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

[Wingnut]

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????

 

[Dakota]

Report them. No questions asked. Drinking on the job or worse yet while driving is unforgivable

 

[BigWheeler]

Call the owner immediatley.

 

[cheri1122]

Hope the codriver's going to share?
JUST KIDDING!
There really isn't any question - call the owner before anything else, and ask how he/she wants to handle it.
I'd also add that I would refuse to continue with that codriver, period.

 

[geo]

call the owner and call the company and call the police to
if tried to drive the truck and not get in truck

 

[Humble2drive]

. . . you see your new codriver drinking several beers while on duty . . .

I have problems with this part of the scenario.

How did you "see" this driver drinking a beer? From across the table?, from across the room?, on spy cam?

Did you confirm that the beverage was alcohol? Many non alcohol drinks are packaged to resemble beer bottles so that you can still look cool while you drink them.

If you make some type of accusation and it turns out that he was not drinking alcohol then it could be a rough start to this new working relationship. That is why it is best to address the situation immediately when you see him with the beverage and confirm what is going on.

If it is in fact beer then this clown has put you in the position where you have no choice but to take his set of keys and call the owner to arrange exactly how to dispose of this driver and get a new one.

 

[Wingnut]

OK..let's add a bit to this scenero: let's say that you (the newbie) was afraid to call the owner or anyone because they might think that you're a snitch, trying to cause trouble, etc......so you do & say nothing. Oh, and you believe your new codriver when he tells you that since you are a newbie, you won't be able to drive solo. What would you do????

 

[Humble2drive]

call the owner and call the company and call the police to
if tried to drive the truck and not get in truck

Calling the Police is not necessary as it is not illegal to drink a couple of beers. Give the cops a break unless this guy is going to insist on driving or get physical over the situation.

 

[davekc]

This is one of those "never assume something". As a fleet owner, you are not there. You can't direct the truck in any fashion because you could have a liability issue with the primary driver. Shut the truck down, call safety and schedule a drug/alcohol test in which the primary would drive to the place of testing.
Then have the new driver submit to a compliance test.
If they refuse, buy them a bus ticket and move on.
No need to complicate the simple.

 

[Humble2drive]

OK..let's add a bit to this scenero: let's say that you (the newbie) was afraid to call the owner or anyone because they might think that you're a snitch, trying to cause trouble, etc......so you do & say nothing. Oh, and you believe your new codriver when he tells you that since you are a newbie, you won't be able to drive solo. What would you do????

N/A, wouldn't be afraid to call and wouldn't listen to what this driver said.

 

[Wingnut]

I have problems with this part of the scenario.

How did you "see" this driver drinking a beer? From across the table?, from across the room?, on spy cam?

Did you confirm that the beverage was alcohol? Many non alcohol drinks are packaged to resemble beer bottles so that you can still look cool while you drink them.

If you make some type of accusation and it turns out that he was not drinking alcohol then it could be a rough start to this new working relationship. That is why it is best to address the situation immediately when you see him with the beverage and confirm what is going on.

If it is in fact beer then this clown has put you in the position where you have no choice but to take his set of keys and call the owner to arrange exactly how to dispose of this driver and get a new one.

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.

 

[davekc]

Same plan, and no changes. Time to party, and a time not to.
Just no exceptions on something like this. Kill someone, and the variables just don't matter.

 

[dieseldiva]

Newbie or not, I'm not caring what ANYONE calls me, I'm not getting in that truck with that person behind the wheel. I'm not going to p/u or anywhere else. All operations just ceased. Make whatever calls need to be made to stop this thing from going forward. Now if this person wants to try and intimidate the newbie into silence, so be it, the judge will be interested in hearing that as well. Zero tolerance is the only way to go here.

I wouldn't get in a personal vehicle with alcohol involved, I SURE wouldn't do it in a truck.

Now, this newbie, knowing what he/she knows......does nothing and there's an accident......is now at fault along with the driver that drank the beer? Not worth it, I'm not giving up any part of my life because someone else wants to be stupid.

 

[Humble2drive]

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.

Well that clears it up. Handle the situation right then.

Now, fess up Wingman. Is this a situation that is going on right now?

 

[dieseldiva]

Same plan, and no changes. Time to party, and a time not to.
Just no exceptions on something like this. Kill someone, and the variables just don't matter.

Just what I expected to hear from a good fleet owner. On that note.......

I posted recently about knowing a driver that texted while driving their fleet owner's $250k plus truck, stating how upset I would be to find out that that was going on.

Could you expand on the ramifications, Dave, to you as a fleet owner, if the texting or the drinking causes an accident?

 

[Humble2drive]

Just what I expected to hear from a good fleet owner. On that note.......

I posted recently about knowing a driver that texted while driving their fleet owner's $250k plus truck, stating how upset I would be to find out that that was going on.

Could you expand on the ramifications, Dave, to you as a fleet owner, if the texting or the drinking causes an accident?

I would like to report that someone is trying to hijack this thread.

 

[dieseldiva]

I would like to report that someone is trying to hijack this thread.

?????????????

 

[davekc]

Drinking and texting are quickly becoming synonymous. But...not everywhere. Depends on the state.
With that aside, liability starts to spread the minute the carrier or the owner are aware of the circumstances. And even then, it may be a bumpy road depending on what was known and when.
Simply put, if the owner or carrier are made aware of a potential circumstance in which a driver is drinking regardless of the amount, they likely carry a percentage of the liability.
If the driver kills or injures someone, guess who the lawyers are coming after? Yep.....anyone they possibly can.
They will follow the money.
Insurance only has a value of the policy. If the damages exceed that, quess what?
Just because one owns the truck or provides the freight, doesn't eliminate them from a major legal entanglement.
Not sure I get the hijacking the thread comment?

 

[greg334]

It is simple, I would get out of the situation by any means possible.

If you, the driver and even a newbie wants to shorten your career, then don't do a thing.

But I and others like me are the ones who get screwed by these drivers, and one reason why I have zero tolerance for people who have been caught drinking and driving. I think in all honestly, you get a DUI on your license, that's it no more truck driving period.

It is far easier to find another owner with another co-driver to drive than it is dealing with the aftermath of an fatality accident. So call the owner, call the cops, screw the co-driver it is not his decision to screw you.

 

[Humble2drive]

?????????????

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.