How to Handle Forced Dispatch

[@TNG64]

Nice job! Just said no to a load tonight because of lack of sleep and felt guilty. Then came to bed and saw this video. Perfect timing

[@lazarus8447]

So true, I use to take all the loads they tossed at me thinking I had to do it. Finally started saying hell no. My safety and the safety of other drivers on the road were endangered because I have been exhausted.

[@carl6956]

Delivered a load of boxed beef from Dallas to Hunts Point back in 77, got there around 3:30am for an 5am appointment,didn't get a dock until 8:15am,got unloaded around after 10. Ok so from 10:30am until 6pm I was in the truck almost all day slept until i couldn't sleep anymore,7:00pm dispatcher says he has a load for me to p/u have to drive 50 miles to get then drive to Chicago for an next morning delivery, told him i couldn't do it,he tells me i had got rest all day,I says no I didn't and at some point the load isn't going to be there on time(we went back and forth on the phone for what seemed the longest time),dispatcher tells me to take the truck to the Atlanta terminal,when i got there was told to clean out the truck that i was fired,rode the bus back to Cleveland,Oh (home) next morning on a Friday i get a call from the VP of safety to ask why I'm at home so after i told him the story he tells me to call him back in 30 mins, when i called him back he tells me he has a plane ticket back to Omaha,NE for me,once there I was put up at the company motel,got a $150 comcheck,Monday morning sitting in the VP's office,as it turned out the dispatcher,the account manager,and the dispatch supervisor all were fired, I get a brand new truck,a new fleet manager,and a dedicated run from Chicago to the drop yard out side of Cleveland,this was before the CDL system,point being no one can force you the driver to do anything you don't want to or feel unsafe doing unless you let them do it.

[@SmartTrucking]

Man, that's a good story! Flew you to Omaha? Are we talking about Werner here? Hope so, let me know! Thanks for writing in Carl. Dave

[@GRADE8BOLT]

Carl Werner Enterprises

[@GRADE8BOLT]

West side of Omaha. ....we're the sap Bros truck stop is lol

[@jmorey64]

Sounds like Hill Bros! 😂😂😂

[@tonyfurneaux7670]

Hi Carl, this is Tony Furneaux I just posted a reply above, I know as a foreign driver my rights are of course way down on the local guys,,,but if in my position with a mortgage and family to support in a new land, if I had left that company at that time, I would have been kicked out of Canada, as some of my buddies were. Trucking is a brutal way of life here. Also I had sold my house in England to move here, and could not afford to move back. Welcome to Canada.

[@TwistedDarknessRising]

that one dislike must be a dispatcher

[@apollo4657]

This is a serious problem with a lot of daily regional trucking companies. Drivers are forced to run illegal loads all the time. This is awesome. Thanks

[@Arklay_Ishimura]

The mega carriers must hate you by now, Dave. God Bless you, Sir.

[@SmartTrucking]

They probably do but if they'd just tell their drivers the truth, I wouldn't have to!

[@Arklay_Ishimura]

@@SmartTrucking Ain't your fault, Sir. YOU have integrity. They don't. x)

[@ericvondumb2838]

Loved my job, hated the industry.

[@21350ctw]

My husbands dispatcher at swift tried to get him to go to NEW YORK during his first 3 months as a solo driver. He refused and the dispatcher tried to put him on suspension. My husband cussed him out and I 100% support him for standing up for himself. Im so sad how mistreated and disrespected truckers are. They actually risk their lives everyday

[@Ayurato]

Very helpful information! I recently was with a company that I had to leave for my own safety and the safety of your families out on the road. From day 1 I was issued a mini-sleeper / truck that had no heat as well, I expressed my need for a truck in late winter with a heater, and they said "We will have you routed to a terminal ASAP, may take a week, possibly 2. We dont know why you were issued that truck in the 1st place its in the database as recycled and not supposed to be issued." Well 2 months had passed, 2-4hrs a sleep a night from freezing at nights, started to feel very unsafe catching myself dozing off 2 to 3x a day during last week. Then as I was near my 70, 4hrs away, I was asked to grab a JIT load to run it 840miles and they would tell me at some point where to swap the trailer. I had emphasized my concerns over and over to dispatch, "Im too TIRED, please dont do this to me"! I was set on it anyhow....So I sat and sent in 5 Qualcom messages, Please take me off this, I have 4hrs left on my 70 and you want me to run a JIT load 840miles, its not going to happen"! What it boiled down to was, I was feeling so unsafe and being asked to run over hrs time and again, so I made a decision for my life, my license, your families, to leave.

[@SmartTrucking]

Wise decision Isamu. Nobody should work for an outfit like that. That's criminal to treat people that way. Dave

[@Hardcorediver44]

As soon as you turn down loads you get on the poop list. Especially at a terminal in a right to work state.

