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SAIA | Concerned for our safety?

PhilWilliams

PhilWilliams

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I have been told that the inward facing cameras were to help us be safer. That not using the phone even with a hands free was for safety. Not using a CB was safer.
Until this quarter I haven't driven a vehicle without an SRS system, air bags, until I was assigned a new freightliner. I have never had control over being able to lock a truck in a gear during inclement weather until I was assigned said truck.
Not buying the airbags and not giving the driver any control only save money. They do not contribute to keeping the driver safe or looking out for their welfare. Does this mean safety comes second to money?
 
PhilWilliams said:
I have never had control over being able to lock a truck in a gear
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I assume you mean you have never not had control. I won't post it on here but ask around about the remedy to that situation. Just remember when they treat line drivers like they are locked up at the penitentiary some can think of a fix for every situation.
 
Just another great example of...if you treat people like garbage, they won't appreciate it. It's all about the almighty dollar and some moron(s) in Atlanta trying to justify his/her job
 
Jo mama Angie daddy said:
I assume you mean you have never not had control. I won't post it on here but ask around about the remedy to that situation. Just remember when they treat line drivers like they are locked up at the penitentiary some can think of a fix for every situation.
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We've tried to figure it out. Never even got any training on the trucks. Shy of a handout once every three months we don't even have safety meetings. No one from corporate stays at terminal during the hours drivers are there to ask questions either. Guess they are tired of the complaints.
 
bigbuck said:
Just another great example of...if you treat people like garbage, they won't appreciate it. It's all about the almighty dollar and some moron(s) in Atlanta trying to justify his/her job
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I get that the dollar is important, but it is a trucking company. Someone's gotta drive the trucks. Sometimes a little respect for someone, a little trust in their abilities goes farther then a paycheck. Heck, they've reduced insurance benefits for families more then they've raised wages and then tell us we're lucky.
Three years ago the president and the VP were bragging about how much they trusted the drivers that they opted to not have driver cams facing in. Now it's not only shoved down our throats, it's been weaponized.
 
PhilWilliams said:
I get that the dollar is important, but it is a trucking company. Someone's gotta drive the trucks. Sometimes a little respect for someone, a little trust in their abilities goes farther then a paycheck. Heck, they've reduced insurance benefits for families more then they've raised wages and then tell us we're lucky.
Three years ago the president and the VP were bragging about how much they trusted the drivers that they opted to not have driver cams facing in. Now it's not only shoved down our throats, it's been weaponized.
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Nothing is being shoved down your throat. You are free to leave anytime. SAIA's overall compensation plan is one of the best in the business. You are lucky!!! FYI. The leadership team has the right to change their mind anytime they feel it's in the best interest of the company. I'm sorry you don't approve.
 
runawaytrain said:
Nothing is being shoved down your throat. You are free to leave anytime. SAIA's overall compensation plan is one of the best in the business. You are lucky!!! FYI. The leadership team has the right to change their mind anytime they feel it's in the best interest of the company. I'm sorry you don't approve.
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That's your pat answer. It's BS.
I was told nearly twenty years ago drivers were a dime a dozen by an officer in this company. He was wrong then and it's still a falsehood.
I've got over two decades invested in this company, in good standing, with a perfect safety record and over 30 in the industry. Something you haven't seemed to be able to crack the code on anywhere. I am just shy of 10k shares owned in this company since the stock was made available. I have a very personal interest in the company succeeding. I also have contributed without pause since day one, actually day 90, to the 401k, so yeah, I have become a millionaire working for 'the man.' It's not nearly enough though. I've got 16 more years I want to work and don't care to leave, that doesn't mean I have to like all of the decisions.
I was here when we had monthly safety bonuses.
I was here when at ten years we received an anniversary truck with our name on it.
I was here when they covered our spouses on our insurance whether they worked or not. ( Some people's spouses had to quit their jobs because the insurance cost too much. )
I was here when we owned our vacation on the first of January.
I was here when they recognized people's annual safety record in a meeting each month after they achieved it, not once a year for everyone tossed out of the dispatch window.
I was here when we received a Christmas bonus.

The list goes on sport.

Those things didn't make me quit then, and I'll decide when I leave. I'll still call stupid stupid and wrong wrong.

The high horse you perch yourself on was built by men who were here for the growth of this company.
Your welcome.
 
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PhilWilliams said:
That's your pat answer. It's BS.
I was told nearly twenty years ago drivers were a dime a dozen by an officer in this company. He was wrong then and it's still a falsehood.
I've got over two decades invested in this company, in good standing, with a perfect safety record and over 30 in the industry. Something you haven't seemed to be able to crack the code on anywhere. I am just shy of 10k shares owned in this company since the stock was made available. I have a very personal interest in the company succeeding. I also have contributed without pause since day one, actually day 90, so yeah, I have become a millionaire working for 'the man.' It's not nearly enough though. I've got 16 more years I want to work and don't care to leave, that doesn't mean I have to like all of the decisions.
I was here when we had monthly safety bonuses.
I was here when at ten years we received an anniversary truck with our name on it.
I was here when they covered our spouses on our insurance whether they worked or not. ( Some people's spouses had to quit their jobs because the insurance cost too much. )
I was here when we owned our vacation on the first of January.
I was here when they recognized people's annual safety record in a meeting each month after they achieved it, not once a year for everyone tossed out of the dispatch window.
I was here when we received a Christmas bonus.

