USA truck strikes again

I started to respond then thought better of it. But I can't figure out how to make the draft go away. So here ya go.
You only know what you know. I agree it was pretty bizarre. Not nice to call me a liar.

 

As a person who has had gates inadvertently locked on him before, I don't doubt for a second that it happened. As a person who has dealt with ignorant dispatchers, I don't doubt for a second the reaction of an after-hours dispatcher, either. One thing you need to learn quickly, though, is that the old saying "give 'em an inch, they'll take a mile" is doubly true for dispatchers. You need to assert yourself and make sure they know you aren't a doormat to be walked on. There is another old saying that "what you tolerate, you encourage", which also applies to dispatch. When you let them get away with acting stupidly, they don't worry about acting stupidly in the future. You need to put your foot down and let them know that sort of thing will NOT be tolerated. Like I said, when I find that I've been locked in somewhere, I call dispatch. I tell them in no uncertain terms that 1) I have a master key (aka bolt cutters); and 2) they have 30 minutes to call whoever they need to call in order to get this gate unlocked or else I will unlock it myself. I have never had to cut a lock, but absolutely would if 30 minutes passed and an alternative solution had not yet been reached. Even a phone call that says "they are on their way...eta 15 minutes" will spare the lock at the 30 minute deadline, but a solution had better be in the process of happening or else I snip the lock and leave. There is absolutley no excuse for a dispatcher expecting ANY driver to sit inside a locked yard over a 4 day weekend, and if that were the case I'd be inclined to tape a note with that dispatcher's name and phone number on the cut lock explaining that they refused to make a phone call to get the lock opened and I wasn't going to sit for 4 days.

 

^^^^^EXCELLENT^^^^^

 

Your note idea. Best suggestion of all!

 

all swift terminals have gated access, and they have to get 'permission' to leave i.e. driver # load # etc

 

I would have called the local fire department. Also, I wouldn't be away from my home, friends and family on Christmas Day! I never have. What dues? This is a dog eat dog industry we are in and I owe no one dues nor them to me.

 

The way Swift is, you call dispatch via the intercom, and if the driver manager on duty deems you worthy will open the gate. It wasn't automated, is was via intercom and a button on the driver manager's desk.
That being said, back when I was OTR I carried enough tools I could dismantle the gate if I got locked in, especially over a holiday. Now days I work at a location that doesn't treat driver like criminals