[@theshocker4626]

Hardcorediver44 union propaganda

[@alsask2010]

The easy fix for many of these problems is for company drivers to get paid hourly instead of for miles or percentage. tarping/securing is underpaid and many people especially new people get screwed by making multiple picks in the city for no pay until they hit the highway and make miles.

[@SmartTrucking]

Yup, couldn't agree more Dave

[@XGiveMeLibertyX]

Eventually it will be hourly And we will all be making minimum wage!

[@NikoBellaKhouf]

alsask2010 We tried that already. Lazy ass truckers ruined it for the few honest truckers out there.

[@texasgonzo67]

XGiveMeLibertyX finally, a RAISE!!!

[@joshjesch6000]

Thank you so much for what you do for us Truckers. You have taught me more ways of handling different situations than I can put into words. You have helped save me money and help save me against fighting wrongful actions from dispatchers and trucking companies. Thank you for all that you do and I hope you keep up the good work. I am very glad I subscribed to your channel I love all your videos new and old

[@SmartTrucking]

Thank you for saying so Josh, appreciate it!

[@billwhitfield7437]

This info is exponentially important. Thanks for spreading the good word.

[@yhwhswarrior6086]

What I've seen is that dispatch calls you so they don't leave a trail.

[@SmartTrucking]

That's right!

[@mikegallegos7]

I simply refuse the load and announce that by email to everyone in the company. I've never been fired but I sat in Ontario TA for 5 days once. I visited my sister and her family, caught up on the family, did laundry, and got rested and refreshed. I reported the company and had emails to back it up.

[@AFAMKA]

Drivers CDL license and safety is more important than truck load and more important than any company working for. If you forced to do anything seems wrong, then just send complaint to FMCSA.

[@2009korz]

WELL SAID!!!!!!! Iwas with a few companies that had Forced Dispatch. This was before The Cohersion Law went into effect. I would tell my Dispatch and Terminal Manager that I dont feel safe and I dont have the hours to complete in the assigned appointment window and they docked my pay and shut me down for 3-5 days. One time I was ORDERED to take a load that I didn't have proper endorsements and my dispatcher was argueing with the shipping manager when she said to him that I was NOT authourized to take the load and my dispatcher and terminal manager penalized me. I quit that company when I already got Pre-Rehired at who I am with now

[@SmartTrucking]

Good move! Dave

[@2009korz]

@@SmartTrucking Thx

[@wtx122e]

you just say no and ignore them

[@D35611]

This is definitely a step in the right direction, for safe operation! I usually always keep moving, and work for a great company that respects me when I turn down a load, but I am glad to hear the government is watching these issues, and listening to what drivers have to say!

[@billarroo1]

I was a Drive a Way driver, delivering heavy equipment, in the 90's, I just came back from Las Vegas at 8:00am, to Los Angeles after delivering a new Peterbuilt customized 379, big eng, 18spd. I turned in my paperwork and was heading out the door to get some sleep after being up all day and night, my dispatcher said, where are u going, I said I'm tired , I'm going home, he said, there's no one else to deliver today, "if u leave keep going", I should have told him "shuve it", but I stayed, my next trip was in an old dump truck with a 5&4 twinn stick, from Long Beach, Ca. To Bakersfield, Ca. I was on I -5 in 5mph traffic at 11:00am in the hot sun in the summer about 100 degrees, and No a/c. I fell asleep just for about 2 seconds, enough time to hit the van in front of me at about 3mph. But that dump truck did a lot of damage to the van, nobody hurt, after that, nobody will ever tell me keep going , when I need sleep. I learned the hard way, but now there's laws to stop this.

[@Day-Cab]

Working on the courage to tell dispatch No on certain pickups. Example - One place in Datyon Ohio where the front tractor tires were in somebodys yard when backing up. It was the only way to get backed in. (Narrow street & a older factory)

[@SmartTrucking]

Yup, old docks meant for 40 foot trailers suck! Dave

[@rohintonirani9737]

Thanks for The Video,and maybe I Lucked Out ? Because EVERY PLACE I have Been I TELL The Company BEFORE They HIRE Me : NO NEW YORK CITY ! : PERIOD ! And that INCLUDES : ALL 5 BURROUGHS ! and Long Island ! Otherwise I LOVE The Travel part of it. And as Far as The Other Examples you said about Hours ? and TRYING to COERCE a Driver ! I Just TELL a Company what My Trainer Told me 16 Years ago ? : You WANT This LOAD ? : COME GET IT ! End of STORY ! : Keep on Truckin'......

[@halkael2317]

Technically, driving tired is also driving impaired... A true professional will never cross that line! Stop, have a 30min nap before driving that last 2hrs. It can save lives!!

[@Alyse1978]

That's why they always call you on the phone to tell you to take if you refuse. Either record the convo or don't answer your and message them anything the want tell they came do it over the quam

[@ericmelo9731]

Not hard to turn down forced dispatch just tell them to pound salt. I have a clean record I can go anywhere I don't let donkey's walk on me

[@Hardcorediver44]

I did LTL and ran a day cab locally. So often they tried to send you out for another run and you had to hustle to make it in without going over hours.

