Is this normal?

ftp000 · Oct 24, 2008

I've been an owner/operater (sprinter) with Nations for almost 3 years, back is March I hired somebody to run my sprinter and took some time off the road. Last week , due to my financial needs, I let Nations know that I was going to go back into my van. The compliance guy there told me that Nations policy is anybody not driving for 30 days or more would be required to go thru orientation and a road test before they would be allowed to go back in service. Now here I sit ,still being charged settlement fees, ready and willing to roll but not allowed. Is this normal? It seems to me that any fleet owner who has a vehicle come empty would need to be able to jump in and run his equipment while finding a new driver, but with this policy you'd be screwed.
I have put in alot of miles without incident, failure, or complaint, this policy just doesn't sound right. I'd be interested to know if other companys have a similer policy.

cheri1122 · Oct 24, 2008

That seems excessive to me, really. The carrier that I drive for requires a drug test after 30 days off, but I think that's a federal requirement, not company policy.
Orientation and a road test should not be necessary after 30 days off, IMO.

OntarioVanMan · Oct 24, 2008

cheri1122 said:
That seems excessive to me, really. The carrier that I drive for requires a drug test after 30 days off, but I think that's a federal requirement, not company policy.
Orientation and a road test should not be necessary after 30 days off, IMO.

Drug test Federal?
You sure Cheri? I've never had a government drug test...only for the insurance company.

jaminjim · Oct 24, 2008

I think PII is six months.

moose · Oct 24, 2008

This is excessive , to my view .
i regulatory take months off the truck , and get my CD on board to run the business when i go ,(he sees this as a vacation...) i did it 5 times to date with 3 different carriers.and going to take time off next month and next year.
always when a new driver is coming aboard the truck , the co. require Drug testing , i think this is federal , and if not it make seance ,for your own protraction.
at all 5 times i have trained my CD in the truck , no orientation needed ,all documentation have being faxed or over night in to the office .
i actually dont see the point of messing with orientation no more , i have spanned 3 days in PII this year , and did not learn nothing i cant learn on the net , or sign and over night it back ,no me , no the truck .
total waist of my time and money.
just ask them to live to the industry standard .

Moose.

Suds43 · Oct 24, 2008

sent ya a pm

BillChaffey · Oct 25, 2008

I have never heard of anyone taking a "Road Test" for a Van.

cheri1122 · Oct 25, 2008

Nor have I - in fact, I've only been road tested in a t/t.
OVM: a post accident drug test is an insurance requirement, but preemployment, random, & probable cause drug screens are mandated by the FMCSA, no?

OntarioVanMan · Oct 25, 2008

cheri1122 said:
Nor have I - in fact, I've only been road tested in a t/t.
OVM: a post accident drug test is an insurance requirement, but preemployment, random, & probable cause drug screens are mandated by the FMCSA, no?

Not for us Vans..mine was for the insurance company..at least thats what I was told by E-1....what they did with the results I have no clue!

highway star · Oct 25, 2008

I believe post accident is also federally required, but it depends on the severity of the accident. No test for a minor fender bender. As far as vans, it's all for the insurance company. DOT physical, vehicle inspection, the whole 9 yards.

cheri1122 · Oct 25, 2008

Sec 383 of the Safety Regs defines a CMV as being over 26k lbs, so if you never haul placarded hazmat, the drug screens may well be an insurance requirement. I just remember being randomly tested when driving a van for ConWay.

Turtle · Oct 25, 2008

The DOT requires a certain number of random drug tests, and most carriers will lump cargo van drivers into that mix in order to make it easier to achieve the quota, as well as many insurers require it even if you're in a van and don't have a CDL.

As for the compliance guy at Nations, I think he's confused. And probably a little dazed.

Moot · Oct 25, 2008

Turtle said:
As for the compliance guy at Nations, I think he's confused. And probably a little dazed.

Maybe compliance guys and dispatchers should be subject to random drug tests.

I have been called up for 3 random drug tests in my expediting career. Two with Con-Way and one with Panther. Maybe I should start buying lottery tickets or quit posting weird stuff on E.O. Or both!!!

Wow! What a rush mon.

fastman_1 · Oct 25, 2008

The Last time I had it a Random was the third one within 3 weeks....how Random is Random??and I agree if it's good enough for me then Then let the Dispatchers Hit the cup also.

transporter · Feb 6, 2009

I just went through 1 st year dot audit per dot cv sprinters are not required to have drug test. companies usually require it because if you get in accident it shows that they the company went the extra effort to hire safe drivers. Furthermore a company can get in trouble if they tell you you have to get a DOT physical if your in those 2 small trucks. THey can tell you to get physical but not a DOT physical

BillChaffey · Feb 7, 2009

For my Physical with Panther in August 2007, it was "how do you feel?" Stethoscope on my back & chest, popped each knee with his little rubber hammer, one deep knee bend, done, passed.

Turtle · Feb 7, 2009

"Furthermore a company can get in trouble if they tell you you have to get a DOT physical if your in those 2 small trucks. THey can tell you to get physical but not a DOT physical"

Even if you're in a cargo van or a Sprinter, if you have a CDL with a HAZMAT endorsement, you are, absolutely, required to have a DOT Physical.

mjolnir131 · Feb 7, 2009

Turtle said:
"Furthermore a company can get in trouble if they tell you you have to get a DOT physical if your in those 2 small trucks. THey can tell you to get physical but not a DOT physical"

Even if you're in a cargo van or a Sprinter, if you have a CDL with a HAZMAT endorsement, you are, absolutely, required to have a DOT Physical.

And i might add have never heard of anybody getting in trouble for shooting higher than the bar.the government works on minimum coverage when your above that they don't say anything usually.

whitewolf · Feb 7, 2009

bearcat44 said:
I have never heard of anyone taking a "Road Test" for a Van.

TriState is taking everyone for a Road Test in a cargo van..this is stupid but anyway they think you don't know how to drive

Yesteryear · Feb 7, 2009

ftp000 said:
I've been an owner/operater (sprinter) with Nations for almost 3 years, back is March I hired somebody to run my sprinter and took some time off the road. Last week , due to my financial needs, I let Nations know that I was going to go back into my van. The compliance guy there told me that Nations policy is anybody not driving for 30 days or more would be required to go thru orientation and a road test before they would be allowed to go back in service. Now here I sit ,still being charged settlement fees, ready and willing to roll but not allowed. Is this normal? It seems to me that any fleet owner who has a vehicle come empty would need to be able to jump in and run his equipment while finding a new driver, but with this policy you'd be screwed.
I have put in alot of miles without incident, failure, or complaint, this policy just doesn't sound right. I'd be interested to know if other companys have a similer policy.

Yep, seems to be the norm. When we originally started driving with Panther ll, during the orientation we were told after being off for over 30 days a driver would be required to re-take orientation (there was also a guy that was re-taking orientation at the time because he had been off for over 30 days, don't remember his name). We have been with T-State for 2 years now and they also require a driver to re-take orientation if they are gone for over 30 days.
Think about it! If you haven't driven for a company for over 30 days they would have to assume you are no longer a driver. Doesn't matter if you own the van or not. YOU have not driven for them so YOU are not a driver for the company and are basically a new hire. You may own the van but there are a lot of van and truck owners that are not 'drivers'. Actually there are some straight truck owners that do not have CDL's should they be allowed to 'jump in and drive' if they lose their driver or because they need to make more money?