When I first started this blog I vowed I wouldn’t tell any truck driving stories, but I have to get one out of my system. Before I start I have a question. What’s the difference between a fairy tale and a truck driving story? If you don’t know the answer you’ll have to scroll to the bottom to find out. OK, I swear to you, this is a true story and I’ve kept the tickets to prove it.
In the late 80’s and 90’s I worked for a company that delivered new Volvo Trucks from the plant in Dublin Va, to dealers and fleets all over North America. It was good duty until the driveaway company was sold and everything went downhill from there. By the way, I retired the first time shortly after the acquisition. My delivery was going to a dealer outside Toronto and I was on the New York State Thruway, (I-90) between Erie Pa and Buffalo NY. Most of the trucks were governed at 69mph at the factory. Speed limit on the road was 65. No worry, set the cruise control and enjoy the ride. By the way have you ever noticed that even number interstates go from low to high numbers going West to East? Not New York State. On with the tale. One of New York State’s finest decided I was going too fast, and turned on his red lights and pulled me over. (Red flashing lights are for fire trucks and ambulances, but I guess no one has informed this group of grey suited wonders yet). I put both hands on the steering wheel, so they could be seen by this fine gentleman and after being asked for the usual documents, informed me that I was traveling 77mph. My plea that the truck was governed at 69 was of no avail of course and after a few minutes the officer returned with not one but two tickets, my lucky day.
He told me that as I had a clean record he wasn’t going to give me a fast driving award and then asked me if I had a radar detector? I said no, and then he informed me that I did now and here was a ticket for running a bird dog and the second one was for littering. He wished me a good day and was off. And I thought all the ‘honorable’ highway patrol officers were in Ohio.
Before I give you the answer to my quiz here’s how to have fun when you’re bored in a truck stop. Turn on your CB and in between the conversations of the radio rambos and other similar intellects, break it and ask if anyone knows why they have no parking zones in truck stops. When someone asks why, say the following. No parking zones are for those large Petercar drivers with all the chrome and lights and the big over modulated radios with so much echo no one can understand them, that don’t know how to back up have a place to park. If you want to stay around for the fun that’s up to you, but I usually shut the radio off and go to bed.
Answer….difference between a fairy tale and a truck driving story. A fairy tale starts off with….Once upon a time…..a truck driver story starts off with…..you ain’t going to believe this sh**..
Enjoy the day
Flat Tire
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Thursday, April 12, 2007
The Care and Feeding of Dispatchers
I know the old saying, “You can always tell if a dispatcher is lying if his lips are moving”. But contrary to popular belief, dispatchers are human. They do eat, sleep, have families and have a job to do too, other than give drivers a hard time.
Years ago I used to do some orientation and my last bit of advice was to walk our new hires to the office where the dispatchers were located and said, “these people are dispatchers, their nickname is ‘god’, they will make you or break you”. “If you make your pickups and deliveries on time, cause no claims or damage, they will start moving your name up the list to where the good trips are”. “If on the other hand you give them a rough time, they will put your name at the bottom of their list, give you the worst trips they can find and hope you quit”.
It’s a simple concept, but that’s the way it works in real life. The driver and dispatcher work as a team. Once a dispatcher feels comfortable with a driver and knows he can depend on you, you’ll be pre-planned on trips and your life will be a whole lot easier. Instead of you having to wait after delivery for the next load to come open, which will result in wasted time for you and the company, you’ll be on your way and putting money in your pocket as the miles click away.
Don’t forget, if you think your dispatcher(s) are giving you a hard time, do you give your dispatchers a hard way to go too? Refusing a load or making pickups and deliveries between partying or playing video games in the truck stops doesn’t make life easier for dispatchers either. They also get misinformation and grief from shippers and receivers too.Many of your loads are handled through brokers, and they’ve been known to stretch the truth a little too. Brokers have been known to double book a load with two different trucking companies, and the first one there gets the load. The brokers butt is covered but both the driver and the trucking company are left out in the cold. A shipper will call the trucking company and say he has 10 loads on the dock ready to go. When you get there you have to wait. You’re on you way with a “just on time” delivery and you have a flat tire and miss your appointment. The receiver is on the phone screaming at the dispatcher for his shipment and even though the delay is legitimate the dispatcher has to put up with the SOB on the other end of the line.