[@SuperBigblue19]

My last company had non- forced loads. They will shop the crappy loads and tell you there is no other freight. But I soon learned that if you turned down the loads that had more dock time then miles, a half hr later you would get a decent load. If your a " team player " getting payed a piece rate you will get screwed on income. I will say that I did a lot of locals and short runs when they were willing to loosen the purse strings. Which they will do if they have no one else to cover the load.

[@beegood9395]

Great video again Dave. Love it. Truth is the best. Keep up the good work Dave.

[@larcm3]

this is a veey important topic I'm sure all truckers face. Please make more videos on this subject

[@SmartTrucking]

I think so too! I will be doing more on this. Dave

[@Kman.]

I've not seen the "Biggest Lies Dispatchers" tell you video, but one of the lies ties into this video which is them telling you some BS like, "Well, that load is all we've got and if you don't take it, I don't have anything else..." Dispatchers hold out...play favorites, and retaliate, and are very often moody and put emotion in their duty.

[@CrucesNomad1]

Two points here that really happened to me. Had a fork lift operator who did not know how to load a trailer. The shipper cussed me and told me get back in the truck. Owner told me to haul it. Truck laid over two blocks from shipper. Wont go into why just know never made it out of fourth gear. Moving on to my last load I hauled. I woke up in extreme pain from a dock injury unloading a truck. No touch freight my ass. Anywhose, I was told I would be dac'd out if I didnt take the load instead of going to a hospital. I did have the load routed to the company in Denver but not getting timely care put me out of work permanently. Not to mention I live in pain 24/7 and cant take pain meds. I sure hope more drivers become =aware of this and take screen shots of those onboard conversations. Good luck out there and remember if your not driving your not making money. But there are some places you should not go unless your experienced enough to be driving there.

[@AZgule2010]

the beauty of being an owner operator. sucks for company drivers

[@dwessels100]

THANK YOU. YOU ARE A GOOD HUMAN BEING.GOD BLESS U.

[@trucker4trumpamerica172]

I work with force dispatch evry day and I hate.. It make me feel angry and bad.. I really don't know what to do because I need the job...

[@SmartTrucking]

Nothing else around you that would work? I found forced dispatch treated a driver like property rather than like a person. Apparently they don't realize slavery gas been abolished. Dave

[@shawn5773-q4z]

Build your skillset as an operator; have options; never stop looking for another gig. Companies are counting on the fact that you "need" the job to coerce you. Get your finances straight; live minimalist; that way you are not working simply to manage your debt.

[@kalvinlabuik3366]

Really Favel forced me to haul to RedDeer when my 60 Detroit blew a trubo I was on the phone asking them to send a truck up to take the load they refused

[@MrJeff524]

hey Dave. thank you for speaking up and educating even me , a 30 yr vet. Ive been saying and thinking this stuff for yrs. Here is my current issue in Ont. yes ,its the mto scales. You and i both know that its 90% a money grab for the gov. But in the same breath i will also admit with the shortage of "good drivers" on the road ,they do play an important roll in truck safety.. with that said, ive had dot's where they axaggerate and out right falsify there findings. When is the govnment going to stop this practice and train these newbys to have a kernel of respect for the driver if something is either minisqual or a borderline defect. we are at the point now at sarnia scale for eg that if a defect is coming .say brake pad wear, they will now give you a ticket in advance of the actual pad being too worn. without giving you a chance to get it fixed upon return to your shop.. Is this not taking it too far? Also what are my rights at the scale? Can i take my video camera and film the inspection? They are always telling me to get back in my truck.. These are 20 something kids who have been given sweeping powers to end my career with the stroke of a pen. So then what happens? Our government elects to import more and more people from 3rd world countries, put them in a 160,000lb torpedo and send them down the road and where are we then ? back to square 1. More acidents ,more deaths, lesser pay for good drivers ,and we still are looked down upon by the general public as knuckle dragging neanderthals, who have a get out of my way attitude or ill run you over. and yes a bad dispatcher will be the one who tells them to get it there yesterday so there boss looks good to a shipper that will use some other company next time as long as he can do it cheaper.. Not to mention the companies bean counters if not the boss himself, skims more money off your pay then was agreed upon, upon giving you the dispatch,, ahh the joys of trucking.. thanks for speaking up

[@SmartTrucking]

Yes, the MTO is revenue rather than safety based. Sadly trucking in Ontario has always been an underpaid and unappreciated job. That's why I always preferred trucking in the U.S. I don't expect Ontario or the rest of Canada will ever recognize trucking for the profession it really is. All you can do is try to rise above the crap and maintain your professionalism. A few shippers, receivers and other drivers still recognize a pro when they see one. Dave

[@rogerhayhutst5248]

K&b is like this I had the flu they know I was sick even told them they sent another driver and a cop or affiliated to my truck one to get my load that wasn't due until the next day the cop said you are sick go back to bed . Made the other driver leave cause cop won't let me drive cause I was sick and unsafe to drive .

