What's the real deal with the DirectTV in the trucks?

Discussion in 'Western Express' started by VA CDL Holder, Mar 11, 2016.

  1. VA CDL Holder

    VA CDL Holder Medium Load Member

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    Just checked out their website and they have free cable tv in the trucks? My first thought, "Is freight really that slow?" Never noticed an APU on their trucks, what's the field report from those who are lucky enough to have this.
     
    Veryblessed Thanks this.
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  3. Canned Spam

    Canned Spam Road Train Member

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    Just another recruiting tool, don't mean that in a bad way, to get drivers in the door and holding that steering wheel. Wish I had it when I drive otr, would have been nice on those 34's
     
  4. Happyfeet

    Happyfeet Light Load Member

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    This!

    If you look at their ads you will notice that they never talk about home time or competitive pay. A lot of the borderline homeless that Western hires don't have a nice home to go back to, so they see a truck as an upgrade, and free HBO as the icing on the cake.

    Notice how good drivers who run hard and get paid don't have time to sit around and watch tv? When a company has to entice people with TV in the trucks you know something is fishy. In my opinion this starts things off on the wrong foot by recruiting the wrong/lazy crowd.

    By the way, My TV has been unplugged ever since I got this truck. I had an xbox in my last truck but took that out since I was wasting too much time on it and finding excuses not to run more miles.
     
    Veryblessed and crazeydude Thank this.
  5. rancherman

    rancherman Bobtail Member

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    If you have to have a TV in your truck?...You might not want to be a truck driver...
     
  6. ExOTR

    ExOTR Windshield Chipper Extraordinaire

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    Why?
    I would have loved direct tv when I was on a reset, or killing hours waiting on a long load/unload.
     
    alghazi Thanks this.
  7. tucker

    tucker Road Train Member

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    What do you mean?
     
  8. Happyfeet

    Happyfeet Light Load Member

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    There seems to be a mindset in noob drivers and people who haven't driven that driving is sort of like a vacation in an RV that you get paid for. Once that initial attitude wears off and the excitement of trying truck stop food wears off people who have experience realize that living on the road kinda sucks, and the only reason they do it is because of that sweet, sweet, money. You can't make money and have a good attitude if you are tired after staying up to "finish a movie" or whatever.

    It's my opinion that you are out on the road for only one reason, to make money. Does that satellite help you make more money faster if you are getting less sleep? If not, it needs to get removed.

    Another question I have, and I believe may be subjective or something that needs to be taken on a case by case basis is the idea that the TV may actually be dangerous if a driver compromises their sleep length or quality through the use of a TV. Think about this, companies disqualify people for sleep apnea(sleep disturbance) and I do wonder if having a TV on while sleeping or drifting to sleep while watching are creating an environment for the best quality of sleep.

    A driver gets 10 hours off in a 24 hour cycle if they are running hard and making money. In that 10 hour window a driver (usually) needs 8 of those 10 hours to be sleep, and since they can't get right to sleep when the head hits the pillow they probably need 8.5 hours of time slept attempting to sleep in their bunk. So in 1.5 hours of free time a day a driver must fit in their shower and food, as well as any preparations for the next day into that window. Then of that remaining time they must get out of bed and ready to go on duty the next morning. That really doesn't give any time to set up the satellite and watch TV during the work cycle.

    But I want it for resets.
    A driver will usually get a reset every two weeks (Driving for 10 days, a reset, then another 10 days of driving)
    If you spent your whole reset watching TV, that would mean you get 72 hours of TV a month. Consider the cost though. Per month you are paying at a base price of $59.99 for the service, or $20 a day when you can use it in a given month. You will also need to spend roughly $2,000 initially to get everything set up on your truck if you do the installation yourself. This is cutting into your bottom line, a lot. If you have calculated the costs and still see it as something you need or want, I won't insult you or look down on you for doing so. There are certainly driving jobs with a lot of down time such as oversized drivers that can only drive 9 hours a day during the winter. I get it.

    Heres my personal solution.
    In my case I have a TV in the truck for resets, it sits in the top bunk in it's box and foam until I need it, then I get it out. Instead of paying for satellite TV I which I consider entertainment, I buy unlimited data for my phone, which I also consider an expense for entertainment. Recently I bought a Fire TV stick which uses wifi to stream movies from the internet with netflix or Amazon video. But wait there's more. I had an XM satelite radio in my truck, I sold that and use my cell phone for streaming podcasts and Pandora. This means my entertainment budget also makes driving more pleasant since I can listen to music while driving. My cell phone sits in it's charger out of reach from the drivers seat since Bluetooth exists, and my steering wheel has buttons for changing stations in Pandora and answering calls. Total cost per month is $39 and I burn through data every day even when I'm driving.
     
    rancherman Thanks this.
  9. rancherman

    rancherman Bobtail Member

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    Man..When you read the ad it sounds free..I should of known better...But I'm a noob.
     
  10. alghazi

    alghazi Road Train Member

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    The press release from Western Express says it is free for the driver.
     
    rancherman Thanks this.
  11. rancherman

    rancherman Bobtail Member

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    I should call a recruiter and ask...LMAO...
     
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