I feel like giving up on drivers :(

LogRus, when I was a new driver in (2000) I could have really made a differnce with a person like yourself, because most of the safty people I ever new did'nt give a dame about anything, so I'm saying do'nt give up because I'm sure you've helped someone and one day you might be there for my son so I'm saying thanks now for caring.

 

Logs... I'm still in school - not even hit my first orientation yet. *I* would buy your book. I've been reading your posts for.. three months or so now, and I've learned a LOT. I think I may even have asked a question or two.. though now that I have my own FMCSR book and know the web site, I just look it up myself.... you are a busy lady, after all.

I've never seen you make an incorrect call - if you can't answer, you are honest and say "I can't answer".

So.. as somebody else said earlier, you can't cure stupid. it's frustrating, annoying, and a huge PITA. It feels like you've wasted your time - time better spent on somebody who is willing to at least *try*.

Eventually, Mr Ignorant will end up driving local where he doesn't need a log book, and you'll have a driver who kisses your feet for your instruction. (well, ok, you probably won't get even a "thank you", but he'll learn)

 

Hey Logs- first let me say you will be in my prayers for a speedy(er) recovery. And even though fighting the Good Fight really sucks (most days), we are here for you. Remember, even one victory means the message is getting out there. And the ones who listen today, may become the trainers of tomorrow- and they will teach the noobs to do it right.

And I bet when you come up with your book, the Co. you work for would be very interested in it-especially if they are a training co.

So good luck and vent anytime!

 

I can feel your pain on this subject. I am not just a driver, I'm a trainer and saftey engineer for our terminal. We went e-logging early last year. In October of 2006, we had the most non-compliant logs than any other terminal in the company. My terminal manager called me in to do a log audit on every driver for the previous 3 months. I thought he was joking.
It turned out, the problem was none of the drivers fully understood the HOS. Mainly the 14 hr, 34 hr reset, and split logging.
The company decided to go to electronic logs. And we had to be fully functional by May of '07. Of course every driver grumbled about it and half of them threatened to leave because it would interfere with their money. I had to train everyone of our drivers and the trainers from other terminals on this e-log.
After everyone got into the habit of using it, not only did they like it but they got a better understanding of the HOS rules. The drivers say they are getting more rest less stress, and no one lost any money. And by October of '08, we went through a national audit by the DOT. Our terminal was the most compliant terminal in the company, and our revenue, per capita, was the highest. Oh...we lost no drivers due to e-log.

 

And dont let an isolated issue cause you to question your ability to do your job. Some people you just cant reach. Like you said, other people tried to explain it to him also. As long as you really care about your drivers and the reputation of the company, you will be fine. All I ask is that you don't lose sight that the drivers are human, and not machines. Too many people in this industry do.

Keep up the good work...

 

My company has been going thru a DOT log audit lately. I was ammazed how many of our drivers that had serious issues. When around a terminal, I talked to many drivers that were called into safety because they had never bothered to log fuel stops properly.
We will be swapping to electronic logs if we do too poorly on the audit.

Now if we could just find a way for the government to get rid of the unskilled labor classification that we drivers have. That way we would be subject to labor laws.
That could be one of the most important things that could ever be done for drivers.
I think getting drivers to run professionally and complaint will have to happen before that will ever happen though.