Dealing with brokers as a company driver

We deal with them also at my company. I don't like it but not so much I would quit because of it. I agree that it should be someone in the office who isn't behind the wheel of a 70mph truck juggling phone calls and making appointments, but that stuff just gets put on the driver.

I particularly hate it when I'm told by my company to lie to the broker. I know brokers lie and are used to being lied to, but I'm not a liar and I don't like being put in that position.

 

You know you can easily block that niusance caller ... right?

 

One of my favorite features...

 

If a broker ever called me directly (as I'm a company driver) I would be making so much noise inside the company no one will every be brave enough to do it again. Or I'll get myself fired. For a company that would give my number out to random people, either is fine with me.
Like the op stated, it's not my job. If they want to track the truck fine, but either pay to use my equipment (phone) or provide the tracker!

 

If it's a major broker like CH Robinson, get their app and allow your company to assign your phone number to the load, and you'll probably never have to deal with the broker over the phone. Some brokers regard different companies differently. If your company has "online tracking" [by trailer number] many brokers leverage this tool and don't require various check calls and loaded and empty calls.

But if you download their app, go into settings and make sure you limit location tracking to "Only When App is Active". Don't accept "Allow Always" and this is often the default install setting.

Also, the reputation your carrier has with the broker in question can have a lot to do with how much interaction the broker is going to demand from the driver.

 

Pushy brokers and lazy dispatch. When I was in that position I gave little to no info to the broker, if I even answered the call. You do not want to be the middle man between these to if and when someone starts telling stories

 

There are several brokers I have to deal with on a somewhat regular basis, but those are generally on transfer loads.
Any other broker, I tell them one time not to call. If they want information on the load, my location, etc., then call my dispatcher. I'm almost 60 years old and haven't had a baby sitter since I was 8.
Especially if you're on ELog. That dispatcher can tell where you are, every minute of every day, so make them do their job.

 

I'm amused that any company driver has to deal with a broker.
On the other hand.... You could take advantage of the situation.
Start a go fund me page.
Tell the broker to contribute just for you to answer a call.
He want's it ASAP? Not according to contract? Refer him to your go fund me page.
Maybe dispatch will quit pulling this on you?

 

Letting a broker track your phone? You're nuts. Just block the number, or tell them they have the wrong phone number.