Question

[OntarioVanMan]

The shipper didn't pay for me to maybe put his freight into a ditch or possibly destroy it....besides getting there ASAP he also expects it there in good condition...

when I was a newbee I drove thru ice and snow. I was the good expediter boy..only to find the receiving plant closed down because of the storm...No more...its ME first.

The poor shluck who expected us to make that drive is just that..a shluck
We are not talking a few snowflakes either thats no problem...

 

[x06col]

This could be a good thread, keep splain'in WHY not y'all.

Me and them is a start, valuable is nuther, still not much.

Really don't matter this here contest, when i'm only typ'in to contractors and not others.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

We are not the post office..ya know rain and sleet crap..even they don't do that...no where does it say we should put ourselves in danger...IT does say safely and responsibly though.

Ohhh so a company owner would do it...but a contractor is different?

 

[Tennesseahawk]

Col... maybe you'd understand if you flip a truck going 70, and hit a patch of ice. Or maybe feeling the truck taking on a mind of its own, going 45 thru Dayton. Or maybe feeling the truck fishtail going 5, as you put the brakes on, in Detroit.

I've seen Iowa look like a warzone. I've seen trucks in the ditch after a slight snowfall in Kansas. And I've seen a truck being pulled from the ditch after hitting bumpy ice in TX, last week. Fact is, anything can happen, if you're not prepared for it... and even if you are.

Me... I'm with a carrier who trusts my judgement. I'm sure Cal doesn't want anymore cargo claims; which is why he understands when I say it's too bad to go on. "Do the best you can" also means "go until your guts tell you to stop." Just seen too many who didn't trust their gut. Usually a wrecker or crane was involved. It's up to us to make sure we aren't at the end of a wrecker.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

I am not saying I won't drive in crappy weather But like Hawk says..when my gut says stop...it is stop....I am a responsible adult..not just a wheel holder with no brain...

 

[Turtle]

If the roads aren't safely navigable, I won't drive. It may take a great deal of effort on roads that may be really bad, but if I can drive in a manner that compensates for the conditions, which includes being able to stay way from people who aren't driving in a manner that compensates for the conditions, I'm going. It's what I do. If I encounter conditions where I can no longer safely navigate the roads I'll stop, simple as that. So far that hasn't happened. Been close, but not yet.

I may turn down a load that takes me through or to an area that's bad, a place that I don't want to mess with, but that can be due to bad weather or, say, delivering to Queens at 6PM on a Friday night. But once I accept a load, I'll get it there unless the conditions absolutely prevent it.

 

[pelicn]

We will travel as long as we can safely travel. We've made many runs at a snails pace, but we've made it safely

 

[bubblehead]

I respect those who make the decision to 'just say no' when it comes to incliment weather. Having lived in Newfoundland, doing the 'survivor man' routine for real, having to be rescued from -27f because I was driving a Hino and having to rescue others when I was a paramedic. I evaluate it this way; If I make the decision to go, how much am I going to jepordize myself and others. If rescue, police, or other responders are injured or killed because I did something stupid (perhaps because I don't want to be thought of as a wus) then I am directly responsible for their fate...I choose not to put others in harms way. Accidents happen and thats what these people are here for...but to expect them to risk their lives because I didn't want to be a "wus?"

I turned down a load to the DC area Friday and advised my carrier that blizzard conditions were forecasted and advisories were that unless it was an emergency, don't be on the roads. For this I was put on ETA lock and was told I would remain on lock until the load was covered and further, if I wasn't willing to go to DC then I need to take my truck OOS. Seems hard handed and contrary to "SAFETY FIRST" but I took this as an arrogant foolish dispatcher and that was "HIS" deal and not the carriers. Shortly afterwards, I got and accepted a dispatch heading south. I guess after they "locked" so many trucks, they didn't have any left to service other customers so they started "unlocking" trucks.

"Superior drivers are those that never have to use their superior skills." When I was trained by the "Smith System" under Fedex Express, this was the instructors opening statement. I certainly applies in this business.

 

[Crazynuff]

We will travel as long as we can safely travel. We've made many runs at a snails pace, but we've made it safely

And how many Supertruckers or SUV's went flying past you when you were driving at a snail's pace ? When you drive during inclement weather your safety depends on the abilities and judgment of every driver on the road .

 

[bubblehead]

When you drive during inclement weather your safety depends on the abilities and judgment of every driver on the road .

