Legal Issues

Pappy · Nov 4, 2005

I was recently dispatched to pick up a load in Greenwood,S.C. at Kaiser Aluminum to be exact.I sat at their dock for right at 3 hours to pick up half a trailer load. THE PROBLEM: When I asked where the rest room was, I was told that truck drivers were,nt allowed to use the rest rooms. When I asked why-- I was told it was the plant managers decision---I'm wondering if that stupid SOB does'nt realize that truck drivers have normal body functions just like he does. Needless to say---I walked onto the front lawn--Hung it out and whizzed right there in front of the place--Believe me had I had to do the other--I would have dropped the old jeans and done that too. Are these people not required by law to provide restroom facilities--drinking water or break room facilities? I have other labor related issues that I will post separately--I know there is a member of EO who is an attorney--I hope that person reads this and will respond. I am almost at retirement age, but I want to change a few things for future drivers. HELP make the trucking Industry a pleasant work place

Pappy
34 yrs T/T

greg334 · Nov 4, 2005

Well I think that many states have a law that a company must provide a rest room (of course ADA compliant) if they prepare or serve food. Outside of that, they donâ€™t have to do anything.

I ran into this problem a few times, but I always worked something out with the workers, even buying them a soda works. But I know if I caught someone whizzing on my companyâ€™s lawn, I would not be a happy camper.

Tennesseahawk · Nov 4, 2005

Reading that, I'll know to 1)Stay away from that place, and 2)Carry a hospital urinal (the kind with a lid). I had them along when running teams, so as to not pull over every 2 hours. Just don't forget to empty it like my co-driver kept doing. It kinda defeats your purpose. But that's a great idea for those emergency times when the customers are jerks, or you're parked in the boonies and don't want the "urine police" to catch you whizzing on the tires.

I know... Broompilot it giving me that stare :7 :7 :7

LDB · Nov 4, 2005

An easier solution than the hospital urinal is to rinse your screw top milk jug or juice bottle out with water and save it. If you don't buy milk or juice or buy cartons you're out of luck of course.

Leo Bricker
OOIDA 677319
truck 4958
73's K5LDB
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

Tennesseahawk · Nov 4, 2005

The jugs would be fine if you're solo. But as a team, it's hard to stay steady while peeing into a 2" opening. Thus, the hospital urinal. (Not the bedpans!!! The bottles with a snap on lid.)

Another good emergency is an empty 44oz disposable plastic cup. They worked perfectly for when one of us forgot to empty the urinal. If you have a customer who won't let you use the restroom, hand him the cup of urine and ask him to dump it for you! }>

LDB · Nov 4, 2005

The beverage containers are definitely for use only when stopped. I wouldn't want to try that while someone was driving. I meant only to keep one for the situation of jerk loading docks.

Leo Bricker
OOIDA 677319
truck 4958
73's K5LDB
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

jaminjim · Nov 4, 2005

It is with great pleasure that I can say if you are VERY carefull you can Get er done in a gatorade bottle while on the move. First you must prepare the area, then brace head on cabinet, tell driver that if they hit the brakes that they need a raincoat, don't try this method though while in New york City.

Tennesseahawk · Nov 4, 2005

That is funny as hell, Jim!!! Nothing worse than the spillies tho

:7 :7 :7 :7 :7

jaminjim · Nov 5, 2005

And don't Ever try to over fill one, or top it off. Just think about it for a second, driving up I-75 in Ky. need to open a second bottle while holding the first. Can anyone say self control.....not. And you solo's think driving team is so easy.

Broompilot · Nov 6, 2005

This was probably 12 years ago. I had my cleaning service and was doing another contractor a favor doing a strip and wax on a Saturday.
A driver pulled up to unload asked the person (I was their and over heard him ask if he could use a bathroom) I was in the middle of stripping the floors and there were four bathrooms he said to the driver no.. I thought what a SOB there are more than one set of bathrooms he pooped in the lot and they called the police the driver was arrested and I bitched out the poop head who would not allow him to use the bathrooms we had not yet done.

As a typical Walmart employee he tried scolding me, I packed up my crap and left a diasaster of a mess since it was not my contract and I dissagreed with this BS attitude when it would have been totaly OK for the driver to have used the other restroom and there was no long wait for trucks to be unloaded and obviously this guy could not wait. I even told the cop this was unnecessary and I was quiting right than and there.

Talk about crap hitting the fan. My X-friend with the contract was furious with me but I said and still to this day believe I did the proper thing buy saying see ya your $ aint that important to me so see you all, treat a human in this manner disscusting... Plus it was Saturday afternoon...

Pappy · Nov 6, 2005

My stance on this issue is simply this.---I'm at these folks place on business---AND they need to have restroom facilities whether I'm gonna be there for 3 minutes or 3 hours. Other drivers that were there and are there on a regular basis showed me a place out back of the factory that they had designated as a rest-room. I really think the state health department or some agency similar to that would be very interested in inspecting the site. after seeing and getting one whif of that area, I knew that the front lawn would be a better rest-room. Had I been caught, arrested or something to that effect---I think I know a team of attorneys in Atlanta that would chew that company up and spit them out before breakfast

Pappy

highway star · Nov 7, 2005

Pappy, I would'nt bet the farm on what your lawyers could do for you in this situation. There are 2 issues here. You commited the crime of public urination. If a witness pressed charges, you would have a very embarresing conviction on your record. I agree we should be provided restrooms and it is a very small minority of places that don't. It makes you wonder if they had an experience that made them decide not to do it. Visiting truck stops on a regular basis makes it easy to imagine what that reason might hve been. I've seen things that made me want to gag. I've never been to a place that denied facilities, but just in case I try to stop just before I get there and take care of that.

wannabeotr · Nov 9, 2005

>Reading that, I'll know to 1)Stay away from that place, and
>2)Carry a hospital urinal (the kind with a lid). I had them
>along when running teams, so as to not pull over every 2
>hours. Just don't forget to empty it like my co-driver kept
>doing. It kinda defeats your purpose. But that's a great
>idea for those emergency times when the customers are jerks,
>or you're parked in the boonies and don't want the "urine
>police" to catch you whizzing on the tires.
>
>I know... Broompilot it giving me that stare :7 :7 :7

So why not carry a port-a-pottie, can be used for both needs and is a lot safer on the "privates"

guest · Nov 10, 2005

Yes, I am a lawyer, and my legal advice is to carry a hospital urinal. That's what I do. As for a porta potti, I have the Thetford 155, which is a great unit when you have a little bigger job to do. The 155 is the one that Walmart carries.

As for peeing in public on the premises of a shipper or consignee, I appreciate the spirit of the act, but I don't think that kind of protest is going to get any policies changed.

dukesadog · Nov 11, 2005

Kaiser Aluminum?

Isnt that the place where for the first 2 miles leaving the plant there are thousands of urine filled milk jugs lining both sides of the road?
LMAO!

dukesadog

cheri1122 · Nov 12, 2005

T Hawk, that was priceless! I keep thinking "not the bedpan!" and it cracks me up - thanks!
On a more serious note, it's obvious that shippers have had bad experiences, or just bad impressions, and all we can do is try to give them a better impression. And spread the word about those places where you want to make a pit stop before arriving.....

theoldprof · Nov 13, 2005

I'm an old man and I pee a lot. I have made up my own device. It is made of 2 inch plastic pipe. Starts at the bottom with a permanent pipe cap, a 6 inch piece of pipe, a 45 degree elbow, another 6 inch length of pipe, and then a screw on cap. Works very well. Fits in the door pocket of my van.
Live well and pee often. :+ :+