wanna run safe and legal

I think 99 percent ofevery company I drove fortried to make me run illegal....It seems to be common.

 

First know that YOU are the only one who can make the choice to move the truck, 2nd try to get all communications over the Q (if you have one) or other devise that will keep it recorded so you have proof to show those in charge, 3rd DONT let dispatch ruin your career. Take yourself to the office, ask to speak to someone in charge in person and explain your situation.

Maybe your dispatcher is new/uneducated/lame and just needs a good talkin to by management?. Safety should be on your side and if you keep proof they cant argue with that. I know of a driver whose dispatcher was on his butt ALL the time to run run run.....operations even called him throwing a fit...he explained the problem and gave them the numbers... and he also gave the info to safety, DISPATCH shut up and quit being dorks. They can only push you as far as you allow them too.

I know there are no easy solutions to the problem BUT its your career so you have to CYA and the more proof you have the better off you are. With all the new 2010 reporting that is in effect they have to back off at some point, if you feel your job is in the danger zone; start looking for another gig before you go to the office.....

 

Good advice Luvmyhubby.

 

I personally have stopped at a weigh station went inside and told a DOT Officer they are trying to make me run illegal and I have it on the qualcomm. DOT Officer said nothing I can do until you run illegal, then I can fine you. How about that.....I told the company on the qualcomm I couldn't legally do it, and the told me that load had tobe there. And DOT wouldn't do anything.

I worked military and L.E. before driving a truck. I hate running illegal thats why I'd whether drive a dump truck no log book or running illegal.

 

Work for a company with paperless logs. Honestly, most OTR companies are bottom feeders these days, but if you got a dedicated run, even for a bottom feeder like Werner, JB Hunt, etc, (just applied for a target dedicated reefer run at schneider myself!), you'd be treated a lot better than a regular driver at that company. On the big accounts, you'll generally run out of one DC, and your dispatcher will be at that DC too, along with a safety guy, load planner, manager, etc. It's a lot easier to deal with dispatch when you can just walk in the office any time you want and harrass them. Usually you dont sit on hold, etc, etc.

Paperless logs forces you to run legal. The system sucks, even Werner's whose been developing their system since *1995*. you'd think theyd have the kinks worked out by now!

Dedicated gets you treated better than a normal driver would for that same company. Dedicated also gets you more consistent miles and more oppurtunities to meet pretty girls. More consistency = no real reason to run illegal.

Be wary of driver unload accounts. I helped out on a dollar general account and was cheating my logs even though i have paperless. My log always showed an average of 500 to 600 cases on line 4. But I also had to load empties, back the truck in (some stores you dont have to back but stores that involve backing usually take atleast 30 minutes of it!), deal with store workers that were usually slower than i and slowed me down, etc etc...... (besides that, its just plain hard work)

 

I run paperless and i cant do anything illegal unless i unload a trailer.

 

They don't make drivers like they use to. Don't know you at all but I had to laugh because DOT does care and seems you must of really been annoying them that they wanted you to keep moving. I got drivers that bug me to no end for miles then when I give it to them then they cry when they have to run. It's a no win situation you only make money when that truck is moving. My only advice is find another career.

Ken