I’ve seen that question asked here a few times. “Why are city drivers always grouchy”, usually from those who have never done the job and don’t have a clue. Well, there a couple reasons for that.
First on the list we have politics and favoritism.
It’s a common saying in this business that in any terminal, 80% of the work is done by 20% of the drivers. From where I sit that’s a sign of bad management for allowing that to go on. The 20%’ers want to get their work done and go home, while the 80%’ers lay down all day. Who the hell wants to do somebody else’s pickups after 20 deliveries plus 5 pickups on their own run?
Some planners also feel the need to slow down the productive drivers because they make the non-productive look too bad, placing the TM in the uncomfortable position of possibly having to enforce standards against those whom he would seriously rather not.
Then there’s Saturday work, which at my terminal is a very sore subject. They put up a sign-up sheet at the beginning of the week, only to give the runs to whoever they want anyway.
Another thing is the classic “pass the buck” scenario with damages perpetrated by the dock idiots. One thing that will get a good driver pissed in a hurry is returns, especially when they’re early in the run, oversize, or loose.
Construction sites tend to be another thorn in a driver’s side. You’d be amazed how people scatter and run when a truck shows up, terrified of the possibility of having to work.
If you encounter a driver who seems like a prick, the chances are good he’s one of the 20%’ers.
Why are city drivers always grouchy?
Discussion in 'LTL and Local Delivery Trucking Forum' started by MACK E-6, Aug 15, 2020.
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Great post, couldn't have said it better. I,,,was a local driver for most of my career. It's my firm belief, drivers do OTR because they can't handle the stress of a local job.( and visa versa) I had a family and a house, and hobbies, so a local job was my only option, I HAD to put up with it. Anytime you HAVE to do something, crabbiness will occur. It's the classic "crap rolls downhill" syndrome, and doing the same thing almost daily, any delay is sure to be noticed, and being paid by the hour, generally, the company "bean counter" ( bosses nephew) gets it back to the boss. I never heard of "slowing down the productive" employees, you never hear of that, just blasting the less productive ones, sometimes publicly. Once, in a company meeting of drivers, oh, I HATED those, we'd slip seat sometimes, and the boss called out the regular driver of a truck I used, "why does "semi" get 2 mpg more than you"? That didn't go over well with the regular driver.
There's a saying in the machine shop world. There are 2 employees, when the dismissal bell rings, the good employee will finish the part they are working on, while the schmoe takes off. I, in the trucking world, was the guy that finished the part. As for Sat. work, NEVER!. My home time was worth much more. I figured, if you didn't make it in 5 days, in 6, you're going to give most to the govt. My kids soccer game was worth a lot more than that
Last edited: Aug 15, 2020
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