Are all dispatchers great to work with? Of course not, I’ve worked with some that have caused me to wait and lose income and I’ve worked with others who have made me a lot of money. You try to minimize the turkeys and built a relationship with the good ones. I can hear the cynics in the crowd saying that means kissing butt, call it what you will, but in reality it’s building a trust that means a lot easier time for you in the long run. Let’s try this analogy. You’ve heard race car drivers praise the relationship between a crew chief and a driver for a winning combination, and you know the teams who do poorly when that chemistry isn’t there.
Here’s another point to consider, if you think you and your dispatcher(s) don’t get along, the problem might be found if you look in a mirror.
Years ago I used to do some orientation and my last bit of advice was to walk our new hires to the office where the dispatchers were located and said, “these people are dispatchers, their nickname is ‘god’, they will make you or break you”. “If you make your pickups and deliveries on time, cause no claims or damage, they will start moving your name up the list to where the good trips are”. “If on the other hand you give them a rough time, they will put your name at the bottom of their list, give you the worst trips they can find and hope you quit”.
It’s a simple concept, but that’s the way it works in real life. The driver and dispatcher work as a team. Once a dispatcher feels comfortable with a driver and knows he can depend on you, you’ll be pre-planned on trips and your life will be a whole lot easier. Instead of you having to wait after delivery for the next load to come open, which will result in wasted time for you and the company, you’ll be on your way and putting money in your pocket as the miles click away.
Don’t forget, if you think your dispatcher(s) are giving you a hard time, do you give your dispatchers a hard way to go too? Refusing a load or making pickups and deliveries between partying or playing video games in the truck stops doesn’t make life easier for dispatchers either. They also get misinformation and grief from shippers and receivers too.Many of your loads are handled through brokers, and they’ve been known to stretch the truth a little too. Brokers have been known to double book a load with two different trucking companies, and the first one there gets the load. The brokers butt is covered but both the driver and the trucking company are left out in the cold. A shipper will call the trucking company and say he has 10 loads on the dock ready to go. When you get there you have to wait. You’re on you way with a “just on time” delivery and you have a flat tire and miss your appointment. The receiver is on the phone screaming at the dispatcher for his shipment and even though the delay is legitimate the dispatcher has to put up with the SOB on the other end of the line.
Are all dispatchers great to work with? Of course not, I’ve worked with some that have caused me to wait and lose income and I’ve worked with others who have made me a lot of money. You try to minimize the turkeys and built a relationship with the good ones. I can hear the cynics in the crowd saying that means kissing butt, call it what you will, but in reality it’s building a trust that means a lot easier time for you in the long run. Let’s try this analogy. You’ve heard race car drivers praise the relationship between a crew chief and a driver for a winning combination, and you know the teams who do poorly when that chemistry isn’t there.
Here’s another point to consider, if you think you and your dispatcher(s) don’t get along, the problem might be found if you look in a mirror.
Monday, April 9, 2007
Who Represents Truck Drivers Part 2
I'm creating this as a new blog post rather than just a reply to the comment below to a previous post on the same subject.
My previous blog post does not endorse the Teamsters or any other Union or their policies. It's merely that this is an organization that has the capabilities and resources to create a voice that has some teeth behind it. So many times in the past well meaning individuals and small groups have tried to create an effective voice to represent CDL Drivers, but have failed as they don't have the ability, resources, organization or funding to recruit membership to form a strong lobby.
I think you'll agree that an idea is worth nothing unless acted upon.
Sure you or I could put out a strong appeal for some sort of collective voice, but remember in this country we have the best political and judicial system that money can buy. The ATA representing the companies has a strong voice and political clout as they have the resources and connections to be heard. OOIDA has a good membership but sadly lack the resources to effect political change. So we're back to square one. We all know what needs to change, but being a very individualistic group of people, not willing to give up that freedom we cling to, it makes it hard to cede any control to a single authority to represent us.
Now having said that, I feel there are only three possible solutions.
1. Teamsters need to get back to their core purpose and represent the truck drivers. It seems anymore they are more interested in hamburger flippers and cleaning ladies. But there are negatives, because of their past reputation and image.
