6 Things Drivers Wish Shippers Knew

Let’s be real: most drivers aren’t going to walk into your shipping office and tell you what’s wrong with your operation. They’ve got places to be, a clock that never stops ticking, and, frankly, they’re tired of being ignored.

But that doesn’t mean they don’t have thoughts. And if you’re a shipper who wants freight moved on time, with fewer headaches and a solid reputation in the carrier world, you should want to hear them.

So, on their behalf, I’m saying the quiet parts out loud. Here are six things drivers wish you knew:

1. Wait Time Isn’t Just Annoying, It’s Expensive

Every minute a driver spends waiting at your dock is money out of their pocket. Whether it’s eating into hours-of-service, delaying the next pickup, or straight-up costing them detention they’ll never get paid for, your inefficiency has a price tag. Not to mention it costs your warehouse time and labour when you are running that ineffectively.

If your dock consistently takes more than 3  hours to load, expect word to spread fast. Drivers talk. And they remember.

2. Your Directions Matter More Than You Think

Bad addresses. Poor signage. No info on where to check in. NO PHONE NUMBERS. You’d be shocked how often a driver gets told to “just go around back” when there are four loading zones and zero markings.

The result? Late check-ins, missed appointments, angry dispatch, and a whole lot of unnecessary stress. Clean signage and instructions when booking can be game-changers.

3. “Just Come Back Later” Is Not an Option

Drivers aren’t hanging around town with a wide-open schedule. They’ve got delivery windows, hours of service limits, and often another load on the line.

If your team says, “We’re behind, come back in 3 hours,” they might as well say, “We don’t care if you miss your next job.” Because that’s exactly what it sounds like.

4. Basic Respect Goes a Long Way

You don’t have to roll out a red carpet. But access to a restroom, a clear place to park, and someone who acknowledges they exist? That’s not luxury, it’s human decency.

Shippers who treat drivers like garbage end up being the facilities drivers avoid. And when a tight capacity market hits, you don’t want to be that shipper.

5. Drivers Talk

The trucking grapevine is alive and well. If your warehouse is known for rude staff, long waits, or “lost” paperwork, it will be shared in Facebook groups, CB chatter, and among dispatchers. On the other hand if you are known for pleasant staff, quick loading, and a clean restroom, you will have more trucks to choose from.

Be a shipper of choice not the shipper to avoid.

6. We Want the Same Thing You Do

You want your freight delivered safely and on time. So do drivers.

They’re not out to make your life difficult. They want a smooth check-in, a safe load, and to be back on the road as quickly as possible. Help make that happen, and you’ll see fewer service failures, happier carriers, and less turnover.

Summing it up

If you treat drivers like disposable parts of your supply chain, don’t be surprised when your freight is the last to get moved, or the first to get dropped when capacity tightens.

But if you make their job even a little bit easier? They’ll remember that, too.