ROLO Transport
Service-First Logistics Operations
Handling Difficult Customers
Staying Professional Under Pressure
Purpose
Customers may be frustrated, upset, or rude — especially when there are delays or issues.
Your role is to stay professional, de-escalate the situation, and focus on solving the problem.
How to Handle a Difficult Call
- Stay calm and professional
- Do not interrupt the customer
- Listen fully before responding
- Acknowledge their concern
- Focus on what you can do next
What to Say
“I understand your frustration.”
“I see why this is concerning.”
Take control calmly:
“Let me check on this for you.”
“I’m going to look into this now.”
Set expectation:
“I will follow up with you shortly with an update.”
“I’ll confirm the status and get back to you.”
What NOT to Do
- Do not argue with the customer
- Do not match their tone
- Do not blame drivers, vendors, or other team members
- Do not guess or give incorrect information
- Do not ignore or rush the call
Example Scenario
Response:
“I understand your frustration and I apologize for the delay.
Let me check the current status right now and I’ll provide you with an update shortly.”
If the Customer Continues to Be Rude
- Stay calm and do not react emotionally
- Keep your responses short and professional
- Focus on resolving the issue
- If needed, escalate to a supervisor
“I understand the situation is frustrating.
I’m working on getting this resolved and will update you as soon as possible.”
Ending the Call
- Summarize what will happen next
- Confirm any follow-up
- Remain professional until the end