Looking for ideas/input for a drivers facility.

nightcreacher · Jan 31, 2011

drive over to TRI STATE and see the perfect drivers area,but no where to sleep.plenty of area to watch tv,do laundry,shower,eat,and run lap tops.but cant sleep in the building,but thats ok,never there that long

nightcreacher · Jan 31, 2011

redy what is blue gove

moose · Jan 31, 2011

It's WG after delivering Toshiba ink and having an OSD claim ...

(happened to me once...),
(the FK driver miss the pallet ,and hit the bottom 80p bag...what a mess).

golfournut · Jan 31, 2011

nightcreacher said:
drive over to TRI STATE and see the perfect drivers area,but no where to sleep.plenty of area to watch tv,do laundry,shower,eat,and run lap tops.but cant sleep in the building,but thats ok,never there that long

Stevens Transport in Dallas has a small room off of the lounge that has, if I remember correctly, 4 sets of bunk beds. Sleeping bags only and your own pillow. They were used a lot.

golfournut · Jan 31, 2011

redytrk said:
Plug ins for the block heaters.

Great idea.

robh2 · Jan 31, 2011

Not only plug in's for the block heaters but also for heat and a/c in the trucks when drivers are in the lounge. Many people carry their pets on the road and if they have to stay in the trucks, it would be nice to plug in instead of burn fuel for them.

nightcreacher · Jan 31, 2011

moose said:
It's WG after delivering Toshiba ink and having an OSD claim ...

(happened to me once...),
(the FK driver miss the pallet ,and hit the bottom 80p bag...what a mess).

laughing so hard,I'm crying

Jefferson3000 · Jan 31, 2011

Bruno said:
John it sounds like your keeping the O/O and the drivers happy. Maybe have a Fountain Machine with free soda or Sweet tea. John I do know you like to grill, why not put a kichen in that you can cook some steaks on a grill. That way you can use the kichen/lunch room for Load1 get togethers also. As Load1 grows your going to need a bigger room for drivers coming into class. If you build it they will come. lol

Hey John,

Maybe you should just spend your day grillin' burgers and dogs for the crew, or maybe another chili cook-off.

I do like the recliner idea. Spent several hours at a Cat dealer one afternoon near Cleveland. It was nice to have showers and a darkened room with Lazy Boys. It beats sitting in the office, staring at the service agent

purgoose10 · Jan 31, 2011

ftp000 said:
How about a couple of treadmills? I find myself constantly wishing truckstops would have a little exercise equipment.

Posted with my Droid EO Forum App

That's not only a good idea but could help with your employee health insurance rates. A workout room separate from from the break room. Invite your ins. broker in to see and you should qualify for discounts.

purgoose10 · Jan 31, 2011

I am beginning to think everyone at Load 1 is paid off. I don't think in my 40yrs of trucking have I heard so many positive things coming from one company

. Makes me wonder how long it will last. I might talk to you about putting on a new truck in March.
Anyway one thing (depending on parking area), Shore power.

greg334 · Jan 31, 2011

John,
As much as it is a good idea, remember to design the place that is easy to clean and use some rather tough products that will hold up to the use. I don't think you are looking at truck stop numbers but maybe enough people who would filter through in a week could make it all a nightmare to maintain - maybe suggesting a self-maintained place may work out in the long run because you treat your contractors well.

ALSO as mentioned, shore power is a great thing and so is a cable and wifi for those who like to camp out in the van/truck. But also a doggy/kitty area for those who want to walk their pet or be walked by their pet.

I have an idea of the layout of the place here in Michigan, but don't recall what is around it. A walking path or exercise path may not be a bad idea either - you know maintaining that health lifestyle of Expediting.

wombat52 · Jan 31, 2011

well john
i would say a nice sofa a couple of arm chairs got one at home still like new all it is doing is sitting in a storage shed this is a leather recliner , maybe a nice flat screen tv & dvd and a bench with a sink and frypan electric ok if the driver wants to cook something even for the dispatchers just ask jeremy i cooked him up a meal or two at times on a saturday or sunday in my truck
wombat ..

Brisco · Jan 31, 2011

golfournut said:
Stevens Transport in Dallas has a small room off of the lounge that has, if I remember correctly, 4 sets of bunk beds. Sleeping bags only and your own pillow. They were used a lot.

Hoosier RV Transport in Bristol Indiana has such a room also down in the basement of their main office. It's seperated from the drivers lounge/shower area down a little hallway. There's like 8 single twin sized beds with those plastic/cloth mattress covers/wraps on them and drivers use their own sleeping bags and pillow too. They have a "dimmer switch" on the light that is fixed so that drivers won't be turning the lights off and on all day/night. The setting is low enough to sleep in darkness, but also bright enough to walk around in the room without bumping into things.

Yes, drivers use that room every single night/day.

zero3nine · Jan 31, 2011

I would throw in a slightly refined version of something that has already been suggested a few times:

A completely sound/vibration proofed room for sleeping. Literally insulate it with recording studio quality materials, no exterior light can get in, and totally isolated from the sound of doors slamming, footsteps or any other vibration.

The quality of sleep in such a room will make a 3 hour nap seem like a full 8 hour rest period... maybe even better.

fired at you from my Droideka

LDB · Jan 31, 2011

purgoose10 said:
I am beginning to think everyone at Load 1 is paid off.

Yes, they are paid off on a standard payroll schedule for the loads run since the last payroll date.

Wolfeman68 · Jan 31, 2011

I hate to be the voice of reason here, but c'mon this is getting way over the top. John is nice enough to put something in for us, but it should functional for all. TV, Microwave, couple of tables and chairs, couple of comfortable chairs. WiFi is already there. Vending machine with sandwiches and such is nice, but I don't know if it would be practicable.

Tri-State doesn't allow anyone to sleep in theirs because they don't want the furniture messed up, and any arguments to start because you don't like someone turning the TV on and waking you up.

Just a nice place to relax is fine with me. One important thing is that we keep it clean. Dad works hard enough as it is.

chefdennis · Jan 31, 2011

Dad is one hard working dude thats for sure....

As for the fitness equipment...i just happen to have a like new 3 position cable weight machine and eclipical and more free weights and differnt benchs in a storage locker...I will make you a great deal John....and yes, Health Insurance carriers will offer a discount for such an investment in your contractors / employees...

And that is something to think about..."employee" use either before or after their normal work shift....

jjoerger · Jan 31, 2011

I don't run for Load 1, but it seems that the shore power idea would be a great one. A place to plug in your block heater, space heater and electric blanket. Sleeping warm in peace and quiet.