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SAIA | Safety comes to it's senses?

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PistonRing83

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Anyone noticing that the talking heads in safety are starting to back down as far as coaching and discipline lately? I've been driving camera trucks more often and I'm noticing the cameras are going off less and less. The following distance trigger point is much closer to the truck now, and I can't even make them go off for lane deviation AT ALL anymore. I could probably go all night on my run without setting one off at all, if it wasn't for a couple bad spots in the road that always shake the truck to hell.

The coaching of frivolous offenses has also dropped off, too. I've had a couple incidents I was just SURE were going to get me a coaching, but never even heard anything about them afterwards. Hopefully this is a sign that they are finally acknowledging the fact that they will have to make the choice between overbearing micromanagement or driver retention.

Thoughts?
 
PistonRing83 said:
Anyone noticing that the talking heads in safety are starting to back down as far as coaching and discipline lately? I've been driving camera trucks more often and I'm noticing the cameras are going off less and less. The following distance trigger point is much closer to the truck now, and I can't even make them go off for lane deviation AT ALL anymore. I could probably go all night on my run without setting one off at all, if it wasn't for a couple bad spots in the road that always shake the truck to hell.

The coaching of frivolous offenses has also dropped off, too. I've had a couple incidents I was just SURE were going to get me a coaching, but never even heard anything about them afterwards. Hopefully this is a sign that they are finally acknowledging the fact that they will have to make the choice between overbearing micromanagement or driver retention.

Thoughts?
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When Corporate....any corporate understands that all these pencil pushers they have created is nothing more than a drain on profits, these actions will be done away with.
 
PistonRing83 said:
Anyone noticing that the talking heads in safety are starting to back down as far as coaching and discipline lately? I've been driving camera trucks more often and I'm noticing the cameras are going off less and less. The following distance trigger point is much closer to the truck now, and I can't even make them go off for lane deviation AT ALL anymore. I could probably go all night on my run without setting one off at all, if it wasn't for a couple bad spots in the road that always shake the truck to hell.

The coaching of frivolous offenses has also dropped off, too. I've had a couple incidents I was just SURE were going to get me a coaching, but never even heard anything about them afterwards. Hopefully this is a sign that they are finally acknowledging the fact that they will have to make the choice between overbearing micromanagement or driver retention.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
othertrucker2001 said:
When Corporate....any corporate understands that all these pencil pushers they have created is nothing more than a drain on profits, these actions will be done away with.
Click to expand...
Changes have been made but not enough. If this company wants to become another Old Dominion they must be more driver friendly. For us to want to go the extra mile they themselves must make the same effort. Old Dominion is number one for that reason along with a better business model. Almost every driver that's left the Garland/Dallas Texas terminals has went to Old Dominion. They don't micromanage and just let you do your job without being condescending when you make mistakes. It's really sad to see what these cameras have done to driver morale. When you give drivers ultimatums and hurt their pride with suspensions you destroy this companies chances of ever becoming another Old Dominion. This companies future is being destroyed by arrogant managers with way to much time on their hands. They have lost sight of the things that help companies grow and thrive. The drivers. They do what they do in the name of safety but in that process they alienate themselves from the drivers that are the backbone of this company. You don't suspend drivers for a first offense. You warn them and use that as a last resort. You can still put safety first without destroying driver morale. When you take away pride your left without meaning. It's like taking the wings from a bird and expecting it to fly.
 
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runawaytrain said:
Changes have been made but not enough. If this company wants to become another Old Dominion they must be more driver friendly. For us to want to go the extra mile they themselves must make the same effort. Old Dominion is number one for that reason along with a better business model. Almost every driver that's left the Garland/Dallas Texas terminals has went to Old Dominion. They don't micromanage and just let you do your job without being condescending when you make mistakes. It's really sad to see what these cameras have done to driver morale. When you give drivers ultimatums and hurt their pride with suspensions you destroy this companies chances of ever becoming another Old Dominion. This companies future is being destroyed by arrogant managers with way to much time on their hands. They have lost sight of the things that help companies grow and thrive. The drivers. They do what they do in the name of safety but in that process they alienate themselves from the drivers that are the backbone of this company. You don't suspend drivers for a first offense. You warn them and use that as a last resort. You can still put safety first without destroying driver morale. When you take away pride your left without meaning. It's like taking the wings from a bird and expecting it to fly.
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Agree 100% and there's definitely not much I can add to that. It's EXACTLY the same garbage that made so many drivers leave Con-Way. Now to see it happening over here is what made me so pissed off for so long. Even Con-Way wasn't this overbearing. They don't even use the cameras for discipline anymore because of all the pushback and turnover they got from it. They also couldn't care less if you use a CB or Bluetooth.

It's also exactly why I've been so anti-camera from the beginning. I knew it would just be a repeat of what I'd already went through. Mind you, even after all this, I still don't regret leaving Con-Way. At least our insurance over here is good and we don't spend half our lives on forklifts like they do.

Things aren't going to get any better for them as they retire more of the older trucks without cameras. There's tons of drivers that are only still here because they haven't been forced into a camera truck yet. It will be interesting to see how things go this spring, and if they really get rid of all the Internationals like they have been saying they will.
 
