Need Advice, Or Maybe A Slap Upside The Head....

It's hard for me, because I'm my own worst critic. Ask me privately and I'll tell you I feel that I'm doing ok, ask me publicly and I'll tell you that I don't know, ask those who are over me. That's just how I am. I'm never one to brag in myself, and I often downplay anything good that I do, because I don't like talking myself up, it's just not how I'm built. Humble I guess you could say..to a fault.

As far as the late loads, honestly, I can think of only 2 that have been my fault. One because I mixed up the appointment time and the other because I didn't realize I had crossed a time zone, and was about an hour behind.

Totally, I've been late about 8 or 9 times in the last year, but 7 of those were either really tight times, weather, or I was dispatched on a load that there was no way I could have gotten to it on time because I didn't get finished at my previous live unload in time.

I'm never one to downplay my mistakes. I'll face up to them every time. I don't make excuses, I don't try to pass the blame. If I'm at fault, I'll be the first to admit it.

Now, my dm says he is really happy with me, so I asked him if the planners were mad at me for something, he said they weren't. He told me that you have to REALLY mess up to get on their black list. He also told me that if they were unhappy with my performance, I would know about it.

I've talked to him about it (my dm) and he found me a good load, so maybe it's going to get better. Honestly, it could just be some of the freight lanes ate slow right now, which I understand. I'm just blowing off some steam I suppose. Just seems like I've had quite a few slow weeks lately, but I keep my chin up and look for the best, and keep driving as best I can.

It's hard for me, because I'm my own worst critic. Ask me privately and I'll tell you I feel that I'm doing ok, ask me publicly and I'll tell you that I don't know, ask those who are over me. That's just how I am. I'm never one to brag in myself, and I often downplay anything good that I do, because I don't like talking myself up, it's just not how I'm built. Humble I guess you could say..to a fault.

Sambo, I understand how frustrating it can be to feel like you are not being utilized efficiently. It is one of the things about this career that countless hours of time have been spent on trying to find the remedy for. Being a commodities business requires that it be run efficiently and maximize the best management of both equipment and people. Of course that is also the reason why we get mileage, or performance based pay. That helps to alleviate the burden of paying non productive people excessively, or in your case having to pay someone when they are not being utilized efficiently. You got some great responses, and if I were you I would focus on the communications you have with your dispatcher. Our performance record speaks volumes, but it is also important to consistently inform your dispatcher that you are capable of getting more done.

I am probably a lot like you, in that I am not real comfortable in "tooting my own horn." It seems like if we just do our job well, then the right people should notice it and take care of us. I have discovered though, that it is important to consistently remind my dispatcher that I am willing to do more, and will be happy to take whatever loads he can get for me. In our forum here, it may seem as if I speak a lot about myself at times, but if you were to meet me in person, you would discover me to be a very quiet, unassuming person, maybe even boring! I tell of my own personal conquests in trucking in here because I know how relevant to success they are, and I want others to enjoy success at this also. There are so many miserable truck drivers out here, and such rampant misinformation concerning the career, that it seems important to me to try and shine a light on the path of success. That is the very reason Brett started this web site, and the reason I stay connected here and share my experiences.

Hang in there, but have some professional conversations with your dispatcher. Go by and see them and talk with them face to face if possible. If not send them a message on the Qualcomm and tell them you would like them to call you when they get a few free minutes. In the conversation, let them know that you are willing and able to do much more than you are getting dispatched. Also, make sure you are communicating well on the Qualcomm. What I mean by that is doing things like each morning or evening send in a free form message to your dispatcher giving him an updated ETA. This may seem redundant to you - after all he already knows when your appointments are. Here is what that does: It puts you back at the top of his mind, it reminds him of something he may not even be thinking of, and that is you and what he needs to do with you next.

Continued...

Communications are a big part of being able to keep yourself moving. You simply cannot expect your dispatcher to have you on the top of his mind all the time, he has got a whole bag full of troubles going on all the time with the amount of drivers he is managing. You have got to do little things that keep him thinking about you. My dispatcher told me this very week that this is one of the things that he really likes about me. He likes the way I keep reminding him of when I am going to be ready for my next load.

True story here of what prompted him to say that...

On my back haul load from Connecticut to Louisiana I sent him a message asking him to call me when he got a few free minutes. About fifteen minutes he called me and I just flat out asked him if he would send me right back up to Connecticut when I got back. Due to the nature of this dedicated account, I have pretty much figured out when certain loads are going out. He hadn't expected me to be back in time because I was having to stop in at a terminal for some service on my truck, and he just happened to be working on figuring out who to put on that load. He told me that he had four drivers he was contemplating on, but that he would much rather give it to me if I thought I could get it done on time. "Not a problem," I said, and boom, the load was mine! This communication was three days before the load would even get loaded on a trailer, but it was the communication that put it in my plate. He knows that I will handle it and make sure it is done right, but what he wasn't aware of, until I took the initiative, was that I would be available for it. Communicating your times of availability are extremely important in keeping yourself moving, but it is not a "one and done" type of communication. Keep letting them know, they will never tire of hearing when you are going to be available. They are managing a lot of drivers, and the ones that keep stoking the fire are the ones who get the best loads.

Brett is right about all that stuff you hear from the guys who claim they are getting exactly what they want by making demands about how and when they want to run. It's all lies. Every dispatcher I have gotten to know cannot stand those types and they will eventually get rid of them or hand them off to a new dispatcher who is trying to learn the ropes.

Consistent, professional communications will do wonders for your bottom line!