GPS's Against Company Rules Now?

My $400 GPS died today : -( I've only had it for a couple of months. I really did miss it today. It's almost like driving blind lol. It really throws your mojo off when it quits like that and you realize how reliant on it you are.

 

does swift really believe that is going to be stop the other problem of topped trailers. Did they offer an alternative. how will it be enforced.......

 

All GPS's are tools. All will at times route you to a low bridge (even the truck ones).
You have to use common sense and use it as the tool was intended. Use map and customer directions, and the GPS as a backup/ planning tool.
It is not only Swift having this issue. My company will not hire drivers with less than 1 year OTR, and we still have had several trailers topped this year due to drivers not paying attention to the road and relying on a GPS.

I am sure some company's will ban them, but it will mostly be to save money. Especially with lease OP's.
If they put the policy in place, and a company driver tops out not following it, they will fire the driver.
If a lease Op violates the policy they will charge the Lease Op for the damage to the equipment and load, because it is the drivers fault, and they violated a company policy.

 

If it's a garmin it may no be dead ... there's a reset procedure that can bring it back .. call their customer service, they will tell you how to do it.

 

Rumor has it, the new touch-screen Qualcomms Swift will be using in the not-so-distant future will have GPS built-in. I "heard" they are trying to have them implemented fleet-wide in 8 months. These will also include Electronic Logs and supposedly internet capability.

 

i've also heard that there will be paperless logs in 6 mo. and that was a year ago.

part of the reason they've been thinkin' about paperless logs? is because some drivers are too dumb to make neat lines, hoard logs for a week+ at a time, dont know how to do the 'multi day off' box right, or add to 24 and 70. basic math, and being able to draw.....what most of us should have learned before we left grade school.

 

Companies are going to this because eventually it will be a requirement of all motor carriers. Smart companies will get ahead of the game. Like here at Butler Transport, we have these electronic logs and all. Its better than what Werner has been doing for all these years. I like it. You should like it too.

We also have the "fancy" qualcomm system with the logs, navigation, and your communication with your fleet manager.

I have used the navigation a couple times. It is a good tool. It really helps me plan my trips more accurately. I do not use mine for turn by turn. I use mine for how many approximate miles I have left on my trip. If I know I need to get so far in one day, this helps me do it.


People need to embrace paperless logs, because it is the future of trucking. Like it or not. Learn to like it....

 

Saving a few of those tree things has to be a pretty good reason I would guess as well. Doubt it's all negative.

 

I can see good and bad with the e-logs. My hubby drove for a company that had e-logs, and they definitely have their issues. A driver should still know how to properly fill out a log book though. A driver should also know how to get to their destinations without a GPS. Nothing can replace good basic common sense. Knowing how to read a map is a skill one should always have! Knowing how to read road signs is another skill one should not be without!

 

Yes, yes and yes..... we have the new Q.C. at my carrier but.....the gps and internet are off AND yes it does your log.......

It also has big time reporting capabilities about your driving performace. ( did the older version have this? ) like braking, swerving, idling etc. and has a tamper tale.

I thought as long as I didn't spike the brakes or swerve hard I could bump the Governor all day.....nope...took a butt chewing for hard acceleration and failure to progressively shift. Q.C noted over revs in lower gears. Q.C. caught me on warm up and cool down ( 5 mins each ) too.

Ours is setup on a rolling 2 week interval / avg. Fuel numbers seen on the console is what your doing right now...not what the TM will get.