Attitude makes the difference.
Wow Turtle...nice job Sir.
You and Old School, becoming interchangeable with the flatbed posts.
*like
I never understood how people can walk in and demand things, even though I don't go to customers drivers still come in and complain and demand to dispatchers.
You catch more bees with honey than vinegar.
Absolutely being nice will get you everywhere. Once at Cascades Sonoco in Birmingham I arrived 5-6 hours early for my loading appointment. I had literally unloaded about 3 miles away. They were VERY busy and running behind.. more than 20 trucks behind. I immediately told them.. I'm sorry, I know I'm way too early.. if there's a spot I can get out of everyone's way, just let me know or if I need to, I'll be glad to leave and come back. There were trucks hanging out in the street lol. They found me a parking spot. Because I'd already had to start my clock I knew I wouldn't have hours to leave after they could actually load me and I let them know that also and they were fine with that. I ordered several pizzas for delivery, had my dinner (and fed them too). They were finally ready to put me in a dock for loading and I reminded them I didn't have many hours left and told them.. gee, if there are drivers here who have drive time left, load them first so they can get going.. I'll have to hang out til at least midnight anyway. They asked if I was sure and I told them I was.. just to load me last.
There was one driver.. he had been there since early that morning and had whined and complained the whole time. Had a much earlier appointment then I did. He was unbearable.
8pm rolls around, they're finally getting caught up and they come let me know they're ready to load me so they can go home. They were exhausted and had put in some hefty overtime that day. I get in my dock, they load me, and I go back to my little out of the way spot to get more sleep to finish my break.
The whiney driver WAS STILL THERE and was not getting loaded lol. They loaded me, locked up and WENT HOME, leaving him to sit until they reopened the following morning.
They told me.. you were so cool about the delay and we appreciate it so much and the others scheduled behind you that got loaded sooner were tickled that you let them go before you. The complaining driver was STILL complaining when I rolled towards home time just after midnight with a full clock.. He may still be sitting there months later for all I know.
If I show up unannounced way too early, I always acknowledge I'm very early and I offer to leave and come back if necessary. Usually they'll say something about it taking a while. I just smile and say it's fine. Within minutes I'm usually in a dock and getting loaded or unloaded very early.
Attitude is EVERYTHING in this business.
Operating While Intoxicated
I though of another one: You can't fix stupid! Some folks are their own worst enemy.
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I had an experience with another driver yesterday and this morning that left me shaking my head. So I thought it'd be good to share it with some of you guys. This is kinda flatbed-specific, but the same principle can be applied to any division.
I get to the shipper yesterday, check in, find out what I'm loading, and go back out to wait in line behind a couple other trucks. While waiting I gathered all the straps, edge protectors, etc. that I would need and had it ready to go. By the time they get something placed on my deck, I was already throwing a strap. With everyone doing this it made the loading process very efficient for all of us, cutting down on the wait time.
Well, the driver that pulled in after me didn't get any of his stuff ready. I guess he thought he'd wait until the whole load was done before he secured it. The forklift driver thought differently, and told him to get moving, people were waiting. I'm not sure if the driver heard him or not, as I was pulling away at that point. Lesson #1- Get your stuff ready. Don't make anyone else have to wait on you.
I didn't have quite enough hours to make it to the receiver last night, so I went as far as I could, then parked it and rolled in this morning, arriving at 0630 for an 0700 appt. The gate was still locked, but there's a small parking area next to the entrance for us to stage in. Well guess who was there? Yup, the same driver. He had stayed there last night, which was a great move for him. Now he's first in line, like I usually try to be. Lesson #2- Stay at a customer when you can. That makes you first in line.
Immediately upon arriving I closed my axles due to a sharp U-turn necessary to get to the unloading area. Then I pulled and rolled all my straps and stowed all my gear, chatting with the other driver while doing so. At 0700 he gets out of his truck and starts unstrapping. I was done by that point so I told him "Hey I'm going to go ahead and check in. Chances are they'll have me unloaded before you're done rolling your straps." Well he couldn't really argue with that. In the gate I went. Lesson #3- Just because you're first in line, doesn't mean you are first in the gate. Get your butt ready! If you think I'm waiting for you, you're wrong.
20-30 minutes later I'm being unloaded, and the driver finally rolls up behind me to wait his turn. He walked up to the receiving door to check in. I couldn't pick up on everything he said, but one thing I clearly understood the driver say was "Can you guys hurry up? 20 minutes to unload two pallets is ridiculous!" The warehouse guy quickly fired back "Well bi***ing about it sure isn't going to speed me up!"
When the warehouse guy gave me my paperwork, he said to me "that guy might be waiting a while..." Lesson #4- Never ever b**** at the warehouse guy or gal! You will not win. They control your destiny.
As I was rolling away with my next dispatch, the driver was still sitting there, half unloaded. He may still be sitting there. One may never know...
Shipper:
The customer who is shipping the freight. This is where the driver will pick up a load and then deliver it to the receiver or consignee.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated