Dispatcher Part II
 

Is it normal to not like your dispatcher ?

I rarely run into anyone who has a good thing to say

about theirs .....

I only had one out of the last four (company) I didn't like.
I told my boss how much I disliked this dispatcher, and rather than have a word with her...he just told me, I needed to "work things out."
....I did a few months later...I quit and went to work at another company up the street.
A couple more of the best drivers followed me a month after that.

The companies I drive for have their own dispatchers. They are all old truckers themselves...which makes for a better relationship to begin with.
I am dispatched on backloads through other dispatchers, and I can always tell the ones who have never sat in a big truck before. Some of these jackhole dickweeds have really stuck in my craw. I've had words, and when one of these peckerwoods start off disrespecting me right away, and telling me their line of crap, like I'm a dummy...oh boy...it is a long drive starting out. These creeps never keep their word to you either. You really have to have your wits about you, and even maybe record conversations, to protect yourself.

So far, I've had one I've really liked, one I didn't much care for, one who I never really got to know, and one who is pretty good, but needs to work on some stuff...

Dispatchers come in all shapes, colors, sizes, and varieties...The way to have it all work out is to control how YOU interact with THEM.

For example, the one dispatcher I didn't really like really got me pissed off one day. I let it go, finished up our conversation, hung the phone up, THEN got pissed off about it. I then let myself cool down, called him back in an hour, and calmy explained to him how he needed to treat me better.

From then, until I switched dispatchers, he was just fine with me. If I were to get pissed off at him and start being disrespectful back to him over the phone, I would have gotten NOWHERE.

No matter how they get, ALWAYS be professional back to him/her. If you can't get them to change, this gives you a leg to stand on when you chat with his/her supervisor :D

I have had several that I would sooner run over than talk to after attempting to work with them for several months.

I have also had 2 dispatchers that were really great.

I try to cut them some slack and do what I can to not make their jobs any tougher. I know they are trying to keep track of, at times, 30+, trucks. What will sour a relationship faster than anything though is for them to screw up in some way and turn around and blame me or call me a liar. When the latter happens you might as well forget it, the relationship is over. The former damages it quite a bit.

I like it when i get unloaded and they say "We are still looking for something for you to bring back, go to a truckstop". Where? I am in the middle of "F"ing Montana!! It is just me and the jackrabbits out here!!!

I had one that was a pill. The company hired him right out of college. He didn't have a clue about trucking. The best dispatcher I had was an older woman who had been around this business for several decades. She was GREAT! The best dispatchers are former truck drivers. It is important to keep the lines of communication open. Don't call your dispatcher names and don't lose your cool. Things can be said in the heat of the moment that can permanently damage a relationship. If you cannot work through a problem or get along with your dispatcher, then go to his or her supervisor and request another dispatcher. Sometimes people have personality conflicts. It is better to ask for another dispatcher than lose your temper or quit. I have found that most conflicts can be worked through with good communication skills.

I hate my dispatcher. He's a real tool. Unfortunately, he's me.

... my dispatcher does not appear to be even human,

i have suspicions that she may be some sort of android or Bot

If you can't get along with your dispatcher then I would suggest going to their supervisor or talk with her to see if you can get another dispatcher.

Ok... thanks GMAN

8)