[@mattb.4411]

I've been trucking for almost a year now and I got really lucky getting in with a company that has a great dispatch team. They truly give a damn and always keep my and all the other company drivers safety as their number one priority. I still keep in contact with quite of few dudes I attended truck driving school with and unfortunately some of them didn't get so lucky with their first right out of school carrier.

[@scott22v]

There are apps you can download to record all your calls

[@pointnIaugh]

As a company driver it would be dumb to turn down a load. Why would you be away from home not making money? I understand it from an owner operator point of view but company guy should take the good with the bad. You can shut down if you get tired with no consq

[@mikeziegler7008]

Do you consider a dispatch to be "forced" if the load can be delivered safely and legally? I ask this question because, as a long time driver, and now in my current role as a driver/dispatcher, I find it to be unrealistic to have a customer request a truck for a service that we are capable of fulfilling... yet I can't agree to the haul without calling around to the drivers and asking if they are willing to go. I never force anything. However, if a driver doesn't have a good reason for refusal, (dr. appt., family emergency, HOS problems, mechanical problems, etc...), I will be less inclined to call that driver the next time that an unexpected load comes up. I have found that the same drivers that will refuse work, (for no reason other than they don't want to go), are also the same guys that get upset when they don't get the hours or miles that they desire. Trucking is usually a world of feast or famine. Freight of all kinds can be very seasonal or subject to all sorts of economic pressure. My advice to a driver that wants to be successful is simple: Be the guy that will be "the guy" to go to when everyone else says no. A good dispatcher will figure out a way to keep you rolling when times are lean. I am NOT suggesting running illegal or unsafe. I am suggesting that you will gain the respect of your dispatcher if you only refuse loads for valid reasons. If your dispatcher expects you to run unsafely or illegally, GET AWAY FROM THAT COMPANY! There are too many jobs available for quality drivers, but in order to get one of those jobs, you need to BE a quality driver. To be clear, I am not suggesting for any driver to be the company chump. But be smart and remember that if you are willing to work and do a good job... a GOOD operation will recognize it and try to keep you happy. It's a two-way street, if you do your part and they don't do theirs, then move on. Remember that it takes a bit of time to develop a solid reputation.

[@mikeziegler7008]

I wish someone had replied to this. It's important to know what the real definition of "forced dispatch" is. Some people will claim it means forcing a driver to deliver a load without regard to log book rules or other legitimate concerns. Some people think it merely means demanding that a driver take a load that goes somewhere that he does not wish to go. When we hire drivers or owner operators for our OTR fleet, (I do not work on that side), we tell them up front that they must take the load that they are given. We never demand that anyone run illegal in order to deliver. If they don't want to work under those terms, they are free to look elsewhere.

[@rookiefreediver7522]

Mike Ziegler What about forcing someone to drive in very thick fog or through a blizzard? That would be a legitimate reason to refuse right? You would never punish a driver for refusing under those conditions right? What about refusing tp drive a trailer full of firearms through a bad neighborhood or expensive electronics especially if your company has a no firearms policy and expects him to make due with a cell phone? Btw Armored Car Drivers are issued guns and body armor and are vetted and have to pass backround checks...and truckers should be allowed to be armed, have vests, and should have to pass the same vetting process that armored car drivers have to go through. Trucking companies dont give a sh-t about drivers saftey which is why we need that law that was talked about in this video.

[@mikeziegler7008]

Rookie Freediver We don't demand that our drivers do anything that they don't feel safe doing. However, let me paint a picture for you. We recently had a spell of bad weather over here in Oregon. We send about 10 loads a day to the Oregon coast. We have one driver that simply refuses to drive in snow. It scares him. All of the other guys went. After a few days the weather cleared and this guy called in and wanted to resume work. So he worked. But then one clear day we came up short one load and only sent 9 trucks. Who do you think we should have parked?

[@mikeziegler7008]

I hear crickets.

[@NikoBellaKhouf]

Mike Ziegler By the time you find a driver willing to take the load, another company would have taken it. And when your company is small, it's difficult finding brokers who will give you the time of day, much less wait while you survey all your drivers.

[@burtonh1]

can you please put up a link to the FMCSA rule.

[@andrearchambault3869]

I've seen some of these youtube videos. I'm retired after 35 years of company driving and especially after the last two years which were absolute slavery. It was a life alright: handling bad weather, avoiding rush hour traffic in whatever city, keeping respectable appointments, keeping everyone happy including the regulatory authorities, seeing your years of safe driving go down the drain because of the one "entitled" person who couldn't put up with your presence in his (or her) way, the cut short payroll on top of all other responsabilities expected of you.... Whew... It was a life but now I'm completely sick of it. Thanks

[@richdoherty370]

Forced dispatch is an insult to experienced trained truck drivers. Dispatchers these days believe we don't understand the laws or the limitations of ourselves and our trucks. This is why companies are hiring more immigrants that don't understand the laws or their rights. They are easy to manipulate.

