How much does a dispatcher have to Invest

[davekc]

Why, DaveKC, are you injecting the notion of favoritism into this thread?

Wasn't exactly sure what Steve was trying to say with "I never negotiate"
That is why I responded because it could have that interpretation.
Should be simple enough?
He responded and clarified what he was saying.
With regards to favortism at certain carriers, it very well exists.
If not, there would be no need for acceptance ratings.

 

[greg334]

Phil, get real, favoritism happens at FedEx. You just never had it happen to you.

I got proof it does happen, two of the biggest issues for me have been address at FedEx and nothing happened to the dispatcher. I know that there are valid reasons for it to happen, mainly because of WG trucks needing to be moved but I also know it happens when they want to move a specific van/truck/tractor to a location for what ever reason.

 

[terryandrene]

No Suds, that's neither what I said nor implied. I was responding to Easytraders comments that suggested our carrier would have better success if it was a flat rate system of compensation. He also implied that trucks should be allowed a non-Canada or non-NYC descriptor.

I simply asked what that flat rate should be for a D truck at FedEx Custom Critical. and should the non-Canada/NYC trucks be similarly compensated. You may read my comments any way you like, but I never suggested either more or less compensation for one group of contractors vs the other. As expected, we received no appropriate response other than that he'd be willing to accept less than his current average per mile just to get consistency.

There are dozens of expedite carriers that that pay flat rates, and lower rates tha FCC, to their contractors. These carriers also advertise this fact. So, I find it interesting that an owner would lease his truck to a known percentage carrier then complain about the system. Equally interesting is the fact that FCC is known to make no distinctions between those that want to run Canada, NYC or any other locale. They offer each load to those owner/operators that meet their qualifications for that particular load.
I am one O/O that doesn't want a dispatcher to to determine that I don't want to go to a particular location; I want all offers for which I'm eligible, non-NYC or not. If in a D truck, I may not want an NYC job from Newark, NJ, at an FCC 2006 - 2007 average $1.70. How about a 2800 mile run from LA to NYC at $1.70 per mile ($4760)?

For the record Easytrader, FCC did communicate with a focus group of Owner/operators concerning the new dispatch system now being tested in some areas. Over a six month period, a group of cargo van, straight truck, tractor trailor solo and fleet owners were instrumental in assisting the FCC management in developing the concept and facilitating the dissemination of the system. I was honored to be included within that group.

 

[pelicn]

Terry, are you saying that just because someone doesn't want to go into Canada or NYC, that they should be paid less for all miles no matter where they run???
I flagged myself "no canada, no nyc" simply because I didn't want/need the hassle. NY is way to expensive to run anyways..........tolls, truck expenses/fuel, finding somewhere to stay after unloading, no idle laws, etc.........traffic, traffic, traffic......it goes on and on. Just because I don't choose to go to either of these places doesn't mean there are less expenses to operating the truck or punishing someone by paying them less.
Panther does that..........go into canada, get $1.30/mi-all miles........tell them "no canada" and your penalized by .15/mi. But, they don't tell anyone that UNTIL they have you in orientation..........that's why I'll never drive for panther.........
JMO

Instead of looking at it as a penalty for not going to these places, it could be looked at as a bonus for doing so?

 

[ratwell71]

Greg,

Don't shut up, I like reading your comments. I find it very interesting to see another point of view. Someone that is willing to share a difference of opinion is a breath of fresh air.

 

[cheri1122]

Instead of looking at it as a penalty for not going to these places, it could be looked at as a bonus for doing so?

Carrots are smarter than sticks, IMO.

 

[nightcreacher]

Phil, get real, favoritism happens at FedEx. You just never had it happen to you.

I got proof it does happen, two of the biggest issues for me have been address at FedEx and nothing happened to the dispatcher. I know that there are valid reasons for it to happen, mainly because of WG trucks needing to be moved but I also know it happens when they want to move a specific van/truck/tractor to a location for what ever reason.

I dont believe its favoritism to dead head someone out of an express center because he's needed somewhere else.There are cases where a dispatcher might give a back up load to get a load covered,as they new the 1st load was a bad deal,and then they have to get permission from a higher up,thats not favoritism,as it could happen to anyone.It's not favoritism if a guy gets loaded and you dont cause you dont answer your page,phone call, or clink message.There have been a few dispatchers that are no longer with FECC as they did play a favorite over another,so if someone is doing that,sure hope they dont get cought.And yes,getting someone fired is very difficult,there are only a few things that will do that,favoritism is one of them.

 

[x06col]

Well, like the old kc says, want extra for snow, extra for location, WANT. You can Want in one hand, an crap in the other!!

Carrots have no smarts that I know of. But, sticks can hurt, if, they are needed. Touchy feely, to get someone to make a living Bah, humbug!!

 

[x06col]

hey nite, favoritism? Is that similar to negotiating? How much time do you spend negotiating? How much time should a dispatcher spend kissing someones *** to get a load covered? Favoritism? Me no tink so. It is ALL da same, depending, which side da fence yer on. You know.

 

[EASYTRADER]

Well I'm glad to hear some of you were consulted about this new dispatch system. I figured that they would talk to some owners. I also figured that they would talk with owners they are familiar with, the YES MEN. The people who go to company breakfasts and contribute to the weekly email.

I would also assume that they asked oppinions about this new dispatch system. Rather than ask for ideas as to solve the respose time issue.

