Random Musings: Follow Instructions

This morning I was in a shipping /receiving office. Very busy, lots of drivers. Multiple signs posted about safety vest, paperwork requirements. First driver, no safety vest. Back to truck, lost his place in line. Second driver, left check-in form in her truck. She asked the clerk “Is it really necessary?” Back to truck, lost her place in line.

Why are basic instructions so hard for some to follow? As drivers we all want to be processed promptly and efficiently. Each location has procedures in place to accomplish this goal, so it is important to comply with these instructions to keep the wheel turning.

What do you encounter out there that makes you wonder about people?

What do you encounter out there that makes you wonder about people?

I always thought getting angry with the shipping office was one of the best ways to shoot yourself in the foot. Countless times I've watched drivers enter the shipping office and start issuing demands and threats.

How often does it work?

Pretty much never. In fact, many times, I've watched drivers verbally abuse the shipping clerk and then sit in their trucks stewing while others get unloaded first.

Over the past few years, we've witnessed groups who think they can demand respect by screaming at people who won't conform to their way of seeing things. Try that sometime with the folks in shipping and see how it goes.

My favorite, though I wasn't there for it, but it caused an uproar:

We load at only a dozen or so places, so everyone is very familiar with all the safety rules. At one of the refineries (gas refinery, by the way), they would let you smoke outside the gates, but once inside the fence, there was no smoking for obvious reasons. One night, guess a guy had been waiting too long, so as he's actually at the rack, loading, he opens the passenger door and sneaks a smoke. Might of gotten away with it except he unthinkingly flicks away the butt when done. The loader happened to looking at the cameras and sees the flick, instant shutdown of the entire rack, the driver is instantly banned from the property for life, they wouldn't even let him drive his truck out of the rack. He lost his job that night, and drivers who smoke lost the privilege to smoke anywhere within a mile of the place. So dumb.

I have seen alot of folks cause themselves problems so many times I have lost count.

I read any posted sign, you never know when they might just contain helpful information!!!!

The most memorable one I witnessed was years ago, but stayed with me.

Small shipper. I was picking up a preloaded trailer. Yard jockey met me as soon as I pulled in. He told me to go in the office they would check me in, assign a spot for the empty and he would go get my loaded out of the back and drop it there by the office. I thought that was great.

As I was coming out of the office I saw the yard jockey talking with another driver and it didn’t seem to be going well.

I dropped my empty, hooked my loaded and went back in the office. The other driver was in there creating a spectacle. He stormed off. The shipping office lady was smiling from ear to ear. I thought that was weird. She talked while getting my bills together.

Seemed the other driver was demanding of the yard jockey on arrival. Yard jockey was her husband. She said they don’t get mad at such things, they get even. She went on to tell me the driver was late for his appointment and they would work him in when they could, maybe 4-5 hours from then.

Always be respectful in someone else’s house and always know your audience!!

Yes most drivers in general I’d say conduct themselves in a professional manner around shippers and receivers. Until we were all told we had to wear a mask lol. Boy were those interesting times.

I remember one shipper completely locked the place down and would put your paperwork with the trailer. Couldn’t even get inside to use the bathroom. Even got rid of the porta john.

I'm a self-confessed space cadet at times. I forget things on a regular basis. I fail to notice signs at shippers and receivers too from time to time. I own it. It's been my unwanted companion for most of my life. That's why I try to stay extremely organized while doing anything job related. I pretty much have to in order to protect myself from myself.

That being said, I never get upset with the office personnel or guards at the places I go bc I failed to follow proper procedure. That's all on me and getting frustrated with someone else is counterproductive.

I look at it as a business. It's always most efficient and profitable to simply jump through their hoops. Times where I'm getting frustrated, I just get extra nice and try to find a way to put a smile on their face. It's just customer service. I have numerous small shippers that being patient and following their rules, delivering a high level of customer service has paid off in shorter wait times, more flexibility in delivery times and better load choices.

I am a big proponent of the positive approach to this job, as several have already stated.

And sometimes we encounter negative behavior from others, on and off the road. The last couple of days driving, I have experienced some very courteous behavior from other drivers on the road. These are the drivers I have great respect for.