Load that can't be done legally

It's winter. Be willing to pull more than just a flatbed. Sounds like you want to go haul vans. You can do that and still be on a flatbed fleet in most companies that haul more than one mode.

 

I am just ... never mind ... well maybe some steering wheel holders have to accept their fate and be slaves.

Here is another one of my stories, sorry if they get boring.

Last year we went through something like this with one of the carriers I have trucks leased to, they were going to terminate my contract because one driver refused 10 loads in a row. Our fleet coordinator was nasty to my manager and then he called me - which was a big mistake - and tried to tell me or better put threaten me and telling me I have to FORCE my driver to take these loads.

So a week later I flew down to Texas with my manager for a meeting with all involved. My manager took all the paper work with us on the loads, which he actually filled out logs and broke everything down. He gave a presentation of sorts on a white board to show the dispatcher, the dispatcher manager, our fleet coordinator and the head of safety why the driver refused all of these loads.

When he was done, I asked these idiots where did they think that any driver could run these loads as they were ( I wasn't nice like I am here), every one of them would run out of hours before the second drop and I called them liars when they said the delivery times were 'immovable'. The head of safety said it was totally unacceptable to have a driver asked this and the dispatcher at the same time the dispatcher's manager said "we have drivers do these runs all the time" and I interrupted them saying "well my drivers do not so get the *** over it".

So I told the fleet coordinator if he ever talks about terminating a contract, we will see the company in court. I also told him with no uncertain terms I will not tolerate anyone talking to me on the phone as he did nor any one else that works for me. I told safety that we will talk to him every time someone calls us with offers that can't be legally completed, and he said he is going to be talking to the owners of the company about this and clean up both dispatch and the order department.

we had dinner with the owners and the VP in charge of O/Os that night, they were really upset with what happened.

The last I heard was they pulled a lot of logs for a complete audit, they did find a lot of abuse and never again did any of my drivers offered loads like these. We since added a few more trucks onto their carrier and they've been good to us. The dispatcher is no longer there by the way.

 

This why I keep saying our industry is where its at today. Not enough people will stand up like this.

A million thanks! Ridgeline

 

I'm curious. Are you simply assigned loads with no input from yourself?
If so, that's total BS.

Even at Swift we have options to refuse a load like that, and at the very least counter the pick up or delivery times with something more reasonable.

 

I used to be a full fledge member of the left lane outlaw gang. You know what I learned? The more you do ####e like that the more people expect you to do it! So next thing you know all you get is the crap that is impossible to do legally. No extra pay! And the minute you don't deliver your name is mud! I say eff 'em it'll get there when it gets there. Man up! Tell them no, and if they don't like it. A job driving a truck is more plentiful than guys willing to drive 'em.

 

Here here!

I would like to hear input from Mr @FerrissWheel and Mr @Lepton1 also on whether or not they have/had to swallow crap in order to survive.

The last time I pulled a reefer was early 1992. The whole lumper, stuck at the docks for days on end without compensation thing didn't sit well with me. It wasnt one grocer...it was all if them. Albertsons, Publix, Food Lion and BiLo. Plus even the smaller localized chains. Complained to my dispatcher, and she told me that was a way of life. Not my way of life. My time is important.

Would you believe that they called me a week later offering more money and a faster truck?

 

As far as just in time goes! They can suck it too! That's complete and utter BS. A lack of planning on their part, does not constitute an emergency on mine!

 

So if the circumstances are right it can be done.

 

No doubt. You should always do your very best. There are quite a few lazy useless turds driving trucks. Just because it's tight is no reason to say it CAN'T be done. Sometimes "can't" is code for " I don't want to"