I recently was driving to work on the interstate when I saw a big rig approaching from behind – rather quickly, I might add. I checked my speedometer and noticed I was going just above 70 mph myself, so the guy in the tractor catching up to me obviously was traveling well above that. I guessed to myself that he probably was an independent trucker who probably didn’t have all of the latest safety gizmos and doodads hooked up to his rig – you know, the ones that tell the guys back at fleet headquarters how fast their trucks are going and if they’re breaking the law while they’re doing it.
Much to my surprise, however, the truck that whizzed by me didn’t have a label on the side of the door that indicated he was a lone wolf risking a speeding ticket – rather, it belonged to a rather recognizable company. I wondered to myself why the driver for this well-known carrier was in such in hurry – and if his safety supervisors at headquarters knew he was floorboarding it well over the speed limit. Believe me, if I mentioned the fleet’s name, you’d know for sure the company certainly has the financial resources to be using most, if not all, of the latest safety technology on the market.
But that begged the question “If his bosses know he’s speeding, they’ll certainly do something about it.” And hopefully someone back home did notify the driver that he was exceeding the posted speed limit that morning – but I’ll never know for sure. Part of me wondered if I should call the “How’s My Driving?” 800 number on the back of his trailer – certainly those phone numbers aren’t there just for show.
I didn’t call the 800 number, and part of me now wishes I had. But knowing the company, I have to believe the driver eventually was scolded. I suppose the lesson I took from the experience was that in today’s tight driver market, even the larger fleets have the occasional bad apple slip through the hiring cracks. Hopefully this driver’s poor behavior was noticed, and he’s now been reprimanded – or perhaps fueling the most current driver turnover statistics.
Another thing to remember is that truckers, fast or slow, are AT WORK. The highway is their place of duty. Most (75%, last I heard) accidents involving trucks and cars were the cars' fault. Trucking companies provide TIMELY service and (from experience) I know that sometimes, drivers are dispatched with very marginal time frames in which to travel to the shipper, pick up the load, transport it to the receiver and get unloaded.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeI always provide feedback to the company:
- Drivers jumping off trailer decks (I hate those protruding, broken-bones);
- Drivers parking in the street to do their banking ("I know just who it is," said the company CSR);
- Drivers "jake-braking" in a parking lot (that was just weird);
- Drivers consistently going 15 MPH over the speed limit, etc.,
Half the companies take the information and are appreciative; others provide a nice voice-mail box that is always full.
I recently read of a horrible accident that resulted in multiple-fatalities because the driver (a new hire) did not start on Friday, but left several days later, taking the weekend off and fudging his log-book. The cycle of destruction always starts with a lie.
Trust your drivers - but verify. Management has to do its job.
All the best.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
Likejohntaratuta I'd remind you that not EVERY employee in EVERY business is the perfect employee. Most truckers are good, decent folks but there are bad apples. There are bad bankers, doctors and shoe salesmen, too. The problem is that truckers do their jobs in full view of the public and when a bad one violates the law, he's in full view of a LOT of the general public. When a doctor screws up, he does it in private.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeDavidMac Thanks for the post.
A trucker's work, however, is well hidden from his employer most of the time.
Unfortunately, as trucking is a large industry, there are many more bad apples who need to be taken out of the barrel. They have brought the grief on themselves and give everyone else a bad name.
When a man crosses the line, or starts to develop bad habits or take shortcuts, he needs to be told so he can improve himself or find a more amiable line of work. Why not pass this information along to the company? Not all companies are receptive, as I have noted.
Generally, these drivers have made efforts to distinguish themselves, and only have themselves to blame. If a company fails to act on the information, then the onus shifts.
Not everything has to be against the law to be unsafe. Jumping four or five feet off of a trailer, for example, can be deadly. Perhaps the company has a weak policy or no one has told the driver about the perils of being a human grasshopper. Six weeks in a cast can be a hard lesson for anybody.
Compliance means not just following the rules and regs, but following all of the standards, both outside and inside of one's industry. This, in turn, leads to professionalism, productivity and higher wages.
All the best.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeAll Truckers are on a Time Line which means be on time for your appointment or the freight is rejected and for that day and you either sit and wait 24 hours or go back to the Company you work for to explain why you could not be on time. Then the driver after being warned twice is let go to go on unemployment if he or she can to look for another job, It's That Simple. There are No Excuses when the Customer needs the product and it's not delivered as promised.
One last comment to this post on speeding truckers, I have seen more 4 wheeler's meaning people who drive cars going well over 80 miles an hour on the highway on a regular basis and they still do why talking on their cell phones going from one lane to the other, My advice to 4 Wheeler's, Stay out of the way of Heavy Trucks because we weigh in excess of 80,000 pounds and if you like having a nice car to drive, Food on the Table or anything else you own remember one thing, it took a Heavy Truck to get it to the store for you as a consumer to go out and buy that product.
Norm
Heavy Equipment Operator , 40 years with no accidents on the highway
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeOr perhaps because of turnover and low pay this well known company has now lowered it standards to accept the sort of driver you had this experience with, and by keeping your silence you allow it to continue.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
Like