More often, than not, in the course of a typical day of a Professional Driver, there will be one complaint heard above all others. "MY DISPATCHER LIED TO ME!!!"
These are mighty strong words and most times it was the driver that misunderstood the instructions. Yes there are some dispatchers that have no Damn clue as to what their job is supposed to be. It is the Human Element and will not change until the computer can be perfected...

This dispatcher don't lie, he beats the crap out of the truth!!!

Another Chemical Brothers adventure...

The tank line we worked for had a dispatcher at our domicle terminal that could con the birds out the trees. I think in an earlier life he was a Snake Oil salesman...

Glyn Cook was an older gentleman and had a Southern charm about him, that Colonel Harlan Sanders couldn't beat.. His phone manner was something to behold.

On a Monday morning I wandered into the office and Mr. Cook was sitting at his desk talking on the phone. He looked up at me and had a slight smile(read as evil grin) on his face.
After hanging up he handed me the dispatch and said "Well I declare here's the better half of the Chemical Brothers and I knew you two could do such a fine job on this load I held it just for ya'll."
I was still rather new with the company, but I was forwarned about Mr. Cook. I looked at the dispatch and shrugged my shoulders, thanked him and walked out.
When I got to the truck, my brother asked what had happened. All I could tell him was "I think we got shafted?!?!"
Sure enough we got the shaft, but good.. The load was one of the 7 Deadly Loads From Hell. The type that was a tractor pump at the shipper, tractor pump at the receiver and a real pain in the ass to get cleaned.
After we unloaded we called Mr. Cook and thanked him. He just said "He knew we could handle the job."
Sure!!! he couldn't get anyone else to take it...
As a team we did not interact with Mr. Cook on a regular basis, just on the initial run out of Wilmington and when we came back in at the end of our tour of duty...

After the company split the Chemical Brothers up, I had walked into the dispatch office and the first thing I heard was "Here comes the better half of the Chemical Brothers!"
I looked at Mr. Cook and just said I was the younger and better looking one at least.
Mr Cook laughed and said "Have I got a load for you!"
Without hesitation I said "I bet you do and just how much K-Y Jelly do I need to get the task accomplished?"
He looked at me with a stunned expression "Why Pete I never!!!"
"Really??? Maybe you should try it sometime!!" I replied without missing a beat
There was a burst of laughter, which came from the adjoining office.The TM came out still laughing and said that I was nothing like my brother.
I agreed and told him that it was a shame the company split us up.
The TM asked why and I responded that I needed at least another six months to completely convert him.
The room went silent, I could see Mr. Cook and George the Terminal Manager thinking about what I had said. No response was necessary the looks on their faces said it all.. "Oh my God, not two of them!"
I bid them a fine after morning and went about my task being a Tanker Yanker with the number three edition of the 7 Deadly Loads from Hell..

I must say this. I did on occasion see Mr. Cook get angry and I was the recipient of that anger once. The incident was beyond my control. I had no hours to do a run and four other drivers had refused it. After I took my required break I talked to him about it, he did apologize for getting angry and he knew I wasn't trying to shaft him.

Mr. Cook has retired and the tank line is no longer a privately owned company as it has been consumed by Superior Carriers. However, the brother and I keep in contact with Mr. Cook via email. Can't say that about very many dispatchers!!!

 

As most people know I hold an Amateur Radio license. I was introduced to the service back in the early days of my trucking career.

This story was first published in an Amateur Radio magazine as part of a challenge..
The title of the story:

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

I was rudely awakened by the obnoxious ringing of an electronic telephone, or what ever that noise is they make.
On the other end of the receiver was a very distraught dispatcher asking, no more like, begging me to come in and take a "HOT" load to California. Every load in the trucking industry is "HOT".
I half heartedly agreed to do it, got my stuff packed and drove to the yard.

I walked into the dispatch office asked for the manifest and what ever other information there was to get. I did mention that I couldn't get to California in two days as required. The dispatcher told me I was running team, something I didn't like to hear, especially after the incident with Ed.
I was told it wasn't Ed and the guy I was teamed with was really a good guy. First thought "Yeah right!!!"

The dispatcher pointed to a gentleman who had walked in the door and said he's my partner. I walked over and introduced myself. My partner was an older gentleman, who's name was Ray.
Ray took my gear and said he would bring the truck around while I got all the paperwork in order.