The list goes on sport.

Those things didn't make me quit then, and I'll decide when I leave. I'll still call stupid stupid and wrong wrong.

The high horse you perch yourself on was built by men who were here for the growth of this company.
Your welcome.
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Go ahead and bite that hand thats feeding you. Like the man said, if you're not happy, you're free to leave. If you don't want to leave, stop belly aching. According to your word, you've become a millionaire working for the man. Act like it or step on down the road. Better yet, reaveal your screen name to your TM or DM. Let them see how you hate what's happening. After all. You didnt get where you're at on YOUR company decissions.
 
PhilWilliams said:
That's your pat answer. It's BS.
I was told nearly twenty years ago drivers were a dime a dozen by an officer in this company. He was wrong then and it's still a falsehood.
I've got over two decades invested in this company, in good standing, with a perfect safety record and over 30 in the industry. Something you haven't seemed to be able to crack the code on anywhere. I am just shy of 10k shares owned in this company since the stock was made available. I have a very personal interest in the company succeeding. I also have contributed without pause since day one, actually day 90, so yeah, I have become a millionaire working for 'the man.' It's not nearly enough though. I've got 16 more years I want to work and don't care to leave, that doesn't mean I have to like all of the decisions.
I was here when we had monthly safety bonuses.
I was here when at ten years we received an anniversary truck with our name on it.
I was here when they covered our spouses on our insurance whether they worked or not. ( Some people's spouses had to quit their jobs because the insurance cost too much. )
I was here when we owned our vacation on the first of January.
I was here when they recognized people's annual safety record in a meeting each month after they achieved it, not once a year for everyone tossed out of the dispatch window.
I was here when we received a Christmas bonus.

The list goes on sport.

Those things didn't make me quit then, and I'll decide when I leave. I'll still call stupid stupid and wrong wrong.

The high horse you perch yourself on was built by men who were here for the growth of this company.
Your welcome.
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I don't care how much stock you have sport. And go ahead and continue to live in the past sport. Those day are gone for everyone. To stay competitive in this market things must change. Look at what OD pays for healthcare with less coverage and OT after 60. Old Dominion has the best operation ratio in the business for a reason. All I care about is the OPERATION RATIO SPORT. That's how LTL companies are gauged. To be a millionaire your not to bright.
 
I've actually voiced all of this in a nice and respectful manner throughout the years and continue to do so. I'm a professional in my trade and management seems to like my performance and they respect my opinion. Guess what, they don't want or need yes men. They get it. Many in management don't like this anymore then we do, but once again, are professionals and are doing their jobs. Our complaints and opinions have been presented to officers in the company. They know how we feel. Maybe it will change, maybe it won't. I won't change my opinion or my high level of performance. And yes, my decisions are what have made me successful, both financially and with this company. Had I made poor decisions or performed poorly I wouldn't be successful. No one drug me along for a free ride. No one kicked me off the bus either.
 
By the way train, OR is important, especially to stockholders, but it's not everything. The company needs to be sustainable and have the financial and personnel resources to be successful during the hard times. We've kept accounts that operate at 102-105 because the pay 15-30 days out for operating capital. We are paying 15k sign on bonuses for experienced drivers since the pool is getting shallow. All of that should speak volumes.

Can you speak to why your Freightliner doesn't have an airbag? That $800 option more important then you? You good with that? Your opinion doesn't contradict their decision?
 
Hey train, how you feel about the company only recognizing the safety awards once a year and not shortly after they are earned so it's always fresh in everyone's mind? Good idea to just toss em out annually?
 
PhilWilliams said:
Hey train, what about driving in a snowstorm without a cb? You see an accident blocking the road and cannot warn people on the other side. You good with that?

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Must have been a lot of trucks without cb's since no one slowed down. Could it be that there was cb communication and no one listened?
 
If they don't want drivers on their phones, they should implement the policy that dispatchers shouldn't call or text drivers while they are driving. That wouldn't cost them a dime, they would just have to pull heads out of asses to get it done. THAT would cut driver phone use by at least 50%.
 
conartist said:
If they don't want drivers on their phones, they should implement the policy that dispatchers shouldn't call or text drivers while they are driving. That wouldn't cost them a dime, they would just have to pull heads out of asses to get it done. THAT would cut driver phone use by at least 50%.
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They dont have the GPS updated enough to be able to see where you are in resl time. There is a lag in time. Henceforth, they call or text and the next time you are stopped, you call in. Now. If thats not suitable, there are tracking devices they could use to see where you are EVERY SECOND of your day or night. Would you be happier with those?
 
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