[@ryuranzou]

I watched a different video of a guy taking a 10 hour break after driving, then after 20 or 30 minutes being told he had to take another 10 hour break. Then he couldn't sleep the second 10 hours, because that's what he did for the first 10 hours and he said he couldn't do the load, because he had been up for 10 hours already. I don't drive trucks, but started getting interested in your lives and what you guys deal with and it's been pretty interesting. Thanks for the videos. It really sounds like a lot of your problems lie with the people handling the logistics and dropping the ball on you guys.

[@SmartTrucking]

You're right, that's a huge part of the problem! Dave

[@larcm3]

I drive from toronto to montreal. I am forced to make two rounds in a row , each round takes about 24 hours. And I say forced because I only get to sleep for 2-4 hours a day. So am obviously underslepped and under rested. When I refuse to go the bastard dispatcher shames me and says "everyone else goes why cant you?" OR "dont worry eventually you'll get used to it". Well I dont wanna get used to it. due to lack of sleep I am sick and tired (literally).

[@SmartTrucking]

Quit that place before they kill you or someone else, turn them in to the MTO, and tell me the carriers name. Dave

[@DaytonaRoadster]

Forced dispatch means I cant make you run illegal. However any good dispatch will know his driver and know where not to send him. No one likes to go to NJ., but they need freight too.

[@looseandsloppy2424]

luckily the company I drive for has a safety department that you can contact if the dispatch tries to force you to do something unsafe or illegal call safety they have to agree with you if something happens after you contact safety it is held on them and not you the driver

[@tonyfurneaux7670]

I was a driver that emigrated to Canada from England. My despatcher used to send load info on qualcom, if I then told him I could not do the load for XYZ reason, his next message was phone me...If I then still refused the load...that was fine,,,I would sit for a day or 2 there, get a load 300 miles ish then sit there a day or 2, then another short load,,,then sit again. He starved me to run WHATEVER the company wanted. Oh by the way, in 20 years trucking in England and Europe with no accident claims againt me, and my experience as an instructor, as much as I love trucking, I would no longer do it. The money is way too crappy for the legal risks. I once entered a scale in CA. The scale guy cut a cable tie that bound the brake airlines. When he found that the two pipes had been rubbing together, enough to flatten, and wear the outer rubber of these pipes. Now the truck was taken out of service until repaired. Now what would happen if while driving, a car driver with a family rearended me, if all were killed, my ass would rot in JAIL, because my vehicle would not have been ROADWORTHY, therefore it should not have been on the road, Period. Way too many ways to do serious time as BUBBAS bitch. Do you think the company would back you up, hahaha NO. They would just say Well he's the driver, therefore he's responsible. Goodbye

[@SmartTrucking]

Man, I hear all of that. Too much crap anymore. Was that the Banning scale? Dave

[@StephenGriffinsmartguy2000]

Just to have a job I may get into trucking your videos are invaluable content to make things easier should I make the leap to driving truck

[@beerrunner8153]

I have a rule. Never bother me between 9 pm and 7 am in either country. Just say NO. This is my time and you will not steal that from me.

[@mahera7375]

Thanks for this explains I'm owner operator Dispatch was giving me load not matched with my hours shift limit So I refused to take it because I no feel I have to drive over my limit hours .. Anyway I took other one after long time over the phone with the company! !! and it was OK With my hours but I was feel they no hoppy with that later l finished my trip when I went to the company office to get some paperwork .. Company was telling me we last money from the load the one you refused to take it and he was saying we no make money you no make money and whatever we give you you need to take And one more thing I want to say The weather was blizzard somewhere i80 and the road condition was very hard for driving he said I don't care you need to go ... 3 times the freeway Was shot down for snow ice road !! Appreciate for your video Give advice if I'm doing wrong

[@SmartTrucking]

You're doing it right! Always protect yourself and your license first! It's up to the carrier to take care of whether or not they make money, not you. Your job is to stay safe and legal and to work with them on that premise. Dave

[@markusuebel2624]

very well said. thank you sir.

[@Farrell0208]

There's always going to be a person who will run it, and who won't run it. So why have forced dispatch? Trucking isn't an office job. Your literally driving a 40 ton vehicle in and out of places. If they say your going to the Bronx, or LA, or Chicago, or Boston, or upstate NY in the dead of winter, you should have the choice to say no to that freight

[@lopro239]

THANKS FOR THE INFO.

[@drummerboy5142]

I was in the middle of a blinding snow storm, dispatch told me to drive overnight back to the yard, I said there is a blinding snowstorm where I am and was told it is fine here (The yard 4 hours away) and stay with the plan.

