If you're late, you're late.....period

KGB
As a former airline guy, who did you work for????
I was with TWA for 38 years before they sold out to AA. Yes, being on time is a major issue with airlines. Yes, they make every effort to operate on time. Working in crew schedule, flights being late had a major effect on us.
The dispatcher (The Big Nasty) at the pipe plant we haul out of, is late for work a lot in the summer. All she would have to do is put out the load tickets for the first 2-3 trucks and nobody would care if she was late. Just ticks me off.

 

I don't find Wal-Mart Dc's to be all that bad. We have a charge account with them for the lumper service and have been told part of the deal is we're in and out within 2 hours of our appt. time. So far I think the longest I had to wait was about 3 hours due to a pallet of frosting trying to make a run for it but found the trailer door in the way. What a mess that was.

Piece of advice for newer drivers...if you're going to be late, especially to a grocery warehouse, call their receiving dept. and let them know how late you think you'll be. You can let your dispatcher know you'll be late all day long but who's to know if he relays that info to your destination? I was given a load late to a Wal-Mart DC and was going to be there about 30 minutes past my appt time. Gave them a call and they said no problem, just get here when you can. Took me right in when I showed up and some other guy was checking in after showing up 2 hours late without calling so it pays to communicate with places you're going to when need be.

The one thing I'll never understand is why some places get so upset when you show up early. I can see if they have no room for outside carriers to park and run a tight ship as far as getting drivers in and out fairly quickly. But when you've got a parking lot the size of Texas, what's the big deal?

 

The big deal about being early and parking on their property is the liability insurance if they allow you to park on their property, and then something happens to you or the load. And then there is the disrespect for the property by other drivers, who have defaced the property with the garbage and excrement.

Asfor Wal mart DC's, 2 hours and detention pay starts, so it is rare that I don't get called for my paperwork at 1 hour and 50 minutes after my appointment time.

Cosco, in and out in less than an hour every time.

When I have been late on a 3 drop load to the last reciever, I expected to wait, and I did, but they still unloading me that day.

The worst are those that schedule appointments, but then run the dock first come first served, with exceptions, of what they want now!!!! Americold!!!!! Does not matter when you show up, it is wait, we will get to you when we want to. Appointment means nothing.

 

I agree it is good to be on time. I spent 15 yrs in the Military and time management was everything. I take pride in being on time and like what others have said there are times where being late was beyond your control and even then it still bothers me that i didn't make it on time.

My company pays me an extra 20 dollars for delivering on time as a bonus. there is only a few times i have ben late and i can count them on one hand and those were out of my control, like weather, a delay at a customer when you have a multiple drop load.

With that being said i also believe if i can make it there on time the customer should get me loaded/unloaded on time without attitude. I believe this issue is a two way street there have been some customers out there that need a lesson in manners and mutual respect. If i am sitting there on the street waiting for a door an hr past my appt time it to me is just as bad if i was an hr late in getting there. Some Customers charge a late fee if the driver is late. I think i should be able to charge those companies a late fee if they nare late in getting me loaded or unloaded. Just my 2 cents JJRanch.

 

these clowns dont care who hauls there load and further more, they
dont care if u live or die, and the union docks are the worst of them all

 

Actually in a way they don't care who hauls their freight. They are concerned though about it being delivered on time. Most customers are aware of the fact that things happen to drivers on the road and they can't make it on time. When you can't be there if you or your company can call to let them know, it can make a difference on whether you get unloaded today or not. Sometimes they can't get you in just because they dont have the opportunity to. And sometimes they are what they are, bad receivers. You just have to do what they want you to. Because in this bad ecomony with carriers begging and scrambling for freight you dont want to be the person who looses an account for your company. So, you just do the best you can and get the freight delivered.

 

Our load planners make the appt a week in advance. then the dispatcher gives the load to his driver 10 hrs before delivery and it is a 10.5 hour drive. kind of hard to be on time in that situation. Or they will give us a load that is 900 miles away and 22 hrs to get there for the appt.
Most of us will deliver a day late, but we do have super truckers that will make the appt on time. That makes it harder for those of us who won't 20 hr days.

 

I love waiting at a dock for the light to change. The lumpers are on break, go back to your truck and we'll tell you when it's ready. 2 hours later, still not unloaded. 2 hours later, still got a red light. Go into the office, it's been done for 3 hours, why are you still here? I'm still here because I'm locked in, dummy!

 

A real dirt bag company

 

Heres one for you:
Our company had a bunch of loads of peat-moss going from Manitoba to Texas, appointments are set for all of the loads. The problem is that I and a few other drivers,taking our sweet time driving there and get there 2 days early.So I go in and ask "nicely" if I would be able to get unloaded early? The fork lift driver says no prob as the stuff is just going to to be sitting outside.So I send a msg on Q comm to office,30 minutes later I get a msg back that I must leave the property NOW & goto a truck stop & wait for my appointment time! I go & talk to the forklift operator again and tell him what I'm told to do. He is confused also, as he got a msg from his boss that my company called & told them that I was to leave & anyone else who was early. So there are 5 or 6 of us sitting at the truck stop trying to figure this out,calling the office & never getting an answer.When I do go back there is a line up & now I get out 3 hours late? This was two years ago & I don't work there anymore.