Cussed at by a receiver

Hey folks, done for the day. First of all, thanks for ALL of the posts to my thread. Been some speculation on here considering what happened yesterday. I started this thread to hear how other drivers may have handled it. Very interesting so far. Interesting how people draw conclusions about a scenario they did not witness. Looking back at my OP I think some more explanation is in order.

First, I am the owner of my company. I own my equipment,and run under my own authority.

I run brokered freight currently.

I am 53 years old. I am a retired commercial pilot with 33 years flying experience. I retired early due to health reasons. (1st class airmen medical cert is much more strict than a DOT medical). I started this company with the plan of expanding it and providing a better working environment for the employees.

I currently pull a dry van. I am driving it myself to basically research the industry. (I will not expect someone to do something that I have not or could not do myself).

I do not claim to be an experienced driver. Although I do claim to be a very safe driver.

Well, I showed at the receiver at 0630 for the 0700 appt. made contact over cell phone with receiver, he opened the gate and told me to back into assigned door. I did as instructed. Grabbed the bills and proceeded to receiving office. So far things are proceeding well. Local reefer driver was ahead of me finishing a load, he was assigned a door and left to do his business. My turn, I was asked what I was carrying, told him packaging as I handed him the bills. He handed the bills directly back to me and stated that he did not know when I would be unloaded that “they” would not be in till 0900. I said I have a 0700 appt.it was actually written on the BOL. Handed him the bills again to show him the 0700. He handed them back with a “shoo” driver,lol hand gesture. He instructed” go to your truck and wait”. At this point a couple of other reefer drivers are behind me. I said again,”I have a 0700 appt. and would really like to be unloaded by 0900”. He stated that they may not even come in because of the Christmas weekend.I never demanded anything, and was courteous during the whole exchange. I left his office and returned to truck, I did not want to hold up the other drivers, note, this was about 0645 eastern time. Going from my appt. and when he said “they” would show up at 0900, that ran through the 2 hours I allow for loading and unloading, so my next step was to try and contact the broker. Well he doesn’t show up for work till 0900 central. The fella they had there in dispatch had no knowledge of what to do. So I sent the broker an email to keep him in the loop. I watched as approximately a half dozen refers arrive get unloaded and leave, they were actually turning them pretty quickly I thought. The reefer traffic slowed at about 0800, that’s when I returned to the receiving office for an update. I walked in and went through the whole exchange yet again, I simply asked “when do you think I can get unloaded”? That’s when he lost his temper. I took a couple of steps back. I stated “I want to see the manager of the facility”. That’s when he told me to “get the ## out of here”. So I asked if he was rejecting the load, he said yes m’fer I’m rejecting the load now get the f out of here. I said sure, just sign these bills rejected and I will leave. He just sat there.

Ok, now the police matter. Folks he directed violence toward me, banging the fists and cursing me. He would not reject the load, he would not let me see his manager or supervisor, he stated “he was in charge” I still had a load that belonged to that facility. Leaving with the load was an option but one that would have cost me money and everyone would have lost.(shipper,me,receiver and broker). The police were called to keep the peace, I still had to interface with this guy. I had another load to pick in early afternoon with a 2 hour deadhead to get it. I still had plenty of time to make my scheduled pickup though.

The police had another effect that I did not expect when I called them. The manager of the facility actually came out. Time: about 0820. So I did not even have to interact with the fella that lost his temper. Manager looked at me and said I would be unloaded at 1000. I walked back to truck. 1000 hrs was not acceptable but in trying to just get the mission completed, I accepted it.

Broker called when I got back to truck, about 0830, got the email and said he would work the situation from his end. About 15 minutes later forklift enters trailer, unloading began, notified broker via email unloading had started. At 0913 a young man walks up to truck and asks for BOL. Signs the BOL. Merry Christmas was exchanged and I button up the truck. Got back in truck and was pulling out. Broker calls and asked how’s it going? Told him freight was delivered and had clean BOLS in hand.

So, success, everyone wins! Shipper,Broker,Reciever and me.

Folks, the police are there to “keep the peace” also. The deputy explained that there is no law against being an a-hole. But said he would gladly walk up to the office to “keep the peace”. Didn’t even have to do that. Manager came out, told me I would be unloaded.

Ladies and gentlemen, I self critiqued my actions yesterday(professional pilots have to be good at that). I would not have done anything differently.

More to follow. Please keep the discussion going. All I ask is engage your brain before replying.

Folks in my research in starting this company I have found that the drivers continually take it on the chin. Some bring it on themselves some just accept it as the norm.

People take more pride in yourselves and your profession.

More to follow!