What warehouse staff at many discounters have yet to realize: kindness pays off. Today was another such occasion. I had to go to a central warehouse of a discounter again. Sure, it’s not that hard—you drive there, unload, and drive back.
Wrong idea. Not today, apparently.
Time of day? A foreign word
Normally, things go like this: You arrive somewhere in the morning, say a friendly “good morning,” and the other person does too. At this one—and yes, at many other central warehouses—it’s no different; people don’t know how to use a friendly word. Instead, they immediately start shouting, treating you like third-class human beings, telling you in an unfriendly tone what you, as a driver, are supposed to do.
Well, every truck driver knows this, and many will now nod in agreement. That such treatment is frustrating goes without saying, especially when so many warehouse “kids,” who probably don’t count for much at home either, think they can order drivers around and even threaten them with refusal of goods acceptance if they object.
The following words are directed precisely at these people:
You’re just a number
Exactly. Correctly understood: you too are just a number in some personnel department file. And as it is with numbers, so it is with people. Numbers can be deleted and replaced. In your case, that means firing and replacing you with someone else.
Your threatening gestures are nothing more than hot air. Just like the employee at the discounter where I delivered today, who was convinced he didn’t have to talk to me, and if he did, only in an unfriendly tone. To be perfectly honest? It doesn’t interest me a bit if you tell me: You’re not allowed to come here anymore. Then it’s over for you… Hey Wayne, interested? I drive overseas containers; I don’t depend on you.
And the best part is, there’s a driver shortage. That hasn’t reached you yet, but just so you know: As a result, freight elsewhere remains open and cannot be transported. Feel free to send away unwanted drivers again. Keep repeating your standard phrase: “Then just get another one.” Yes, that may be true, but eventually, no one will come anymore. Why? Driver shortage…
What does that mean? Over 45,000 drivers are missing. Even your employers are having trouble finding new drivers.
It’s already almost eight years since I wrote a similar post on this topic. Many organizations and trucking associations, yes even the BAG (German Transport Workers’ Union), have tried to improve the situation at the docks in recent years. Unfortunately, they didn’t bring the discounters on board. Because it’s precisely them that this affects.
But the most important thing you’ve never understood:
Don’t bite the hand that feeds you!
No? Has nothing to do with us drivers?
Oh, yes. We drivers aren’t just the ones delivering for you. No, we also shop at the discounters’ stores. So we finance your salaries! Customer friendliness is certainly more appropriate than constant complaining.
If possible: Think about that.
And the best part is, there are central warehouses of your employer where kindness works. It’s not hard, and it doesn’t hurt anyone.
Small note
If a driver tells you again that some warehouse “kid,” who hung on his mother’s breast too long, will call your boss, give him your number. If he then also acts as stupidly as my patient from yesterday and calls in front of an assembled audience of drivers after trying to talk down to you, and you answer with a smiling “Hello?” on your phone, well, the laughter is on your side. 🙂
