Do your customers treat you well?

**Streakn1** · 03-07-2010, 03:24 PM

In my almost thirty years out here on the road hauling freight in one capacity or another, I've never had finer customers to serve than now. That is the men and women in the aviation industry.

The freight we haul typically is bound for a jet waiting on a repair part so it can get airbound asap. Or parts that have to be taken to repair facilities for rebuild and repair. Many times we may deliver the new part(s) and wait on the returns.

As an example, this is how many of our customers treat us:
Delivered a part to a large airport in Chi-town last night for a repair on a waiting jet. The tooling to make the repair was flying in but was delayed. We would have to wait about 12-24 hours. Rather than make us leave and return, our customer offered to allow us to park inside the hanger, plug into electrical power to run our sleeper, use the employee showers so that we would not have to deplete our own water supply, and make coffee. We felt as if the red carpet was being rolled out for us! This is not uncommon.

So we are camped out amounst the jets inside the hanger and enjoying the goings on around us as they make repairs. By the way the reason we are inside is that when inside a secured area of an airport, the truck and driver(s) must be accompanied at all times or inside the customer's hanger.

We love our customers and hats off to the airline industry!!!

**pelicn** · 03-07-2010, 07:30 PM

The customer just showed that you are appreciated for the job you do. A refreshing change for sure. Cool picture too!

**highway star** · 03-07-2010, 08:24 PM

I would suspect that most of the time you're dealing with people that have a decent position within the Bell curve. I'm sure that not just anyone can work on an airplane. When I was running nearly 100% automotive it was, ahhh, not always like that. Now, I haul a variety of general freight, and the vast majority of the time I'm treated well. Right now I'm parked behind a shopping center in Ossining, N.Y. where I'll be delivering computer equipment to a Marshalls store that's under construction. Those folks are usually great to work with.

**LDB** · 03-07-2010, 09:11 PM

When I worked in the insurance industry one of my favorite clients was the aviation department for a petroleum guy. Three of his crew were clients and I'd go to the hangar to do business with them on breaks. I'd also get to check out the planes. They were intelligent guys and pleasant to work with.

I'd enjoy doing this work if it weren't for the 53' and tarping. Too bad they don't have a need for the same thing for instruments etc. that easily fit into a van.

**Streakn1** · 03-08-2010, 12:05 AM

Originally Posted by LDB

I'd enjoy doing this work if it weren't for the 53' and tarping. Too bad they don't have a need for the same thing for instruments etc. that easily fit into a van.

Thankfully we own and pull a custom 48' stepdeck. With that we are still almost eighty feet long. Tarping the engines is fun, and the aircraft components aren't bad to tarp as they come crated.

Below is a photo taken the same day as the orginal one in this post. What are the odds of being able to get a digital camera to snap the picture precisely when an aircraft going over 200 mph appears to land on the roof of your sleeper!

**LDB** · 03-08-2010, 01:16 AM

That would be a slight improvement but still the whole t/t thing and the tarping. It is definitely cool and I enjoy your posts about it but for me it would have to be instruments etc. for them rather than engines.

**Turtle** · 03-08-2010, 02:14 AM

I can't recall any shipper or receiver actually treating me badly. A few have the time, opportunity and facilities to provide some extras, like being given an hour in a combat tactical tank training simulator at an army base, or being given a seafood buffet dinner, a bed and then breakfast at a naval base, getting the opportunity to watch up-close and personal the pouring of molten metal in a casing process, or simply having a couple of ice-cold bottles of water handed to me after a lengthy hand unload. Generally, I get loaded and unloaded in an expeditious manner, by pleasant people, and that's all I can ask for.

**piper1** · 03-08-2010, 08:58 AM

My best customers are automotive. My absolute worst regular customer is in the aviation business, yet another division of the same company is OK. I also detest a certain big box retailer, my worst single experience ever (enough that I won't haul for them again ever).

Before FedEx, my best customers were all aviation. My worst were printing companies.

**highway star** · 03-08-2010, 12:34 PM

Originally Posted by piper1

My best customers are automotive.

Would it be a safe assumption that these aren't Big 3 plants?

**piper1** · 03-08-2010, 01:44 PM

Originally Posted by highway star

Would it be a safe assumption that these aren't Big 3 plants?

Some actually are! The GM plant in Bay City MI, Chrysler/Magna in Syracuse NY, Ford in St.Thomas ON, GM in Oshawa ON and GM in St.Catherines ON. All are great places and I have gotten to know some of the people there. With the exception of Honda in Greensburg IN, I never seem to have any luck at the foreign owned plants.

If I have a secret to success at these places it is that I never act like I am in a hurry. If I behave like I don't give a hoot how fast they unload me...I seem to get in and out pretty quickly. Then again...that seems to work almost everywhere.

**piper1** · 03-08-2010, 05:41 PM

With your wardrobe Ken...most are likely afraid of you.

**nightcreacher** · 03-08-2010, 06:35 PM

I've never had an actual expedite customer give me a bad time.They are usually greatful your either there for your pick up, or deliver.Now the regular freight people,thats a different story.Don't have a need to use the bathroom at LG in Ft Worth TX.First the main guard won't take you,but if you get someone to escort you,hope the main guy does't write you up.He will, and then call FDCC

**Shadowpanda** · 03-08-2010, 07:14 PM

In my rather limited experience the answer is a whole hearted YES. The difference in how I am treated as a FECC driver is worlds apart from when I was trucking.

**Streakn1** · 03-08-2010, 08:51 PM

Originally Posted by Shadowpanda

The difference in how I am treated as a FECC driver is worlds apart from when I was trucking.

I think this comment can be applied to expedited freight customers as a whole. These customers seem more appreciative of your efforts and treat you in a more professional manner than the shiper/receivers at food and logistics warehouses ever thought of.

We got out of lockup in the hanger after 24 hrs and are on our way to the repair facility on these crutial parts.

**greg334** · 03-09-2010, 11:30 AM

OMG I don't know... I must get all of the customers who;
hate trucks or truckers
have a serious social interaction problems
are hermits and just hate people
just had their wives or husbands run off with their brother or sister
or just are mean people.

Most of these people are just a PIA to deal with but again I hold my words, get loaded/unloaded and out of there.