Is the freight damaged?

jjoerger · Aug 8, 2010

Last week we were the victims of a hit and run accident in Kingman, Arizona while parked at the Flying J.
After notifiying the police and filling out a report we called our carrier to report it to them.
When I told the dispatcher that our truck had been run into and damaged the first question she asked was, "Is the freight damaged?"
Now, I understand that the freight is important, but shouldn't the first question have been "was anyone injured?".
Are these dispatchers so cold hearted that they have forgotten that we are human beings and not a piece of equipment?

fastman_1 · Aug 8, 2010

They have been trained so that freight always comes first.

Turtle · Aug 8, 2010

The fact is, to a carrier, we are a piece of equipment. It's just one more illustration of countless examples that the carrier is there for them, not you. They have the task of getting freight moved from Point A to Point B, and they are forced to use drivers as a necessary tool (or necessary evil, if you will) to get that job done. If something happens to you or your truck, they don't care, because at that point they have the bigger problem of how to get that freight to Point B and service the customer, because at that point it looks like they're gonna fail to do that, and nothing else matters.

It's a cold, hard reality that many drivers have a hard time wrapping their mind around, but the only time a carrier cares about a driver is when it benefits the carrier.

OntarioVanMan · Aug 8, 2010

As much as a carrier is a tool for us to run our business...we are a tool for them as well....don't make it personal..cuzz they sure won't...it is business...never lose that fact...

greg334 · Aug 8, 2010

I would take it very personal to the point to tell the dispatcher they need to have a professional attitude, especially if the company claims to worry about safety. I would follow up with the company management to explain how you felt about the dispatcher's attitude.

There should be a series of questions, the first is are you alright and the second should be are you in a safe location or on the road. NOT is the freight alright.