Refrigerated?

I like the idea of longer runs, but I don't want to run into problems getting the truck loaded and unloaded all the time. To be honest, I don't see the logic in dock workers being a-holes towards truckers or truckers being a-holes towards dock workers. Everyone's just trying to make a living, so we're all in the same boat. I have a tendency to be the type of person who gives what he receives from people. In other words, if you come at me with an attitude I am likely to give it right back to you. I have bad days and am not perfect at it, but I lead with kindness most of the time but know only one way to deal with a-holes. I realize that that's something I will probly have to work on as a trucker.

Rico, here's a story I've shared here before about a responding to a receiving clerk and how your measured response can get you better results. I was delivering a load of sheet-rock somewhere and I had come in a full day ahead of schedule early in the morning. This is a habit and a strategy of mine to get ahead of the game and make more money at this when ever it is possible. Of course you run the risk of being told we can't take you early, but it is a calculated risk that usually will work out when driving a flat-bed. When I walked into the room where we are supposed to check in, the young Hispanic girl, who handles receiving, and a truck driver are having a heated exchange, and she is telling him, very firmly, that in no uncertain terms will she receive him early, they have a schedule and he isn't supposed to be there until 3:00 pm. He storms out the door while leaving here a few choice words about what he thinks about the way they run their operation and how it is killing his pay. Now, the thing is, my dispatcher had sent me a message saying these people won't take you early, because he knows how I operate if given the slightest opportunity to get something in there early. So, I was thinking I'm screwed, I'll be sleeping out here on this street all day and tonight. So, I carefully approached this cute young lady, who was looking down as if she were embarrassed about the way she had just acted, and with a big smile on my face I tipped my hat and very kindly said "well, I'm not scheduled until tomorrow morning, but I was able to get here early - but I can see by what just took place here that I'm in for a long wait. Here's my paper work." She silently took my bills, and went across the room with them and started punching her keyboard and after a few minutes says "if you don't mind waiting an hour or two I've got an open spot in our schedule that we can work you in - there was no way I was going to let that other guy in here, but since you didn't have an attitude going on I will be glad to help you out."

So, what I'm saying is always try to do your best at being patient and kind with these people - sometimes they can really be trying, but it is in your best interest to be the professional in this relationship. Sometimes things will work out to your advantage, sometimes it won';t, but the professionals out here know how to get things accomplished, and attitude is just one of the elements that puts you in the top tier of drivers.

Amen to what Old School said!

I have a tendency to be the type of person who gives what he receives from people. In other words, if you come at me with an attitude I am likely to give it right back to you

And the same applies to most truckers....and that's one of the big reasons so many truckers are miserable. Dispatch doesn't like em, dock workers don't like em, and DOT officers don't like em.

You see, truck drivers have a horrible reputation for being foul-mouthed, obnoxious jerks. And a sizable number of them are, at least some of the time. So there is a very large contingency in our society that hates truck drivers - and I mean hate. They don't care if you're the kindest, most wonderful person in the world. They're not going to take the time to bother figuring that out. You're a trucker, that means you're a foul-mouthed, obnoxious jerk, and they hate you. So how does it go when you come across people like this? You're going to give them that same attitude back and confirm exactly what they suspected - you're a jerk.

You have to be proactive when dealing with people, not reactive, especially as a truck driver because you're behind the eight ball already. The obnoxious jerks that came before you ruined your reputation before you ever got a chance to develop one of your own. It's like being the little brother whose big brother was trouble - none of your teachers like you and the cops are always watching you. They just assume you're going to be like the one who came before you.

You have to set the tone of the interaction by being kind and professional in spite of how the other person is acting. Because most people will mirror the person they're interacting with at some point. It might take only a few seconds, it might take several minutes, or it might take an hour for them to let their guard down and see you for who you really are, not the stereotype they thought you fit.

Go out there and show people you're kind and professional. You're the "anti-trucker". It's not easy and it doesn't always work. But you'll be amazed at how effective it is, and it never makes things worse than they would have been otherwise.

Very few people understand how to set the tone in a conversation. They follow others and react to them instead of taking the lead and taking control. Act independently of others and think independently of others when you know there's a better way. Before long, others will see you have a better way and many of them will follow your lead.

Ditto on what others said about setting the tone in any interaction. That's one of those life things. Sure, it's easier to return fire with fire, but ultimately that NEVER helps a situation, all it might do is make you feel a little 'better' by being able to release some anger ;) There's a reason that the saying goes, "live by the sword, die by the sword." To the very least, even if the other hostile individual doesn't lighten up w/ your kindness, 9 times out of 10 it won't escalate any further. Life's just too short to retaliate over trivial things.

In regard to reefer , I've gone back and forth myself. I'm trying to choose between Crete (dry van) and Shaffer (reefer). Still not sure which way I'm going. For me it will depend on what division has better options for my family. I live very close to one of their terminals and because of that, they have more job opportunities where I live than other parts of the country. Plus, there's something that seems more 'meaningful' about pulling a reefer with food. Not sure why.

Don't let lumper fees scare you. All it is is basically putting money onto a check. Takes about 5 minutes.

Which is paid for by the company. No out of pocket expense for the driver.

Seriously? Is this true for all or most companies? I was under the impression that lumpers were paid by the driver, although I've never looked at reefers before. Maybe dry van is different?

LittleJoe

The lumpers are paid for by the trucking company if you are a company driver. If you're a lease driver or owner operator you pay for the lumpers yourself.

And so that people are clear on this and don't get upset about it, ultimately your company will also be reimbursed for this. Having a lumper service unload freight at these grocery warehouses is simply a tax benefit for the grocery chain. They're not really forcing trucking companies to pay someone to unload their freight for them. A lot of company drivers get extremely upset when they first learn about this system and feel it's a terrible injustice. But it's not.

The lumpers are paid for by the trucking company if you are a company driver. If you're a lease driver or owner operator you pay for the lumpers yourself.

And so that people are clear on this and don't get upset about it, ultimately your company will also be reimbursed for this. Having a lumper service unload freight at these grocery warehouses is simply a tax benefit for the grocery chain. They're not really forcing trucking companies to pay someone to unload their freight for them. A lot of company drivers get extremely upset when they first learn about this system and feel it's a terrible injustice. But it's not.

I'm glad you added this clarification. It sheds some light on the topic, and yes, I've come across numerous threads on other forums where drivers are venting about how trucking companies are being forced to comply with lumpers, as if it's a racket.

The law says trucking companies and owner operators have to be reimbursed for lumper fees.

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/49/14103

The law says trucking companies and owner operators have to be reimbursed for lumper fees.

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/49/14103

Thanks gang! Rico, even with the legal Mumble-Jumble legalese, it's much clearer.

LittleJoe