Letter from Millis

I agree completely - so far right as they have advertised and more. I did talk to a couple of regional drivers today that are not happy and "per them" several regional guys have walked recently. It appears to be over the new "electronic logs" being installed and the "older/tenured" guys dont seem to like them. Being an "older" guy myself - it appears that most of the ones leaving just cant accept change or are having trouble with change. E-logs are coming - nothing you can do about it.

Also - our trainer said they are retiring most of the 6 series trucks very soon and will be getting more T2000's and T700 and T660's to replace them. I have already seen several of the T660's in the yard - seem very nice and like the woodgrain on the dash compared to the T2000 that doesnt seem to have that. (I know that's petty, but I am easy to please)

 

From what I've seen regarding the e-logs I wouldn't mind being on them. It seems once you get the nack for them it will be simply getting used to running with them. I've only seen a couple videos on them, but didn't seem too bad. If you run illegal then you will hate them for sure!
Baritone- your almost half way!

 

Hindsy - thats about right. I have talked to a few that are on them and once they worked out the bugs and how to really use them - they seem to really like them. No more worry of mistakes. Even tells you what your available hrs are each day and week. (havent seen them myself - just going on what I have heard)

Anything that will make my job easier - I am all for it!

 

Takes away a lot of the thinking... lol I'm good at math, but sometimes you can over think things.
One thing I think I like about them is that you aren't forced to use the 15 min. mark all the time. That is a place where you would fudge the paper logs. With these the time you hit off duty is marked to the minute. Probably makes it better.

Also one driver I saw said you were able to mark off duty when you are parking and what not. Stretching your log a little. Not sure how that works, and bet each company will have their own policy on how to log your time.

 

Mceheel..... are you finding life on the road was a bit more than you thought it was?

 

Millis is going all electronic logs sum of there trucks have them now more to come.

 

they have had some bad wrecks this year

 

Here is a link posted by a driver on YouTube describing the electronic log that his company uses.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EyRWmLd-es

 

Millis is pretty laid back. If you have a place to park at or near your home they will let you take the truck there. They have not failed me yet on home time. I lived in WI and now live in Acworth near Cartersville. I can't imagine that any other company would get me back and forth like Millis does. Other drivers complained about not getting home but they live off of the beaten path so it is more difficult to give them freight that takes them right there. I am lucky. If I am going by Milwaukee on 94 or Acworth on 75 I can see my family, friends or wife and daughter respectively. If the Millis terminals and territory are convenient they are the right choice.

 

I trained in a 660. No thanks. Too small. I am 6'1" and I love my T2000 even if it is old. I like the cabinets above my head. I have my medicine cabinet immediately above me and then T-shirts, undies and socks in the rest. No place to go with that stuff in the 660. One issue I do have is that a previous driver or two obviously smoked in it as I keep getting sinus infections. When the time comes I will take whatever model they give me to replace Bertha, pleading for another 2000 of course, but I am going to insist that it be one that no one has ever smoked in.

BTW, not looking forward to the e-logs. I'm not saying I run outlaw but on occasion you have personal use of the truck just to make it to a family or friend visit, or to get groceries, that needs to stay off of the books. With the e-logs hitting 25mph starts your 14 hour clock and can screw that up. Maybe I'll just have to plan things better, concern myself more with traffic, etc. We will see because, as you say, the e-log is inevitable.