Ok Dave, I'm venting too

[HSLD]

Ok, I'm not really venting, but I don't understand why...........................

If I lump a load, I get paid less than a lumper would.

That old, "you know driver, you could lump the load if you need the money" thinking. Thank you, but I'd like to make enough $$ driving without having to lump, and I'd like to be well rested for my next leg of the trip.

Why we, get paid so little, but accept (or are given) so much responibilty for a load when compared to the rest of those in the chain from manufacturer to market.

Why I have to count the product going on the trailer. If you're loading it, you're sealing it, and the seal is intact on the other end, why am I responsible for the count? Why am I responsible for any other than intransit damage?

Why am I in the pallet business? This dock does pallet exchange, this dock doesn't. This dock takes CHP pallets, this doesn't. This dock exchanges CHP pallets only, but my next pick up doesn't accept or want CHP's.

Why does dock "x" charge me $100 if I'm late over 30 minutes. But if I'm on time (I always am), and end up waiting, they don't pay detention time.

Alright, I'm done for now.

HSLD

[White Dog]

Excellent post!!!!

Here, Here!!!!

[Harry]

HSLD WROTE.
Why I have to count the product going on the trailer. If you're loading it, you're sealing it, and the seal is intact on the other end, why am I responsible for the count? Why am I responsible for any other than intransit damage?


I AVOID COUNTING WHEN EVER I CAN. I WRITE ON MY BILL OF LADING "SHIPPER LOAD AND COUNT"

AND THAT KEEPS ME FREE OF LIABILITY

[nitestar]

If I lump a load, I get paid less than a lumper would.

The way it was explained to me is
if we pay a driver more to lump , they will rather lump than drive and if we do that they will not be able to drive due to being tired. So we hire a lumper so the driver doesn't have to in most cases.
Also when the carrier figures the rate they figure in your unloading in the rate, based on the recievers demands. so a lesser amount can be charged for hauling the load.

The reciever ( some shippers) does not have to hire more dock workers ( company lumpers as it were) and pay vacation , Med, WC , taxes and every thing else to do what you and your company are willing to do for minimum wages.

Thank you, but I'd like to make enough $$ driving without having to lump, and I'd like to be well rested for my next leg of the trip.

Wouldn't we all. but like many a plan you seldon get rest because you have to : count the freight as it comes off the trailer, make sure the druggie on the fork lift doen't rip the sides or scuff boards out of the trailer, ( happens a lot)
You aren't allowed to drop at the dock and park and get rest.
It has been said that some driveres walk around the yard turning off reefers or breaking seals to see what was in the trailer because it had thier company logo on the side.

Untill we are all treated and looked upon as professional this will continue to happen. .

Why I have to count the product going on the trailer. If you're loading it, you're sealing it, and the seal is intact on the other end, why am I responsible for the count? Why am I responsible for any other than intransit damage?

You count it because the reciever or shipper is unwilling to hire some one to do the job you are doing for them., so your responsible for the count, and you can make a mistake and you can not properly install the seal intentionally.
You are responsible because this way the shipper does not have to make good the missing product, your carrier is charged for it and you are an employee of that company and the whole problem and expense is dumped on the carrier. Simply put you are absorbing some of the over head of the shipper.
I know lot of guys that make it look sealed and later mess with the load and take stuff. Claiming it was sealed at shipper.
If the bills state sealed by shipper or Shipper Load and Count( SLC)or if a dropped trailer, different story usually. You are responsible because drivers before you took advantage of the system and now you and I are paying for it.
Dropped trailer , you check the seal, make notation on bill seal intact .

We are professionals one minute and we can't be trusted the next.
It doesn't take very many to make us ALL look bad.


Why am I in the pallet business? This dock does pallet exchange, this dock doesn't. This dock takes CHEP pallets, this doesn't. This dock exchanges CHEP pallets only, but my next pick up doesn't accept or want CHEP's.

Some docks don't do pallet exchange because they are not efficient.

You arrive with pallets and no storage for them, and most don't want the paper work to mess with . Even if the bills state 24 in and 24 out, they still have to send the paper work to one more person to keep a tally on the pallets. They don't like that because in their mind the TRUCKER created it.

On CHEP pallets they belong to the group ( association, can't remember what CHEP stand for now)) that literally rents ( or co-owns) those pallets and these companies are assigned these pallets when you deliver the load. These companies are will to absorb the cost and are assured of getting quality pallets in exchange with CHEP pallets..

Some don't exchange because they have to store them untill you deliver and they have limited room.( best way I know to say it)


Why does dock "x" charge me $100 if I'm late over 30 minutes.
But if I'm on time (I always am), and end up waiting, they don't pay detention time.

Because you ( or your company) allow it to happen.

It is also a scam.

