers who have perfect records, never miss a day of work and show up on time. That would make my job easier.
Me and dispatch don't seem to share the same values.