What to do when your Dispatch Manager doesn't.......MANAGE

I have worked as a DM and an account manager for a couple large OTR compaines. The three compaies I have dispatched for, the DM was the middle man. The planner assigned all the loads. The DM, more or less could argue with the planner for his drivers. But you must be careful not to piss off the planner. In my opinion, the DM is a babysitter. I did not have quotas to make for miles driven. But the company would send out statistics on each DM, that showed miles and idle time among other things. Bottom line is be friends with your DM! You don't have to kiss butt. But remmeber, one hand washes the other.

 

First off, Lose the attitude.

That depends on where you do your research and how quickly you learn.

What are you "getting" now?

You "know" that?

What does the price of fuel have to do with the truckin' industry?

I don't know.

Yes, I wed it.

I have not yet begun to "bash".
By the way, while you're on the subject of "bashing", could you please define, exactly, what "bashing" is?
I'm really not sure.
I mean where does relating the truth end and "bashing" begin?
I'm hoping you'll clear that up for me.

Oh.
So what'cher tellin' me is, .... you lost that $250 in your head?

Didn't the company tell you what their pay period is?
If not, didn't you ask?

Really?
Now why do you think I'd think that?

WhY should you?

.You have me at a disadvantage thar.
I haven't followed MLB since some of the players I personally knew (as customers) retired years ago.
Back then, I watched the games from the dugout with the photographers as the player's guest. Now, sitting in the stands with the fans just isn't the same.

Why do you think that the O/O's aren't feeling the pinch?

If other drivers aren't getting those miles either, wouldn't expecting to receive more miles as a newBee come across as feelin' "special"?

I don't ask when I know.

Well, ...... I wasn't going to ask, but since you brought it up, ....... are those 20-30 (maybe more) drivers doin' any better, mileage wise, than you are?
If not, wouldn't your expectations to do better than they are be considered "special" treatment?

I agree.
You do seem to have a problem.

And you think your DM thinks differently?
Do you believe your DM is out to get you for some reason?

Oh.
So in other words, you reserve your complaining for here?

Where are you now?

In a word, no.
I don't think most everybody here is complaining.
I'm not complaining.
Are you?

You tell me.

Didn't you just tell us that you expect a "minimum of 1,700 miles a week"?

Expect not --- receive not?

YeAH.
How smart would that be?

I, Shakey AfterShock do not do that.
And if you think I do, I challenge you to provide examples of my having done so.
I'm waiting.......

Obviously

WhO?
Those waskels drivin' them pesky 4-wheelers?

Well then, be relieved and rest assured, my "butt" does not hurt. Even though SOME folks can be a pain in the buttox.
I just consider the source and let-'er-ride.

Don't blame me for what Big truck truckin' companies take out of newBee drivers!
I try my best to warn newBee drivers that that's what they can expect from Big truckin' companies.
Butt, alas ---- it seems to be fallin' on deaf ears.
~~~ Can Y'all Hear Me NoW?! :smt102

Where have I heard that before?
I bet YOU know.

And you can "bet" that haulin' "cheap freight" keeps y'all's wages lower.
I "bet" you don't realize that.

 

Hey there newbee driver

lesson number one.....your DM does not control your miles. He probably has more than 20-30 drivers on his board and you fall somewhere in the middle mileage wise. All your DM can do is message the planner for whatever part of the country you are in and let him know you are MT and want a load ASAP. From there on, it's all on the planner and if there is no freight available then you'll be sitting. The DM can't make loads appear. The guy that told you he's getting 3100 miles, two things for you......first he is probably his DMs favorite and therefore the DM might "steal" him a load now and then. Also, he is using all sorts of tricks to keep his hours down so that he never has to shut down for 34. It's not hard to figure the game out, but if you are going to drive/log shady, eventually you'll get caught and scratch your head as to why you did it

Another important rule as a driver......believe only 1/2 of what you see and none of what you hear. Seriously, ignore it. You'll be better off. If this hasn't helped and you want a new DM, as was mentioned above, talk to your FM or terminal mgr and explain that you just don't feel like you work well together. They may switch you to a new DM, just don't expect your mileage to get any better, your DM can't fix the economy.

Just because there are a couple of glamorous posts on the board about 3000+ miles and fat paychecks, that's not the majority of the industry. This is the time of year we all sit and sometimes the hardest thing to practice is patience.

 

My butt hurts. I stepped out of my truck yesterday, slipped on some ice, and landed on my butt. And now it hurts.

Just thought I'd share that.

 

Good thang you didn't land on
your head.

 

actually i was making a lot more cash when i was paying 4 bucks for go go juice. what are you making a mile, you pulling a van, a reefer, or are you a real man and pulling a flatbed?

 

KGB Relax that's the first thing to do. i really don't think anyone here was intentionally trying to razz ya. I just went thru the same thing that you are going thru. I ultimately quit the company. Why? Well for starters I got tired of being lied to. Yes that's right lied to. Not just by my DM, but by her boss etc.etc.etc. In truth there is only about 5% of the over 3000 drivers at the company I worked for getting over 2500 miles a week. And by all reports both on the financial end and on the recruiters end the company is doing great. We are posting profits and buying up companies left and right.
My advice is to bite your toungue and start putting out applications. find a neww job before you quit this one. i quit without a sure thing and NOW I can't get a job. I've been out of the seat less than a month and at this time I am either considering a life of crime ( the pay is good but alot of cons ) or getting a sniper rifle and finding a very tall building (please note the sarcasm).
The economy DOES suck right now and the large companies are just driver mills. You are a warm body and that's all that matters. They don't care that you can't pay your bills or that they have bankrupted you. ( My Case). In a vain hope to stay with a "good " company we used what little savings we had to pay as much of our bills as possible. Well I am now down to a grand total of less than $50.00 net worth thanks to my former company.
I have a 14 year oldson and a partially disabled wife to take care of.
The point I'm trying to make is that you are not alone in getting shafted by the man. Just relax and plan your moves. Don't do anything rash like I did. Things will get better. Hopefully sooner than later.

 

One thing is to remember you have to pay your dues. What I mean is, experience really does pay, cpm and miles. I don't know how it was for everyone but trucking sucked for me my first year. I made hardly any money and got crap miles. Moving on....
Some things you can do:
A- ignore other drivers bragging about money and miles, 95% of the time its pure unadulterated BS.
B- Keep hounding your DM for better runs and more miles, as my mom always said "the squeaky wheel gets the grease."
C- Listen to what the others have posted in reply it's good advice. (Request a new DM. Talk to the fleet manager. Call receivers and see if they'll take you early, or if your company has drop yards and you can get there with enough time for them to re-dispatch it out ask to drop.
Most of all try to be patient and ride out the storm. If you drive because you love trucks and trucking (and of course getting paid) it will work out.