What would you do?????????

[dieseldiva]

Geeez, Ok I'll explain.
Hijacking a thread refers to when someone changes the direction of the original posters topic and leads the online conversation in another direction. In this case Greg came to the rescue and brought us back to topic.
I made an internet blunder by not putting a smiley face at the end of my post so that you would know that I was attempting humor. Sorry.

I understand the definition of hijacking a thread, I just didn't agree that it applied here. The question was within the topic, I merely asked Dave for an expansion on the theme.

 

[Humble2drive]

I understand the definition of hijacking a thread, I just didn't agree that it applied here. The question was within the topic, I merely asked Dave for an expansion on the theme.

I understand your point and I am placing myself under a 5 minute suspension for misdirected humor.

 

[dieseldiva]

I understand your point and I am placing myself under a 5 minute suspension for misdirected humor.

Quite noble and not at all the norm for this forum, think maybe you're being a little hard on yourself??

 

[Poorboy]

Here's the scenero: Let's say that you're a newbie in expediting and you're going to drive team with someone that you don't know. Let's say that the owner of the truck gave you several phone #'s to reach them any time day/night 24/7 AND specifically told you that you could call any time if you had a question, concern, etc. Let's go further and say that within the first 24 hours you see your new codriver drinking several beers while on duty AND right before you go to p/u a load. What would YOU do in this scenero????

I had that problem about 5-6 years ago, with the Only exception is that I was and still am the Owner. My New co-driver and I Had just Unloaded at the Auto Plant south of Nashville and went to the TA on I-65 to Grab a Shower, Eat, and Get some sleep! I woke up with loud singing outside of my truck and when I Looked Out, My co-driver was sitting on the Step with his Pants down and Singing away and thinking that the step was the Toilet. Lucky for me that he didn't let it go! I Poured him into bed, Then called dispatch and put us out of service. I Informed Safety and Dispatch in the morning as to what Had Happened and to look for a run going towards home that a Solo driver could do! Eventually they found me a Load going to Dayton which I Gladly accepted as I Live in Toledo. After delivering in Dayton I went to Toledo and Dropped his Sorry Butt Off. Since then I have received quite a few requests for a Reference from "Other" owners wanting to know why I Fired him and if I would ever Rehire him again! I Flat out refused to give him a Good Reference! I Thought that I Saw Him down by Atlanta a Couple of weeks ago Driving a Swift Truck!

 

[dieseldiva]

I Thought that I Saw Him down by Atlanta a Couple of weeks ago Driving a Swift Truck!

That's comforting, Poorboy! But then, he couldn't be too much worse than some of the others we see daily....

 

[Scuba]

Here's the scenero: Let's say that you're a newbie in expediting and you're going to drive team with someone that you don't know. Let's say that the owner of the truck gave you several phone #'s to reach them any time day/night 24/7 AND specifically told you that you could call any time if you had a question, concern, etc. Let's go further and say that within the first 24 hours you see your new codriver drinking several beers while on duty AND right before you go to p/u a load. What would YOU do in this scenero????

Why are so many of you reading what isnt there he clearly states he see's the codriver drinking while on duty!!!! This is a ni brainer if i couldn't reach the owner the next call would be to Panther to get the truck shut down and i would most likley call the cops if your on duty you dont have any business drinking period. There isn't any gray area here if he was drinking while out of service go for it drink to you puke if you want to i dont care. I have a drink from time to time but on the weekend when i am out of service.

 

[dieseldiva]

To answer this: you (the newbie) come back from eating your dinner and when you get inside the truck, you witness your new codriver drinking 3 budweiser beers. Oh yeah, and you CLEARLY not only see the writing on the cans but you also clearly see him opening up and drinking the beverages.

Looking at this addition brings an additional question. Is it legal to even HAVE alcohol inside a commercial vehicle, on duty or not? I'm sure the individual companies have their policies, I know Fed Ex does but what about the DOT?

 

[Scuba]

If you are moving NO any amount of booze wou;d be illegal unless it is on the manifest and then it has to be in the cargo area not within reach of the driver. I don't believe there is anything illegal if you are not moving and out of service. I could be wrong god knos i have been wrong before i was after all married once

 

[greg334]

Scuba, OOS doesn't mean a thing, FedEx and Landstar both have a clear policy and I think Panther also has one - no alcohol in the truck period. No latitude is given from those two companies over the gray issue of OOS or sleeper or what ever, you get into a problem and they find out, that ends your contract.

