Your views on Dispatchers

that sounds like fun, but only if you got paid for waiting!
Thanks for sharing.

We wee always told the automated routing was suggested and as long as we didn't go out of route by 75mi it was fine.

thanks, I'm definitely seeing that, kind of always heard it over the years but good it's being verified here for newbies.

 

You left off the first part of the paragraph you quoted. I don't live in the "mega" world or have that mindset. When I pulled flat the company had 24 highway trucks and 4 log trucks. My first job with my own truck was less than 30 trucks, my current is 16 trucks.

I'm sure there are bad apples, like I stated. I'm also a firm believer that people respect you for what you do. I'm not saying let people push you to run illegal. I'm saying don't let them down. If you say you're going to do it, then do it. If you can't complete the task don't accept the load.

When I worked at Pepsi there were days I hated my job and I still delivered pop with a smile because that's what I signed up for. Same with flatbed. Tarping, chaining up multiple times a day in the winter, running the mountains all the time. It got old, but it was the work I chose to do. If you're a "problem" driver for one reason or another your dispatcher won't work as hard for you. I find it hard to believe that the majority of dispatchers are bad. How could a company run if that were the case? There has to be at least one good one in there.

You know from your other thread that I was raised different than most and learned the business different than many. I was taught that my word means something. I was taught if you tell someone you're going to do something you do it. I don't want anyone to ever have to cover my rear for me. If you accept a load and have the hours to do it don't waste time playing video games and then ask for a relay because you can't get it there.

 

Yeah, sorry if it bothered you, I have a tendency to choose those sentences I want to reply to; like now. At Werner after the regular dispatcher left for the day there were 3 shifts. I mentioned this before but will mention it again; many times we had no contact with the company when needed. If you ever want to read some of the craziest replies from dispatch you'ld get a good laugh on the weekend when they'ld bring in college students who didn't have a clue about trucking.

And that is in my belief how all people should be! The world would run much more smoothly.Thanks

 

thanks for all the thanks but i hope you will leave a message here on this thread as I had to pull your post off another thread. just to say thank you!...but you can stop now, I appreciate it.

 

It's somewhat of a catch 22 also. The big companies would never be able to fill their dispatch positions with former drivers. So you guys have the load planners that have somewhat of an understanding of what needs done to keep the customers happy and the dispatchers, for the most part, keep the trucks moving. I know how stubborn drivers can be, I am one, lol. And when someone at a desk asks a driver to complete the impossible I can understand how that can be frustrating since they've never been in our shoes.

On the other end, I think many of the smaller companies have former drivers in the office. The problem with that is when a new person, likely younger than the dispatcher, says they have a problem and can't do xyz it might be met with "I've done that load 1000 times and it took me 8 hours and 13 minutes every time". And that's a problem on the other end of the spectrum.

In no way am I expecting everyone to get along. I do believe it takes effort from all parties involved to build a relationship. You have to have respect for each other and try your best to get along. Some dispatchers will have a problem with every driver just as some drivers will have a problem with every dispatcher.

 

Agree for the most part. It's when someone crosses the line of being a "professional" that is my biggest beef. If I do my job as I said I would that should deem respect for me, not yelling at me because they can't handle their workload & are under stress. I had to teach myself to let it roll of my back, like water rolling off a duck in order to not let dispatch constant comments of "hurry up you've got another load" affect my driving. I've always said what's the worst thing that can happen to them in the office if they are upset or are tired, fall off their chair? for us if we get upset due to being pushed by them we could kill someone in an accident. Because of this I think they have the greater responsibility to control what they say.

 

We were paid the same as our regular stuff most of the time we were running 3.5-3.8K weekly thats what they were paying us plus meals and motels were paid.

We went to Lake Havasu, Leadville Co & Eagle Co & Dunnelon Fl it was great but most of the driver didn't want to do it because we were gone few weeks in row.

But to me it was vacation i really do enjoy my time in the US actually i prefer US than Canada.

 

that sounds super! The only time I had the company pay for my hotels was when the truck broke down.. You got paid well, that always helps. You say you like driving the US, are you from Canada? I've heard lots of sorry stories about border crossing, so never went in a truck, but sure wouldn't mind in a car! I hear it's beautiful

 

Yes from Montreal born and raised here in french, Quebec is nice i always say if you want to travel to Qc go Quebec city, ol part of town is beautiful people are super nice but most only have basic knowledge of english but it is beautiful worth the trip!

The architecture is like Paris in the old city, the place is rich in history, tons of really good restaurants very good cuisine..

Montreal is the biggest city with a population of 4 millions, it's dirty and always jammed in traffic, sadly not much good to say about Montreal.

And in winter time as far as i know they should close the province and move everybodys to Fl.

Oh and border crossing wether as truckers or civillians is no big deal.

 

Thank you I feel like I've been on a tour of Canada! QC sounds lovely, very artsy which I like. Yes I'll bet those winters can be harsh but you are used to it. Although I can drive in the snow I'ld always choose not to if possible Once .I was shopping in a Walmart in the US & met a team from Canada, they were loading up with groceries, told me your price of milk was $6 gal! Wow, are all prices that high up there? Good thing you can stop before crossing to get cheaper supplies. Of course, food prices are going way up here too. Since being at home I've even started growing my own veggies.