DRIVERS, RATE YOUR SHIPPERS

We’ve all heard the horror stories of drivers being mistreated at shipper and receiver facilities. Often they’re told not to idle – even if it’s the only way to keep warm. They’re routinely kept waiting for hours even when they’ve showed up on time. Worse yet, drivers are even sometimes denied the use of the facilities.

The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) has launched a new Operation UpGrade survey that asks driver and carriers to rate the shippers and consignees they serve. It’s one thing to blast a lousy shipper or to give a good one some credit, but this program goes beyond that. There’s an outreach component to it that will educate the bad shippers on how they can improve, while recognizing the work done by the well-run shippers and receivers.

Some healthy competition could do a world of good. I am willing to bet that in many cases, upper management will not even realize what’s happening at the loading dock of the company’s facilities. Perhaps a notification they’ve been named to the Detention Hall will get noticed and effect so me change. I hope so. Let’s get behind this program and get voting. You can find out more or rate your shippers here.

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James Menzies is editorial director of Today's Trucking and TruckNews.com. He has been covering the Canadian trucking industry for more than 24 years and holds a CDL. Reach him at james@newcom.ca or follow him on Twitter at @JamesMenzies.


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