I had a company try that with me and I went right to the main guy in a 3 piece suit in the inner office and they did not know anything about it.
It came to a halt,
and you have to put in for detention and maybe your company doesn't . Most that don't are afraid that the shipper or reciever will call someone else to haul the load if they do..

Some companies say we don't pay detention and thats the end of it. . The carrier accepts that and does nothing about it from that point on.

when i get thos automaded machines i say it is time for a can of skoal longcut

[Big_Dave]

Why I have to count the product going on the trailer. If you're loading it, you're sealing it, and the seal is intact on the other end, why am I responsible for the count? Why am I responsible for any other than intransit damage?
I refuse to count the product. I will however count the pallets going in the trailer. If they insist that I count each piece and it's palletized & stretch wrapped, I tell 'em to break it apart so I can verify each piece. That usually changes their mind. :D

I make sure to write "Shipper Load & Count" AND "___ skids fully stretch wrapped. Said to contain _____________ boxes / pieces." Also, make sure to make note of ANY and ALL discrepencies or damage on the B/L and make them initial beside it

Writing this on the B/L has saved my butt a few times.

[HSLD]

The reciever ( some shippers) does not have to hire more dock workers ( company lumpers as it were) and pay vacation , Med, WC , taxes and every thing else to do what you and your company are willing to do for minimum wages.

I'd say 99% of the places I go use a lumper service. These lumper services treat the lumpers as contractors and do not pay any bennies. The others hire workers from across the border.

It has been said that some driveres walk around the yard turning off reefers or breaking seals to see what was in the trailer because it had thier company logo on the side.

I'm an independant O/O and don't mess with any other equipment than my own.

Untill we are all treated and looked upon as professional this will continue to happen. .

And as long as this does happen, we will not be treated or looked upon as professionals.

You count it because the reciever or shipper is unwilling to hire some one to do the job you are doing for them., so your responsible for the count, and you can make a mistake and you can not properly install the seal intentionally.
You are responsible because this way the shipper does not have to make good the missing product, your carrier is charged for it and you are an employee of that company and the whole problem and expense is dumped on the carrier. Simply put you are absorbing some of the over head of the shipper.

All the places I go have someone on the dock do the count. Then they claim to not do SLC.

I know lot of guys that make it look sealed and later mess with the load and take stuff. Claiming it was sealed at shipper.

I'd only hurt myself if I did anything like this.

If the bills state sealed by shipper or Shipper Load and Count( SLC)or if a dropped trailer, different story usually. You are responsible because drivers before you took advantage of the system and now you and I are paying for it.
Dropped trailer , you check the seal, make notation on bill seal intact .

We are professionals one minute and we can't be trusted the next.
It doesn't take very many to make us ALL look bad.

I rarely "drop" my trailers. If I do, it's because I have two loads originating from the same location (most of the shippers I work from are within 5 miles of the yard I park at).

Some docks don't do pallet exchange because they are not efficient.

It's not efficient for me to carry extra pallets around or have to hunt them down becasue a shipper or reciever has a policy in place to exchange or not exchange.

You arrive with pallets and no storage for them, and most don't want the paper work to mess with . Even if the bills state 24 in and 24 out, they still have to send the paper work to one more person to keep a tally on the pallets. They don't like that because in their mind the TRUCKER created it.

I keep 24 pallets on the trailer at all times. 24 on, 24 off unless that location doesn't exchange. If that location does 24 off and doesn't exchange, I've got to hunt down pallets or hope that I can buy them at my next pick.

On CHEP pallets they belong to the group ( association, can't remember what CHEP stand for now)) that literally rents ( or co-owns) those pallets and these companies are assigned these pallets when you deliver the load. These companies are will to absorb the cost and are assured of getting quality pallets in exchange with CHEP pallets..

Some don't exchange because they have to store them untill you deliver and they have limited room.( best way I know to say it)

I've had places try to exchange CHP pallets. No, my next pick doesn't accept or use CHP pallets. Therefore, I don't want them becuase I'll end up having to hunt down a place that will take them.


Because you ( or your company) allow it to happen.

It is also a scam.

I had a company try that with me and I went right to the main guy in a 3 piece suit in the inner office and they did not know anything about it.
It came to a halt,
and you have to put in for detention and maybe your company doesn't . Most that don't are afraid that the shipper or reciever will call someone else to haul the load if they do..

Some companies say we don't pay detention and thats the end of it. . The carrier accepts that and does nothing about it from that point on.[/quote]


I haven't been late yet. But you never know what might happen or when it might happen. I think it's a crappy policy. If you're gonna charge me, I should be able to charge you for my time as well.

I'm kind of getting at the short end of the stick we get for what we do. My profit will not be in the millions like most of the shippers and recievers I work from, but I end up with a majority of the hassle. Guess I'm just venting some.


HSLD

no need to count when pulling flatbed