Is It Ever Going To Get Better?

Old School,

The production manager for my last job site brought me into his office after I worked there for about 2 months. I didn't know why, I was uncomfortable, and didn't want to talk to him. It turned out he wanted me to fill out paperwork I had already filled out before. I guess he lost it. He's trying to be all chummy with me, but all I want to do is leave. He asks me if I have any questions. "No, can I go?" "Can I shake your hand first?" he asks. So I walk up to him, shake his hand, and he thanks me for working there.

I was really quite rude towards him, but definitely left without anything brown on my nose. He was the sycophant sort himself, and I can't stand them. They'll gladly do anything for someone they perceive as outranking them, like it's some sort of virtue. Utterly disgusts me.

the CEO of the company I worked for before that invited me to his clubhouse. I rejected the invitation. After figuring out what a scumbag he was, I went on to put his insulting quotes on the company whiteboard for all to see. Heck, I even cursed the guy out. I got laid off from that company, but I did so along with everyone else at the location.

Sure, I might be rich right now if I was willing to demean myself like a pathetic dog when opportunity strikes, but the whole idea disgusts me, and truck drivers shouldn't have to.

Sure, I might be rich right now if I was willing to demean myself like a pathetic dog when opportunity strikes, but the whole idea disgusts me, and truck drivers shouldn't have to.

Answering a phone call that someone is returning to you in order to help you with your situation, and ultimately help you make more money, is demeaning yourself? That's quite different than I see it for sure.

Brett,

Nah, I agree he should get on it quickly if he actually wants his problem fixed. You just piled it on about how important the guy was, and hit a nerve. Sorry for derailing. I'm shushing.

Brett,

Nah, I agree he should get on it quickly if he actually wants his problem fixed. You just piled it on about how important the guy was, and hit a nerve. Sorry for derailing. I'm shushing.

No problem. I understand how you feel about that sort of thing.

Ryan, you clearly don't get us, and we're cool with that. But Brett and I are the farthest thing you could ever imagine as "brown nosers."

When you've accomplished something in our industry there may be a few folks who are willing to hear you out. As of now you're mostly just an annoying person with nothing to contribute. Almost like a fly on the wall that nobody notices, except for the fact they keep making noise.

Well, I guess I could've explained my situation a little bit better. I still don't see the need to all of the sudden act like I'm an immature whiner who refuses to take responsibility for an issue I'm having. For the record Brett, I saw your original response to my comment, and it cut pretty deep. I actually saved it to remind myself in the future of exactly what I get for asking for help in public.

I'm not tethered to my smartphone like most. I called first thing in the morning and left a message. He returned my call at a time I was away from my truck (I think I had stopped to grab a bite and a 30 minute break at that time). This was close to 3pm. I had left my phone in the truck and didn't check it until I was checking in to a receiver last night, which would have been around the end of his day. Instead of calling him right before he leaves his office for the day and saddling him with my complaints, I thought it best to just wait until the morning.

If this was a mistake, I own it completely. Hopefully I haven't ruined my chance to fix things and I'm sorry that, even though people here really have no clue about who I am, I've apparently ruin my reputation here as well. Regarding the super trucker comment, I simply meant that I don't use my phone while I'm driving. I've only been driving for going on five months. It's hard enough and I don't need extra distraction in the cab, like we see some trucker who think they are super do on a regular basis.

Thanks again for all the help. It truly is appreciated. And I'm sorry if I came off like a jerk. It wasn't intended. That's one of those consequences of posting text. Sometimes you don't understand the intention of the emotion behind the text written. I certainly didn't mean to be unthankful or, like I said, a jerk.

I'm not tethered to my smartphone like most. I called first thing in the morning and left a message. He returned my call at a time I was away from my truck (I think I had stopped to grab a bite and a 30 minute break at that time).

I understand your sentiment about the phone, I hate the thing myself.

Buuut... communication is a really big part of this business - you may need to work on that sort of thing. Had you taken that phone with you to lunch, or even just bothered to check it afterwards (you were expecting a call) it could have been a big help to your situation.

I'm not tethered to my smartphone like most. I called first thing in the morning and left a message. He returned my call at a time I was away from my truck (I think I had stopped to grab a bite and a 30 minute break at that time).

I understand your sentiment about the phone, I hate the thing myself.

Buuut... communication is a really big part of this business - you may need to work on that sort of thing. Had you taken that phone with you to lunch, or even just bothered to check it afterwards (you were expecting a call) it could have been a big help to your situation.

You're correct, and like I said, I own that 100%. I can only do better, which is my goal every day.

Old School,

I never took you for a brown noser. You're more of a cranky old man set in his ways sort. Obviously I have no need to fit in or win the approval of anyone here. I only keep sharing hints of my previous production prowess to counter the silly notion that gets parroted around here quite often about people like me not belonging in a production based industry. From order picking for the biggest beverages distributor on the west coast to building electronics, I pounded it out.

Where I don't belong is a brown nosing based industry... the two are convoluted around here often. It is hard to tell for some I guess.

I called my terminal manager today. He called me back, but I was away from the truck and I didn't get a chance to call him back before he left for the day. I'll do that first thing tomorrow morning.

And this is exactly why I take my phone with me whenever I go into the building (where it be truckstop/shipper/receiver), especially when I am wanting/expecting a return phone call.

Ernie