I heard the familiar sound of a two chime airhorn and walked outside to find a cabover Peterbilt bristling with more antennas than a Russian fishing trawler. A sudden feeling of panic set in and I wondered if I could refuse to go on the trip.
I got in on the drivers side and the first thing I noticed was a stack of radios on the dogbox. It looked more like a sidewalk sale at Radio Shack than a truck.
I asked Ray about the electronic wonderland and he said he was a "Ham".
I wasn't going to argue with that.
He noticed the confused look on my face and he explained he had an Amateur Radio license. It was getting clearer, but I still wanted out.
He also asked me if I would mind driving first, as he found he could make a lot of contacts at night on 40 and 80. I thought he meant Interstates.
I was corrected when he said meter bands. I told him not to explain anymore, but if he wanted to drive at night I wasn't about to argue with him.

The trip out was not very note worthy, with the exception of hearing mighty strange noises as Ray drove along in the dark. Odd sounding voices, letters, numbers, QTH and CQ were quite prevelant
On my shift I got a lot of questions and smart assed remarks from other drivers regarding the rollling antenna farm.

On the second day I was awakend by the non motion of the truck. I opened the curtain to find Ray talking to a woman on one of his radios.
He looked at me and said we were on Cajon Summit. That much I figured just by the lights in the distance. I knew Ray was married, but I didn't picture him as a swinger. He put my mind at ease by telling me he was talking to his wife in New York. Now I was impressed, we were 3000 miles away and his wife sounded as if she was in the truck with us.
I stepped out to water the grass while Ray chatted with his wife.
I climbed back in the truck and asked Ray if he wanted me to drive. He said he wanted to stay on the summit for a little while longer. His words trailed off as a voice came out of another speaker.
Rays reaction ws priceless "Wow, I haven't heard Hawaii on 6 in a long time!!!"
I just said "Whatever, enjoy and wake me when you're done!!"

The load was delivered on time and the ride back was educational.

It has been quite a few years since that trip. I received my first license in 1988 and upgraded to Extra class in 1993.
The sad part is I can't remember Rays last name, or the rest of his call sign. All I do remember is the call started with W2.

I haven't seen Ray since that trip and would like to thank him. Just another bright spot on the road to retirement....

 

While there is quiet moment in the story thread. Been comtemplating moving the stories to their own little website and have started construction of same.. Haven't made any commitment, as of yet, to the host company, still not sure if such a site would be popular enough to make it worth paying X amount of dollars a year for.

The plan is to make it a free site for all asking only for donations to help the site run, or maybe find someone who would be willing to advertise, Trucking Only(NO PORNO SH*T, or stupid things like that!)

The site may never come about as doubts creep into every conversation.

As always all comments and suggestions are welcome

 

Have you checked with your IP most give free web space. I will check the web to see what I can find for free web space for you. It may take a couple of days for me to get back to you as trckndad only has a couple days home before he goes on the road. I will get back to you with what I find though. Your stories are great and we think its a great idea to put them on a web site. Have a great day.

 

Yeah I just found it!!! The site was under construction until "explorer committed a sin" and shut down.... Explorer SUCKS!!!
Anyway, the site is in the works... I still like the donation part though :wink:

Thank you on both counts

 

After a few trials, tribulations and the occasional explorer fuck up.. The website is finished WOOO-HOOOO

All the good folks on CAD are welcome to check it out

I finally made the big time!!!

Tell your friends and neighbours... Well maybe not the neighbours!!!

 

All right! Lookin' good! So, is the whole book going to go out there? Or are you going to try and have others post their stories?

 

Hey Doc,

The site looks great! I'm sure you'll draw many CAD members to read your stories.

 

Possibly and yes.. I would like to add other folks stories as well.. Hopefully my brother will add some of his also, but time will tell.

Silver Bullet says:
Thanks Bullet, I'm still working out some of the kinks, I'm hoping more than the great members of CAD check it out, I want to be known WORLD WIDE

 

COME ONE, COME ALL!!!


A once in a lifetime opportunity to take a rare glimpse into the life, trials, and tribulations of a long time truck dweller.

The Amazing Doctor Who.

He will keep you mesmerized with stories of his life on the road. He may also throw in a few stories featuring the now World Famous Chemical Brothers.

Folks, this is sure to be a crowd pleaser. 20 minute question and answer session after the show.


Disclaimer:
For your safety and the safety of others, no glass containers allowed. Show dates subject to change. Rain dates to be announced at a later date. Autographed photos available for a fee.