Question:
Sat out DONNER STORM, in reno nv.
Had 1/3 load of kebler crackers left on trailer, all on drives.
Wednesday, day late, drive into sacramento ca, nice day road clear.
arrive receiver, young receiver supervisor comes out. Blue in face, screaming, why are you late, storm on donner, why are you taking so long to back in, blind side and sun. They had easier docks if they wanted to go home. They were pissed about overtime.
And he gave me the ultimate trucker threat. DO YOU WANT TO GET UNLOADED TOMORROW?
ok by me, anit much difference betwwen 1800 miles week and 2000 mile week.
Let me tell you it anit worth dying on donner for soda crackers.

Answer:
I'm assuming that you let either the consignee or your dispatcher know that the load was going to be late before it became so.
With that out of the way, if faced by a screaming power-trip type, I would suggest casually pulling out the ol' cell phone and dialing a number. Could be your boss, could be your dispatcher, could be your mother-in-law. The intent is to defuse the screamer as you ignore them.
Talk for a few minutes, then hang up the phone and casually inform the screamer that your boss (or whatever) wants him to either accept the load, or sign REJECTED on the bill of lading in which case you will promptly return it to the shipper.
Hopefully you won't be called on this bluff, and the screamer will be called on his
One rule they teach negotiators (salespeople, which is where I picked it up) is that whomever is asking the questions is controlling the conversation. So, if confrontation is obvious, never answer the questions -- just counter them with questions of your own. The screamer will no longer be able to ask questions if he's answering them. Something like...
"Why are you late!!!"
"Did you know that Donnor Pass was closed yesterday?" (okay, so maybe it wasn't, but you didn't really say that it was )
"Erm, ah, no, was it?"
"Didn't some call you?"
-or-
"What door do you want me at?"
"Do you want to get unloaded tommorrow???"
"It's okay by me -- should I call the shipper and tell them why I'm here now but can't get unloaded until tommorrow??"
"Door 18," grumble, frown.
It takes practice...

Answer:
Receiver: Why are you late?
Sleepyhead: 'cause I felt like it.
Receiver: OH, you want to be unloaded tomorrow...
Sleepyhead: Yea...'cause I have a date with your wife tonight, gonna get a motel.
Receiver: blue in the face,
Gimmie' my crackers,
Sleepyhead: I got your crackers right here buddy.

Answer:


Answer:
Reciever " Why were you late?!"
Driver " cause I was giving your wife the "SCORPION" lastnight and couldn't get away"
Reciever " What the HELL is a SCORPION!!!?
Driver " SCORPION - two in the pink and one in the stink" " Now where would you like them keeblers?"

Answer:
Seriously, there is too much stress already in this industry to worry about some sorry excuse for a dock manager yelling at you for keeping the load safe. Don't make smart comments or jokes that will only get you into trouble. Just ask:
"Do you want the load or not?"
If they say yes, then ask "Which door?"
If they say no, then say you're calling the company, the load will be routed to the nearest terminal, and they can call the company and figure out when it will come back. I guarantee the argument will stop there and they will take the load.
Oh sure, they might be low-lifes and take hours and hours to get the trailer unloaded to try and get you back for being late, but who cares? The dock workers are on their clock. It will cost them more than you as you go and get some rest.
By the way, always do your job, stay safe, and keep dispatch up to date on your progress. If the load is running late, your dispatch knows and your butt is covered.

Answer:
That's easy to thwart; reverse psychology. I always say in a cheerful tone, "That's okay, take your time," as if I'm not wanting to put them under any kind of pressure. Then I let them know in an offhand way that I'm being paid by the hour.
They don't know that I'm not, and if the load is late, they may surmise that I was dragging my feet to pad my payroll - which reinforces the ruse.
They'll get you out of there. If they're mad, the last thing they want to do is allow a driver to benefit from the situation.
Oink! Oink! Oink! Grunt! Grunt!
Answer:
some of them will always be a jerk, before I started driving I worked the docks and my boss gave every driver a hard way to go no matter what,Just do what you have to do and be safe

