A True Story About The Consequences Of Refusing Loads

Driving the 95 corridor sucks ! However, I'll never turn down a load. It's been my experience (a whopping 1yr) that I may get some short loads, but I always end up with some really good miles. The way I look at it, I'm out here to make money. If I'm rolling, I'm making money for myself and my FM. Plus, if I'm rolling it's keeping my mind occupied, and not dwelling on "what I miss at the house."

Have a friends who's new out there that I've been coaching.

He was complaining this morning about having to drop his tank at the shipper , go back to the tank wash and shuttle another tank back to the shipper. Then shuttle his tank to the wash - drop it, pick up the other tank and bring it to the wash - drop it. Hook his tank and be on his way.

Mind you - he gets PAID for the shuttle job. His DM told him there were 4 loads coming out of that shipper - and gave him HIS CHOICE of which run to do, and they needed to get that 4th tank (for which where was no tractor) filled and at a drop, so that the last driver could grab it when he got in tonight (where the shipper closes @ 4 and is closed on Sunday).

Have to remind him that has has to be that CAN DO KIND OF DRIVER. He's the newest hire there (and a ROOKIE DRIVER) - yet he's been getting 3,000 miles a week. His DM sees he can manage his clock, gets his drops done EARLY - and is willing to pick up the "odd job" when the company needs something done.

EVERYTHING IS A TEST.

And, for the most part - EVERY FAVOR (or TURNDOWN) is REMEMBERED

His drop is an hour from his house - and he wants to do a reset at home. ODDS ARE - he'll GET THAT, because he's proving to be a COOPERATIVE ASSET (Team Player) - not a PITA that creates extra work for his DM.

Rick

Im a newbie coming into trucking actually not gone to school yet, but anyways if I where those guys i would have definitely taken those loads no matter where they where going more miles more money way i see it plus more travel sites to see, im glad your dispatcher took care of you and turned out great for you

So far this week I have run two loads that are going onto this weeks pay period. The first one carried me up to New Hampshire from Louisiana with eight stops, and then my back-haul run bringing me back to my dedicated customer in Delhi, Louisiana. Those two loads total 3,132 miles, and I nailed all the appointment times while still managing to finish the final stop in New Hampshire one full day in advance of the scheduled appointment.

So, I am back in Delhi today resting on my ten hour break when my phone rings, and it is my dispatcher wanting to discuss the next batch of loads with me to see which direction I would like to go. He reads me off several different loads and I chose one of them which was a one stop run down to Miami. Then he says, "There is a possibility of that load not actually going out yet for a few days, could you also choose a different one and I will call you back a little later when I know if that Miami load is going to actually go or not?" My response was, "Sure, I'll take that one that has one stop in Louisville, Kentucky, and then finals in North Collins, New York." He hesitates just a moment and says, "You know what, I have got two guys who have really been complaining that they are not getting enough miles, and I feel like I should really at least offer that load to them first. Can I call you back after I know what is going on with that Miami load? Then I will have had the time to offer this North Collins load to those other two drivers, and I will have a better idea of what we should do with you." My response was, "Sure, you know I will be happy with what ever you come up with. I've already run in excess of 3,000 miles this week, and I can finish any of those loads you've got for this weekend in time to put it on this same pay period - those loads are just icing on the cake this week!"

About an hour later my phone is ringing again. "Well neither one of those drivers wants to go up to the Northeast, and the Miami load is not going to actually be ready yet," says my dispatcher with some degree of incredulity in his voice. He adds, "I don't understand these drivers, they tell me they want miles, but then they refuse to take the longer runs when I offer them, because of where they go to." "It looks like you are going to North Collins, New York after all, and they can stay on Louisiana to Texas runs for the next month as far as I am concerned!"

I don't get the mentality of some of these folks, but they sure are working hard to pad my paychecks! Let's see, this load is 1,150 miles, and I'll finish it by the payroll cut-off. Add that on top of the 3,132 I just completed... Yep, this week is looking really nice!

Make sure you are delivering on time or early, and keep yourself available when ever possible folks. Go for all you can get. Be a willing player, that is how you end up being counted on as a runner. That is how to be successful at this game, you've got to be a contender for the rewards of the game.

Did you catch what the attitude of the dispatcher was? They always remember the folks who help them out, but they even have a stronger memory for the folks who refuse to help when called upon.

Thanks for the true story Old School! It's so weird that people just don't get that miles are miles, whether they're miles to NY or miles to FL. Kinda reminds me of when I was on Miller Coors and got a bunch of runs from Denver to Ft. Worth. Gosh I started to detest that run, but hey, miles are miles, so I ran it. Like you always say, "to the victors go the spoils."

Pianoman, what's funny about these same drivers is that once the weather modulates and the likelihood of snow has all but gone away, they start begging for the same loads that I've been dealing with all winter. My dispatcher keeps me on them as long as I can be available for them. He absolutely takes the attitude of, "If you're not willing to do this when the weather is bad, I'm sure not giving you the chance at it when the sun is shining and the flowers are blooming!"