SAIA | Mass Exodus

For some maybe. But I think it would be a mistake because in no more than 2 or 3 years every major LTL player will have them. You will have given up all your seniority and start all over at the bottom. SAIA has one of the best compensation packages in the business. You just can't beat SAIA's healthcare. Even OD's insurance isn't as good as ours. We pay OT after 45 and will probably get a good raise. Quit if you want but you won't escape the cameras. Damn guys, just adapt. They are not that bad once you get use to them.
Don't try to church it up runaway train! Every ltl will not have driver facing cams. Fedex freight and OD will employ forward facing cams for real safety. It would be 1 thing if the driver facing cams where triggered by a critical event but to constant monitoring is a bit much. A question! Do saia trucks get monitored for excessive speed? At OD the EOBC knows the speed limit of any road you are on and knows if your tractor is excessively speeding. I repeatally have seen saia blowing everyone's doors off in the construction zones in northwest Indiana, and they are driving new volvos with nanny cams, so much for safety! Its all about safety unless of course saia has to get the freight down the road really fast. By the way " A runaway train is very dangerous!"
 
At my barn we have not lost but one driver that I know of. It is mainly because we have a lot of guys with many years of seniority. They stay for the insurance and probably will until they die or health reasons force them out. We also have decent managers that understand MOST drivers at our barn are very good and safe drivers. The coaching is done with an open ear from what Ive been told. I have only been coached once and was told to keep doing what Ive been doing. It was a following distance video where a car jumped in front of me beyond my control.

With that being said I will say that the morale is at an all time low. It is more about the cell phone and cb policy that has most drivers upset. Several drivers have said they are looking and applying elsewhere. I know for myself I dont see Saia the same way. I came here to retire here , now I am not so sure. I feel like I am driving the camera instead of the truck, which to me is a distraction in itself.
 
I have no problem with that.

I can accept that. And if I was in your position I might feel the same way. Couple years from retirement, p&d driver stopping every 15-30 minutes, driving during the day, interacting with humans at every stop.
But as a line driver, stopping once every 250+ miles, looking at the same 100ft section of road my headlights shine on and no human interaction I have major problems with it.
Pre-nanny truck I completed my run no nap needed with energy left over to go to the gym for an hour 3 mornings a week. Now it takes two naps a night, just to make it back to the barn. Plus double the coffee and end up eating before bed cuz you don't wanna snack in the truck. No energy for the gym. Hell I've had to pull over in my car headed home and rest my eyes for 5 min to make it home.

There's a difference between using the Bluetooth or cb out on the open road and driving in rush hour traffic yaking on the phone.
 
Don't try to church it up runaway train! Every ltl will not have driver facing cams. Fedex freight and OD will employ forward facing cams for real safety. It would be 1 thing if the driver facing cams where triggered by a critical event but to constant monitoring is a bit much. A question! Do saia trucks get monitored for excessive speed? At OD the EOBC knows the speed limit of any road you are on and knows if your tractor is excessively speeding. I repeatally have seen saia blowing everyone's doors off in the construction zones in northwest Indiana, and they are driving new volvos with nanny cams, so much for safety! Its all about safety unless of course saia has to get the freight down the road really fast. By the way " A runaway train is very dangerous!"

The EOBR system Saia uses is the cheapest bottom of the barrel system on the market (Vnomics) so I very much doubt that it has that capability. We can't even send messages or dispatch with it. It's a very pathetic system compared to all the rest.

Although it is nice not being able to receive messages on it because when central calls you and you don't answer the phone, you can throw their ridiculous no-phone rule right back in their face when they complain that they couldn't get ahold of you. Can't have it both ways.
 
Although it is nice not being able to receive messages on it because when central calls you and you don't answer the phone, you can throw their ridiculous no-phone rule right back in their face when they complain that they couldn't get ahold of you. Can't have it both ways.[/QUOTE]


It already has several times in HST. The HST linehaul dispatcher will call and drivers ignore the call. After they dispatch.... :fingure:
 
I feel like I am driving the camera instead of the truck, which to me is a distraction in itself.
I finally had to hop in one of the retrofit Volvos. It felt like a different drive but I really couldn't put my finger on it until now. chiz hit the nail on the head.
I feel like I am driving the camera instead of the truck, which to me is a distraction in itself.
 