PistonRing83 said:
Agree 100% and there's definitely not much I can add to that. It's EXACTLY the same garbage that made so many drivers leave Con-Way. Now to see it happening over here is what made me so pissed off for so long. Even Con-Way wasn't this overbearing. They don't even use the cameras for discipline anymore because of all the pushback and turnover they got from it. They also couldn't care less if you use a CB or Bluetooth.

It's also exactly why I've been so anti-camera from the beginning. I knew it would just be a repeat of what I'd already went through. Mind you, even after all this, I still don't regret leaving Con-Way. At least our insurance over here is good and we don't spend half our lives on forklifts like they do.

Things aren't going to get any better for them as they retire more of the older trucks without cameras. There's tons of drivers that are only still here because they haven't been forced into a camera truck yet. It will be interesting to see how things go this spring, and if they really get rid of all the Internationals like they have been saying they will.
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They must stop suspending guys for first offenses >>>>> A warning letter. Then a suspension perhaps. Good grief, look at the drivers driving record and don't be so Damn Black and White. It's crazy!!! Your going to suspend a senior driver with no write ups and a perfect driving record? That's about as stupid as you can get. You will start seeing massive turnover if it continues and older tractors are rotated out. Use some Damn common sense. No seasoned veteran will tolerate that. They appear to be thinking everyone is drowning in debt and can't afford to leave. You would think that as many drivers they have lost to date that they would know better.
 
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runawaytrain said:
They must stop suspending guys for first offenses >>>>> A warning letter. Then a suspension perhaps. Good grief, look at the drivers driving record and don't be so Damn Black and White. It's crazy!!! Your going to suspend a senior driver with no write ups and a perfect driving record? That's about as stupid as you can get. You will start seeing massive turnover if it continues and older tractors are rotated out. Use some Damn common sense. No seasoned veteran will tolerate that. They appear to be thinking everyone is drowning in debt and can't afford to leave. You would think that as many drivers they have lost to date that they would know better.
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I don't think anything will get better until they get rid of that female dog that is currently the head of safety. Get someone in there who actually has SOME trucking background. Maybe someone with a halfway tolerable personality, as well...
 
PistonRing83 said:
I don't think anything will get better until they get rid of that female dog that is currently the head of safety. Get someone in there who actually has SOME trucking background. Maybe someone with a halfway tolerable personality, as well...
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That's what you get when you get someone trying to make a name for themselves. I have never seen driver morale lower. Many are just scared to say anything because of the fear of retaliation from management. This company doesn't realize the true cost of what they are doing. Drivers dragging their feet on routes because they feel so Damn unappreciated. And that's just one example. There are many more that I will disclose in time. Just wait until I leave. I actually have a video of a driver with a handset to his ear going down the highway talking on the phone taken by my wife. Time stamped and dated. This place has such a double standard. And many other things that will simply blow your mind will come out.
 
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Cheer up RAT your beloved SAIA has changed its spots. Now they can work on eating their young.
As for OD... Give them time to grow some more and they will be just like everyone else.
 
runawaytrain said:
That's what you get when you get someone trying to make a name for themselves. I have never seen driver morale lower. Many are just scared to say anything because the fear of retaliation from management. This company doesn't realize the true cost of what they are doing. Drivers dragging their feet on routes because they feel so Damn unappreciated. And that's just one example. There are many more that I will disclose in time.
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Yeah their city P&D numbers here in CGO have been dismal lately, because the guys are all driving like grandma trying to avoid setting the cameras off. They also refuse to look at their handhelds until they get to their next stop, so pickups get missed all the time, or they have to back track a long way. There's not a thing that management can say about it, either.

I've personally ignored calls from Central while I was driving, only to find out that they needed me to stop at a terminal on the way to where I was going. When central gives me an attitude about it, my answer is always the same: "call safety and ask them why I don't answer my phone. And no, I'm not pulling over just to call you back and have to sit on hold forever". I put my phone in my bag and turn it on silent while I'm driving. Guess if they would let us use Bluetooths like every other company does, they wouldn't have to deal with this crap in the first place.

They created this monster, now they get to deal with the outcome. I don't feel sorry for them, either.
 
PistonRing83 said:
Yeah their city P&D numbers here in CGO have been dismal lately, because the guys are all driving like grandma trying to avoid setting the cameras off. They also refuse to look at their handhelds until they get to their next stop, so pickups get missed all the time, or they have to back track a long way. There's not a thing that management can say about it, either.

I've personally ignored calls from Central while I was driving, only to find out that they needed me to stop at a terminal on the way to where I was going. When central gives me an attitude about it, my answer is always the same: "call safety and ask them why I don't answer my phone. And no, I'm not pulling over just to call you back and have to sit on hold forever". I put my phone in my bag and turn it on silent while I'm driving. Guess if they would let us use Bluetooths like every other company does, they wouldn't have to deal with this crap in the first place.