Well said. I have called dispatch telling them I was shutting down because of other vehicles were spinning out. Then I just happen to be on the phone with safety on another matter when dispatch called...instead of putting safety on hold, I conferenced the call (unknown to dispatch) and as dispatch was hounding me, safety dept interupted with a lively scolding (much deserved) to the dispatcher...folks its your truck and livelyhood, don't let yourself get pressured into a situation out of your comfort/skill level...be a responsible, professional driver....

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Well said. I have called dispatch telling them I was shutting down because of other vehicles were spinning out. Then I just happen to be on the phone with safety on another matter when dispatch called...instead of putting safety on hold, I conferenced the call (unknown to dispatch) and as dispatch was hounding me, safety dept interupted with a lively scolding (much deserved) to the dispatcher...folks its your truck and livelyhood, don't let yourself get pressured into a situation out of your comfort/skill level...be a responsible, professional driver....

Darn well said!

 

[layoutshooter]

You are the "captain" of your ship. That is true if you are the O/O or drive for a fleet owner. You, as captain, are responsible for your safety and the safety of any other people that may be on board you truck. You are responsible for the safety of every truck and car that shares the road with you. Lastly, you are responsible for the safety of your freight. People first, truck second, freight third.

The carriers should be more proactive when it comes to safety. The shippers should know better. If extreme weather is likely to affect their shipment they should either postpone that shipment or expect that a late delivery is likely.

There is nothing that I have ever carried that was worth Mrs. Layoutshooter's or my life.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

You are the "captain" of your ship. That is true if you are the O/O or drive for a fleet owner. You, as captain, are responsible for your safety and the safety of any other people that may be on board you truck. You are responsible for the safety of every truck and car that shares the road with you. Lastly, you are responsible for the safety of your freight. People first, truck second, freight third.

The carriers should be more proactive when it comes to safety. The shippers should know better. If extreme weather is likely to affect their shipment they should either postpone that shipment or expect that a late delivery is likely.

There is nothing that I have ever carried that was worth Mrs. Layoutshooter's or my life.

Aww But a REAL MAN would get it there!! hoot hoot! *L*

 

[layoutshooter]

LOL!! Very funny!! In reality, a "real man" always uses his brain to insure that safety comes first. "Real Men" should never be confused with "Macho Man"

 

[OntarioVanMan]

LOL!! Very funny!! In reality, a "real man" always uses his brain to insure that safety comes first. "Real Men" should never be confused with "Macho Man"

am still pokin ya about that real man deal back in the soap a few weeks back...*LOL*

 

[layoutshooter]

LOL!! I knew what you were doin!!! I am very happy to be able to provide you with such fine yet inexpensive entertainment!!

 

[Tennesseahawk]

Oh... they still have the soapbox forum?

 

[OntarioVanMan]

LOL!! I knew what you were doin!!! I am very happy to be able to provide you with such fine yet inexpensive entertainment!!

Hey..No problem..It's the American Way...I am learning...

 

[Dynamite 1]

we feel the same way, dont put the money maker at risk. when you look at it our way if you dont put the truck at risk you dont put people or freight at risk.

 

[guido4475]

We will travel as long as we can safely travel. We've made many runs at a snails pace, but we've made it safely

If it was safe to travel to begin with, you wouldnt of been traveling at a snails pace.

So there you are, traveling at a snails pace, in the right lane, four ways a flashing, and WHAM!!! you get hit in the *** by a big truck because billy big rigger with 40,000 pounds in the box thinks he can go fast because he is loaded heavy.But remember, youre making it safely.

Your carrier doesnt care about your safety, all they care about is getting the load there on time.And if you think differently, youre sadly mistaken.

No one has any kind of control on ice, I dont care how slow you go or how much weight you may have on your truck.It is all the same.And, from what I was toldfrom my ins. carrier, if you are involved in any kind of accident while being chained up, youre innsurance is void because this is labeled as a preventable accident.Check it out.

So now, is the freight still woth it? being in an accident?in the median? having to pay the deductable to get the truck fixed?A week or longer without income?The loss of a life?Having this on your and your carriers record for csa 2010?Absolutely not.This is why I have such great respect for Landstar.They are not as stupid as others to make a driver travel in bad weather.No questions asked at all.I was once told by someone there that they wuld rather lose a customer over late freight than to face a million dollar lawsuit.Think about it.