gless going electronic logs 2nd half of '09

The general consensus from the steering wheel side:

We've got one of the better safety and dot inspection records out there...

we don't need it or want it and you can have my book when you pry it from my cold dead fingers... !!!


I asked one (very perturbed) driver, "So, what are you gonna do? Quit?"

His reply actually made me snicker just a titch, "Hell no, they're gonna have to fire me and pay out some unemployment, no sir I ain't stupid and I could use the time off..."

LOL !!!!

well alrighty then.... there ya'go...

 

elog update: april 1st - june 4th 2009

elogs has only screwed me once so far and cost me a night on the road.

I may have actually cost myself this night from not understaning the system....

I still, very much, think the whole system sucks. I know and understand why the company has them, I also know and understand why they went to transponders many moons ago...

In the old days communicating with a driver was hard and costly and technology will save us all... (cue Star-Spangled-Banner)

btw: they invented cell phones and we haven't upgraded to this technology??? what the heck??? phone rings... got your next load... hey great have a nice day *big hugz life is great and so is personal communication*

federal compliance issues, weeding out the bad apples, becoming more efficient... ad nauseum...

It still sucks big time... !!!!!!!!!!!

What it all boils down to is this,

Emotionally: do you want a camera pointed at you in the john so big brother can make sure you wipe three times???

Kiss my rosey sphincter !!!! it is none of your bees-wax.

Argumenative: The company is responsible and held liable for compliance?

SO???? I turn in my log and if it is legal you are in compliance...

Yes, but how does the cmpany know you didn't cheat or that you were keeping the log up to date and not filling it in after the fact?

simple, when the dot man catches me in violation you fire me and hire a new and more responsible driver to take my place.

but we would run out of drivers and half of you would be unemployed and that would cost a fortune to find people with perfect records...

yes, and that would be good for me... because driving would suddenly pay what it is worth...

transponders and elogs are a way of forcing compliance, avoiding fines, avoiding expensive responsible drivers.

transponders and elogs are a technological equivalent to a taskmaster in the old sweatshop/slavery days...

transponders and elogs are everything but the two dash-cams (which some companies already have) pointed out and in making sure you are doing exactly what you are supposed to, the 21st century baby-sitters.

its their truck and they can do whatever they like...

true and if the same job were available across the street without them, that's where I'd be working...

its far too late for this industry's workers to say very much because no stand was taken 20 years ago when all this crap started...

yesterday I was dispatched to deliver a load at 8a.m. and also pick up a load 200 miles away at 8 a.m.

my task-master beeped urgently, "why are you late?" contact supervisor or dispatch immediately.

I replied, "I can't be in two places at once." which was a much abbreviated version of what I'd have liked to have said.

maybe we need cameras watching the watchers?

NO!!!! absolutely not!!!

and I'll tell you why...

Simply because I respect and trust all people as human beings far to much to point a camera at them, automated or not, efficient or not, even though I am not afforded this same respect myself.

If suddenly empowered to take the whip from the task-master, my first order of business would not be to whip him, but instead, to simply destroy the whip and save all.

paranoia will destroya...

btw: in the name of efficiency... et all...

why am I still mowing down trees to push paper around in circles and wasting my time faxing crap to tinbucktu ????

hi I got your ammonia... sign here on the e-bill with the e-pen.

*flash* its transmitted to corporate/customer/shipper/receiver/payroll

got any clue how much of my day is wasted ??? print this sign this you sign this... I take this here's your copy, hey customer sign this I sign that, here's your copy... write write write.... fax this keeps this...transflow all over heck and back.....????????????

oh wait a minute.... never mind....

I forgot I'm paid by the mile so my time is free to everyone...

well except to me... because it is my time and I pay dearly when it is given away for free...

just a thought...

 

don't even get me started... I also am off for the weekend... lol