New GPS in ALL trucks w/in 6-8 months

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/con-way-truckload-fleet-gets-150500611.html

JOPLIN, MO--(Marketwire -03/06/12)- Con-way Truckload, a full-truckload carrier and subsidiary of Con-way Inc. (NYSE: CNW - News), today announced the installment of Maptuit® NaviGo™ technology in all company trucks and Qualcomm-equipped owner-operator tractors. The in-cab navigation upgrade follows a successful pilot study launched in September 2011.

Not the full article but the top portion. I found this while looking for when 1st Q investments conference call will happen so I could again find transcripts and post synopsis that some thanked me for last time. Apparently it won't be until the beginning of may for that to happen (5/2/12)

I did find it interesting in the article that a touted benefit is "Route compliance and performance trend reporting features enable dispatchers to assess how well drivers are following route plans, improving on-time delivery and customer satisfaction"

Seems we are going the way of other ATA carriers and will no longer be able to plan our own trips. This was one reason I came to CWTL, they don't treat drivers like idiots and allow us to have some freedom.

I can't say for certain that they will end drivers being able to trip plan or not but if so I will be going to a smaller carrier or atleast more actively looking.

How do others feel about this? In a professional manner not just swearing and complaining. What are other drivers perceived/assumed positives and negatives? I'm just curious.

In one sense easier to do our jobs but also giving up freedom at the same time is all I see. That and CWTL's routing in the north east is terrible judging by mileage I'm paid for vs what I drive on some loads (I've driven 304 miles on a dispatched 408 )

So again, What are others opinions??

 

My only big concern is my short exit from NYC using I278 being taken away since the bridges are marked 11'8 and 12'4". It shaves 20 miles and about an hour when leaving queens/Brooklyn heading to PA. It's not restricted but won't come up as a usable truck route do to NYC's false bridge height postings

Also 2 east from Maine to Vermont which CWTL swears is not a safe/dispatchable truck route even though that used to be the only truck route before I95S to 495S to I93N. This is the route I take to shave off 80+ miles when dispatched from Maine to Vermont, Western Quebec, and North Eastern NY state/ Eastern Ontario.

 

After reading the article I decided to do some creative routing. I was dispatched 377 miles per Conway and after my scenic/non-convention routing am parked 107 miles away after doing 232 miles today. Like I stated before this is VERY common on the east coast if drivers were used to running up here. Fuel mileage dropped to 6.8 but I had a good breakfast at a diner and assume the 38 miles saved or roughly $21.25 in fuel will make up for the sight seeing off the interstate.

I think the GPS will make things a little easier on newer drivers that treat this like a job but I enjoy the lifestyle that comes with seeing the out of the way places and enjoy treating every run like a game of "how much can I beat the company" as far as MPG and how far under dispatch can I get there. I keep track and since January I'm running -4.3% out of route. That's almost 5% free money for me.

I'm thinking like many said they are bound to give leeway but still question why spend the money at a company that "takes only 3% of applicants to ensure professional and skilled employees".

Guys that run regional will always know shortcuts if they've run the area and today again was another instance of the magic "low Clearence" bridges that must raise when I go under them since I never hit. The numbers (I love numbers) don't make sense to go with the program.

Conway has this run 3 times a week
I cut 38 miles off the trip
MPG avg is lets say 7 so I saved the company 5 gal
5 Gal at $4.25=$21.25
$21.25 X 3 runs a week=$63.75 per week savings
$63.75 X 52 weeks in a year=$3,952.50 a year or roughly 8 free tanks of fuel a year or an ENTIRE MONTHS FREE FUEL assuming I go home 4 days a month and continue doing 34 hr resets every weekend

fun math exercise for the day. Hope everyone is having a good day

 

ECU that's exactly what I'm worried about. First time I got a message that navigo routing was sent to my QC and to ignore if mine wasn't upgraded was yesterday. I replied back "no need to upgrade or send routing now or in the future please advise of ETA to install date so I can use up vacation and home time before". Got back a reply from FM saying she thought that would be the response so she will avoid sending me to ANY terminal or w/ in 300 miles of any as long as possible but will give me a heads up if she has one.

I will stay even with it installed as long as
A) my routing is fine and I can ignore theirs
B) I can fuel where I choose in their book, I fuel at only about 10 different places and don't want to change or add since all but 1 is a SFO
C)I can take rest breaks where I choose

If any of those 3 things changes I will stay 30 days past giving my notice of me quitting and why and inform them on every load in the northeast how much they would have saved in fuel and miles had I routed myself tonights run is my worst savings wise I come in at on 2 miles under dispatched mile. This week I'm sitting at 71 miles under dispatched my goal is 200