If you get along well with your dispatcher and he or she has done everything in their power to get you freight but nothing is working, they won't mind you taking the initiative to get some freight. You're not doing your dispatcher any harm. You're just doing whatever you can think of to do to help yourself.

When you do get in touch with the boss, make it clear that you're not calling to complain about your dispatcher. It seems to you that dispatch is doing all they can to help you but nobody is listening to them so you're just looking for a little bit more help. I've done this a million times and it usually works really well. Again, you just have to know who to call when you need something. If somebody doesn't have the authority to make something happen you have to find out who does and talk to them.

Getting a little help from the bosses will also help them get to know you better. Take a few minutes to talk to them about how things are going for you and put in a good word for your dispatcher if you feel he or she is doing a good job. Normally the bosses hear more complaints than anything else so putting in a good word and showing your appreciation for the help they're giving you can really go a long ways. You don't have to be a kissy-ass, just be positive.

If you really want someone to help you out with something, the most powerful force that will work in your favor won't be fear, threats, or demanding some sort of special treatment you probably haven't earned anyhow. The best chance you'll have of getting good results from somebody is if they WANT to help you. If they like you and they're pleased with the job you're doing, they will want to do what they can for you.

Screaming and yelling, threatening, and other types of crazy behavior will usually work against you, not for you. Think about it....would you rather help one of your friends with something or some arrogant jerk you can't stand the sight of? Exactly. Keep that in mind. When freight gets slow and it comes down to the harsh reality that some drivers are going to be making money today and some are going to be sitting around with nothing to do, you have to stay ahead of the game if you want to keep rolling. Keep pushing your dispatcher to keep you moving. Don't be too overbearing, but make it clear that you really want the miles. You'll be amazed at how many lazy drivers there are. Some don't really care to run that hard, some do. Keep on top of things and most of all just do an awesome job and you'll find that most of the time you'll be well taken care of.

We've done a good job of covering a lot of the issues you will be facing in the day to day operations within your own company. Now let's take a look at some of the issues you will be facing when handling the customers you will be serving.