Be nice to shippers and receivers it pays off.

I know Im new to the board but maybe you can learn something from the "nice" guys on here you dont have to bribe them with anything but common curtousy be nice. Ive delt with all kinds of drivers before and you remind me of the type that throw the bills at the warehouse workers and tell them that you have more routes to run while we have to unload 300+ boxes of mercandise by hand becase they arent on a skids meanwhile your just standing at the bay door arms crossed with a scoulding face expecting it to make it go faster.

 

I have worked the docks at a farm supply store and dealt with both great, considerate drivers and the jerks. I know which ones got unloaded faster. Now that im the driver, i have a nice, easy-going attitude with my shipper and consignees. Being dedicated i see the same people alot and having a good report is essential to getting in and out of place smoothly. Now ive never bribed forklift operators with cash or sodas (i dont know how you consider soda a bribe), but when one is getting a customers order together i will get my gloves on and stack a few bundles of shingles on a pallet for them or help the customer load their car or pickup up. When receivers see your not a jerk who just cares about yourself, everyone benifets.

 

When its real hot, ill ask them if they want me to run my reefer while they unload, you'd be surprised how quick you jump up in line!

 

1) They give you a paycheck to do just that. These people get a paycheck to unload all the trucks, if they choose to unload them fast or slow, or joe instead of you, thats their choice as long as they all get unloaded this 'bribe' you speak of (Or even just being kind) might get them to get YOU out the door faster.

2) Staying out of a accadent is just good sense. You wreck its your job, same for them, they wreck and put a forklift through a trailer, its their job (Or #### close) so...invalid.

3) actually there is accelerated pay if you turn in your paperwork on time, this is kinda a bribe in of itself, and you know, I mean you dont HAVE to turn in the paperwork at all, you just dont get paid if you dont...so this is also fairly invalid.



Know what else is expected?

Peeing in a bathroom, or atleast a tree, not in a bottle left on the side of the road or in a lot. Not pooping inside a empty trailer, not tailgating other trucks or cars, being a decent human being, not cursing around children, washing your hands before putting them all over buffet food, taking a shower, being 'clean and presentable' im sure most companies have a dress code you dont follow too soooooooo lets not sxtart that eh?

 

I'm not above offering a bribe, but being nice is far from a bribe and buying some one a cold drink isn't much of a bribe either. I bribed a Chicago cop one time to give me a ride, That was a bribe! he could've gotten into deep shizit. On the other hand every year around Thanksgiveing-Christmas I buy dinner for all the guys at the place I load out of. Costs some pretty big bucks but I never wait to load and never have a problem . Money well spent and their good guys work hard and get paid peanuts.

 

I guess talk of keeping yourself washed and being decent people scared them off.

 

Drivers have to keep in mind that shipping / receiving folks are pretty much considered the "lowest of the low" in most organizations. Organizational managers only care if product is produced or sold... they really could care less how it gets there. These folks are usually the ones who are understaffed and underpaid since managers don't consider them to add "value". Add all of this up and you can better understand the occasional "attitude" on the docks.

I've "lived" shipping / receiving for 20 years and finally accepted this type of career for what it is in the same way many of you have accepted OTR. Personally I love it... I wouldn't do anything else. Just like OTR, it's all about how you perceive the job and the attitude you bring to the workplace that results in satisfaction and success.

 

It is amazing how much a cold Dr. Pepper on a hot day will make a guy who is loading you remember you.

Out of several customers I have hauled for I have had really good luck when making return trips because I try and treat the guys there how I would want to be treated, it is amazing what you can accomplish simply by treating some one like a human being and extending some common courtesy to them.

I have found the thing that will earn you the most points however is when something goes wrong if you are honest about what happened.

 

GREAT! Random acts of kindness. Thank you drivers! I will watch for my oppurtunity.