[@smedlydumpsterjuice8875]

indeed, i was once contacted by dispatch who wanted me to drop and hook with a driver in a truck stop because he was out of hours, and the load needed to be delivered in the morning some 200 miles away. problem was i was outta hours too, but he knew i was a runner for miles. i really wanted to say no, but i thought doing this favor would help me + i'd get the extra miles so i did it but told him i'm shut down for 10 hours after that. he said np. since then, my dispatcher gave me the best run the company offered. ohio to miami (home time in north fl for 34 hrs), back to ohio area, then to nogales, texas and back to ohio area. that was my run for my duration of my employment their. but yeah, i had to be creative in my log book for that late night 200 mile run. having said all this, i worked for a small company that required 5 yrs experience and paid very well.

[@earljohnson7992]

Great video as always. Can you give some advice on a new driver handling just starting with a new company

[@earljohnson7992]

And not get used put on all bad loads but doesn't want to cause problems since he's a new driver. Please advise on what to say Thx.

[@jeffstone7912]

Years ago I worked as a truck driver. I had a dispatcher that would not route me home after 4 weeks. I was at a terminal near Richmond Virginia and I want to get back home to Tucson. They put a load assignment to Pennsylvania someplace. I rejected the load sent The driver manager a message informing him that I would leave the keys to the tractor with the terminal manager and that I was just going fly home. My previous driver manager always took good care of me and I got assigned a new guy they hired and he was abusing me in order to make his phat . About 10 minutes after I sent that message I get a reply from NOT from him but the owner of the company asking me to call him immediatel. He said to me if “I can get you a load West will you stay on the truck?” I said “yes but there’s one other thing you will need to do, you will need to assign me a different driver manager”. 10 minutes after that, I was assigned a load from Richmond Virginia directly to Phoenix Arizona. There was a trailer loaded @ that terminal two rows over from where I was parked and all I had to do was hook onto it and go... lesson learned was take no shit... always have enough cash on hand to fly home. I had worked for this company for over three years at this point. The owner knew I was not a complainer and whiner. He needs people to drive his trucks.

[@johnm6642]

Dave. Can you do a segment on Cali, and any other states, that write citations at truck stops, for trucks idling over 5 min.

[@kalemercer7053]

I'm curious, does this law apply to all commercial vehicles? I ask because I drove a commercial Cab and was fired when I refused to continue after my scheduled time.

[@SmartTrucking]

I don't know about cabs, but I would certainly think so! Dave

[@campervanelvisitoofonyou8720]

Kale Mercer The limousine companies I worked for did the SAME Thing, make you work till you practicality dropped, 48 hours straight one time !!

[@rookiefreediver7522]

So if someone tells a dispatcher they don't feel safe driving in a blizzard or thick fog and they still try to force you is that against this law???

[@SmartTrucking]

Yes that's coercion! Dave

[@SmartTrucking]

Yes, that's called coercion. You are the one responsible for the truck the load and your life. Don't allow yourself to be bullied [ coerced] ! Dave

[@jlmadd]

Theoretically every single dispatch is forced. You choose to work there. I worked at YRC. Union. City is still forced. Linehaul is bid and extra board every three hours. Owners ops buy a truck from them but whatever they have is what they will run. Mechanical issues and fatigue is totally another thing. Owners usually hurt themselves by working 3-4 days a week on their own choice. Idk what dispatcher gets loads without talking to their drivers to begin with.Safety and fatigue are your way out. A great dispatcher puts you out 10 hrs.

[@jimwagner6260]

Just don't. Get respect or leave.

[@shemailgoondall9531]

fmcsa, objective is to regulate commercial trucks for the interest of safety. it will not get involved into driver work and pay environment.EVEN though there's a strong correlation between driver pay/compensation and driver safety. if pay goes down, safety goes down twofold. fmsca instead will focus on 8 hr, 30 minute break rule, elogs because it believes that these measures will keep drivers happy and safe. next on fmsca agenda, mandatory installation of water cooler where transmission shifter used to be. because drivers like perks, and don't really care about being a decent wage.

[@xeikai]

Yeah, when i was new i used to run myself ragged. drive tired, go extra time without eating ect. Eventually i left that company cause i couldn't take it (it was stephens). now if i don't feel up to it or i need to sleep i will tell them that's how its going to be and if they don't like it they can fire me.

[@the379man]

i can do between 160-200,000 miles/year and not be falling asleep and having wrecks and fender benders but i discipline myself and i love my job enough to get up and do it every day or night to complete that amount of mileage in a years time plus i spend alot of my off time working on the truck to make sure its ready to go and stays up to par for d.o.t. inspections and no im not an owner op i am a company driver

[@SmartTrucking]

How many hours sleep do you get a night when you're at work? Dave

[@the379man]

Smart-Trucking.com it just depeneds i do most of my work at night to avoid the majority of idiots because its easier on the cattle but i get what ever i need sometimes i take a 2 hour nap during my trip and then finish and sleep 8 hours through out the day and start the next evening again and it all depends on what my loads are

[@mrc1539]

Jake Richards , lets see 10 hrs driving x 60 mph x 352 days = 211200 miles. No loading , no unloading, no fueling, no down time, no oil changes, no showers , no eating , no life. Sounds awesome to me ,where do I sign up.

