The myth that accepting crappy loads sets you up for a good one

In my brief 4 year experience as O/O I would say that is absolutely a myth. Even if you KNOW you are heading in to a busy area I have seen zero zilch evidence that anyone in this industry knows what could possibly be that next load.

Every load should be priced round trip and whatever happens on the other end is just part of the adventure.

So I say never ever run cheap period ....IMHO.

 

Most big carriers have computerized scheduling systems that allow them to grade planners based on how long it takes them to cover loads, how many unloaded trucks are in their area, average deadhead, etc. The days when you could get to be friends with a planner and do favors in return for favors are pretty much over. When you take a load you clear off that planner's board. When you get empty or near empty some other planner gets you and now you're his problem to solve a quickly as possible.

When I drove for Swift sometimes I would get two load offers at once. That's the only way the kind of deal you're talking is worth considering. Take this load and you can also take the better one. Here they both are. I did have a couple of cases where I took both loads and the sorry ####### canceled the second after I got loaded on the first. I also tried just accepting the second load while rejecting the first. That didn't fly but it was worth a try.

Look out for your own interests. That what the planners are doing.

 

(long post)

Have you ever known a girl that was in an abusive relationship? She walks in, looking like Rocky Balboa on a losing night, left eye slammed shut and whatnot, and she's crying about getting beat on. The thing is, when you try to tell her that she should leave, she will say, "But he CAN be sweet sometimes!" Why does this girl stay in such a bad relationship? Because she waits for those 'sweet moments.' And you're thinking that you wouldn't tolerate the bad moments.

Well, some drivers have similar mindsets when getting loads. Pull 3 or 4 bad loads because you're waiting for a sweet moment. It may start bad load, good load, bad load, good load, but eventually, it get's worse and its 3-4 bad loads to 1 good load. And everyone is wondering why you put up with this type abuse. Funny things is, others who are being abused will tell you that this is all part of the business, and call drivers who wont tolerate abuse, "supertruckers."

Okaaaaaaay.

 

Some owner ops and companies move the cheap load to get into better lanes. I myself say you should look at your company and see if your not being jacked around let them know your concern. I would start looking for a new job.Once those verification forms start rolling in they will get the picture.

 

Loads are like poker hands. The hand you're dealt dictates what may or may not happen in that hand's outcome. But an occasional crappy load is going to happen, and a series of crappy loads can happen, too. But at least with a series of crappy loads, you have some bargaining leverage to complain for better offerings going forward, at least for a while.

There is a big difference between a lone crappy loads, and a series of 2 or more crappy loads back to back. Every place has crappy loads and we all must deal with them from time to time. The definition of "crappy load" varies from place to place (carrier to carrier) I start complaining as I'm delivering the third "crappy load"and expect things to change on the fourth to get my back in sync and on trajectory to get me back into my weekly target goal.

 

When I first started driving and worked for a mega, I learned the first week that the planners and dispatchers will BS you to take a load you don't want just to clear their board. It's all part of the game, and no matter what they promise you in return for taking the crappy load don't believe it. They say "I'll make it up to you", and as soon as you accept the crap load they can't even remember your name. It's all smoke and mirrors. Don't play the game with them.

 

This is true, but for a new driver, especially at a huge mega outfit, they don't feel comfortable or able to tell anybody "no". They are hardly in a position to be making demands of any sort, and as you said, the freight was agreed to, and MUST be delivered. No ifs, ands, or buts. I'm convinced many outfits have grading systems, and once you go on the "black list", you are permanently screwed as a driver. They will feed you crap until you leave rather than simply let you go for failure to obey supervisor orders.

 

I agree! I have been at this for a long time, but I have limited experience with this problem having only worked fulltime for 3 companies. When my dispatch or DM said/asked for a trade "Can you do this crap run" most of the time I already knew what the reward run was, there was rarely any waiting. Also when I started I started with a big carrier at the time, I NEVER said no to anything, they remembered that and I was almost always taken care of on runs. MY advice to an inexperienced or short time at a new company never say no if possible, keep your doors closed and tires between the white lines, it will work out.

 

But let me follow up this comment with another opinion. A driver has to find a balance of "being the guy who will take unlimited abuse" and being "the guy who has a limited tolerance for abuse". Last thing you want is to become the "go-to guy" in the fleet for every crap load that comes down the line. Because dispatch will quickly learn this and will have no mercy. So, try and find a "happy medium" that works at your job, and a tolerance level that is fair for both sides.