Random LTL Rants (all are welcomed)

Funny story... They don't always point guns cause they have to come running after you. In my case I was casually trying to gain unauthorized access to a intercontinental ballistic missile alert facility. It's one of those underground bunkers there they launch nukes from nearby launch facilities.

 

Word for the day... Integrity.

I am not in the business of lecturing others. But there is some value of giving and receiving advice in this ever rapidly transforming industry. Make no mistake, we are rapidly evolving or devolving (however you want to look at it), but that's an argument on its own.

Two scenarios that played out over the past few weeks at my barn. One was told to us by the person in question, the other by someone who had to be witness to another person being fired.

Scenario 1.

Driver called TM to report that he took down a utility line. He obviously didn't have anywhere to park so he made his call 4 blocks away where he finally found a shoulder.

TM: are you on a marked city street or are you off screwing around in a back alley?

Driver: marked city street. The line was hanging too low.

TM: sounds to me like Time Warner Cable needs to teach their techs how to use a measuring stick and get their lines up to code. Thank you for the heads up, I will handle this from here.

Sure enough, some home security cam caught our driver pulling the line down. Liftgate trailer so they narrowed things down to our terminal using the trailer number. TM got an earful.from the homeowner about missing Wheel of Fortune. And he retorted with our code for hanging up lines. Promise ya she won't ever ship with us but that's where the scenario ends.

Scenario 2.

Carl walks in and the TM calls him into his office. He informs Carl that this meeting is going to be pretty egregious and he should grab someone as a witness. (Our barn is union so we have to have witnesses whenever a meeting with management could lean towards jeopardizing our employment).

TM: Carl, I am going to ask you a question and you will give me an honest answer. On October, XX you did a residential delivery on 125 Colbert St. When you left, did you or did you not run over the decorative garden gnome near the mailbox?

"Not sure what you are talking about. "

TM: Carl, I am going to ask you one final time. Now think about your answer carefully before you respond. When you left that residential, did you or did you not run over the garden gnome by the mailbox with your trailer tire?

"Oh no sir. I most certainly did not. I did no such thing".

TM: got some news for you, and I did give you two opportunities to be honest. The homeowner had a doorbell camera. Not only did it record you running over the garden gnome, it also showed you jumping out of the truck trying to set it back up.

"Well, eerr.... I am uhhhh.. maybe I um hit something, I am...."

TM: Carl, I gave you two opportunities to be honest, and each time you lied to my face. I was going to fire you for 5 days for an unreported accident. Instead, I am going to have to terminate your employment permanently for dishonesty. If I can't trust you to be honest about a $15 lawn decoration, I sure as hell can't trust you with millions of dollars in freight.

Telling you guys.. things that we got away with just five years ago is a thing of the past. Cameras are everywhere and their cost along with server costs have dropped. Always assume someone is watching you. And when questioned, be honest.

 

Now that you mention it. I am the same way. I think it's less about being recorded and more about the principle of having to communicate with a tiny speaker mounted to a doorframe. I like the idea of interacting with people. Prolly why I never use a drive-thru.

 

Unreported accidents are a cardinal sin. Not gonna lie, I've done it before. This was like 7 years back or so when I ripped out an airline. Just a stupid rookie mistake cause I forgot to disconnect one. Long story short, I found another OOS equipment parked in the back and unbolted it's line to replace mine. I did get away with it.

Sad thing is, we fired a 20+ year driver the following month for having his third preventable in nine months. Two of the collisions were fairly minor and he could have gotten away with it, but his honesty and integrity motivated him to report everything.

With my current company I report everything. They are much more lenient.