It may be that this new system is
the answer to slow response times. Personally I doubt it.

An undesirable load, will continue to be slow to book, and disirable loads will go quickly.

So there may be a minor improvement but that's it.

We'll see how much you like it when you are woken up three times in a row before you're even in a position to get the load that's offered should you decide to accept it.

As for your question about what I think the flat rate should be, I didn't answer it because I didn't think it was relevant.

However if you must know, Panther II is close I think a little on the low side.
Anyway I wouldn't want to publish a guess because I only know what my truck averages, which I think is high for a surface truck and belive it or not I don't want to discourage people.

I can say for sure my first 3 months with FECC we had a 95% accept ratio were dog tired and broke. Now our ratio is so low I feel
guilty sometimes, were not quite as tired but were also not broke.

 

[dcalien]

If you guys don't stop fighting you are going to have to put away your trucks and come in the house.

 

[dabluzman1]

Some people just shouldnt have computers.

 

[nightcreacher]

hey nite, favoritism? Is that similar to negotiating? How much time do you spend negotiating? How much time should a dispatcher spend kissing someones *** to get a load covered? Favoritism? Me no tink so. It is ALL da same, depending, which side da fence yer on. You know.

colonel,they call me with a run offer on my cell phone,pays so much fo so far,and tell me thats x amout of dollars for all miles.i calculate 40% for my advance,and if that will get the job done,including taking me to my layover,ill do the load,if not,i say the same thing i say to drugs,NO.if, and they do say what would it take,sometimes,i just tell them they cant afford it,cause if i turned the load down in the first place,it was so low that they couldnt add to it to help out.I get the turn down,but i cant operate in the red

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Don't blame ya Steve..one can't support running marginal loads all the time...afterall...this IS a FOR profit operation. We need our profit margin as much as the carrier does....

 

[greg334]

Don't blame ya Steve..one can't support running marginal loads all the time...afterall...this IS a FOR profit operation. We need our profit margin as much as the carrier does....

well you know OVM, that is exactly true, one can't but when is it that one can determine what runs that can take and not take? Only when the offers are made.

Steve is still in the best position of all of us, he has a high demand vehicle that crosses into all forms of freight, from the envelope to the 45 feet of auto parts that have to get somewhere quick. He looks at things from that point of view. I and a few others on the other hand have a common truck, even though a lot of the loads are a few pallets and under 5000 lbs, I have to compete with E to my size for the same freight.

Opps that's right.... I am not competing with anyone because in order to compete, I have to know what is going on in the first place and that does not happen until I get that call or QC beep.

It is all good and well to talk about how we can operate in the black, but here is the question, if you are offered marginal runs all the time, what is wrong, it is you or the company?

I say the company, not you.

The FedEx system is not supposed to look at individual trucks, it is supposed to pick out the best fitting truck for the customer. I doubt that the people there are too worried about customers doing rate shopping when a load is created, but they are concerned about keeping up a specifics margin for the group and the refusal of loads form the fleet. The numbers that are reported back up the food chain matter.

 

[x06col]

Wow, a couple days, an no takers. Nobody want to chance it??

 

[nightcreacher]

ok what does a dispatcher have invested,how about 4 years of college,and some even more,thats more than equal to the price of a truck.how about having to obeying company rules or loose their jobs.The job market these day isnt so hot.These dispatcher put up with the crazy crap all day that the drivers come up with,thats what they have invested.Do they care if we make any money or not,well yes they do,cause if we dont haul the loads,the customers go away,and there jobs aren't so secure.Can they help that they have dispatch discounted freight,believe me, they know how tough that is,and if the policy were different,most dispatchers wouldnt give a turn down to a person,gettin a run offer, that was on a loosing proposition.but thats not the case.I'm not trying to stick up for anyone,but im glad i dont have their jobs.how would you like to be the dispatcher that had to dispatch a load that had a 300 mile dead head,was discounted and only went 150 miles? before they even send the offer out they know there is going to be a no on the end of it.why did they even take that load,this same customer may ship,50 loads a week,and many being long distant.miss 1 load,could loose tthe account,plain and simple.
Col.is that what you were looking for?

 

[OntarioVanMan]

I suppose a dispatcher is squeezed by company profit margins, the customers needs and us the contractors needs...and somewhere, somehow they have to find the middle ground acceptable to all....not an easy job at times.

 

[Vinnie T]

I suppose a dispatcher is squeezed by company profit margins, the customers needs and us the contractors needs...and somewhere, somehow they have to find the middle ground acceptable to all....not an easy job at times.

It's easier to fire a dispatcher then an O/O

What's the point of this thread anyway?

Dispatching can suck I assure you. Dealing with unrealistic customers, tough to deal with drivers, crappy bosses, other idiot dispatchers always screwing up, drivers being late...getting yelled at by a customer and threatened to pay for a 60,000 air charter because the driver fell asleep or is off route to avoid tolls...should I go on? What do they have to lose? Let's see lawsuits, a job, first to get cut because of slow economy, overworked and underpaid. Dispatching sucks just as bad as driving!

 

[greg334]

It's easier to fire a dispatcher then an O/O

How do you figure this one. you can't fire a contracted person, you can easily terminate their contract. A dispatcher is an employee, you have to deal with unemployment and possible COBRA when you terminate their employment.