Please Define "Micromanage" in trucking.

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by insipidtoast, Jan 28, 2023.

  1. Moosetek13

    Moosetek13 Road Train Member

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    The guy was lucky for many years.
    Swift didn't want to be the fall guy for when he got unlucky.

    That SmartCam also detects when you roll through a stop sign.

    I've had a few infractions with that thing, but my usual score is zero.
    It just went to 4 this past week, but I'm not sure what I did.
    I have spoken with my DM since it happened but he didn't bring it up. I didn't ask, either.
    If I wasn't called on to explain it, it probably was not a big deal.

    If your friend was called so many times about his safety score, I suspect he probably got fired because he didn't get that score down.
     
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  3. LtlAnonymous

    LtlAnonymous Road Train Member

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    Micromanaging is when your boss is very short.
     
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  4. Hammer166

    Hammer166 Crusty Information Officer

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    The algorithms on the cams aren't nearly as advanced as they pretend. I could dramatically drop my score by blowing thru most the yellows I currently safely stop for. That's really encouraging safety!

    And since I know it's the next comment, yes, I try to anticipate lights. Unfortunately, on most of the higher speed roads with lights on Colorado, you don't have a lot to work with. There's only a few places with the prepare to stop flashing signs, and the crosswalks go red after 30 seconds of green, long before the timer to yellow even triggers. Even running below the speed limit, you'll exceed the breaking threshold and take a hit your score.

    But hey, what do I know, I'm just a guy who's been lucky for 40 years and ~4 million miles. /s
     
  5. ducnut

    ducnut Road Train Member

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    How do Swift drivers get away with all the speeding through towns along Hwy 50/54, from Emporia to Tucumcari? It was a regular deal, when I used to run that way. The GPS and speed limit sign recognition should be triggering events.
     
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  6. Moosetek13

    Moosetek13 Road Train Member

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    But you are talking about hard braking for red lights or going through on a yellow as it turns to red.
    I have had my share of those.

    What I just responded to was a driver that left Swift because of his driving habits, or was made to leave.
    Hard brakes, lane deviations... and who knows what else? Following too closely, running stop signs...?

    I made a point in saying that I just racked up 4 points and I was not called about it.
    People who are constantly called to explain their driving habits due to so many incidents are doing other things than braking hard for yellow and red lights.

    In the past week I can remember a hard braking, and probably following too closely for too long a time when I was positioning to pass someone.
    That would account for those points.

    But the thing is, it is not a common thing with me. My normal score is Zero.

    When it is a common thing and it happens all the time and the driver is racking up 20 or 30 points, safety gets involved and tries to coach the driver to correct the behavior.
    If it keeps happening, well ...
     
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  7. Moosetek13

    Moosetek13 Road Train Member

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    No idea.
    Maybe the nanny thinks the speed limit is higher? I know that my RM GPS doesn't always have the correct speed limit programmed in, and the truck doesn't always see a speed limit sign.
    And the truck system will see the construction speed limit, but isn't smart enough to recognize the sign that says the construction speed limit has ended.
     
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  8. Moosetek13

    Moosetek13 Road Train Member

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    The system isn't perfect, by a long shot.
    Swift is trying to ensure drivers are driving safely, that's all.

    I get dinged by it sometimes, but so what?
    I still try to maintain my driving habits within those limits, because it does make me a safer driver.
     
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  9. Grumppy

    Grumppy Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Micro: small

    Micro management is monitoring every small detail. Management wants to control every aspect of your work.
    Rule, rules & rules. Then rules to cover those rules, then a 3rd set of rules to cover all of those previous rules.

    Some companies say, "here's you paperwork, see you in a few days."

    Some companies, control how & when you can & can not get your paperwork, exactly what you do with your paperwork. Special procedures for getting your load, 4 special documents to fill out load info, when to leave, specific route to take to get to your destination. When, where & how long you can stop for fuel, lunch etc. Some want you to call & report in every certain period of time while under dispatch (& some while not under dispatch). The list goes on.

    Another example: Electronic logs is a form of micro managing. Enter specific info when, where, how etc down to the specific minute.... no wait... down to the second.
    Guys with paper logs do basically the same thing but not so specific. More relaxed & not constantly or electronically monitored every second of 24/7/365. More relaxed to adapt when real life happens. Imagine that... real life scenarios in trucking.
     
    Last edited: Jan 29, 2023
  10. TripleSix

    TripleSix God of Roads

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    That’s just the start.

    I’ve pulled superloads for decades. Had all kinds of security clearances, been all over North America, pulled $160m loads. Suddenly, they want me to take pictures of my empty trailer, fill out a safety checklist, take pictures of the load, study diagrams of how to secure a load, take pictures of my securement, take pictures of the load tarped, then wait for an okay to leave.

    Next, they would have diagrams of the roads, showing where to put my steers in order to make a turn. Then they wanted to monitor my speed. Clean record, no claims, no issues and 15 years of employment. And I was an owner operator. I was the guy they called when they had a problem load. Did everything right and the micromanagement got worse. Fine. I’m out.

    Micromanagement means, “Driver, I can’t do your job, but we hire stupid people and put them in trucks, and we will attempt to do all the thinking for you all.” My problem with micromanagement is that they cannot think fast enough, make decisions, or know anything about what I am doing…to tell me anything.

    Six: Make a decision.
    Them: Stand by, driver.
    Six: No! There is no STAND BY. Make a decision now!
    Them: Ummm, ahhhh, ummmm…can you pull over for a moment?
    Six: I am on a 2 lane road with a superload that’s wider than the road and you are talking about pulling over. Why can’t you do your job? I do my job, why the hell can’t you do yours…wait…highway patrol is here…<CLICK >
     
  11. Cat sdp

    Cat sdp . .

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    Do you guys get told where and how much fuel to get each day ?
     
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