Biggest Frustrations

Right now I am actually looking for general replies and variety to better our understanding of truckers. Saying more risks adding bias to responses.

So you're trying to develop a product, but you won't tell us what it is. Your strategy is to ask for random complaints, some of which may help you develop this product.

Worst market study strategy ever.

You're being shady. I can't see how this will help our community, so maybe I should just shut this down until you have something concrete to give us.

I just wanted to let everyone know Charles contacted me to explain why he couldn't be more specific. He was just looking to understand truck drivers and the industry a little better to see if there was a way to help his employer. No harm, no foul.

Awesome that you were able to get a satisfactory answer.

Today, I could whine and complain about every little thing that happened, but the biggest issue has already been stated. The "me first" mentality.

I just wanted to let everyone know Charles contacted me to explain why he couldn't be more specific. He was just looking to understand truck drivers and the industry a little better to see if there was a way to help his employer. No harm, no foul.

Not enough truck parking.

Many people hit on a big one for me. Mental health, attitude and patience. It’s difficult to keep a level head at times, but there’s a decent percentage of people who have a negative mindset everyday.

The people we deal with may not be the happiest at times, but I’ve not once had an issue with anybody in the two years I’ve been driving.

I like to thank the company I work for, as for me the biggest stress is the people I work with daily. And they are great.

There is a lack of resources available for truck drivers. Health services and facilities that compound peoples’ issues.

And parking.

As far a scale house software as far as I’m aware it’s currently 2 as Naenae pointed out. She likes prepass, I run and prefer drivwyze. It is somewhat customizable. The annoying things she pointed out I have turned off. Company drivers don’t have that option.

No matter which system you have, it’s still up to the scale house if you get bypassed or not. The operator gets a ton of info on each truck as it crosses the sensors, and they decide on the spot wether to bypass the truck or not. Many more are upgrading their tools and can see the driver clearly as well.

For me, the biggest frustration is the silly policies and appointment nonsense at warehouses coupled by a lack of communication within the warehouse staff itself. I understand appointments are important for the OTR loads to come in and out as smoothly as possible but in the LTL world, dispatches change while we are on the road quite often based on our location and how much space we have.

Just the other day I was given a last minute assignment to go pick up 7 pallets at a shipper we only deal with through a 3rd party. My dispatch calls to tell me he talked to them, gave them my ETA, and its fine for me to just show up. I get there around 4pm as estimated, guy tells me he has no idea what I’m there for and furthermore, no loading till 6pm. I am the only truck there and there are 3 forklift guys sitting still, doing nothing. I can see my 7 pallets staged by a door 2 bays down. I ended up being there for almost an hour and a half while phone calls and emails were sent back and forth between dispatch and their management ironing out this pickup

I have concern about sharing my opinion on trucking for the development of "tools" that you tell us the identity of which is irrelevant. I think you should share what exactly you have in mind to create or improve and then seek feedback.

Ohhhhh, I have another one!

Freightliner specific.

Have you noticed that if you are sitting in the driver's seat correctly, your steering wheel is off center?

My nose aligns with the right edge of the steering wheel center piece. It drives me bat crap crazy!

The nerd in me wonders, how many work comp claims exist for "Occupational Disease, left shoulder pain, unspecified mechanism of injury" on freightliner drivers, and if it is a statistically significant increase.

Well, I guess now we know what has made NaeNae bat crap crazy. Lol