swift fired me for two incidents and I just recieved my DAC Has two accidents on it

Only difference here is when/if he makes the same mistakes, it won't be so bad because his truck won't say Swift on the side.

 

Excellent point, DC.

Same exact type of crash, same number of people dead. If it's a Swift, it's Swift's fault. If it's a no name mom n pop, it was weather or traffic or poor road conditions or the dead people did something stupid or ....you call out an excuse.

In this case, the driver can't possibly have done anything wrong because he's no longer employed by Swift. However, while he was employed by Swift, those at fault property damages were all his fault.

Almost magical....

 

You live in Rochester. Do you remember about 2 years ago when they had a unplanned detour downtown near Canal St? Some one didn't check bridge clearence and neither did a Crete driver Just cause some one say's "go there" dosn't mean its safe to do so! Cop's are looking at a detour from a 4wheeler point of veiw.

 

I should have worded that better. Every truck is going to have wear and tear at some point. That was pinpointed more at negligence, for example drivers not doing PTI's, or ignoring a problem because it's 'minor', etc. I'd be willing to bet you my paycheck that a handful of 'drivers' on this forum drove 6+ months with a mechanical defect they knew about. That's when a mechanical defect is the drivers fault, especially when they don't report it on the DVIR. Report the problem as soon as it's discovered and get it fixed. 9 times out of 10, the sooner you replace a malfunctioning part, the cheaper the cost is going to be. Not just for the company, but you as a driver as well. Yes, it's a company truck but if it ain't rolling, you ain't making money.

BTW, I just picked up a load in Rochester this morning.

 

Inadequate trip planning is the only way to put it. One of the many things I do for my trip planning is check enroute road closures. There are resources out there. This is one of them:

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/trafficinfo/

Using that website, I know which roads along my routing are open, and which ones are closed for construction well in advance. If I have a unexpected detour, I will stop the truck somewhere and consult my atlas.

My company still routes drivers on I-29, even though that highway has been closed for months.

 

I think you guys have a rosy picture when it comes to these OTR trucking outfits.

If I stopped my truck at the 4 otr companies I worked at every time I had a issue with a truck or trailer I would be panhandling at the rest area instead of driving a truck.

You call them about a tire and they say does it hold air? Then stop your ######## and get rolling and get it fixed at shop, not on the road.

Bad trailer brakes? Well you have tractor brakes don't you? now stop bugging me I am play solitaire.

Airbag leveler broke, well tape it to the frame and get that load of beer del.

Flat rapped around your axle? big deal drive it from Wichita to the TA in Tulsa and get it fixed or you will be sitting on the side of the road all weekend because we ain't paying the double tap on the road service.

What? you have a fuel leak? well how much is it leaking?

And i could go on and on. And that was when the economy was good and no CSA. Glad I'm not dealing with those yahoos anymore

 

I agree. Sometimes it takes being a thorn in the shops butt to get things done. It's always in the driver best interests to make sure his/her equipment is functioning correctly if not to make sure shop fixes it.

Yes, while a broke down truck can affect company, it will affect the driver more in their pocketbook to be sitting around not making any $$.
Company can always swap loads and keep freight moving.

My advice to drivers is: it may be a company truck but always try to take care like you own it so you can always keep the wheels turning & that $$ coming in.

 

Bingo!

Maintaining a company truck does 2 things actually. It keeps your wheels rolling and it shows your DM/company that you're a responsible driver. My DM was aggrivated at the fact I placed the truck OOS for 4 days at first, but he was appreciative after I talked to him and told him what the condition of the truck was. It was either me place the truck OOS or get stopped at a scale and have the DOT place it OOS. I'll take the lesser of 2 evils.

 

My experience with the two big companies I have been with is polar opposite of BigBlue. However. The tiny mom n pop I ran for was just like that. For them, it was about money. They flat didn't have it.

 

Call dm let them reroute and or take the heat. We live in 1984 you are not allowed to think for your self but are responsible for your truck trailer and any thing it touches right down to the rubber bumpers at the dock.