There's a Fly in My Soup
I would just like to bring to the Forefront about Issues that the Trucking industry is getting complacent with.
Example of this would be as we go to our favorite resturant that has been there for years, The main cook that was great at making sure his food was prepared right as you would expect your meal to be Hot and Tasty, so you would tell all your friends this is the best place to eat. Well thet cook left and the new guy does not pay attention to details as the previous one did and you find a fly in your soup or a hair in your hamburger ( How Gross) we may think well it only happend once, but what if it also happend to all those people you shared with about what a great place to eat. How long before they quit going there to eat.
Well is it the Owner (dispatcher)of the Resturant at fault? Partially for not keeping this matter as a current issue . He hired the new cook and gave him Guidelines and since the Owner has many responsabilites to take care of running a buisness, He can not watch every plate that is served so if your meal is not appealing eventually people would stop referring that place Of buisness and also may stop going to eat there. So now because of one Person that does not pay attention to detail the impact of the servers, dishwashers, Food Venders etc. are now faceing a resturant closing because people just arent coming in to eat.
Well the same goes for trucking which is my main meaning, Trucking is tight margins and with economy what it is you have to do what you can to survive. The issue is similar to the Cook that cares very little applies to the Drivers, if you dont care enough to make sure your trailers and equipment are clean to avoid cross contamination and tarps dont leak, our Customers will also stop using us so the cause and effect rule applies way down the line , just understand what your decsion can do to the other drivers hauling to same place as you, although they did nothing wrong but its a blanket issue you are also a driver be it from same trucking company or not is irrelevant & it impacts us all; then the Customer is now applying more restrictions to everybody.
Also with the many ways of Communication I am shocked how a driver can pickup an order and Not relay back that he is broke down or delayed for some issue or another and then to find out a two day trip load has not been delivered and we are not notified until an upset Customer calls on 3rd day asking where is my load. I realize things happen I have been on that side of the wheel so I understand. All I can say is Complainsency can drive us out of Buisness; I know many great people for the past 25 years and just want to say Thank you all for the years of working together.
In Respect of the isssues I am diligent in conveying to any carrier or Dispatcher to please make sure top sides of trailers are clean and not have stuck
product in nooks and crannies are clean from previous load, Farmers dont want Corn in thier Fertilizer anymore than I want hair in My Breakfast, and I have heard it many times it was only a few kernals but if the Customer wants it a certian way then we should be complying not complaicent.
Clean out should be done over a pit where you are unloading the product you hauled in. Not on the side of the road, carry a bag or bucket to clean out if need be , air hoses and Brooms are a common place but laziness and carelessness has been replacing those items and eventually we all can be replaced. A good washout regularly goes a long way compaired to a $700 per ton claim on fertilizer and added Insurance Cost after that.
All in all I wish to Thank the many carriers That haul for me and express great gratitude for the work you do, I pray for your safety Out in Your Travels
and for Our Farmers that are also dealing with changing economy. Lets get back to Courtesy and Protecting our Livelihood!
Be safe out there especially through Winter.
God Bless You All
Merry Christmas
Jesse @ Jesse's Transportation