Heading For Little Rock! Maverick

I would make it mandatory for at least a couple of days as part of their "ORIENTATION".

 

Since I didn't get home until yesterday afternoon and have to leave in the morning, I only have 1 day off. But I'll be starting the week off with 1190 miles. It was 181 from Amana, IA to Marseilles, Il. and 1009 from there to Houston. Not a bad way to start what would normally be a short week. Since I keep my truck at NLR there are no real oor miles. I'm hoping I can find a parking spot at the Loves on 610 tomorrow afternoon. My delivery is just 4 miles from there off Exit 28. I looked at it on Google Earth and it doesn't look like a bad area.

Today it's grocery shopping, mow a small patch in the back and watch 2 races.

PS: I'd take my FM but I'm not sure my wife would like the idea.

 

that won't do any good, here's what u do; put them in a truck, away from their family, witht the same pay check that u are earning, they have to tarp, strap, chain, etc & having a dispatcher calling them or beeping them on the qualcomm, not to mention yelling @ them as well; & see how they like it & if they can hang with it. i bet 99% of them would quit & go home before doing all of that.

 

be careful @ the loves on 610; heard a driver got robbed, mugged or whatever they wanna call it & another driver had filled up with fuel, went to bed 7 woke up in the morning with empty tanks. sooo be careful

 

My younger brother just graduated from college and is hitting the road for a few weeks prior to beginning life in the office. It is a little different for him as he is a CDL holder and has done short haul work the last couple summers. This year will be more of an experience because he will be going over the road. The big thing we want him to experience is delivering and reloading at the Port of Baltimore.

The biggest issue between FM and drivers is lack understanding what the other deals with. Most FM have never been OTR or been anywhere around a truck for that matter. It is also not a job that most people intend to get into. When you are communicating with them you have to treat them as if they have no idea what you are dealing with on the road. Explain things to them as if you are talking to your 5 year old. Also, try to understand that their job is not all rainbows and sunshine either. A lot of days, being a FM is all about solving problems. A lot of people do not deal well with the stress.

I would suggest to all drivers that you are clear about your needs and expectations. If there is a problem, bring it up in a professional manner...don't fly off the handle. Don't be afraid to escalate the problem and talk to their boss if you are not getting the answers you expect. If you are still unhappy, you are probably at the wrong company.

 

That's exactly what I'm trying to get across. Maybe then when they ask a driver to do it, they'll think twice. Everybody has to work together to benefit the company as a whole and then those benefits trickle down to the drivers. I guess everyone doesn't always look at the big picture though. It's sad that it has come to a dog eat dog world. There is just no respect for people anymore.

 

They probably would not be able to do what a driver does. That does not make them bad or unnecessary. They chose to be a FM, just like all of you chose to be drivers. From my knowledge of the industry, most open deck drivers will probably make more money than their FM.