Texting while driving

This is the way to do it....no drama just business.

 

What's wrong hand? You weren't raised with a cattle prod? The electronic dog collar to keep the dog in the yard? The Dumb and Dumber program?

Maybe, what they can do, is connect the dog fence to the driver cam! And every time the dog fence goes off, the driver cam starts recording. Wouldn't that make him "Safer"? I feel "Safer" just thinking about it.

And another prime example of what's wrong with the system. Stupid proof it in the name of safety, and not only does Stupid qualify to drive, he qualifies to train at Moron Trucking!

What's even worse is, if Stupid lost his job at Moron Trucking, joined TTR and told the sob story about how Moron Trucking fired him, and how he has a clean record...the Bleeders would all be up in arms, about how Moron Trucking damaged the dignity of this fine person. And they would recommend that he try getting a job at Dinglberry Distribution ( they're a second chance company). And Stupid is back behind the wheel.

"So Six, we hear you always talking about stupid people and moronic trucking companies...let's hear your solution."

Oh no...I don't really think you want to hear my solution. You're not ready for it. Simple solution to the vast majority of all traffic issues and traffic accidents, and will even save the gene pool from the zombie apocalypse.

"Let's hear it Six."

Okay, but just be caused you asked:

Stop protecting Stupid. Stop defending Stupid. Stop stupidproofing so that Stupid can live. The automobile is the number one killer of Stupid worldwide. And now they want to put warning labels on everything. Truck Makes Wide Right Turns...Stupid knows that, but he just has to go out and get killed.

Imagine if the animal kingdom had the same concept as human. Stupid Bird fell out of the nest, and so the rest of the Bird Family have to leave the tree and live on the ground until Stupid learns how to fly. Stupid Zebra gets targeted by the Lions, so the rest of the Zebra family walk around, not run, and act stupid, so that Stupid has the chance to get away.

Real simple solution for humans. No DUI checkpoints, no war on drugs, no drug testing in the workplace. Everything's legal. No seatbelt laws. No speed limits.

"But Six, what if someone causes an accident and kills someone else?"

Trial right then and there, followed by execution with guilty verdict. If you can drink yourself into a stupor and make it home, fine. Kill someone along the way, you're toast.

Most people are stupid nowadays because they can be, and nothing will happen to them. Put their survival on the line, and they will change overnight or die.

 

I disagree with everyone saying to report it to your manager. You should report him but remember every time he texts behind the wheel he is putting your life in danger! Take immediate action NOW. Take the phone out of his hand and say "text behind the wheel again and I'm going to [something, something]"

 

Six. Just thought you'd like to know. Your solution, has restored a little of my faith in humanity. Now if only we could implement such a solution… Another dream, another day.

Mostly just glad someone else is thinking the same...

_________________________

Back on target…

OP, i'm curious. If you woke up one night and noticed your trainer doing cocaine, would you have still posted here and asked us what to do or what we thought?

Would you continue to ride with him?

Think about it. Doing cocaine, or any other drug for that matter, is illegal. So is texting and driving.

What's the difference? Not much. Both can kill, both are harmful, and both are stupid.

But don't confront him. Because then you'd be stupid. You'd get left somewhere, probably missing your phone or you'd find it run over.

I was almost hit three times today by a texter... One time was a Conway truck, and I almost took out a couple orange cones avoiding him. Another was a 4-wheeler, I hit my horn and ended up calling the highway patrol on them because they couldn't put the phone down... Almost hit me once when I tried to pass, and almost slid underneath my trailer on the second attempt.

Also, I'd like to point out a flaw in his logic. Among the many others... "I can safely text and drive!" No. You can't. It's easy to tell which drivers have a phone in their hand. His argument needs to be corrected. Allow me?

"i haven't hit anyone so far! But I'm sure I'll become a statistic one day!"

