How do I deal with rude shippers / customers

Xzay, try changing to jeans, boots, and a blue work shirt before getting to a customer. See how that might change how your interactions go. Test it.

I drive in shorts and a Polo shirt on long hauls, but get into full PPE before getting to customers. It's different for me because PPE is required at all my flatbed customers.

Bear in mind the person you deal with may be dealing with some issues in their life or job that are really unpleasant. I remember getting a less than friendly reception from the gate guard at a warehouse when I was with Swift. When I got back to the gate I noticed he was in real pain, wincing as he leaned out the window to give a driver back his paperwork on the receiving side of the booth.

He came to my side and opened the window. "Man your back pain is more than evident, no way they can give you time off?" I can't say I made his day in his fog of pain, but I could tell he appreciated the recognition that he was doing his best under the circumstances.

 

@driverdriver
I know the op was/is having problems with a shipper or reciever. That's why I said this is not directed at the op. I wasn't saying he's miserable at his job. It's the lumpers and dock workers that have the sour attitude. And as for my rig, I guess I just take pride in it so what's wrong with that

 

Yet another reason to hire older workers,

that already have some life experiences behind them.

No offense meant to anybody.

 

You mean show up to the job in work attire instead of looking like a child molester tourist comicon Trekkie worshipping loser that they expect to see?

 

Lol

 

just bite your tongue, do your job, be on time (always) when you leave, mouth off about them, in the privacy of your cab.

life is too short, our jobs are stressful enough, to have to add on anymore crappola.

 

Lol I was of the mindset that I should walk in looking amazingly perfect every time. And then I walked in to a P&G warehouse behind a dude in flip flops, wifebeater and booty shorts. He got in same as me. Now I wear shorts/cargo pants, non open toed shoes and either a t shirt or a polo, depending mainly on whether I have any clean t shirts left or not. And I'm exceedingly polite to everyone.

In the box carrying world, mostly no one gives a #### about your boots. Or whether you have something fancy on or not. There are some customers that require PPE and l wear it there.

Let me tell you another story. One time I was picking up some pillows outside Pittsburgh. Live load. Appt @ 1300. So, I show up at 1245 after battling Pittsburgh traffic and an extra special long live unload at previous customer. Park and go inside, probably walk up to the window at 1250-55. The shipping guy is on his computer watching a YouTube video with headphones in. Facing me, sees me but doesn't acknowledge that I exist. Finishes his video, gets up and goes to the restroom. Comes back from the restroom and asks me what my pickup number is. Types it in, looks at me with a smirk and says:

Ah, your appointment was at 1300 and its 1302. You'll have to be loaded after everyone that shows up on time today. Go and wait in the parking lot, someone will come get you.

I'm fuming, but very politely ask how long that'll be so I can update dispatch. He tells me that it'll be anywhere from 4 to 8 hours depending on whether other drivers show up on time or not.

So. I had to take my 10 there. Sat there for about 6 hours before they loaded me. I was dressed professionally, was polite and there was no possible race issue there. White guy dealing with white guy.

Just saying. Sometimes people are ####ing ########. And I spent that whole 6 hours planning on following him to his car with a crowbar. Didn't, but still a little disappointed with myself.

 

That's totally unacceptable. You should have told that lazy piece of scum that you were on time but he chose to ignore you.

 

I told OP to be cool. I didn't say anything about being polite. Had a yard guy start barking orders at me once. As soon as I got there, he runs up barking orders. I stop and ask him if he was the person that signs the BOL to accept delivery for the load. He says no. "Then you really shouldn't have anything to say to me, YardBoy. Go do something productive like clean the yard and take out the garbage."

Was delivering a load to a wind farm. The riggers show up with a crane. I start removing the securement. Some woman shows up with a clean white hardhat on, pulls up and starts in on me. I shake my head NO and start walking to the other side of the truck. She is trying to follow me and yell and getting extremely mad. She asks one of the riggers, "Why doesn't he listen to me???" They start snickering and laughing. I wave her over, lean forward and whisper, "I have very sensitive ears. When you yell, I can't hear you." She lowered her tone and apologized. And we were able to converse.

When I pulled a box, I had a grocery warehouse use me for portable storage. I called the company because I don't sit for free. If I am getting detention that I agreed upon, I can sit forever. They weren't giving any detention, I didn't say anything to the grocer, I took the load 500 miles back home and dropped it off at the company yard. Cleaned my gear out of the truck. The problem wasn't with the grocer (they're all garbage anyway), the problem is with the company for trying to work me for free. Not happening.
When these places start trying to crap on you, you need to make sure that you're being compensated. DO NOT WORK FOR FREE. No finance, no romance.

 

Oh me and him had multiple discussions about it. From the beginning.

The guy did that #### ON PURPOSE

And he really didn't give a single #### about anything I had to say. Trust me, I made phone calls to people and no one could really budge anything.