2. OOIDA needs to put on a massive recruiting campaign to bring others into their organization other than owners and operators. They've created an image that they are only interested in OO's. I don't think that's true, but remember perception is reality if uncorrected.
3. We create an organization where every CDL driver pays, say a membership of $10.00 per year which would build a war chest of about $30 million dollars a year to hire lobbyists and contribute to the campaigns of effective politicians at the State and Federal level to understand our concerns. Sounds good, but who's going to get it off the ground?
Of the 3, the only one that I think could have any impact would be a concerted effort by OOIDA to build it's base, become more political and stop the runaway infringements on the people who actually make the transportation industry thrive, the drivers who do the work.
OOIDA probably could care less about my suggestions but here they are anyway.
1.Create a database of every CDL license in the US.
2.Do a massive mailing to all on the list outlining their membership and political goals that benefit truck drivers.
3.Set up recruiting booths at every truck stop in the country.
4.Contests for membership to bring in new members. Top prize a new truck, cruises, trips, etc...
5.Ads in every trucking magazine.
6.Engage the services of the most powerful lobbying groups at the Federal and State level.
7.TV ads telling the story that without trucks America wold come to a complete standstill. I have some great storyboard ideas on this.
8.This goes along with number 7. More face time on TV and talk shows. This is where impressions are made and opinions are formed. Truck drivers have a bad image and anytime there is a negative about the trucking industry it's all over the news. Where are the stories about the good drivers, the ones who make a positive difference in peoples lives?
I'll step off the soap box and let some others have a go at it.
Enjoy the day
Flat Tire
My previous blog post does not endorse the Teamsters or any other Union or their policies. It's merely that this is an organization that has the capabilities and resources to create a voice that has some teeth behind it. So many times in the past well meaning individuals and small groups have tried to create an effective voice to represent CDL Drivers, but have failed as they don't have the ability, resources, organization or funding to recruit membership to form a strong lobby.
I think you'll agree that an idea is worth nothing unless acted upon.
Sure you or I could put out a strong appeal for some sort of collective voice, but remember in this country we have the best political and judicial system that money can buy. The ATA representing the companies has a strong voice and political clout as they have the resources and connections to be heard. OOIDA has a good membership but sadly lack the resources to effect political change. So we're back to square one. We all know what needs to change, but being a very individualistic group of people, not willing to give up that freedom we cling to, it makes it hard to cede any control to a single authority to represent us.
Now having said that, I feel there are only three possible solutions.
1. Teamsters need to get back to their core purpose and represent the truck drivers. It seems anymore they are more interested in hamburger flippers and cleaning ladies. But there are negatives, because of their past reputation and image.
2. OOIDA needs to put on a massive recruiting campaign to bring others into their organization other than owners and operators. They've created an image that they are only interested in OO's. I don't think that's true, but remember perception is reality if uncorrected.
3. We create an organization where every CDL driver pays, say a membership of $10.00 per year which would build a war chest of about $30 million dollars a year to hire lobbyists and contribute to the campaigns of effective politicians at the State and Federal level to understand our concerns. Sounds good, but who's going to get it off the ground?
Of the 3, the only one that I think could have any impact would be a concerted effort by OOIDA to build it's base, become more political and stop the runaway infringements on the people who actually make the transportation industry thrive, the drivers who do the work.
OOIDA probably could care less about my suggestions but here they are anyway.
1.Create a database of every CDL license in the US.
2.Do a massive mailing to all on the list outlining their membership and political goals that benefit truck drivers.
3.Set up recruiting booths at every truck stop in the country.
4.Contests for membership to bring in new members. Top prize a new truck, cruises, trips, etc...
5.Ads in every trucking magazine.
6.Engage the services of the most powerful lobbying groups at the Federal and State level.
7.TV ads telling the story that without trucks America wold come to a complete standstill. I have some great storyboard ideas on this.
8.This goes along with number 7. More face time on TV and talk shows. This is where impressions are made and opinions are formed. Truck drivers have a bad image and anytime there is a negative about the trucking industry it's all over the news. Where are the stories about the good drivers, the ones who make a positive difference in peoples lives?
I'll step off the soap box and let some others have a go at it.
Enjoy the day
Flat Tire
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Interesting Web Site
A new website, similar to myspace has developed strictly for truckers.
