Company calls during 10 hour SB.

Good lord how did the transportation business work 10 years ago when cell phones weren't in everybody's pocket. Used to piss me off when I was asked if I was going to be on time. I tell them have I ever been late? Catistrophic failure or I'm there.

 

airplane mode

 

Turn your phone to "DO NOT DISTURB"
I'm having issues with my new dispatcher calling as soon as he gets in at 0630 every day no matter if im on break or driving and he wont stop till I answer. No matter if I went into the sleeper at 0500 as soon as this ### gets in he's calling me over and over. It was driving me insane but then I turned that on and now I dont get woken up BUT as soon as I do get up I see my tablet and it has 6-8 URGENT MESSAGES telling me to call in then when I do I have to explain why I didn't answer. Ive been with these guys for 3 months and due to this dispatcher im about to quit. Ive told him several times "Don't be calling over and over waking me up when im on my break just for a weekly safety talk or to discuss my next load. That doesn't matter when im on break" these ##### dont let us do resets so I work every day and have been for 3 months and they act like I need to be at their beck and call 24/7 no matter what. I can see a company calling to maby have you relay with someone but even then that should be figured out and set in stone before you go on break. When im relaying a load and the other driver isn't going to be where im at till 4-5 hrs into my break i tell em to have the driver drop the load and leave the paperwork in the bill box and ill drop my load and do the same. ### letting them wake you up. Put your foot down and draw a line and if they cross it then its time to find another company. Theres tons out there and if you have a good record a new job is a phone call away. Hope this helps! Even if its too late lol

 

Don’t quit just yet. Fix this situation first and then decide whether or not to quit.

You have a tablet. You’ve already told the travel agent when not to call. The next time you get a call during sleep, write via the tablet that your travel agent has lost phone privileges for a week. Explain why., and be sure be detailed, date and time. Then block the number for a week.

I have never read a contract or a company policy stating that I have to use my personal phone. BTW, have you ever chatted with the operations manager?

 

A lot of people call me at the wrong time because sometimes I have go to sleeper in afternoon time. Even my wife calls by accident. That's while I put the devices on silent. Try that.

 

The travel agent
1. Knows your location.
2. Knows when you started driving and when you stopped.
3. Knows your HOS and when you are on your 10 hour break.
4. Knows that all messages can be sent via text or Qualcomm or other means.

But the travel agent chooses to blow up the phone when he’s asleep. He has asked the travel agent not to call during the 10 and the travel agent ignores his request. We teach people how to treat us. If you are speaking and the person you are speaking to ignores your words, what should you do?

BTW, wifey isn’t calling by accident. She is reassuring herself that you will answer. It’s a security thing. Keep her secure.

Luck in battle.

 

Maybe you could have your calls forwarded to some 24 hour psychic hotline while you're on your reset..

 

Luck in battle. lol that's what it is, really. Daily battles. And there's nobody who has normal courtesy in our routines. You have be assertive with everyone all the time. That's why I have a permanent scowl.

 

Winner.

You set a boundary and draw a line in the sand, and someone purposely crosses you, how should respond? Easiest thing to do is quit, but nothing gets solved. You will have the same problem at the next gig. Every gig. In the thread about getting messages during hometime, the OP of that thread has the same problem as this OP. The problem is the OPs are teaching the travel agents to mistreat them. Not just any travel agent, all he will ever encounter.

In the operating contract that you signed with your company and the company handbook, is there anything in there that says that you have to use your personal phone for company business? No. Are you on call 24/7? No. Proceed accordingly.

How do you, truck driver, make yourself VALUABLE?

1. Bring that A Game every day to every game. Pre trip, post trip, stellar work ethic trip planning…etc. stopped for the day, walk around the truck and hit the tires with a hammer. If there’s a tire issue, catch it on your 10. Sleep when you’re supposed to be asleep. This alone will put you amongst the best drivers. Contrary to popular belief trucking is still performance based industry, despite what the beancounters do. When you start heading towards the top of the pile, the operations manager starts paying attention to what you do. You’ve made a name for yourself. Protect your name.

2. Time management. You hear about this at trucking companies often. But then a driver is complaining about the travel agent blowing up the phone during the 10. The most valuable thing that you could ever give anyone is your TIME. The 10 is your personal time. So the travel agent calling during your 10 shows a disrespect for your time. Shut that down immediately. It’s like getting bullied in school. Cower down and the behavior gets worse. Protect your time.

Protect your name. Protect your time. The top drivers always do this, the average drivers never do this. The top drivers make 1.5-2x the pay of average driving the same equipment and the same HOS rules, and has the operations manager in his corner.

Six back quiet.

 

I don’t have a scowl. I am ugly.