what does forced dispatch mean????

Howdy Joani!
And welcome to the forums.

To answer your question, I'm going to refer to what the general definition is of "forced dispatch" within the truckin' industry.
That being that, when a driver is empty and lookin' for another load, ONE load will be assigned to that driver. Usually on a first in -- first out basis. There's no choice of loads, ergo, it's a "forced dispatch".
No choice in the matter.
Git 'er done.

Some companies will allow a driver to refuse that load, but it usually means that driver will go to the bottom of the list and could find themselves waiting for days for another load.

Could a dispatcher ignore a driver who refuses loads?
No doubt they can, and do.

And some companies consider one refusal as means for dismissal.

Some companies offer an empty driver three, or more, load options, and the driver chooses which of those loads they'd prefer. That's kinda nice.
Again, to refuse all of them would relegate that driver to the bottom of the list, and could be waiting awhile for another load.

A driver SHOULD learn quickly that refusing loads isn't profitable.

Good question.
Would you believe that SOME companies have dawg loads that are considered gravy runs at other companies?
It's twue!
It's twue!

I was once "forced" to haul a load of watercraft for a photo shoot
with the Hawaiian Tropics Girls, down to the Florida Keys.
Bummers, huh?

Another time, I was "forced" to take a load to a remote gold mine
where I learned what FIRE IN THE HOLE! meant.
I saw a whole mountain disappear right before my eyeballs.

And yet another time, I was "forced" to take a load of used bricks from Kansas City, Missouri, to a ski resort high in the Colorado mountains, where I bumped elbows with Olympic downhill skiing hopefulls, including Peek-a-Boo.

Also, I was "forced" to pull the transporter for a number one Super Bike race team to places like Daytona, Homestead, Sear's Point (now Infenion Raceway) and Lost Wages, Nevada.
I even got to feel the chill of the Spirit of Daytona as I drove under the stands in turn four, and continued across the track to the infield in my Big truck.

Then, there was the time I spent 14 days in San Francisco doing a trade show, WITH pay, in a nice motel, with a rental car --- and could explore the area to my heart's content.
Fisherman's Wharf and Alcatraz are cool to visit, I learned.

OH!
Make no mistake.
It's a rough job, ---- but SOMEbody has to be "forced" to do it.

Okay!
Who asked where can y'all find a gig like that?
No grocery warehouses to contend with.
COMPLETE support from the dispatcher on up the chain of command.
(The Company owner has been known to respond to unexpected problems with the comment;
Throw money at it!
MAKE it happen!!!!)
VERY nice Big trucks!
(They put me in the driver's seat of my first triple digit former showtruck for awhile., too.)

Well,..................... truth is, .............. y'all, ........... might not.
If y'all want a gig like that, where you're actually paid to
THINK, as well as drive. Where failure is NOT an option, .... or the show won't go on --- with MILLIONS of dollars at stake on a regular basis, keep y'all ears, eyes and mind open.

These type jobs don't usually advertise for drivers.
NopE!
They tend to have a waiting list instead.
Imagine that.

It takes some diligence to find 'em.
Mostly by word of mouth.
If y'all impress the RIGHT drivers, your name just might
be spoken to the right person at the right time, and y'all would be included on that waiting list.
Networking?
Hmmmmmmmmmm
Could be!
Meanwhile, it gives yet another meaning to the word "experience" -- which is what'cha'll will be gaining as y'all wait before jumping off your ship that's comin' in. Or call it seein' the light at the end of the raimbow, ........ or sumthin' like that.
It should make driving for a starter company a tad easier knowin' y'all have your foot in the door at a better truckin' company that CAN take y'all to the NEXT level.
Instead of right back where y'all started from.

But if y'all prefer job-hoppin', I highly recommend job-hoppin' from one big company to thuther.
Now, ........ if y'all REALLY want to be truckers, shoot for the top.
It may seem like y'all have farther to fall that way ---
but it ain't.
NopE.
Figure SOME Big truck truckin' company will probably catch y'all goin' their way,
the closer to the middle, the better ---- I'm thinkin'.
At least y'all tried.

Shoot for the bottom, and you'll often hit a bottom feeder.
I don't know if that rates high or low on the failure scale.

When y'all read good and bad about any company, read more into the good side. Especially if they can explain how they got 'er done.
But also make note of how many times a CERTAIN bad trait of a company tends to be repeated.
RED FlaG!

Also keep in mind that the ratio of folks who complain about what they consider bad, compared to those who post complements for the good, --- swings more toward those who complain.
And I can't recall anyone complaining about the good.
I wonder why that is?

