gridlore | No, I ain't even stopping.

As a reminder, I'm a truck driver for a company that delivers and stores large containers.

Now my job consists of two basic things. Driving the truck in a safe and efficient manner, and operating the hydraulic lift in the same way. There are other aspects to my job, like having customers fill out rental paperwork and the like, but that's about it.

Now when we go to pick up a container, full or empty, we are allowed to make a judgment call on whether we are able to make the pick up or not. Unsafe conditions and an inability to get to the container are two common reasons for not being able to do a pick up.

Today, I had a pick in a rather low-rent area. I rolled up, and saw that not only was there a ton of crap along side the container, leaning up against it in many places, there was a freaking log in front of the pod. I didn't even stop. Just kept rolling.

Previously, I had tried to call the customer. One phone led to a full message box, the other (home) line just rang with nothing picking up. Still I tried again, hoping to leave a message. Still no luck. I let my boss know what is going on, mark the job "incomplete" and go to a nearby pick-up that I had been given since I was in the area and really needed an empty container of that size for another customer.

Me: Commander of the 1st Podzilla Cavalry!
AH: AssHat
Phone: Nextel of DOOM

Phone: "Bleep! Bleep, I say!"
Me: "Welcome to PODS,

gridlore speaking."
AH: "Yeah, this is AssHat. you gonna pick up my pod or what?"
Me: "I'm sorry, I drove by and due to the larger amount of material by the pod, I cannot do the pick-up. You need to clear at least two feet all around the container, and reschedule."
AH: "you didn't even knock on my door! I could have cleared it up!"

Note, he was scheduled for a pivck-up between 8-11. I got there at 1050. What was he waiting for?

Me: "Sir, I'm sorry, but I cannot stand-by and wait. We need you to be ready for us anytime in the window we gave you. You need to reschedule."
AH: (screaming) "Fuck you! I'm not gonna get charged for another month!"
Me: "You'll have to discuss that with the call center... Sir, there was a log in front of the pod. Any of our drivers see that, and they'll do exactly what I did."
AH: "Fuck, you'd probably bitch about the wires too!"

Note: there were low hanging wires across the area.. something we have to be very careful of.

Me: "Yes sir, I would take note of those wires. In fact, I have to wonder why the original driver did the drop."
AH: (sudden;y trying to sound smooth) "so, I guess they'll send out a better driver than you, huh?"
Me: "Actually, it might well be me again. It's all luck of the draw. And if I see the same pile of material around the pod, I'll keep driving."
AH: (Mad again) "I'm going to report you to your supervisor!"
Me: "Go ahead. I've already spoken to both of them. Explained why I didn't do the job, and they agreed with me."
AH: "Did you lie to them? Did you tell them you knocked on my door? I'm calling your supervisor!"
Me: "No sir, because I'm not required to knock on your door for this exact reason. You need to reschedule."
AH: "Fuck you!!!! I'm calling your supervisor!!!!"
Phone: *click-beep*

Well, he was pleasant. The house, BTW, looked like a stereotype of White Trash, down to the rusted out muscle car in the driveway.

No, I ain't even stopping.

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