Answer:
is that if the load was that important then they should have paid the extra for air freight. I have yet had anything placed in my trailer that is worth risking my life over or even risk having an accident for.
I will always be a mutter trucker at heart.
Answer:
"DO YOU WANT TO GET UNLOADED TOMORROW?"
I can't be here tomorrow,how about sometime next week
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The new HOS will be{{{{what you make of it}}}}
With proper time management,you will adapt and succeed in a changing enviroment.
Answer:
A few years ago, I took a load of canned tuna to a grocery whse in Harrisburg, PA. When I checked in, 30 mins before my appointment time, the dock foreman said put in any empty door and get back in here an get it unloaded, Here's your ti/hi sheet. Now since I was informed that this was a NO-TOUCH load when I accepted it, I balked for a moment and said, " Just a minute, I have to call the company to get authorization for a lumper" Dock foreman says" I don't allow lumpers in here, it's your damned job, so get on it. If you don't, get the hell off my property" Now, being a rather lazy individual that just brought this lout his tuna from So Cal in 3 days, I told him again that I don't work for free. I own the truck and MY BOSS says I don't unload unless I want to. So if you want your dead fish, get it off my trailer or sign the bills refused and I'll take it back to California. He signed the bills refused. I left the lot, pulled around the corner, parked and called the VP of Operations for the company. He blew a gasket. I was leased onto HTL, a sister co of Crete and they have a terminal in New Kingstown, PA, about 20 miles away. He told me to hang around and he'd make the guy take it. Yeah right He sent me a message that I better take it back, unload it and KEEP MY BIG MOUTH SHUT, as I was LUCKY they were going to take it. Told me he'd give me $ 50 to break it down I'm not a cheap date!!! Nope, minimum $100 and it goes up with attitude from the chump inside. Got back asked Mr. Chump (see, I was polite, I called him Mr.) which door. He said pick one, so I did. Forklift driver and I used the slip sheeter to break it down, all the while I didn't say a word to anyone, doing just as I was told When I got my signed paperwork in my hand, Iwa suddenly possessed and went looking for my buddy, the chump.
Well, needless to say, I'm not on his Christmas card list and I probably won't be invited back. Because, since I didn't like the answer I got from the VP of Ops, I called the shipper, politely asking about the deal with the consignee for un;oading. Was told no way that I should. This consignee won't let shipper include it in the rate. BUT since consignee desired my labor, she'd bill him the unloading pay, so my co. would have no problem getting my steep rates. I got $ 200. Told you I didn't like him.
Now, don't you kiddies try this while working for a company, as they frown on it. I own my truck and the VP knew I would take the load back. Besides that, the California dispatcher was told not to take ANY loads into that facility because he didn't want to bail anyone out of jail. Hey, the guy was really a JERK!!!

Answer:
A few years ago, I took a load of canned tuna to a grocery whse in Harrisburg, PA. When I checked in, 30 mins before my appointment time, the dock foreman said put in any empty door and get back in here an get it unloaded, Here's your ti/hi sheet. Now since I was informed that this was a NO-TOUCH load when I accepted it, I balked for a moment and said, " Just a minute, I have to call the company to get authorization for a lumper" Dock foreman says" I don't allow lumpers in here, it's your damned job, so get on it. If you don't, get the hell off my property" Now, being a rather lazy individual that just brought this lout his tuna from So Cal in 3 days, I told him again that I don't work for free. I own the truck and MY BOSS says I don't unload unless I want to. So if you want your dead fish, get it off my trailer or sign the bills refused and I'll take it back to California. He signed the bills refused. I left the lot, pulled around the corner, parked and called the VP of Operations for the company. He blew a gasket. I was leased onto HTL, a sister co of Crete and they have a terminal in New Kingstown, PA, about 20 miles away. He told me to hang around and he'd make the guy take it. Yeah right He sent me a message that I better take it back, unload it and KEEP MY BIG MOUTH SHUT, as I was LUCKY they were going to take it. Told me he'd give me $ 50 to break it down I'm not a cheap date!!! Nope, minimum $100 and it goes up with attitude from the chump inside. Got back asked Mr. Chump (see, I was polite, I called him Mr.) which door. He said pick one, so I did. Forklift driver and I used the slip sheeter to break it down, all the while I didn't say a word to anyone, doing just as I was told When I got my signed paperwork in my hand, I was suddenly possessed and went looking for my buddy, the chump.
Well, needless to say, I'm not on his Christmas card list and I probably won't be invited back. Because, since I didn't like the answer I got from the VP of Ops, I called the shipper, politely asking about the deal with the consignee for unloading. Was told no way that I should. This consignee won't let shipper include it in the rate. BUT since consignee desired my labor, she'd bill him the unloading pay, so my co. would have no problem getting my steep rates. I got $ 200. Told you I didn't like him. Mr. Chump damned near had a heart attack when I told him the shipper charged him $ 200 for my 15 minutes of labor. I feel bad, I didn't even give him a kiss.
Now, don't you kiddies try this while working for a company, as they frown on it. I own my truck and the VP knew I would take the load back. Besides that, the California dispatcher was told not to take ANY loads into that facility because he didn't want to bail anyone out of jail. Hey, the guy was really a JERK!!!

Answer:
"DO YOU WANT TO GET UNLOADED TOMORROW?"
I can't be here tomorrow,how about sometime next week Zigzag, good one! I'll have to remember that.
Oink! Oink! Oink! Grunt! Grunt!
Answer:
Receiver: Why are you late?
Sleepyhead: 'cause I felt like it.
Receiver: OH, you want to be unloaded tomorrow...
Sleepyhead: Yea...'cause I have a date with your wife tonight, gonna get a motel.
Receiver: blue in the face,
Gimmie' my crackers,
Sleepyhead: I got your crackers right here buddy.
I busted out laughing, and since I am home alone right now...the dog looked at me like I was crazy.
Thanks for the laugh Sleepyhead---that was ****'n funny!!!
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