recovering from termination

I don't uderstand the purpose of this post. I mean we're talking about a person with 6 mos experience OTR and 3 motorist complaints against him already. And all we can say is paint over the 800 number?
It sounds to me like maybe this person needs a little more training and evaluation under the watchful eye of someone with experience. Someone who actually cares about what's going on and will help bring this person along. Bear in mind, not everyone is cut out to do this job for some reason or another. That's the question they should ask themselves.
Damage from a careless lumper or loader is one thing but motorist complaints should be looked at very closely at this point in the driver's career. I'm sure we all would agree that that many complaints in that much time is cause for attention.
There has to be some reason for that many complaints, nothing personal againts that driver but the first thing that needs to happen is look in the mirror at your own reflection. Are you a professional driver or a stering wheel holder or niether? Do you have the skill to do this job and all it's aspects involved?
I'm sure you will have no problem finding another job but stay away from the BS. outfits as mentioned in other posts and don't let this trend continue.

Now go get another job and focus on doing it right. Don't be pressured to be in a hurry all the time. I think that's where things go wrong, especially for a newbie. One thing to remember, this job will kill you,if you let it. Whether physically or mentally. I think they fail to explain alot of this in driver training these days.

 

Sarge I agree with your post about the amount of complaints in 6 months time.

I also know that good drivers get called in on because a car driver can't get around the truck driver fast enough.

There are plenty of bad truck drivers here that need calling in on, I have called in on drivers myself several times. But, there are also a lot of good ones that get called in on also. There are also times when the best driver will make a bonehead move, or not see someone sneaking up on the blindside.

I would never suggest covering up the number if the big companies would even take time to listen to a drivers side every once in a while. I know drivers will lie also, but it is not always the drivers fault either.

I don't know which is best, a call in number or not. If a truck driver does something bad enough, someone will get the company name and call in, but if a number is posted on the back of the trailer it is an invitation for caller abuse, which leads to DAC and driver abuse.

I have never been called in on, but I have made a few dumb moves in my career, that if a number were available, it may have been used.

I have never painted over any number on my trailers, but I did use the paint I carried to cover up old hazmat numbers, even though my post may have been taken otherwise. I have seen it done though.

One thing though. When I drove for companies that had their name and call in number all over the trailer I was extra careful.

 

I'd drive extra careful AND I would paint over the number, IF I could reach it. Some of those numbers are high up on the wagons so drivers can't fool with them.

One thing I'd not do a lot of is get into the passing lane. Sometimes you MUST move over, as it's the law, and sometimes you should move left to allow a vehicle to enter the highway, but I'd stay out of the left lane as much as possible. When you start getting passed by cars on the right, look out. That's when you'll get called on.

I wouldn't get call on, as I'd paint over those decals or I'd not work for the company to begin with.

 

Once I was caught in traffic behind a VERY wide load going south on I-71 in OHIO. Traffic was backed up for miles. I finally did get around him and the next week I got called into safety. Seems the guy called up the company and said I tried to run him off the road going 75mph. Company pulled up my Sat records for that day, saw I was averaging about 12mph for that time period and told the caller to F-off. (Besides the trucks were governed to 62mph at that time)

 

look for company's that dont use dac there is lots and lots of company's that have never heard of dac or usis

do a rebuttle on your dac or sue like im doing join the boat


can't find a job send me a email i'll find u a job for free

 

Tip, I couldn't agree more with you as I knew there would be more than one point of view about this. However, if this guy is having problems they need to be ccorrected. He obviously sounds like he cares about his driving career.
And that's a good thing as we both know there are way too many who could care less and it shows in their driving technique.
Also, as for the 800 numbers, I can remember a vindictive motorist callin in a bogus report about me as well. So the reports must be considered on their merit and when you keep getting them on the same driver,,well...Companies don't want to lose drivers so to get fired, that decision was probably well thought out.

 

Yeah, there is more to the story here. If one is truly driving as carefully as possible and being a smart driver to boot, he should be fine. He shouldn't be reported very often, maybe 3 times a year(?)

I'd still paint over the number or put some fake numerals on it. No vindictive #### would jeopordize my job.

 

Our truck is governed (at 68 mph) and we rarely pass anyone, maybe a little old lady going slow. We also get a fuel bonus so you don't WANT to be gunning the engine and passing all the time. If you look up the stats, going about 62.5 mph or 100 km/hr is very economical, you often won't have to apply your brakes and you won't often have to pass. It's easiest on the engine and the time to get where you're going is negligable compared to going 65 mph. You'd be surprised how LITTLE it gains you to drive really fast all the time. My dad used to say, "Look, he's racing to catch up to the traffic" because that's what usually happened.

Slow down, take your time, do it right, be careful and it will all work out in the long run, IMHO