Cell phone ban

Actually it's not reasonable at all. Try talking to your wife or children for less than 2 minutes about something important. Or finding out from a doctor some information. Or just calling your bank, that you have to do during business hours, because something is wrong with your account. You can stay on hold for longer than 10 minutes. All this, unlike any other job, has to be done while you're in the truck.

 

Yes, it's reasonable. Our drivers are home weekly, and if an emergency comes up during their work week the driver can pull over and take care of it.

Even when I was driving the 48 and away from home 6 to 8 weeks at a time I managed to do all of the things you describe at times when I'm not driving. I'm not saying it's easy for everyone, but it can be done.

Personally, I don't like it, but the company has the right to manage and limit liability. I've blown the right steer tire on a 4 lane freeway (#3 of 4 lanes) with a four wheeler next to me in the #4 lane while conferneced on the cell phone with 4 other drivers and I managed to pull the truck over safely. I can chew bubble gum and walk at the same time, but everyone apparently can't. Unfortunately, we will all be penalized for it.

 

Everyone is different. If you can't use a bluetooth and drive at the same time, maybe you shouldn't be a driver. Also, I have been places where there is nowhere to pull over for hours. I will do as I see fit, and safely. This country is taking away more and more of our freedoms, I am not just going to bend over and take it. That's called Dictatorship.

And 'it can be done' doesn't mean we should have to. We have never had an accident, we use a GPS, CB, cell phone, and yes a radio. It doesn't affect the ability to drive. Again, if it does maybe you are in the wrong profession. What kills me is the cheap drivers who wont by a head set and talk on the phone driving with their elbows or even feet! Now that is dangerous!

 

Walmart is a bottom feeder. They always do the right thing as a Corp, Shaft the worker.

 

I've always used a bluetooth device when talking and driving. For the last 10+ years the cell phone has been the extended CB for our drivers. I've spent the last ten years talking to anywhere from 1 to 5 people at a time (conferenced together) for up to 75% of the work day. I've never had an accident, I've never had a ticket, and I've never failed a roadside observation by our safety managers. I, too, can multitaks safely, but this is besides the point. The world is full of people who can't, and it will eventually become law that cell phone use is prohibited while driving even with hands free device. Companies taking a proactive position to protect themselves from liability in this area is reasonable. If you don't like it go buy your own truck and work for yourself. With the company out of the mix it will then be only between you and the law.

 

I understand most you guys are running solo and this is who this is effecting mostly and I'm sorry to hear that.. I could understand a law saying the DRIVER must use a hands free device ... thats fair enough...IMO


I don't know how they would stop this with team drivers unless they were to ban cell phone use anytime the truck is in motion..and are they going to ban teams from talking to each other while in motion? That seems way to exteme..

as far as the phone records thing .. That aint gonna fly.. IMO Not unless your in an accident and your solo and you dont have a hands free device and the can match the time on the phone is use and the time your truck was moving .. not to hard to figure out that..same with texting that should be off limits to a driver while in motion.. GPS should be set before moving if your the driver.. The QComm thing I saw its like a mini computer.. Do you need to mess with it while in motion? I can see them wanting the CB gone.. is not hands free.. YET?
or has someone invented the handsfree CB yet ? I'm having a stroke of genuis here maybe ?? The next billion $$ idea..

IMO If your a trucker driving an 80,000# monster down the road you should not be using phone (thats really a no brainer IMO) you have to hold --Especially when its not nessesary = Hands free devices...

MY ? is what ####### Companies have camera's in the their truck's ??? Names please..I plan on team driving with my wife one day .. We will not drive for any company doing that.. pissing in a cup is one thing,a camera in our home would be not be happening .. Do they have to legally notify you these camera are in the vehicle ?

 

I have a feeling cameras will become more and more prevalent as time goes by. Walmart already has audio and video inside every one of their trailers and they can access it via satellite. None are in the truck as the vast majority of our trucks are sleepers. It would be illegal to capture drivers on video in areas of the truck designed for privacy. I wouldn't doubt that someone is already thinking of a way to put a camera in the truck wtihout violating privacy issues.

Most of the time you will be able to easily spot any in cab cameras. If a company ever gets caught with hidden camera's and they capture video of you in private situations you will easily sue them out of business and retire in luxury.

 

That's exactly what we are going to do.

 

Good luck deerhunter, but talk to us when you have experience. Ask questions but not statements about what you don't know. They will have to put me in prison before I stop using a cell phone. You already showed that you didn't have a clue about cell phone use in the company, wait until you are harrassed on the phone and the quallcomm. Not meaning to be nasty at all, but there is a lot of people on here who have never driven a truck, and they aggrivate everyone spouting out about something they no nothing about. (I always wondered why they were on a trucker's forum, I get why you are, but some of these people don't have anything to do with nor want to be in trucking??? who knows)

And some advice, if it is possible for you, go to a real driving school. These companies that put you through school really jip you of a good education. I went to one in northern Idaho and I didn't leave until I knew everything I needed to and knew how to drive every sized truck. It was great.

 

I don't blame you. I thought about not carrying any cell phone in company vehicles unless it is company issued, but my family wouldn't like that. Now I'm starting to think more about hanging up the keys and taking a 9 to 5 job, a part time job, or just retire. I have a family member making 32 dollars an hour working as a telephone customer service rep for a power company. No haz mat required, no FBI background check required, no professional license, doesn't have to worry about bored smokeys wanting to sniff your butt looking for something wrong. Dealing with idiots on the phone has to be easier than dealing with them on the freeway. We used to have so much freedom in how we did our job, but now they're micro managing every aspect to the point people are fed up and have had enough. I thought about buying my own truck, but I already have enough put a way for a modest retirement.