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Quote of the Day
Tough times call for tough quotes, including these timeless classics:
“Tough times never last, but tough people do.”
-- Robert H. Schuller, American televangelist, pastor and author
“The only thing that overcomes hard luck is hard work.”
-- Harry Golden, American journalist and newspaper publisher
“Never, never, never, never ever give up!”
-- Winston Churchill, British prime minister during WWII
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Drivers Sound Off
Many over-the-road drivers always seem to be looking for greener pastures just around the next corner. They leave one company for another for all kinds of reasons, big and small, but miles and money almost always play a role. Since dispatchers serve as drivers' primary contact with the carrier -- and since dispatchers appear to hold the keys to the miles and the money all drivers are after - is there any more important relationship in terms of driver retention than that between a driver and his or her dispatcher?
With that in mind, Driver HEALTH and Over the Road magazines asked drivers the following question:
What makes a good dispatcher?
Here are some of the responses:
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James Pate, 56, Utica, KY
Professional driving experience: 22 years
“I think they have a tough job, and they do what they have to do. I think lying is part of trucking, and it’s something you have to accept. Dispatchers realize that; lying is part of their job description. I don’t think they’re bad people. In fact, I’ve liked many of my dispatchers, but then, I enjoy being lied to.”
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James Gibson, 52, Louisville, KY
Professional driving experience: 3 years
“You’ve got some good dispatchers and you’ve got some bad ones. The good ones really care about their drivers. The bad ones just sit in front of their computer screens. If you have a question, they might answer you, they might not, whatever. The good ones will help you out. If you get lost, they’ll call the customer, do all the legwork for you and get right back to you with the right directions.” |
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Derek Kroninger, 31, Shepherdsville, KY
Professional driving experience: 11 years
“Communication. In my years of driving over-the-road, my biggest problem with dispatch is that everything is a secret. Dispatchers don’t want to tell you what they’re doing and they don’t want to tell you where you’re going because you may not want to do that, and that could screw up their plans. But if you communicate with them and build a good relationship with them, everything should be good. Don’t lie to your dispatcher. If you have a problem, talk to them about it. Don’t pick a fight. They’re out to do a job. You’re out to do a job and make money. Everyone has their role.” |
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Terry Dolly Sr., 49, Petersburg, WV
Professional driving experience; 24 years
“A good dispatcher is someone who’s been out here and knows what it’s like; someone who’s been a driver. I’ve had some dispatchers who look at a map and think the trip is about two inches long. They think you should get there in a few hours when actually it’s an eight-hour drive.” |
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Ken Sargent, 55, Owensboro, KY
Professional driving experience: 33 years
“Try putting yourself in their position. On one hand, they have all these demanding customers and on the other hand, they’re dealing with some drivers who shouldn’t even be on the road. I don’t think they want to lie to you, but they will tell you a great big one if they have to. I’m not sure ex-drivers make good dispatchers, though. At some companies, if they have a driver who’s been involved in several wrecks, they make him the safety director. If they have a driver who is always messing up loads and getting lost, they make him the dispatcher.” |
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