It really comes down to this. Either accept it or leave. They won't reverse the policy. If many of you are so unhappy then just leave. Life's too short to be miserable. The dock to driver program is working fine and the young bucks coming up will gladly take your spot. We hate to see you go but that's your decision.
 
It really comes down to this. Either accept it or leave. They won't reverse the policy. If many of you are so unhappy then just leave. Life's too short to be miserable. The dock to driver program is working fine and the young bucks coming up will gladly take your spot. We hate to see you go but that's your decision.

Sorry that you get so flustered when people won't buy into your preaching. I think you'll get over it though.
 
My thoughts are based on the notion that Saia has implemented these cameras as a safety measure in order to reduce distracted driving and use the data that the cameras provide as a teaching and coaching tool. If those concepts are not correct or important for the sales staff, then I stand corrected. But, if you try to tell me that sales is infallible and never drives distracted or operates a company vehicle in an unsafe manner, then I will respectfully disagree.
 
My thoughts are based on the notion that Saia has implemented these cameras as a safety measure in order to reduce distracted driving and use the data that the cameras provide as a teaching and coaching tool. If those concepts are not correct or important for the sales staff, then I stand corrected. But, if you try to tell me that sales is infallible and never drives distracted or operates a company vehicle in an unsafe manner, then I will respectfully disagree.
My thoughts are the accident rates in sales are less than 1% and it's also not illegal. The numbers simply don't justify it. Sales are not causing mult-million dollar law-suits either. Sales are instructed to use good judgement and follow the letter of the law and from the numbers they are doing just that.
 
My thoughts are the accident rates in sales are less than 1% and it's also not illegal. The numbers simply don't justify it. Sales are not causing mult-million dollar law-suits either. Sales are instructed to use good judgement and follow the letter of the law and from the numbers they are doing just that.

Well, it may not be illegal by the DOT, but talking on the phone while driving is against company policy, regardless of which department you are assigned.

Makes a person wonder what protocols are in place if the sales person is involved in an accident and they were distracted. They obviously wouldn't implicate themselves. But fair is fair, and if you are going to implement and enforce a policy, it really should be for everyone.
 
My thoughts are the accident rates in sales are less than 1% and it's also not illegal. The numbers simply don't justify it. Sales are not causing mult-million dollar law-suits either. Sales are instructed to use good judgement and follow the letter of the law and from the numbers they are doing just that.

You just got done posting the same 2-3 news stories all over the threads about how studies supposedly show hands free isn't safe, but now you want to talk about what's legal and not legal. Nevermind the fact that the same thing is perfectly legal in both vehicles.

Either make up your mind, or just admit that you are a hypocrite. You can't have it both ways.
 
You just got done posting the same 2-3 news stories all over the threads about how studies supposedly show hands free isn't safe, but now you want to talk about what's legal and not legal. Nevermind the fact that the same thing is perfectly legal in both vehicles.

Either make up your mind, or just admit that you are a hypocrite. You can't have it both ways.
It's about risk, numbers and business. I'll tell you what PR83 you start your own company and set your own policies as an owner operator as you have indicated you are considering. Then you have no bitch. Until then concern yourself with doing what your told or leave. This is not your company and you don't set policy.
 
Well, it may not be illegal by the DOT, but talking on the phone while driving is against company policy, regardless of which department you are assigned.

Makes a person wonder what protocols are in place if the sales person is involved in an accident and they were distracted. They obviously wouldn't implicate themselves. But fair is fair, and if you are going to implement and enforce a policy, it really should be for everyone.
You are an owner operator Buck so you have the right to set your own policies. Don't concern yourself with a company you don't own. You don't even work here anymore ... Why do you even care? Are you a hero? Are you the voice for those that are being treated so unfairly? Like I said before if they don't like it they can leave. Their company, their policy. And BTW I have never seen a rep. on a cell phone while driving. They pull over before they respond.
 
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