 

[Desperado]

yea but isn't there something in dot book about safety sentive operations like inspection of truck b-4 intering and you cannot peform them if above .001 and a dui = .002 for comercial li and in most states having keys in your truck and you in truck = dui seems to me i'd just get my stuff out of truck call owner/ company and say he's been drinking him or me and if nessary ride the dog home

 

[moose]

I just can't get it that they sell beer at truck Stop and gas stations .
this is wrong.

do you think it need to be specified on the driver contract , or just the plain wording of negligent will do ?

(like to specified no smoking in the truck , or pets )

 

[cheri1122]

The possession and/or consumption of alcohol is prohibited in a CMV. Texting, [no matter how dangerous you personally consider it] is not [yet]. It probably should be, and probably will be, but so far, it's not against the law.
Driving while distracted is the root problem, and I wish there were more warnings on that, rather than focusing on [and targeting] specific causes of distraction. Driving requires one's full attention, and that's a message I rarely see anywhere outside of a classroom, sigh.

 

[greg334]

I just can't get it that they sell beer at truck Stop and gas stations .

I can't get over it either, I asked MADD and that other group why they don't go after these truck stops who sell it and they said "oh not enough truck stops to make an impact".

 

[Bruno]

Well, anyone crazy enough to let him drive knowing that he or she has been drinking is just as much as fault as the person drinking. My life is worth more to me than a friendship with a co-driver. Our friendship went out the window when that person didn't care enough that they could get into an accident and kill me and others on the road. I don't care if it was the Pope and he had one glass of wine, he would still not get behind the wheel of the truck. I don't care if he was the owner of the truck and I was his co-driver, I still wouldn't let him behind the wheel of his own truck. My company would be called ASAP.

 

[inkasnana]

First I would take the keys to the truck and then I would definitely call the owner of the truck as well as the carrier company. I would absolutely refuse to go any further with that co-driver. It's not only stupid and dangerous but I take great pride in my CDL and I would not allow anyone to jeopardize it for anything. Especially something as bone-headed as drinking in the truck.

 

[Wingnut]

THANK-YOU to all of you for your comments. Unfortunately for me, this scenero became all too real this week when I found out that one of my drivers had been drinking in my truck while on duty and his co-driver didn't have the guts to tell me, anyone at the expedite company, nor the police. I didn't need to fire him once I found out because he took the cowards way by bailing..........abandoning my truck (which was on a load) plus a whole lot more which I won't go in to.
The reason I started this thread was NOT to air my personal business but to make every one of you aware of how serious and dangerous things like this are. When you witness your co-driver drinking while on duty, it IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to IMMEDIATELY contact someone....whether it be the owner, expedite company, or police. As far as I am concerned, especially if you are one of my drivers, you are JUST AS GUILTY as the driver doing the drinking if you do NOT tell on them. You are putting lives in danger AND breaking the law. Because of this ugly incident, I have now changed all my contracts to add a new clause about drinking & texting...and what will happen to the driver if he is caught doing it. Safety first and foremost...........all of our lives depend on it!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Dakota]

YouTube - Dont Text and Drive
This is why you shouldn't text and drive


WARNING VERY VERY GRAPHIC AND DISTURBING!!!!

 

[cheri1122]

The preceding clip on YouTube is EXTREMELY graphic - don't watch if you can't stand blood, for real. It upset me, and I have years of experience dealing with accident victims on a trauma unit.
It also upsets me that specific behaviors [first talking on a cellphone, now texting] are targeted as dangerous - distraction is the real danger.

 

[Dakota]

The preceding clip on YouTube is EXTREMELY graphic - don't watch if you can't stand blood, for real. It upset me, and I have years of experience dealing with accident victims on a trauma unit.
It also upsets me that specific behaviors [first talking on a cellphone, now texting] are targeted as dangerous - distraction is the real danger.

I guess I should have warned everyone, sorry. It is GRAPHIC and it can happen and it is sad. Even changing a CD, looking at a map, dialing a cellphone, talking to a passenger, sightseeing while driving can be very dangerous. I heard about this video on the news and I think it gets the message across.

 

[greg334]

Nice PSA from the UK where they have a lot problems, but if you noticed something the girls car was hit by the escort who took time stopping even though they were in the road in clear view.

Another more dangerous issue that popped up is mothers and fathers speaking to their brats while driving, sometimes feeding them or trying to keep the entertained.