Take a look and share.
www.myehandle.com
Take a look and share.
www.myehandle.com
4 Wheelers
I think the biggest problems we have with 4 wheelers is they just don’t understand how to interact with an 18 wheeler.
Let me draw an analogy. I am a licensed pilot. I just fly the little ones, but my point is I can safely fly in the same air space with Capt. Big Iron. Why? I’ve been trained to understand what my capabilities are and what theirs are too. I’ve been in the same landing pattern as a big jet at a major airport and we both knew what each was doing.
So here’s my point. How many driver ed students are ever given instructions on how to share the highways with 80,000 pounds of moving mass? Wouldn’t it be great if new drivers, and a lot of older ones too, knew how to tell if a truck is loaded or empty and how to adjust your passing accordingly? How many realize how dangerous it is to pass on the right side? I’ll bet very few people know that the “on ramp” to an interstate is really an acceleration ramp. This is where you get up to speed and blend in with the traffic. I don’t know how many times I’ve been frustrated when I’m doing my best to get on the road when I see some 4 wheeler almost come to a stop, look around, and if the driving lane is free for a mile down the road, timidly enter the freeway. This is especially terrifying when you’re doing a 270 degree turn to get on the interstate.
Probably the most dangerous of all is, when in heavy traffic, you try to leave a space between you and the vehicle in front in order to stop safely, then a 4 wheeler will dive into that space and slam on the brakes. I wonder if they would do the same in front of a freight train at a crossing? I’m sure the train would win and possibly there would be one less idiot in the gene pool. The problem with jumping in front of an 18 wheeler and a collision results because the truck can’t stop in time, is that the trucker is going to be charged for following too close. It’s a lose lose situation.
If I’m on a trip in my car I look for an empty 18 wheeler that is staying near the speed limit and pace the trucker at a reasonable distance. He has better eyes on the road ahead than I do and if he slows down I know there is a reason for it and adjust accordingly and frankly I feel much safer than I do around impatient drivers, the $50,000 pick up trucks and SUV’s who think they own the passing lane and those on their cel phones.
Enjoy the day
Flat Tire
Let me draw an analogy. I am a licensed pilot. I just fly the little ones, but my point is I can safely fly in the same air space with Capt. Big Iron. Why? I’ve been trained to understand what my capabilities are and what theirs are too. I’ve been in the same landing pattern as a big jet at a major airport and we both knew what each was doing.
So here’s my point. How many driver ed students are ever given instructions on how to share the highways with 80,000 pounds of moving mass? Wouldn’t it be great if new drivers, and a lot of older ones too, knew how to tell if a truck is loaded or empty and how to adjust your passing accordingly? How many realize how dangerous it is to pass on the right side? I’ll bet very few people know that the “on ramp” to an interstate is really an acceleration ramp. This is where you get up to speed and blend in with the traffic. I don’t know how many times I’ve been frustrated when I’m doing my best to get on the road when I see some 4 wheeler almost come to a stop, look around, and if the driving lane is free for a mile down the road, timidly enter the freeway. This is especially terrifying when you’re doing a 270 degree turn to get on the interstate.
Probably the most dangerous of all is, when in heavy traffic, you try to leave a space between you and the vehicle in front in order to stop safely, then a 4 wheeler will dive into that space and slam on the brakes. I wonder if they would do the same in front of a freight train at a crossing? I’m sure the train would win and possibly there would be one less idiot in the gene pool. The problem with jumping in front of an 18 wheeler and a collision results because the truck can’t stop in time, is that the trucker is going to be charged for following too close. It’s a lose lose situation.
If I’m on a trip in my car I look for an empty 18 wheeler that is staying near the speed limit and pace the trucker at a reasonable distance. He has better eyes on the road ahead than I do and if he slows down I know there is a reason for it and adjust accordingly and frankly I feel much safer than I do around impatient drivers, the $50,000 pick up trucks and SUV’s who think they own the passing lane and those on their cel phones.
Enjoy the day
Flat Tire
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I have read your article which I find very interesting but the thing about who represents truck drivers is the same the world over,
Only the truck drivers can represent themselves, and I'm not talking unions here, to me unions are a wast of time and money,
Drivers need to organize themselves into a CDL Drivers co-operative and have their own representation nothing more nothing less.
That is the only way your voice will be heard.