driving for walmart

Who makes $50K a year?? 5 on and 15 off?? That's a shift I didn't know existed.

You are believing Chewey and not paying attention to the rest of us who also work there. Ok. Is that what they call wishful thinking??

 

Evening extreme,
A few stitches and I am good as new

I dont recall saying anything about 50k or 15 off We have a 5 on and 5 off(three drivers, two trucks, 15 day rotation) is this what you speak of???? Maye bea typo...

 

Hey Grabber,
Just wanted to check in and see what you and drozzer and all the rest of you drivers think of the big announcement on the qualcomm from J and J about distracted driving rules. Are any of you in the test terminals? Classes start this week for them. Open to all drivers if any of you want to attend

 

No. Brookhaven MS is one of the test DCs. We are having mandatory meetings on this policy. I have to go on Friday when I go back to work. I am pretty much ok with it. If it makes us better at what we do, than why not. There are other distractions out there but we all know that being on the phone can be distracting as well. Lord knows I have missed an exit or two by being on the phone and had to turn around at the next one. I already told my wife that if I don't answer her text messages until the end of the day, that is why because of the policy and the law. I feel we do our jobs very well. Maybe they run the pilot and find that they don't need to have this as enforced as it should be. Only time, a few drivers with "extra" phones found in their trucks and a few firings and accidents will tell.

 

I really dont have a problem with the cell phone policy. unless your one of the test facilities nothing has really changed. its up to us as professionals to police ourselves and use good judgement. there is still plenty of time to talk when you need to. I think after they run there test program they will see no benefit from it and we will be back right where we are now. yes I want to sit right next to you Chewey.........

 

If you are all right with it...all is well Keep in mind though there is a lot more to it than just that...far more. Dont know if Brookhaven will get the same classes as the rest of us but keep in mind they are not putting anything down in print so you will have to find a trusted source in Brookhaven. Dont think you are too clean to be caught on this. The only way safety can prove in court that they are aggressively enforcing a cell phone policy is to show a lot of drivers fired for infractions...quickly. Anyone interested in applying might want to renew their applications now. Good luck

 

LOL..brother save me a seat by the way..this is my 28th year with wal mart...as this was a walmart thread I filled it in as that. I first started driving full time in 1974...please dont tell anyone...our secret...got the girls in the truck stop thinking I am 30

 

Hi Nightwatch,
Dont interpret the phrase "nothing good lasts in trucking" as a sign of resignation or defeatism from some old salts. This is not a flag of surrender but a tactical position. It is the nature of trucking (or free enterprise for that matter) for some one to be envious of someone else's monetary stream, position or base. The hunter instinct kicks in and they go after the prize of someone else to feed their den. It is just the natural course of humans. No matter how bad or good the job I have had..I have always considered it the next step to find my next (and hopefully better) job. You can never expect a trucking job to last forever. Look at those union companies where the drivers thought they would last forever. In addition, your life needs and position will change. Young, you may have stayed on the road constantly...90 days at a time...layovers on weekends in Houston..girl in every truckstop..etc. Older, you may be married..want to be home with the kids more..go to ball games..take kids fishing. Older still...might want to spend more time with you significant other..etc It is not always bad changes and some cannot be helped. Just remember to keep looking and talking and making contacts and you will do all right

 

That is really what it comes down to..... policing one selves and using good judgement. You cannot fix stupid nor can you legislate morality.

 

Walmart has nothing that needs to be proven in court presently. The safety record they have is not of a carrier where such a problem exists. Firing a number of drivers would be irrelevant to an individual accident. If for example a Walmart driver were talking on a phone and then proceeded to rear end someone, what happened to other drivers would have no bearing on that specific crash. There is no law prohibiting a driver of a commercial vehicle from talking on a phone while driving provided he/she is talking hands free.

Any policy, current or future, that Walmart chooses to adapt regarding restricting the use of a phone while driving, does not guarantee a positive result safety wise because it is not even a major factor in the overwhelming number of crashes occurring now! UPS Freight (my current employer until I start orientation at Walmart in a few weeks), has held a restrictive policy against using cell phones or any electronic device, including a GPS unit, for over 5 years. The results have not changed because this form of distraction has not even been a factor in over 99.97% of all crashes! It may look good on the surface for UPS to have such a policy, but really does not mean a thing if one of its drivers goes and kills someone for any of a number of reasons. The plaintiffs will still seek maximum compensation regardless.

Not to promote dishonest behavior, but seriously, if any driver wanted to avoid a restrictive policy against using a phone while driving, it can easily be done in a totally non-traceable manner. So, it really comes down to having drivers making wise safe decisions whether it be as it pertains to using a phone while driving or any of a number of known distracted driving issues. I will say this, Walmart does have a right to make such policy changes because it owns the trucks and the business. Like any policy, whether or not employees effected by it accept it is the bigger issue.