Drivers new and old...don't be bullied.

I had appointments too. I hauled a load of no touch floor load nursery stock. It is unreal how they can stack potted plants. I had two stops in ElPaso and hen two Home Depos in Albaquerque, First they wanted me to tail the plants, claiming it was against their policy, they didn't understand the concept of no touch loads. Right off the bat they changed their policy when I started tailing them. Now we had that settled and they put a couple of guys in there and promptly unloaded me., but would not sign the bills, an hour after my appointment time at the other store they still had not signed them. I finally blew up and their happened to be a nursery rep there, and she told me she would bring the signed bills to the other store. I get there, 1 1/2 hour late for my appointment, and right off, they explained they knew I had trouble at the other store so hey would get me unloaded in a hurry, and hey did, and left without signing my bills, and I could not get anybody to sign hem. The manager said I would just have to wait for some reason. I toyed with them a couple of hours, all the while local freight ltl trucks kept getting unloaded or loaded whatever and pulling away from the docks.. hmmm. I waited a few minutes until every dock had a truck in it and parked mine cross ways across it, so nobody else could come or go until I did. I had them threaten to whup me and everything else, but they finally signed my bills.
A few months later I still had not been paid, the broker claimed he had never got the bills. Ok sent him copies, he couldn't read them now, I called home depo to see about getting a copy, nope not happening,
so we had some computer enhanced, he didn't get them again, so we had some computer enhanced and a courier hand deliver them, again he couldn't read them . This time I happened to be home. I got on the phone, it was only 600 miles down there and told him I would be there first thing in the morning and help him with his reading, so he finally sent a check. I was totally DONE with home depo and to this day will not spend a dime there. lol

 

I always let you folks do what you have to do with the utmost courtesy.
in our yard , coffees always on , and always willing to lend a hand , something we all should think about doing.

 

I’m a relative noob still myself. I worked 20+ years in the telecom industry. This, my second career, I am determined to not be treated like a POS. I’ve told customers that didn’t want to unload timely or make me wait “Ok. I’m headed home. Call my dispatcher and I’ll bring it back whenever they dispatch me. Until then it’ll be in the yard.” I’ve also told dispatchers that refused to help me “OK. You have two options then: I bring the load back home or I leave the truck here and take a train home. Not sitting unpaid.” I’m fighting over layover pay on a 3-day delayed load now. Everybody’s time is worth something.

 

it had been my observation over the years, before i got into dedicated, that many times the reason(s) for such behavior on the docks and from office people, is that the driver before me ticked them off for one reason or another, then unfortunately, that set the tone for others after that.

too many times i personally have witnessed a driver griping that he was on time, and he's made to wait, and he goes and mouths off to the customers crew.

we never really know all the reasons why a shipper or receiver has fallen behind.

so i think this all has to do with not anyone of us, that caused this to happen, but a driver or 2 before us, that gets the customers crew all riled up.

 

A little story.

Don't read if you don't want to.

Had a driver at a steel fabercation plant in the south that makes parts for rail road freight cars. The shipment was prefabbed prices for specialized rail cars.

The driver called me and told me that they will not allow him to secure the load on site, he said he explained to the dock manager that the truck won't be moved until the load is chained up because it won't stay on the truck if they want him to move it on the street.

So I told him to either it gets unloaded or it gets secured. At the same time I have the dock idiot calling me to get my driver the hell out of there, he was rude and screamed at me to get my truck the ***** out of the loading area or else.

So I told the guy that he has to write on the shipper that we are not responsible for the damage and he agreed. He wrote on the shipper it was unsecured and we are not responsible until it is secured on the street, plain, simple English and in nice large letters with his initials on it.

I called my driver back told him about the shipper being added to, then told him once he has it and scans it so I have a copy, just to move the truck to where they instruct him to, I will deal with the fall out, which he did.

I got a call back from him not more than three minutes telling me half the load came right off the truck when he made his left turn out of the drive onto the street. it blocked the street and no one could exit the place for a few hours.

 

We had an O/O pull in and he started in on me that he was in a big hurry blah blah. I looked at him and said do want to help get the freight off. He walked over to his drivers door and sat down. Didn't say another word.

 

ok, you only told a partial part of that fiasco..

what happened next, after that and after that.>??

would i be correct if i say you will not ever go back there again.???

 

One thing I love about LTL P&D is that we don't let the customers hold us hostage.

Last week, I had a delivery for the Big Orange Home Improvement Store. I hit the dock. They buzz me in. I open the door, raise the dock plate, pull their freight off, turn around...

...and the area is abandoned. AYFSM? They buzzed me in and had to walk right by me to leave. You dang well knew I was there, and you know you have to sign for the freight!! So I head down the hallway toward the store area and get the attention of one of the ladies there. "Oh, everyone went to lunch, you'll just have to be patient."

Well, then, I guess you don't get your freight today. See you tomorrow.

"But but but...!!"

No, Ma'am, we do not wait. Someone signs for this freight within 5 minutes or it goes away.

As my bills were being signed, I thought back to all the times I was held up, jerked around or otherwise delayed in my OTR days, and I gave thanks and praise to God that I don't have to put up with that any more.

 

Agreed. Dangit, @Ridgeline , finish the story!