Art Museums and Art Couriers

[Streakn1]

Back when we started Expediting some freinds said they were going to put in a good word for us and get us on the Art Team. We really didn't want to be, but they wouldn't listen. Next thing you know, we're on the Art Team. It didn't take long to realize they weren't bad paying loads. Just pick up some art here and take it there.

Then came the "Art Couriers", invading our private space,our home on wheels, uninvited. Especially when the load offer you just excepted failed to mention "onboard courier". Now, you're either stuck with the courier or tell dispatch to take you of the load and really ##### everyone off and put your lease in jeopardy. So, you bite the bullet and put up with the Courier.

Well, this may not be an issue to some but it is for us. In today's sue happy world we live in, God forbid we ever get in an accident ( no fault of ours) or the Courier falls out of our truck and gets hurt, wheres our legal protection. No one has explained how that works. We've not seen any "release of Liability" forms signed by the Courier protecting us, the drivers and owner of the truck. I asked safety about it recently and got told to ask the Art Team.

Who likes having to watch everything you discuss with your spouse while the Couriers is in your cab for fear it might provoke a complaint to you company, or cant speak openly to family and friends on the phone. What about when you want to use you porta potti thats onboard for convenience and safety ( I've had friends robbed at rest areas just trying to use the restroom ).What about having to worry about what you sleep in, or not? Since when does the Courier dictate where you stop to eat, maybe we dont like to eat at the place they picked. You've probably guessed by now I dont like the Couriers!

I would like to hear how others feel about taking Couriers onboard. We'll take a day Courier but I was told if we refuse to take over night Couriers we will be taken off the Art Team. Oh well!!!

 

[Moot]

Blanket and pad the art courier and then strap him or her to the wall of the box. Tell dispatch you're an art critic.

 

[Streakn1]

Hey Moot,

Love the reply,about laughed our you know whats off! Trust me the thought has crossed my mind more than once. Seriously, we haven't had a bad Courier yet.

My feeling is this, The customer is leasing the space in my box, not our cab and especially not our bed.I dont like having to provide our bed for a stranger to sleep in.Afterall, we're the ones having to do the driving.Furthermore, I'll listen to whatever I want to on my XM radio. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about servicing the customer but I have to draw the line somewhere!

 

[ATeam]

Streakn1,

Loved your posts! You express well the issues that rise when you have a courrier in the truck. It's not for everyone, that's for sure.

About giving up your bed to a courrier, we don't. On overnight runs, each co-driver must either be in the sleeper (hopefully sleeping) or driving the truck. If a co-driver is in the jump seat, by law, he or she must log that time as on duty not driving. That would run a team quickly out of hours and prevent the truck from completing its straight-through run. Thus, courriers must spend the entire journey in the passenger seat.

Some courriers know this and come prepared with their own pillow and blanket. Others don't have a clue. We'll provide a pillow with a clean pillow case and later wash the pillow case when they are done with it. As a courtesy, we pick up a couple bottles of water for courriers so they don't drink from the water bottles we use.

Think too about the flip side. Imagine the apprehension courriers have, especially first-timers, before their trip. They don't know if they will be in the truck with smokers or not. (While you are not supposed to smoke if you have a courrier in the truck, the truck will still smell of it). They don't know if you will be clean and polite or dirty and gruff. They don't know if the truck will be fun to ride in or not. They don't know if you will be a safe driver or an agressive one that scares them half to death. But they absolutely know how long the trip will be and that they are duty-bound to complete it.

As I said, art courrier loads are not for everyone. That includes some courriers who have horror stories to tell and vow to never again get in a truck.

 

[bryan]

HI
Seems to me this would violate sleeper berth rules unless you have 2 bunks.The ex once hauled an armed Marine and guard dog from Colorado to Maryland.He was given a list of stops at the beginning of the trip.Every stop was at a McDonalds because the dog liked chicken nuggets.At each stop the ex would go in and get his meal then come back out and watch the dog while the Marine went in and got his and the dogs meal.The only good thing was them 2 rode in this special trailor all the way.Worst part was he had to figure sleeper berth times and bathroom breaks before the start of the trip.

 

[tallcal101]

As an owner,and not a driver(anymore)I certainly do not encourage my teams to turn down an art load because of a ride along courrier,even across country.I guess I'm greedy,but these loads generally pay very well,and the grief of a ride along (if there is grief)is not forever.
I consider ride alongs on art/museum loads part of the job,as do my teams.Never had a complaint from a team in 6 years.
I guess I don't understand the question,seems like a no brainer to me.

 

[Streakn1]

Thanks for your reply ATeam. I do imagine its scary to these couriers to get in a commercial vehicle with complete strangers and trust that they will make it from point A to point B.We always buy extra food and beverage before we pickup the load and Courier. We then graciously offer these to them. Some except, others decline.