Sleeper cab jobs without constant tracking and phone calls?

It's no problem when a guy get a heads up, we'll stick around and get it done, no issue and no need to offer cash. It's when the load has been in transit for 3+ days and not one person had the foresight to even call the receiver to say the load was shipped. Its not like these are 5 minute unloads either, we're talking sometimes 3 hours with a couple people on it. You do specialized hauling so you understand this.

 

When I first started driving all we had was Qualcomm satellite text messaging. So no phone call or nothing. I liked that, as long as we pickup and deliver on time. We did not even talk to dispatch. Today with cell phone and EDLs people want more tracking. I get text messages saying downloads FourKits or something so broker can track load. I’m a company driver. That dispatch job or use the ELD we have in truck.

kinda miss the old days when we were out on our own. Not so much tracking. my dispatcher went home Friday and I have all my loads for the weekend plus Monday. So my job is to get the loads done and nobody will be calling me on the weekend or Monday.

I think today with all the tracking and ELDs seem like they are pushing drivers more to get more miles out of the available HOS. I’m running regional but when back running cross it seemed like you had more time to run your day as you wanted. The downside was back then you couldn’t call dispatch and say your low on HOS. They did not care, you better be on time or get fired. Even it they were 6 hour late loading truck. So I was not all good times.

 

Look, if you are dumb enough to answer the phone, you deserve getting called a bunch of times while on a load.

I have one simple rule: when a driver is DRIVING, the phone is off limits. I get the family thing, and yes, they can answer those calls, but business? Nope.

If someone needs to get a hold of the driver, they leave a message or call us.

If it is an emergency, we contact the driver; we have ways of getting their attention while driving.

However, if a broker needs to know where they are, don't bother the driver; he/she is told to tell them they can not answer the phone while driving. Call us, we know where each truck is. We do allow some customers to access the tracking website but that is limited for them and is hardly used.

There is no load >> except high-value loads << where there is a need to know where the driver is at all times. Most of the brokers who are anal about this are the cheapest ones around.

Another really huge pet peeve of mine is installing apps to track trucks. Our company-issued phones are locked; you can add phone numbers, but you can not add or remove apps. This has pissed off a few brokers; that's too bad.

 

I've always just quietly declined to do it and left without installing them or told them that my phone can't take new apps. Never had them decide it was a big enough deal that I can't have the load.

 

I’m starting to get chitownsteer vibes in here

 

You would have loved the old days. Rescue a load of bagged cottonseed in Greenwood, MS for Nogales. Rescued driver (cultch problem) returns to the yard and tell the boss you got the load, expense $ he had, and know where the "real bills" are located up under the tarped sacks.

Old L195 IH gas, 5 speed OD only, barely scaled legal at AR scales, no others.. 3 days later you deliver and check call. Call is accepted.

Told to PU Ponderosa Pine slats in Vaughn, NM. PU, run it in, deliver next home town, back at shop. Question asked, How'd it go.
Answered, "I need a 2 speed put in the thing." Drew my nickels for the miles and ready for next. Talked one while gone.

 

Had a place shutting down for a week for Christmas. I made my offer and the receiver offered to come back and unload.

I don’t like to sit with a load on the wagon.

 

My guess is you're getting f badgered because you're doing a lousy job of communicating your plans.

If at end of day Monday the tracking looks like you'll deliver at 1100 on Wednesday, but at 0900 Tuesday it now looks like 1500 Wednesday- you're going to get a call.

Every company has a way of communicating etas and availability. Very few drivers actually keep their etas up to date, hence all the micro managing and badgering phone calls.

 

My ringer is turned off right before I crawl into bed and also when I’m driving. There’s nothing that important about what I do.

They can call, email and text all they like..if I feel it’s important then I’ll respond when it’s convenient for me.

If I’m on a load and using a tracking app then tracking calls are ignored.

Sometimes I forget to turn the ringer on for days

 

Talent, One must adapt to conditions.