[@the379man]

Well you are already off from the get go i dont drive for 10 hours at 60 i stay between 65-80 and i drive for alot more than 10 hours sometimes i go 1,200-1,600 miles straight after picking up at 2-3-4 farms or sale barns sometimes i get 3-4,000 miles a week other times i hit 5-6,000 miles and its within 5-7 days but if you want to talk legally then consistancy is the key i can leave every sunday afternoon and be home friday afternoon within 70 hours and have done 4,000 miles/ week and loaded unloaded washed out showered and ate several times

[@the379man]

Theres one simple secret its keepin the left door closed not stoppin to screw off and pee and eat 4 meals and a snack a day i mean hell we are in our slow time and i still did 13,000 miles in the month of february and since the first of the year i have made almost 10,000 after taxes and not even at the end of the first quarter yet

[@samuelmuriuki5849]

smart trucking has been a blessing to me as a new trucker..if you think you know better please STOP THE CURESING

[@benjaminparadise6397]

The dispatcher knows it's illegal. But if the driver doesn't know it's illegal, most dispatchers will make sure the driver doesn't know that. And will get 4 hour runs every day after refusing something. Find a DOT phone number to report illegal dispatching. Just make sure to get your facts straight when talking to DOT, because your dispatcher will probably lie to them.

[@SmartTrucking]

One of the beauties of electronic logs is on most models the dispatcher can message you. Have the dispatcher message everything he wants, everything in print and stored in the cloud should you choose to show it to a DOT officer. Dave

[@sergedenovo4873]

I'm soo happy I subbed. Even though, you say "aboot" funny! LOL!

[@alexsantiago357]

AleXpress checking in

[@billarroo1]

Oh I got into my story so much I forgot to say, GREAT VIDEO, Thanks William

[@dutchvanhelsing6671]

I am confused. Where are the Teamsters ? Do they still exist and what rate of pay do they get. Please excuse me. I am in England but I was a trucker in Virginia many moons ago.

[@SmartTrucking]

Teamsters are still around but they're just a shadow of their former selves. At one time they numbered over a million drivers, today it's hard to find one. Dave

[@mojavedesert2610]

Always excellent info, thanks for posting!🍻🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶

[@KaiStrohscher]

There is a difference between dispatch and committing to a load. At Swift, I have the option to either commit to a load, decline a load assignment, and counter a load. If I commit to the load then I get forced dispatched. I have 1 hour to decide. If I don't do anything, load will be removed.

[@sisutrucks]

hehe, the office folks can try to order me to take hauljobs, some even have tried, but efter putting them on their place once or twice now they ask if i want the job. then again im one of the 18 equal owners in the company so office people works for us, not the other way around. it should always be a rule for distpatch to ask if can take a load, a good dispatch will know if the driver can or even will take it hehe. driver is the captain of his truck and always have the last word, for it will be your arse if something happends.

[@wecvgb9]

Biggest lies drivers tell dispatch:. 1. I need to take a 34.... When they really don't. They just want to stop where they're at and visit someone. 2. I need to go home, got a ( fill in with excuse for unscheduled home time). 3. I need more miles! Turns downloads for stupid reasons... Doesn't like to drive in certain places, doesn't like the shipper or the receiver, etc. 4. I need fuel at ( insert favorite truck stop regardless of the price of fuel or the level of their tank). 5. Driver knows he's going to deliver late due to his own mistakes, calls to blame traffic accident. Once in awhile I'll actually check to see if there was a traffic slow down where they said it happens... How about 1/4 of the time it's BS.

[@tomykas1]

its stupid driver doesnt drive and his income cannot change, ofcourse it will go down because he is not driving

[@Ginx-pe4si]

I have had a harder time with my very own company dispatch than the people that load me, unload me, and or the people in shipping receiving offices.

[@ronjohnson303]

I used to have a dipatcher that would give drivers night loads knowing they had been awake all day she started having problems finding drivers to take loads

[@SmartTrucking]

I guess so. Shows you how clever she was, and how little she cared. Dave

[@barrybleich3455]

I drive line haul for an LTL company to many to bosses I run out of Harrisburg PA to Richmond VA then to Baltimore if I get an empty a supervisor will send a message to run to Greencasle PA to pick up a load he forces it on me I'm tired of getting home at noon when my night could be done by 7:30am I'm line haul not a PD driver we have about 9 chiefs telling the drivers what to do my biggest pet peace is they call me in for 9pm and I don't get out till 11:30pm we don't get paid unless we work the docks been with this company 15yrs it was never like this I used to do my run and go home a 500mi night is good enough I'm ready to pack it in to many young people running things.

