Schneider Chat Room version 2.0

And now for something completely different.

Cruising down I-81 yesterday, I'm planning on stopping at the first welcome center north of Winchester. But when I got there, there were two troopers vehicles and a work truck parked along the ramp tending to the downed sign. I decided to pass it and just stop at a truck stop down the road.

I'm zipping along in the left lane, having moved over to accommodate entering traffic. I see a trooper in the median, but pay him no mind as I'm running the speed limit. But in my mirror, I notice him pulling out. OK...

...but a moment later, he's pulling me over. ####...my first speeding ticket (at least I thought that). Trooper comes up and asks (professionally and politely) if I had gone through the aforementioned rest area. I said no, and told him why.

"OK, so it already happened by the time you got there."

"Yes, sir...must have."

Turns out a white Cascadia pulling either a current or former pumpkin trailer was the culprit. After a few moments of checking my license and my mirrors (the truck apparently left behind one of his mirrors at the scene), he apologizes for delaying me and I head down the road. For a few minutes.

I get to the scale. I get on the scale. I sit. And sit. And sit. Finally, a trooper emerges from the building and I start to laugh. He comes up to my window, looks at me, and says "They already checked you out, huh?"

"Yes sir", and we both chuckle.

I hope they got the guy, though. It looked like he hit the LEFT side of the sign, meaning he went in very late. That could have really put people in serious jeopardy. My gut feeling was a former pumpkin trailer and a low-life driver. I really hope it wasn't a current associate.

I also want to thank the troopers I came in contact with. No attitudes, chips on shoulders...nothing like that. Very professional and appreciated.

 

I think the problem with customer services the high number of people been laid off up there in Green Bay so they're asking the same amount of work performed with less amount of people and with that equation there's bound to be problems

 

Layoffs? Really? That would explain some of it....

 

And the high turnover. It's entry level pay. Those who are qualified move up or out. Those who aren't continue to suck or are replaced by new, wet behind the ears people.

 

Had a group of cars and RVs about 1/8 of a mile ahead of me on I70 just west of Salina, KS yesterday. Stupid white tail deer bolts across the highway, gets nailed square on by the pickup truck leading the pack. Everyone brakes hard, goes squirrely to avoid the now drifting pickup truck and the dead deer. NONE of the vehicles in the group stop, because hey, they're all on VACATION! and have places to go. I roll to a stop to check on the occupants of the pickup truck, that had drifted to the right shoulder and finally came to a stop. Poor young couple, air bags had deployed on them and their truck was absolutely totaled. They were okay, though, albeit shaken, and I made sure they were going to be all right and waited until they verified they had cell coverage there and were on the phone with help. I cannot believe how no one else that was closer to the collision didn't stop to check on these kids. It was one hell of an impact. Thank God the deer didn't go over the hood and through the windshield. Those things are scary as hell.

 

Good job. It amazes me how little concern some have for others.

 

I had my first evaluation today. Got 109.54 for my bonus score, then had to drive, couple, back, un couple. What the F is all this? I drop & hook 3 times a day, and do 5 or 6 stops, half in the WTF dark, and many aren't no joke to get into, two are just F/U, and now they wanna see if I can drive?
5 more weeks lol. Today is my Friday.

 

1) FMSCA requires motor carriers to provide continuing training and evaluations.

2) From a legal standpoint we need to show enforcement of company policy.

3) We have drivers fail these evaluations.