PSY 409A Driving Psychology, March 13, 2006
The Economics of Trucking and the Relationship between Truckers and Dispatchers
By: Melanie Baldueza
Peter Rothe, Editor (2002). Driving Lessons: Exploring Systems That Make Traffic Safer. (Edmonton: University of Alberta Press) Rothe, J. Peter. Dispatchers and Drivers On-the-Road-Economics and Manufactured Risk. Pages 143-159.
Instructions for this outline:
http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy24/g24-oral1.htm
I. Economic Influence
a. Trucking companies are here to make money
i. Depend on dispatchers a lot for daily duties
1. Middle managers who carry a burden on their shoulders
2. Try to please drivers, shippers, managers, and other dispatchers
3. Expedite loads if necessary
ii. How dispatchers hurry shipments
1. Compromise safety regulations
2. Manipulate drivers to break some rules
3. Don’t follow correct protocol
4. Drivers are at the bottom of the trucking hierarchy
a. Respond to dispatchers to avoid punishment
b. If listen to dispatchers will gain some perks
c. Trucking is very competitive, drivers know if they refuse loads because of legality or safety, other drivers will take them
d. Truckers are in this business to make money
b. Dispatcher-Trucker Competition
i. Dispatchers are considered to be middle management and truckers are the staff
1. Each have different set of rules and ideals about their role in the business
2. One thing links them together and that’s money
ii. Advantages for dispatchers corresponds into gains for the trucker
iii. Ongoing antagonism between the two, influences truckers’ on-the-road maneuvers
1. Antagonisms may lead to hostility, truckers may seek other jobs, or dispatchers may invoke disciplinary actions
iv. Managers accept competition, but the most successful trucking business will keep it to a minimum
II. Dispatchers Affecting Driving
a. Dispatchers influence the truckers’ on-the-road behavior
i. The dispatcher is the corporate representative and they have power over the truckers
ii. Drivers fear the dispatchers because they could take action against them, which may lead to money problems in the future
iii. Truckers are afraid of losing their jobs
1. Truckers may speed and driver aggressively to get their load delivered on time
2. Late arrivals will lead to fines and yelling
b. Morning Start-Up
i. Common rule in trucking is that drivers love to start early and in a good mood
1. Don’t like dispatchers that uses unreasonable tactics like giving them bad loads, talking crap, or asking for impossible tasks that trucks can’t do without breaking the rules or laws
2. Their emotions toward their dispatchers they take out on the road towards other drivers
a. They are aggressive or tired from driving on the road
ii. Angry drivers are very dangerous on the road
1. This is because they are not concentrating on the road, drivers are preoccupied with feelings of resentment
2. While sitting alone and driving, they have the opportunity to replay their feelings over and over again.
a. This leads to having tension while driving
b. At this point, the driver may become bitter and drive dangerously.
Related Links:
I chose this link because a lot of people get apprehensive driving near a big semi-truck. This gives us drivers some tips to make sure that we do not get into an accident
I chose this link because it talks about how a company chooses a truck driver, what his job entails, the dispatchers’ role, working conditions, training, and safety-related rewards and incentives.
My Home Page: www.soc.hawaii.edu/leon/409as2006/baldueza/baldueza-home.htm
G24 Class Home Page: www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy24/classhome-g24.htm