[@SmartTrucking]

Sorry to hear all that Barry. I guess you're not on E-logs? Might be time to tell the young bosses to put you back on a reasonable schedule or you're gone and maybe tell them you're thinking about sharing your story with the local DOT. Maybe they'll back off. Dave

[@Illesdan]

the big problem is they will ask you to call them so that its not on the qualcom or elog when they do that and go over all the stuff they want you to do i simply tell them to send that same info over the qualcom and they usually wont

[@metalbeast99]

Just record record the call when you know they'll tell you to get on the road when you say you aren't safe. I'm sure FMCSA and safety dept would like to see that video.

[@azazelakira12]

If I am not a own operator also can refuse a load?

[@SmartTrucking]

absolutely, if you have a good reason. Dave

[@vanmyers9795]

I was screwed over by bowman by my driver manager.i refused a load because new york state refused my medical card because bowman sent it in wrong to them.my driver manager wanted to force me to drive illegal.i said i couldnt so he put the load on me knowing it would show up on my record as quiting under a load.i said i would drive once my medical was taken care of.he refused to listen to reason and retaliated to hurt my driver record by putting the load on me knowing i couldnt take it legally.

[@88Petry]

Do the FMCSA rules apply in Canada too?

[@deliverymark692]

Good info. Thanks.

[@ValiantVeganAZ]

Thank you for the info.

[@StephenGriffinsmartguy2000]

If I cannot do a load legally and safely I will refuse. Because even if I can do so safely if I cannot do so legally it’ll cost me money in fines it’ll be akin to working for free

[@SmartTrucking]

Exactly right! Dave

[@josephstubbs33]

Wow the more I've been watching these videos the more I am great ful for hirschbach. They have treated me really well. I can honestly tell them I'm sorry I'm tired and they will tell me get some sleep call us when you are up and we will get you going and they do no shit list wonderful company.

[@SmartTrucking]

Always heard good things about them!

[@roberts.5790]

Almost all trucking companies are pirates.

[@gop4usa12]

Why are we supposed to feel protected by the government when the government wouldn't hesitate for one second before coercing us into doing something against our will?

[@julewestcott6715]

I wanted to get in the industry, but being a rookie I don't want to be forced to go to like the east coast.

[@tonyandreoli8180]

Well it just gets to where people that don't do your job, don't give a flying rip. No damn understanding. The sad part are the ones that did it have forgot what a driver goes through

[@Mike-ei9ip]

With some companies if you refuse a load you will sit around for days with no load.

[@joshpopp402]

great video. thanks for the info. safe trucking

[@NikoBellaKhouf]

Realize when you refuse a dispatch for no good reason, the dispatcher has to throw it back to the broker. You think that broker will be happy? Your entire company will now be on that broker's shit list. Goodbye easy loads and dedicated runs. You'll be lucky to get leftover garbage loads.

[@SmartTrucking]

Maybe the trucking company shouldn't be relying on load brokers that already take at least 10% off the rate of freight that's already too cheap. Dave

[@NikoBellaKhouf]

***** What does that even have to do with my comment?

[@stevenlenard6948]

Or maybe the dispatch should call the drivers and be like this is what's available if drivers say no then look for something else before it's booked

[@beerrunner8153]

Another one they like to use is. We have a hot load. I tell them there is no such thing and that dispatchers made that term up.

[@TooBlessedBabyDoll]

Great advice. Thanks!

[@slickruler2336]

How would I go about connecting with a good broker ? I'm new to trucking just getting my license this week. Iam buying my own truck . Just trying to figure out a good route to take for finding loads. Any input is appreciated. And thank you in advance.

[@SmartTrucking]

You could start with your local C.H. Robinson. They're cheap, but at least you'll get paid. Dave

[@slickruler2336]

Smart-Trucking.com thank you man. I think this is exactly what I needed. 👍🏻👍🏻 I called them and they are willing to work with me. Do you have any recommendations on trailers. As far as dry van reefer flat bed . What would be the best bet ?

[@NikoBellaKhouf]

slick ruler Flat bed loads pay better, but they carry more responsibility. You have to know what you're doing when securing the load and check on the straps every two hours of driving. Reefers can leave you stuck on a dock waiting to unload, make sure it's drop and hook. Also, shady shippers will try and stick you with spoiled goods and claim you didn't monitor the temperature and let them spoil on your watch. They do this so they can file a claim on your insurance. Dry Van isn't bad but it doesn't pay as much. Container work pays well and there's more of it, but you have to deal with the crap at the rail yards. Finding good chassis and more. Look into car carriers, they pay well.

[@texasgonzo67]

Wow, new to trucking and jumping into the OO world.... fastest way to bankruptcy i can think of!

[@kd5964]

so I have a Question what is a good Company

[@SmartTrucking]

One that pays you fairly and treats you well. They are out there, the trick is to find one in your area. Dave

[@kd5964]

its hard for me I stay in Montgomery Alabama

[@july1000000]

Is this for Canada and the U.S.?