 

I'm not sure if recording this guy is the best answer. Yes you might get their jobs but now you have made an enemy and in the end said driver will just sign on with another carrier. I think the best way to handle it is a direct confronting of this guy. Today it seems everybody wants to record and snitch in place of being an adult and correcting. Now once you've done this and said trainer still texts I suggest you start the process of getting off this truck. The reason I get a bit angry is someone did that to me. I was in Florida and did a blindside back to avoid several hazards. I just did not want to take a chance with my new PROSTAR. I got a spotter and he helped me. Another guy got his panties all in a wad, recorded me with close up on my truck and trailer numbers. Once I got back to Arkansas I was called in to safety, showed the video and asked why I chose to blindside. I explained my reason and the guy deleted the video with some choice words for the moron that sent it.

 

Difference here though is that a blindside back, while it may be against company policy, is not illegal and does not threaten the lives of others when done properly.

In your case, the person should've just left you be. Mind his own business.

In this case, I really think that confronting the guy, especially since the OPI already stated that his trainer got a little gruff and offended, is a bad idea.

I'm not a huge fan of the sneaky approach either, but unless I know the person well enough to know how they're going to react to my criticism, I'm going to play things to protect myself faster then I will to protect others.

 

My answer is All of the Above.
1. Should you confront the "trainer"? Absolutely. If you don't tell Stupid that he's stupid, he will never know that you know his secret identity. He's no longer a driver, he's no longer a trainer, he's Stupid.
2. I would send a video to the safety department.
3. I would prepare to jump ship. Any company that runs by means of cattle prods will automatically have a high concentration of stupid people working there.
4. I would show the video to the HP.

I don't remember who it was, but there was some female driver that got cussed at, fist shaken at her after she went through a 55mph construction zone at 15 mph. She posted about it here, and she got cussed at and fist shaken at her. She said, "At least I was being safe!" Because she didn't hit anything, she's safe? Ever see someone stop in a travel lane on the interstate and start backing up in the travel lane because they missed their exit? Did they hit anything? Are they safe?

Should get a banner on the back of my trailer that says, "You are not safe, you are Stupid. You are a danger to the gene pool and to everyone around you."

 

You've got to take action here but be careful. Some people in power might not see this as a problem (remember they are the one's that put him there). I think I would talk to him face to face outside of the truck and tell him your concerns. Have a plan ready because this might set him off and he'll try to protect himself. You know him better than we do so you know what at stake here. But you do need to talk with someone. If you decide to go for the big stance and say your not riding with him another mile be sure you have all the laws and regulations to show people. This is going to put your career in jeopardy so make sure all your bases are covered and you have all the proof at hand. Use nothing that does not have a back up and don't speak off the top of your head. Plan it out and prepare for all the different actions he is going to take and solve the problem. You've got to do it and do it soon, but if any one in that company has any brains at all you will come out ok. Good luck and let us know.

 

I agree 100% just talk to the guy.

 

I worked in the safety department at Werner before I began driving. I can tell you with 100% certainty that 'telling' them to change bad habits does nothing. We had a policy for things like people calling in saying drivers were texting, or other drivers accusing them of such things without proof. We'd bring them in, seat them down and give them a safety speech. We'd tell them that their actions were unacceptable, and they needed to be changed or they would be out a job. I myself know that many of these that had been in more than once were eventually found to be indeed on their devices (had several guys for a long time using tablets to watch tv while driving). Not only could they have killed themselves, but they could have killed someone else. By the time anyone says anything to these guys, they have already developed bad habits.

I'd dealt with hundreds of cases like:
-Drivers urinating on customer/truckstop parking lots
-Drivers leaving trash on lots
-Drivers parking inappropriately in various places
-Drivers texting/using devices while driving
-Drivers verbally assaulting various peoples (truck stop employees, shipping personnel etc)

The bulk of my task was dealing with REPEAT offenders. If being brought in to safety and being threatened with the loss of job, health insurance etc won't scare them straight, what makes you think the words of a greenhorn would? Think about it logically, by the time you catch someone doing something like this they've already done it many many many times. And another thing, if he was fired for Texting, he will not just waltz in to another driving job. That WILL come up during the screening any major company will do. He may be able to get on with some small outfit but those little companies also unknowingly hire drunks, thieves, and various other unsavory ilk.

It is intolerable behavior, and proof is needed in most cases for action to be taken.