My company has banned ANY cell phone usage while driving.

I think they have nothing better to do but set around and see how much BS they can make up!

 

Or...They sit at the counter at the truckstop and listen to every word that the ever present know it all big mouth truckstop lawyer that you can hear all over the restauraunt says...

 

Tazz, I refuse to take orders from you. Now what are you going to do about it?

 

They are not orders they are choices.More specifically they are his choices looking for outside validation of the choice he wants is pointless as no one else is making the decision.

The rest of that post was a commentary on how people have forgotten they are paid to drive and that the people paying him demand he do his job in a certain manner.He has the right to accept that manner or leave.

No other alternative was presented and I suspect none exists.So again I will state

You and I have little besides offering our opinions on the subject so I have done all I care to.

 

I don't know that a video is needed to show you how not to use a cell phone.

I would assume you have voice mail,explain to anyone who might have to communicate with you that from now on you will not be able to converse with them.

This applies to your dispatcher as well

Politely tell them to leave a message and then plan on checking your messages as often as you wish to stop.

Yes it is less convenient.Yes it will take valuable time out of your clock(tic,tic,tic,) but that's the job they are requiring of you.

If they lose drivers,or have complaints from dispatchers, or find that loads are running late due to this policy change perhaps they would change it or not.

It still boils down to are you willing to follow the guideline,or would you rather find another employer?
















I live by the oath,and I do use the line to spur interest in others.But my personal favorite character from the Ms. Rand's books is Roarke from Fountainhead.I always found Galt's character to be a bit emotional.But to each their own.

 

Breeze, you make a lot of great points. Nice post.

I would like to add two thoughts:

1. One of the BIG carriers I worked for put us through a seminar presented by an insurance specialist (who keeps the insurance claims down). I recall learning that typically both drivers will be found to have some fault in the accident. If your log book isn't just right for 8 days, then you have some fault, or if you are on the phone you may have some fault, etc. So if the other driver is drunk and crosses the line and hits you head on, the lawyers are going to look for a way to pin some of the fault on the driver of the big rig. If a truck driver is assessed 10% of the blame in a $10 million judgement, for example, then the driver's share is $1 million. Kinda takes the fun out of trucking, doesn't it?

2. Regarding the evolution of big brother, I read just a couple of weeks ago that the Fed announced it has approved the go-ahead to use eye scanners nationwide for routine identification.

Wikpedia says, "Retinal scanning has been utilized by several government agencies including the FBI, CIA, and NASA. However, in recent years, retinal scanning has become more commercially popular. Retinal scanning has been used in prisons, for ATM identity verification and the prevention of welfare fraud." Link here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retinal_scan

There is already very widespread use of retina scanners by the military in Iraq, link here: http://www.govtech.com/gt/580209?topic=117691

Central Missouri will receive over $4 million in grants from the US Dept of Justice which will result in implentation of iris scanners and license plate scanners (scan up to 3000 plates per day as they drive by or are parked), Link here: http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2010/jan/19/the-eyes-have-it/

It seems to me that it would be cheaper to just give us all a tattoo for national I.D., but what do I know... I'm just a steering wheel holder!?

The Eyes have it...


Mike Southard of Sure Scan Technology stands next to a SecuriMetrics Pier 2.3 iris scanner after having his eye scanned by Randy Smith of L-1 Identity Solutions. The new scanner is being funded as part of a $200,000 technology grant to the Boone County Sheriff’s Department.

 

Wow, so what you are saying is that our mobile jail cells are SO much like the concrete jail cells now in that phone calls are highly regulated?

What about getting a pre-paid phone and keeping the owner-ship anonymous? Drug dealers and terrorists do this, so why couldn't truckers do this too? And another thought, why not test drivers at the DMV to see if they are smart enough to use a phone while driving and put an endorsement on your CDL if you qualify. A nationwide data base could be implemented so that anyone who has ever appeared on the Jerry Springer show would automatically be disqualified. Anyone who believes that Elvis is still alive could be disqualified. Anyone who believes that Saddam should have been freed and Bush should have been imprisoned could be automatically disqualified.

By the way, rumor has it that it will soon become policy amongst carriers to ban scratching your nuts while you are driving. This has been shown to reduce accidents, so it's for your own good. The new rules will specify that you cannot pull over on the shoulder to scratch because if you are rear ended it's a big lawsuit against the carrier, so what's a driver to do? Castration maybe? Perhaps the DOT could require drivers be required to keep their finger nails cut short so as to prevent scratching while driving, and cabs and sleepers could be searched for contraband scratching devices. Female drivers will have the advantage in this regard, eh? LOL

Seriously though, I do know drivers who hang up every time they get into traffic, so not all truckers are dangerous dummies with a phone.

 

Isn't life funny ? Especially when you consider the German auto makers think Americans are complete dumb ##### for wanting cup holders in their vehicles.


If you want a drink or something to eat....stop at a restaurant. Your car/truck isn't a dining room.

 

But I want the original poster, who has been told he can't use the phone while the truck is moving, to ask the overprotective safety dept. wizards, when he is stopped and talking to dispatch, and logging that time as ON DUTY, how they are going to make up that lost productivity from his 70 hours? When he was driving and talking the prior way, there was no charge to his hours.