ABC 20/20 did a story on trucking safety....

Problem is....and all of us experienced drivers know this....if you refuse the load for ANY reason (HOS or Fatigue or whatever)....you may not see another one for days. These freak'n companies and dispatchers DO make it hard on you if you don't do as they say, when they say it. And everyone is in this for a check. Disgusting! Don't screw with my check.

 

Too much of this story not told. However this will look REALLY bad based on how dispatch handled it. When they they edit this together and tie this in to the Tracy Morgan accident #### will hit the fan.

Makes me wonder why he video taped this phone call. It almost seems like he planned all day he wasn't going to try and rest at any point during that 2nd ten hour break and then call in tired. The reality is he only drove....what?....3 hours from his pickup based on where he picked up and stopped. I find it very hard to believe that he couldn't get ANY rest whatsoever say 6 hours in that 2nd break which would have at least allowed him to get farther and have a better argument

 

Obviously the guy doing the video is sort of a candy ### in the way he is conversing with dispatch and in talking to the camera while setting up the video.
That said, it is a very real situation that drivers deal with daily. I'm quite sure most drivers out there are just wanting to make money without operating like a robot. In this particular situation abiding by logbook rules only making things worse not being able to sleep at normal intervals and working after not resting.
I would have drove back to their terminal and knocked the crap out of that dispatcher! What a disgrace relating someone in an adult situation to that of a school kid. As we all know, that is what the majority of companies and their dispatchers think about drivers.

 

none of you can say how the human body needs sleep. we all function differently.

I had a load like his last month. ready to roll by 9 a.m. but shipper screwed up. had to wait till 7 p.m. for rsst of load. THURSDAY NIGHT. went the rounds with EVERYBODY. NEEDLESS to say. load got delivered friday. on 3 hours sleep. and thanks to receiver taking 4 hours. (rest of the day). I spent the weekend in california. to get my reload. instead of spending my weekend at home.

crap like that happens. with most carriers. Driver fights. and gets screwed anyways.

so. for all you that make it sound so easy. good luck if it happens to you.

but your all supertruckers. and that'll never happen. RIGHT?????

 

It's going to amount to advertising dollars for ABC.
Its all about the money $$$$$

All dispatchers push in my experience , they need to get paid too.
Everyone seems to be fighting to survive.

 

This is exactly why I tell trucking companies EVERYTHING that I demand, and give them the opportunity to accept MY proposal, or pass on me.

First of all...I no longer apply to, nor drive for a reefer company---there is too much "hurry up and wait" in that field, and I am just not cut out for that.
Secondly...I tell my perspective employers, that "I will do anything you ask of me between the hours of 5am. and 10pm....but at 10pm. I am going to bed. This is non-negotiable, and if you can't make that work, let me know now, and we can go our separate ways".
That puts it on THEIR table, and they can decide to hire me or not---but I WILL hold them to it if they hire me. I'm willing to do an oddball delivery in the we-hours of the night here and there...but don't make a habit of it, and it certainly can't be the norm.

I need 6 hours of sleep (5 at the least)---and I NEVER have needed a 10 hour break like the Government feels I should have (snowwy is correct, everyone is different).

P.S.- In order to get the 5am. to 10pm. demand met/accepted, I have to drive for small family owned companies...which is perfectly fine by me, not interested in "great" (inexpensive) benefits since the wife works as well. I would rather have more say of how I operate the truck, and where I operate the truck, and when I get home.

 

BINGO, MEV. (must have been a slow news day)
I agree with joseph, for once, (just kidding) Trucking is a 24/7 deal, it is an "around the clock" deal, roads are open 24 hours, which is why I disagree vehemently with the current HOS rule. You can't put office logic (where the HOS rules come from) on trucking. That's why there are sleepers on truck. A little "power nap" did wonders for me and later on, I'd get a good rest BEFORE calling in for my next assignment. Again, people like this, think the dispatcher is your friend, they're not. And you people that don't have CB's, there were many times I'd be falling asleep, and see someone on front of me doing the same thing, and I'd grab the mike, and say, "hey driver, want to talk?" and I met some really cool people, it fired both of us up, and we both got to our destinations.

 

Quite simply if your body does not have the ability to adapt to these situations then this is the wrong profession for you. And you know what? That's ok...I'm not going to hold it against anybody who can't adjust. Just like I couldn't adjust to college to graduate with a degree in accounting. But you don't see me demanding a job as a CPA either.

_Now. In this case this gentleman came off a 10 hour break. Drove 20 miles and had to take another 10. Hooked up and ran 3 hours and was exhausted. By my math that's about a 14 hour day giving for pre-tripping, hooking up, etc. He insists he couldn't get ANY rest on his 2nd break. Debatable but let's give him the benefit of the doubt...but if you are to the point of exhaustion 14 hours after you woke up you probably shouldn't be doing this for a living.....and again that's ok