idling

Good luck with that one; most states have temp guidelines but from what I have heard/read a company can have any policy they want.

 

My response to their response would be something not printable in this family-oriented forum, but it would involve detailed directions concerning where they could go and what they could do with themselves when they got there, ending with recommending the forcible insertion of their truck in a very uncomfortable place.

Any company with that attitude won't keep me around any longer than it takes to be hired on somewhere else.

 

As often as I personally think OSHA oversteps their bounds, I believe they could and should be involved in this issue. Some companies just don't get it at all, and likely won't until drivers start dying for the sake of pleasing some office-bound namby-pambies.

I work for Schneider, and while they have their idle guidelines for achieving bonus, I've never once heard "so what" when it comes to explaining high-idle periods. My current idle % for the quarter is hovering around 55, and I'm allowed 40% since I use CPAP. They haven't said a word, and I believe that to be (at least in part) because they know I don't idle if I don't have to. I 've been here for two years (coming up on 8 quarters), and have only failed to receive my bonus three times: the first quarter I was here (wasn't a full quarter), last summer and I'm anticipating I won't get it for this quarter.

I don't idle while I'm out of the unit and try to use common sense. If the temperature when I hit the rack is marginal, I'll try to get to sleep. If I'm not sleeping inside of 30 mins due to the temp, the truck starts up. Easy decision. Anyone who wants to give me an argument about it at a company will get one right back.

 

I've noticed a lot of talk about idling... I'm assuming that policies have changed a lot in the past few years because of the price of fuel...

I remember ('98-'01) starting the truck up at the beginning of the week and not shutting it down until the end of the week...

 

Take a pet with you!!!!! There are laws that cover inhumane treatment to animals. However, there are no such laws that cover truck drivers....go figure..............

 

That's probably why some companies have a no pet policy...

 

funny, what I am about to say will annoy some people I am sure, and for those it will offend I apologize beforehand....so here goes....some companies have no pet policies yes?...But they will let people "smoke" in said vehicles, ashes go everywhere, interior gets stained yellow with a film, no matter how much air freshener you use, soon as you turn the a.c. on...WHAM you get the smell...

Non smokers know exactly what I am talking about as it is very very hard to obtain a truck from a company that HASN'T been smoked in....All of that crap for us non smokers and yet someone cannot have a 4lb 4 ounce Chihuahua in their truck???....Just what cana dog that size do to a semi??..If you sneeze on him he falls over, I honestly think if he ran full speed, and somehow managed to hit the tractor brake with the biggest part of his body, his head, I STILL dont think he'd be able to release the brakes......and yet you still cannot have a dog with some companies....go figure...

Studies show and prove that having a animal in your truck helps you reduce your blood pressure, lower your stress level, you know good things like that for you...But I agree with the other person, humane laws for animals, but hey we can croak out here from heat exhaustion, oh wait, we can be REPLACED very quickly. Thats why we are allowed to suffer......

And once again to those that smoke, I apologize it this offended you....

 

There are NO EXCEPTIONS FOR PETS OR SMALL CHILDREN ON BOARD.

 

Yes....I have a Dachshund that's 13 years old, and I'd never subject him to the cab of a semi....mostly due to his age....He's going to my sisters house to live with my 8 year old nephew while I'm out....