Late Dispatches

Is it common for loads to be dispatched as late as possible so companies don't have to pay detention? Or are we just THAT BAD at this? At 15:42 we were given a load thirty miles away with a pick up time of 17:30. That's easily done, right? Ok, next instruction is obtain loadlocks and have the trailer clean and odor free. Next message, fuel stop in same city we are about to leave to go p/u load. Really? You guys all manage to do this every load and be on time, nevermind early? Maybe it would be easier if we could have loadlocks onboard, but no, we have to be under dispatch with a load that requires them! Also, our trainer said we had to be instructed to have a trailer washout; we cannot just have it done and ready for the next load. This is super frustrating for us because we sit and sit and sit because we are late for p/u and shippers put us at the end of the line. And we don't get detention pay. Our paychecks aren't enough to survive on together. We don't dilly dally or waste time. Once we know where we're going, we GO! Where are we going wrong?

Ok so a few things.

First of all, if you're not sure whether or not you can make a pickup or delivery on time you should call the customer immediately to find out if it's truly a strict appointment time or if it's first come/first serve. If you know you're going to be a little late, ask them if it's a problem. It might not matter. Whatever the situation and whatever you find out from the customer, send a message on Qualcomm to your dispatcher immediately and let them know everything. Always keep dispatch informed.

Most drivers have load locks on them all the time. Most companies supply them. Sometimes you'll lose a set if you have to use them and then drop that trailer but it's obviously good to get a new set from your company as quickly as possible if that happens. I'm not sure what happened to your load locks but try to make sure you always have a set on you. Some drivers will even buy their own but that's normally not necessary.

Next message, fuel stop in same city we are about to leave to go p/u load

That's no biggie. Fueling only takes a few minutes. In the future, if you're low on fuel you can normally request a fuel stop. Also, if you're real tight on time and don't have time to fuel you can request a different fuel stop from dispatch for after the appointment.

Also, our trainer said we had to be instructed to have a trailer washout; we cannot just have it done and ready for the next load.

That's a normal company policy. When you call the customer ask them their policy on clean trailers. You might not need a washout. It may just need to be swept, depending on the condition of the trailer. You can sweep them out right at the customer most of the time.

It's hard to say how much of this you'll be able to avoid in the future and how much of this is the fault of dispatch for giving you so little time. It's normal to be on tight schedules so you'll learn to be prepared to avoid hangups like these as much as possible.

Just try to relax and do what you can do. You'll get better at managing your time and resources and you'll also learn what to expect from dispatch. Like I said, it's hard for me to say how much of this you could have avoided, if any, and how much is simply dispatch's fault for getting the information to you at the last minute. I would speak with dispatch about it and ask them what the situation was. They may have just gotten that load a few minutes before sending it to you. Then again your dispatcher might have been late sending the information. But be extremely careful about accusing anyone of anything. The offices at these trucking companies are incredibly busy and complex. By the time the load information gets to you it's probably passed through 10 or 20 different people along the way. So don't make assumptions or accusations. Simply let dispatch know you'd like to get that load information with more time to spare, and possibly get pre-planned on loads once in a while.

Thank you, Brett. We have a new truck we picked up at freightliner. It didn't come with loadlocks and we were refused at the SLC terminal when we asked for them at the guard shack. He was the one who told us we couldn't get them unless we had a load dispatched that req'd them. As for fuel, we simply bypassed that knowing we had plenty to get to TN. Calling the customer is a great idea, and I will be certain to do that in these situations from now on. I was under the impression that our DM was "God" and we had to do everything through him or After Hours. In the past two weeks, among five incredibly tight p/u's, were two loads that were already past their appt times when we got them, and one was that load that had to go cross country in 44 hours that I posted about previously that C.M. responded to. It's just getting increasingly frustrating because we don't receive detention pay if we are late to an appt. Understandable if we are at fault, but I just feel like they are expecting us to accomplish the impossible, ya know?

I'm not usually one to lose my cool, but unfortunately I do tend to leak at the eyes when I get really angry or frustrated. Regardless, it takes a hell of a lot for me to lay into someone or accuse anyone of anything without very strong provocation.

I did need to vent though, so thank you for listening, and I will be chatting with our DM tomorrow to find out what we can do in the future to prevent these scenarios. I don't like being late! My husband teases me...if I'm not fifteen minutes early, I'm late... I just feel that it shows disrespect and carelessness, so it stresses me considerably...especially in a work situation!!

Phoenix whenever I read this sort of thing I am so glad to be on a dedicated account. Although it has its own unique set of issues and quirks, waiting is low on my whine list.

Sometimes letting off some steam does help to get a clear head. You vented in the right place before confronting dispatch.

Good luck, I'm sure you'll work it out.

Thanks, G-Town. I don't mean to whine lol. I was more wondering if this is normal...the hurry up and wait syndrome. I'm catching the drift that it is, though there are things I'll learn to help alleviate the stress of it.. Or at least get better at time management and preparedness.

Thanks, G-Town. I don't mean to whine lol. I was more wondering if this is normal...the hurry up and wait syndrome. I'm catching the drift that it is, though there are things I'll learn to help alleviate the stress of it.. Or at least get better at time management and preparedness.

The "whine list" was mine, trying to be clever like Errol. I'll stick to being blunt...LOL.

I didn't consider your post whining. You're learning...right? Compare where you are now as opposed to 3 months ago. You're a driver now!

I'm not "clever", it's my writing style.

Phoenix, you've had a few of the common learning "bumps" or hurdles already: backing in school, your first load without anyone to help out or at least watch you, your first long dispatch. Now the hurdle is a bit more complicated. But overall it gets easier with every load.

Peace.

And Knowledge.

I'm not "clever", it's my writing style.

Phoenix, you've had a few of the common learning "bumps" or hurdles already: backing in school, your first load without anyone to help out or at least watch you, your first long dispatch. Now the hurdle is a bit more complicated. But overall it gets easier with every load.

Peace.

And Knowledge.

Meant as a compliment!

The "whine list" was mine, trying to be clever like Errol. I'll stick to being blunt...LOL.

I didn't consider your post whining. You're learning...right? Compare where you are now as opposed to 3 months ago. You're a driver now!

Right! 3months ago? Omg, what a difference!! I'm not afraid of mountains ( till winter hits, anyway lol); I don't white knuckle the steering wheel, except in NYC, and I no longer have truckers honking at me to get through a light before it turns red again!! yeah, I'm a driver lol, working on being a great driver and ' go to', as (i think) Brett put it.

*You're good, G-Town, no worries lol.*

I'm not "clever", it's my writing style.

And a clever writing style it is!

your first load without anyone to help out or at least watch you

No, I can't claim that credit, we run team, but I get it...next hurdle to overcome.