Random LTL Rants (all are welcomed)

True that. What a dick for a boss. Still better having human oversight imo.

 

Wow after reading these stories, I feel lucky Old Dominion doesn't monitor our cameras with the same level of scrutiny.

We run Lytx cameras on all our trucks, outward facing only without audio. We get audible warnings for overspeed (75+mph) and I have to make complete stops at stop signs, but other than that it's not a bother. They're only programmed to go off under these circumstances:

1. Hard Braking or Turning
2. An Accident
3. Running a Stop Sign or Stoplight
4. Less than 100ft following distance for 4+ seconds at highway speed.

But say someone cuts you off at 90ft and slows down a bit. As long as you brake (and activate the Jake), the camera will recognize your attempt to increase following distance and the 4 second counter will reset, giving you time to increase following distance above 100ft and disable the counter entirely.

And even if the camera records an event, it goes through someone at the company for them to review first. If it's something minor, they disregard it. If it's concerning, you get a phone number to call and they walk you through the event, offering tips and better driving habits. In my experience the camera isn't used to write people up, it's more of a training tool that doubles as an insurance policy against crazy 4-wheelers.

At night time though, if the camera records an event, a lit up phone in your hand or on your lap will reflect off the windshield and onto the camera. THEN you're screwed. OD used to have a 1-strike policy regarding cell phones, and they fired so many drivers from it, they turned it into a 2 strike policy and apparently (according to rumor) offered the terminated drivers their jobs back.

 

That's how Lytx is at Walmart with outward facing only but it does also record audio when there's an event. You have to be doing something really stupid to get coached on an event. I (everyone here) probably trigger it a half a dozen or more times a day without even knowing it and never hear a peep from the company about it. People at Lytx review those events and if they see nothing wrong management at the company never has to waste time reviewing it. If they see something wrong it gets sent to a manager.

 

Same, I'm not given a phone number to call unless it's something asinine. Last week I ran 2 stoplights because it was safer to continue through the yellow than attempt to stop at nearly 78000 gross. I'm sure the camera caught it, but I haven't heard a peep.

The only people who get written up with the camera are those who set it off 3-4 times a week, and apparently some people have PAGES of incidents going back several months. But I like how OD has implemented it. If you're driving responsibly, the only way it goes off is in an incident that's not your fault.

It's to the point where if I don't have a dashcam on my windshield I feel like I'm sleeping without a blanket, so I bought dashcams for my personal vehicles at home.

 

I've always had a personal dash cam for the truck as well. I didn't trust FedEx to give me access to the camera footage if I needed it to prove my innocence or if I witnessed an accident and wanted to help them out.

 

Biggest issue with all the camera systems especially for Local work is Speed, they all have a hard time with picking up Speed Zone signs from, Curve Speed, and other signs like that. They also suck at School Speed limit signs, that have When Children Present, During X hours, When Flashing etc. and other special speed zones like that. The other issue is lazy safety departments not customizing them to their operation. Samsara as an example allows me to not flag street backing unless a near collision is detected, or I can have it not flag a driver hitting rumble stripes on narrow 2 lane farm roads. Can also turn off all the AI b.s. they have packed into it.

You can thank the Insurance Companies and Lawyers for all this, the rate difference between having cameras and not is insane for a Small/Medium Trucking company.

 

South Eastern freight lines still uses a lot of Silver eagle dollies. I like them.

 

Question for drivers who get paid hourly with OT…Did you claim the overtime tax exemption when you filed your taxes?

I thought it was pretty clear that it only applied to overtime as defined in the Fair Labor Standards Act, which exempts truck drivers, even if your employer decides to pay it anyway. But from talking to coworkers, it seems like they’re all claiming it, including some who had their accountant/tax preparer do it for them.

I want to do things the right way, but it’s hard to justify leaving thousands of dollars on the table just because I interpreted the law differently than everyone else.

 

My employer EXPLICITLY warned us that we were not eligible. Multiple times through multiple means. Yet at least a few have claimed the overtime exemption. For me, the risk isn't worth the reward. Even a simple "we see what you did, that's not allowed, pay what you owe and this penalty or get a lawyer" letter is going to cost more than I'd save in taxes. I doubt anyone will get caught, the IRS is understaffed and this will sunset before they figure out the red flags. Still not worth it for me.