The Source for Trucking News, Opinions and Trucking Jobs | Reputation is Everything

Trucking is all about reputation. When I hauled dirt I was 12th on the list, except when a customer asked for a specific driver, they got that driver no matter what. I was asked for a lot for the short time I was there. Now hauling pad wrap and specialty freight we have requests to personally handle several future loads. I’m still learning how to use it to my advantage.

For one customer, we were asked to haul five loads in two weeks with round trips. Because of rescheduling we were down to two, but when we arrive to do the first, we find out it’s our last till next month, everyone knew but us. To cover the extra loads we couldn’t cover because of time, everyone else gets more money than I do to cover trailer rental. My response - What about the investment I put in for my trailer?

I guess that’s the problem of having an open relationship with your company and dispatcher. Since I was going to get the bulk of the business, When I first heard, I didn’t mind a few dollars difference. Now, when we are down to one this month and one next month and that’s it? I’m feeling taken advantage of and more than a little betrayed and I know exactly what happened.

This time it worked out because I had problems with the return trip, and now we are taking a short vacation with the grandkids. What about next time? And there will be a next time, we do a lot of business with this company. If I’m in the area, fine, but I’m not going to make the extra effort in deadhead or waiting to keep the customer happy and not get compensated.