 

I can understand forced dispatch where you have to take the load given to you no matter where it has to go. The above quote is what I was referring to about why would anyone work for a company like this. I mean forcing you to break the law....come on. How can the truckers image be improved with unethical behaviour like that?

 

You have to keep yourself legal if you dont have the hours available to run the load you cant do the load. Newbies like myself will get the #$%&^% loads at the beginning until you proove yourself as a runner or a slacker.

 

I understand what you are asking. and truthfully it's a great company to work for under normal circumstances! This is very odd behavior for this company and has been going on for couple of months now, and not just to my hub but other drivers also.

The only thing I can think of is the company is in trouble (but not sharing that) and running everyone illegal and as hard as they can to catch up? Not sure.

What I do know is that it's the only company my hub has worked for, not a job hopper and doesn't want to leave in case this should pass over (if he makes it!) Several of the other drivers feel the same way.

And you are right, the image of truckers will not be improved as long as companies do that (even if they think they have a good reason) I don't think they should ask someone to do something that they wouldn't be able to do themselves.

 

Thanx for the clarification Milby!

First off, --- NObody should be able to FORCE a driver to break the law. They may insist, or even demand, --- but ULTIMATELY, it's the DRIVER who makes the decision to break the law.

A dispatcher a thousand miles away isn't going to be considered a serious threat in a court of law And strong enough to "force" a driver to do something the driver KNOWS is illegal?
Convince the jury.

Does it happen and why does it continue?
Hmmmmmmmmm
Because they seem to be able to get away with it?
As long as they can find SOMEone to fill the Big truck truck seats, they'll continue. It appears that for some (many?) it's more profitable to chew-'em Up, and spit-'em-Out.
Plenty more where they came form.

Other companies may be operating on a shoestring, and can't afford for their drivers to refuse loads. If they don't have enough Big trucks in the area to cover the refusal, I don't imagine that makes the shipper/receiver too happy. Especially if THEY have to wait for days.
If, as a result, that shipper/receiver gives those loads to another company, ....... see where I'm goin' with this?
Trickle Down effect.

And it very well could trickle down to the dispatcher.
In that case, I suggest purchasing a laminated map of New York City and ALL the Islands and bridges, Philly, and Elizabeth, New Jersey.
And a good flashlight to read it at night.

Dispatchers can make or break a Big truck truck driver.
But they can't "force" a driver.
Well, ...... except maybe for a decision a driver needs to make.

If ANY company tries to force their will on y'all --- even if it IS y'all's fault that you're behind, --- DON'T let 'em bully you!
If they fire you for wanting to run within the law,
By Golly, why stay there?

Big truckin' companies know what's goin' on within the industry and what their competition is doin'.
To hear an applicant admit he terminated another company because they "forced" him to quit due to their demand to run illegal, ..... just might be music the another company's ears, ...... and get'cha hired.

 

YeAH!
It seems like several truckin' companies are soundin' like that now-a-daze.

Sure are the early warning signs though.
*snip* ...........

And the problem may be that they're not aware they can't do it themselves.

If the Big truck truck driver's quality has declined, is it too far of a stretch to imagine the support staff (dispatchers, mechanics) are also sub-par? I'm thinkin' that's sure possible.
When you have a dispatcher who thinks so highly of a day off that they figure they're doin' a driver a favor by sitting them in West Memphis, or some remote hole-in-the-wall truck stop --- for a few days,
By Golly --- Hooston, we have a problem.

 

I hear what you are saying and maybe I'm just a little tired, emotional, ticked off to say the least. If it were my decision, I would tell them to stick the job where the sun don't shine and walk away! Unfortunately it is not my decision. Wish it were though! Can you tell this is causing issues??? loll

 

so if you take the forced load and you get cought with it is your butt and if you don't take it you lose your job?

 

Good1 best definition yet

 

YuP!
I can tell.
Here's my Rx ----- git on over to
Make a Word and/or Word Game and/or Three Word Game
and R E L A X a tad.

YuP!
That could happen.
But losing one's job pales in comparison to the consequences of being involved in a crash, and be found to be operating illegally.
You don't think a dispatcher is gonna come to that driver's rescue and admit they "forced" that driver to do it, do you?
Even if a dispatcher DID admit that, the driver STILL broke Federal laws, and will STILL be held accountable.

The choice is ultimately up to the driver to
stay on, or get off.
*(I threw that in 'cause I like Sandra Bullock in the movie SPEED)