Getting a Good DM...How?

I was a four-month driver when I found out Jim was going to be a DM. I immediately got on the phone with my current-at-the-time DM, Stephanie (who is also very good) and asked her if she would feel betrayed if I requested to be on Jim's fleet when he got up to speed. She had more than she could efficiently handle at the time, so she said no problem and wouldn't take it personally. We all talked to the Fleet Manager and two months later, when Jim was turned loose, I was moved into his fleet. He had been one of the instructors at the Portland Swift academy (before the property was sold) and that's where I first encountered him ...and his wife, who was doing admin stuff at the academy. She's a CSR now. Now, don't get me wrong. Jim can be a real ummm.....difficult guy... when the situation calls for it. But, our personalities seem to work well together, I get the miles and he doesn't have to worry about me.

If you want to have a hand in choosing your DM, you have to get a feel for who you're comfortable with. It's not always easy because some terminals maintain a separation between drivers and office staff. At Troutdale, I usually just walk into the office at will. But most of them know me there. Get to know some of the staff and see who it is you mesh with the best. Not necessarily the guy you'd go for brewskis with, either. It might be some little geeky guy back in the corner who thinks shuffleboard and curling should be the national sports...but there's just smething about him that makes him easy to deal with in business. Ask him whether you could be on his fleet. Then talk to your own DM and if both are okay with it, approach the Fleet Manager.

The "cool guy" in the office is not necessarily going to be the best DM. He might make a good pal, but this is not a personal relationship you have with your DM. It's business. It certainly helps if there is some personal connection, but it's not a requirement.

Hope this helps.

 

First off I don't know anything about Swift, second I hate agreeing with Injun on anything, but she's right. The guy that you are mostly likely to be friends with is probably not the best dispatcher for you. You'll want someone that can understand your personal motivations and goals. Your dispatcher should try to keep a balance between whats good for you and and whats good for the company. They need to be able to understand that you are a person and not just a truck, and you need to understand that not every request can be granted.

What I think would be nice is if companies would invest the time to figure out what personality types each individual can work with the best. That would take away from spending countless hours of bickering when the real issue is a personality conflict. Some people just aren't meant to get along, if it could be identified from the start it would result in much happier drivers and dispatchers.

But then again, I'm usually wrong about most things.