Liars in Trucking Companies: What Every Driver Needs To Know

Every professional truck driver needs to know one hard truth…. liars exist in trucking companies.

Not everywhere. But enough to make awareness a survival skill.

The trucking industry has become a heartless machine, and some companies will say—or promise—whatever it takes to boost their bottom line.

If you’ve been driving for a while, you probably expect a few tall tales along the way. Still, expecting it doesn’t make it any less dangerous.

Being alert to dishonesty at every level isn’t paranoia….it’s protection.

One wrong move, one misplaced trust, and a trucking company can wreck your finances, your schedule, and your sanity.

There are four types of liars you’ll run into, each with their own methods and motives.

Knowing who they are and what to watch for can keep you from getting burned.

Liars at Every Level: What to Watch For

The Recruiters

Office manager at trucking company lying to a truck driver.

Recruiters have a bad reputation in trucking. And no wonder.

These guys and gals have a long ugly history of making empty promises to new prospective drivers. They’ve been know to say anything, just to get the driver on board.

Recruiters may promise easy runs, the best destinations, a great customer base, shiny new equipment to drive and time off whenever you need it.

They can be master salesmen to sell you a truck driving job and a pay package in such a way, that it truly ‘seems’ like a good paying job.

Only to find out a month or two into a job, that it’s really not a good job after all.

You may find yourself running LTL to the Bronx in an old International that smells like dead fish in the bunk.

You’re pulling an old Fruehauf trailer that’s older than you.

Dispatch tells you to get that freight unloaded at your next drop by hand onto the curve. Apparently the customer doesn’t have a loading dock! (And you’ll be paid duck sh** for your labour.)

Then you receive your first pay check. Your miles are a little on the low side. You start to wonder if the Brox may be a lot closer than it once was? Hey driver, where’s that great money your were promised?

And where’s that sign-on-bonus the company promised you? You may as well kiss that bonus goodbye.

You haven’t had a day off in a month. You’re stuck on a run you hate.

The trucking company seems to be just too busy to do anything about your problems.

You my friend were lied to, by the Driver Recruiter!

Related Article > How to Handle the Driver Recruiter

The Dispatchers

Dispatcher at Trucking Company working at Computer

Dispatchers have a history of being dishonest.

I swear dispatchers have a course entitled, ”How to twist the truth” in their training program.

Years ago, most dispatchers were experienced drivers who actually knew what the job of the professional driver was all about. As a result, they usually treated drivers with the respect they deserved.

Dispatchers now, are often young people who have certification from a community college program. They usually know nothing about trucks, nor have any clue what a truck driver does in his trucking job.

They have a reputation of treating drivers poorly and being dishonest with the drivers.

However, this often rolls down from the ‘powers that be’ at the trucking company.

The dispatchers are instructed to get the company’s freight delivered.

They are told to say and do whatever it takes to get these loads delivered and delivered on time.

Are you getting tired of the lies the dispatcher is feeding you?

What to Do About a Dishonest Dispatcher

Go up the ladder in the trucking company to get your problems fixed.
Go talk to the Operations Manager.

Related Article > How to Handle Your Dispatcher

The Operations Manager

Truck Driver Recruiter Lying to a Truck Driver in the Office.

You have an appointment to meet with the Operations Manager.

He greets you in the doorway of his office. He doesn’t invite you in to have a seat and talk.

Maybe you aren’t worthy of his time?

But since you are there anyway, you decide to explain your problems to him.

He responds, “Leave it with me, I’ll look into it”.

This manager will most likely do nothing for you.

Making your life easier as a driver, is not in the best interests of the company. The Operations Managers interest is making money for the company.

My friend you’ve just been lied to. Again.

The Terminal Manager

Terminal manager liars in trucking companies

The Terminal Manager. You can probably write him off your list for getting changes. He is the guy who ‘chops your miles’ on your pay.

A chimpanzee could work PC Miler. PC Miler on YOUR laptop says your last trip to Houston, TX was 1703 miles. Yet, the Terminal Manager’s version of PC Miler, says that same trip to Houston was only 1650 miles.

How can that be?

Did all the customers suddenly get closer to the home terminal?
Is there a new interstate which you are not aware of, which directly connects your terminal to Houston?

Not very likely. Another pack of lies. Again.

Truck Drivers, Be Aware!

Experienced drivers are well aware of the existence of dishonesty within trucking companies. New drivers need to be aware.

Trucking companies care about money. It’s business after all.

That is the cold, hard truth of the matter. Some don’t much care about the truck drivers.

They’ll lie to get you on board and then hope you’re too broke to change companies.

Over the years, we’ve noticed most of the liars in trucking companies hold ‘middle management’ positions. Just an observation.

Often the company owners don’t know this is going on.

Middle management for some reason, has a bad habit of thinking drivers are stupid. They tend to treating them accordingly.

If you’re a driver in the trucking industry and you haven’t been lied to yet today, that’s probably because you are still in the bunk of your truck!

If you are fortunate to have a truck driving job with a company WITHOUT liars, stick with it.

There are trucking companies which are honest, treat their drivers well and pay them fairly.

If you know of a trucking company out there, doing right by their drivers, we want to know about them.

We’re happy to promote and give credit to where credit is due for the good guys. Send your info to contact us.

Our message to truckers everywhere: BE AWARE.

Sometimes, there ARE liars in trucking companies.

Research the company first, BEFORE jumping on board.

Jumping blindly into a driving job with the wrong company can ruin you.