Truck Drivers and Customer Complaints: Reporting Rude Behavior

Imagine a scenario where a truck driver, known for rude and disrespectful behavior, is reported to their employer just by a customer making a complaint. This can happen, and the process is surprisingly straightforward.

Can Truck Drivers Get Reported?

Yes, they certainly can. If a truck driver is rude to customers, unsafe while driving on the receiver's property, or fails to obey the receiver's rules, they can be reported. This includes situations at shipper's facilities too.

A Personal Experience

I am now retired, but for twelve years prior, I was an independent owner-operator with my own operating authority, working as a one-truck-wonder. I had a regular client in California who I delivered to customers in Arizona once a week. One week, the head of shipping did not call me as she was supposed to. When I called her on the Friday, she admitted to lying, saying, "Mike, one of the owners of the company, came into my office with a post-it note with a phone number and said to call these guys; they're cheaper than Blakely." I had to acknowledge that I understood the situation.

Two weeks later, I received a call from Sue, who mentioned that Mike had found a new trucking company. The first week they used this new company, the driver was two hours late for a delivery appointment. The next week, Sue received a call from the warehouse manager who said, 'Don't ever send that company in here again.' The driver had shown up to the warehouse, been verbally abusive to some warehouse personnel, and thus, they banned that trucking company.

Reporting Process

So, who reports these behaviors, and to whom? If you are the offended party, you can vote with your dollar or utilize the phone number on the invoice to make a report. It's a simple yet effective way to ensure that truck drivers maintain a professional and respectful demeanor.

Preventing Account Loss

Shippers can quickly lose accounts due to rude and abusive truck drivers. As one shipper put it, 'We can't afford to lose that account.' Therefore, it's crucial for customers to report such incidents to protect both the shipper's and receiver's interests.

Conclusion

Rude, abusive, and unsafe truck drivers can indeed cause a shipper to lose an account very quickly. It's every customer's right to ensure that service providers maintain high standards of conduct. By reporting such behaviors, customers play a critical role in maintaining a professional and safe environment for all.