Saia linehaul? Anyone have any information about them?

You need to do some homework on your own. Search Saia new hire,Saia cameras etc on this forum or the other LTL forum.
There’s a ton of info here that we don’t need to rehash over and over again. Sorry to rant but like biden said “come on man!”

 

First thank you for your help Junior, you did answer a lot of my questions already! I do appreciate it.

I did do my homework. I only ask questions if I can't find the answer on here or reddit (I'm not going to search every single internet forum though). It's not like the Saia threads are that active on this forum where people are regularly posting updates on the company (this thread was 2 years old when I posted a few days ago). Information from even a couple of years ago could be outdated. No harm in asking forum members how it is currently if they're still active on the forum.

In this thread (or maybe it was MCUzi's Saia's thread on here) it was said as long as you're doing what you're supposed to be doing then you'll be ok with cameras. That's pretty vague though apart from obviously do not touch the phone with your hands at any time the truck is moving. That doesn't cover eating, drinking (at least bottled water), having the phone on but out of reach, maybe overzealous safety guys going overboard with the cameras, etc. etc.

It does seem like a great company though.

 

I don't understand where people get this business of not being allowed to eat, drink or change the radio station while driving etc. Every time I see it somewhere, it almost always seems to come from someone who has never worked for Saia.

Yes, you can eat and drink while driving. The rule of thumb that was given to me when I started was not to drink anything large that could be construed as obstructing my vision (think 7-11 Big Gulp Mug completely horizontal in front of my face to get the last drop out) and not to eat anything that would force you to have to balance what you're doing to run the tractor safely. I.E. Not making a salad, driving with your knees to eat said salad, and holding a salad container with one hand while using a fork with the other to eat said salad.

That being said, the cameras (at least still to this point on the Lytx system, they are eventually transitioning to the Samsara system and likely enabling the AI features that Samsara is known for) require a triggering event to send a recording for review by safety. If you slam on the brakes to avoid rear ending someone with that Big Gulp in front of your face, you're going to likely answer for it. If you get popped for speeding while eating that salad I described above, you're going to likely answer for it.

You can have the phone on secured in a holder, that's not an issue. Lots of guys running the extra board (and even bidded drivers) use the GPS for traffic tracking information etc. Again, don't have a triggered event while manipulating the phone or picking a different route. Most of the trucks that were coming in when I still worked there had Bluetooth enabled on the truck radio AND also had the microphone installed as well. Kind of tempting to the driver to make phone calls over Bluetooth. Don't fall for the trap! Utilize the Bluetooth for listening to your podcasts, music, etc.

As a side note, in addition to the driver facing cameras, the cameras ALSO record audio in the cab. So if you think you're being slick with a headset on your left ear yakking away and trigger an event that goes to safety, you may have to answer for it.

Saia overall is a company with good benefits and good pay for it's drivers. But in all honesty, the company HAS to pay well and provide good benefits to keep drivers around and tolerating the camera system.

Saia's safety department is akin to the Third Reich. Everything is your fault. It is not a driver friendly culture.

 

Saia
Everything you want to know about SAIA is on the Truckingboards. Your questions will be answered by actual current SAIA drivers. Good luck!

 

If I can transition coming from Reddaway which is by far the most laid back, no rules, LTL company even more laid back then ODFL then it’s doable with their rules. I eat, drink, and tune my cell phone(xm app) on a mount of course all day. Big things that will get you fired or written up quick. Cell phone in hand or ear. Even backing under a trailer in the yard and you hit the king pin and have it in your hand you’ll get wrote up IF Caught. Keep phone out of hand even in the yard if you hit a bump hard enough you’ll get caught. Road rage giving the bird if caught, Following distance is a biggie. No super trucking and riding a bumper so you can pass like nascar.

Now on the eating if you have a giant sandwich and it’s in your view for extended amount of time blocking your view then yes you can get in trouble. If your just driving with a regular sandwich in your hand then no I doubt it just don’t drive with your knee. If you are drinking something then no. If you happen to roll your set or get in an accident what do you think is gonna happened? Any company would fire you.

Basically I eat and drink beverages and listen to my cell phone music or apps all day long and haven’t been bothered about it at all in the 2.5 years I’ve been here.

But I got a video when I started when I was backing under a trailer in the yard with the cell in my hand on speaker talking to central. The other one I didn’t slow down fast enough on a hill cause I didn’t want to heat my brakes up for following distance some super trucker merged quickly in front of me going down a grade. Explained what happened and considered not my fault carry on. 2 videos in almost 3 years. Should of only been 1 but I was a newbie.

 

Bluetooth is now allowed. Memo just came out today. It’s official.

 

Now imagine the influx of drivers they will attract.

 

It will help to attract more drivers. Also keep their own from going elsewhere. We need drivers pretty bad. I have to work a 6th day this week and from what I heard this is system wide. Sucks but a $2400 gross week eases my pain.

 

Someone needs to tell HR that. I applied twice and never heard back from "Brandon" I just recently moved to another state and applied here too, waiting to hear back. I've got 7 years Class A experience and no accidents or tickets. Estes called me half hour after submitting an application and set up an interview right away. I think they are the ones who are needing drivers and acting on it. I'll find out tomorrow if Estes has a spot for me on p&d.