They created this monster, now they get to deal with the outcome. I don't feel sorry for them, either.
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Right there with you. The numbers could be so much better. Maybe close to Old Dominions level. They haven't a clue of the true price of these cameras. The cameras in themselves aren't that bad. It's the way they are utilizing them to alienate the drivers that hurts the bottom line. They could still cut the percentage of accidents down without having to be overbearing and condescending to the drivers. They gain in some areas but lose in others just because they haven't learned to use the cameras correctly. They could increase numbers and reduce turnover and accidents too if they would just use the cameras in the correct manner. They need to send management back to school and teach them how to not be so Damn condescending. Maybe they are perfect so that gives them the right to be such assholes. Right !!!!!!
 
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Mine hasn’t changed a bit if you set the lane deviator of more than once in 20 seconds it turns red like always I’ve not noticed any difference in the following distance triggers either but I know they have been a lot more picky on speeding lately
 
suicidejockey said:
Mine hasn’t changed a bit if you set the lane deviator of more than once in 20 seconds it turns red like always I’ve not noticed any difference in the following distance triggers either but I know they have been a lot more picky on speeding lately
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I haven't noticed much of a difference either. My biggest complaint as stated previously is getting suspended for a first offense then being put on notice you will be terminated next time. I won't keep beating the same dead horse but if that doesn't change then things will get much worse when spring rolls around and things pick up. Turn over will run rampant. The punishment is far to harsh for an rolling stop that brings you down to 1 mph or even less. Now blow through a stop sign at 35 mph or flat out run a red light because you didn't see it is a different story. The punishment doesn't fit the crime if that's what they want to call it. Then imply they believe you are a complete criminal is ludicrous. I believe that's law enforcements job.
 
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suicidejockey said:
Mine hasn’t changed a bit if you set the lane deviator of more than once in 20 seconds it turns red like always I’ve not noticed any difference in the following distance triggers either but I know they have been a lot more picky on speeding lately
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I constantly shut the deviatior off all night long, so maybe that's why. I've purposely crossed over the lines just to see if it will activate, and I haven't been able to set one off that way for a long time. Maybe it's just perception, or the fact that we never manage to drive the same truck twice here in :shit:cago.
 
runawaytrain said:
They need to send management back to school and teach them how to not be so Damn condescending. Maybe they are perfect so that gives them the right to be such assholes. Right !!!!!!
Click to expand...

That's the way it's been going with a lot of these companies for a while now, it seems. A few years back, Con-Way started wanting their freight supervisors to have a four year degree before being considered for the position. Needless to say, I've never seen a bigger bunch of inept "educated idiots" being put into positions of supervision. I haven't even been driving long compared to some (almost 20 years) and even I can remember when the great majority of supervisors and managers were former drivers. My original TM at Con-Way still had a CDL and would go out to fetch empties all the time if we were running low on outbound.

Now there is no incentive for drivers to even want to move up the ladder, so all you get are these college educated idiots that can barely back up their Honda, let alone know what they are talking about when it comes to trucking.

Also, the level of resentment that they have toward us is huge, because they know we make a lot more money than they do. I've heard a Saia TM say it to one of the dock leads with my own ears (they didn't know I was around the corner). So yes, a lot of the way that we are treated is pure malice on the part of management. Unfortunately for them, they can be easily replaced and we can't. Hence the huge pay inequality...
 
Well, they finally got me into a camera truck, at least it is a Volvo. The first few days I was constantly watching the camera light but as I got used to it, not so much any more. Since I drive the same route, I know where the problem areas are, particularly on Railwood heading for the HST terminal. My personal record on bumpy, potholed, and uneven asphalt fixed spots is 4 camera activations. Not that I am trying to activate the camera:1036316054:. Anyway, we'll see what's what.
 
PistonRing83 said:
Yeah their city P&D numbers here in CGO have been dismal lately, because the guys are all driving like grandma trying to avoid setting the cameras off. They also refuse to look at their handhelds until they get to their next stop, so pickups get missed all the time, or they have to back track a long way. There's not a thing that management can say about it, either.

I've personally ignored calls from Central while I was driving, only to find out that they needed me to stop at a terminal on the way to where I was going. When central gives me an attitude about it, my answer is always the same: "call safety and ask them why I don't answer my phone. And no, I'm not pulling over just to call you back and have to sit on hold forever". I put my phone in my bag and turn it on silent while I'm driving. Guess if they would let us use Bluetooths like every other company does, they wouldn't have to deal with this crap in the first place.

They created this monster, now they get to deal with the outcome. I don't feel sorry for them, either.
Click to expand...

Until they start paying your phone bill, they aren’t allowed to call you on it. Period.
 
PistonRing83 said:
Yeah their city P&D numbers here in CGO have been dismal lately, because the guys are all driving like grandma trying to avoid setting the cameras off. They also refuse to look at their handhelds until they get to their next stop, so pickups get missed all the time, or they have to back track a long way. There's not a thing that management can say about it, either.

I've personally ignored calls from Central while I was driving, only to find out that they needed me to stop at a terminal on the way to where I was going. When central gives me an attitude about it, my answer is always the same: "call safety and ask them why I don't answer my phone. And no, I'm not pulling over just to call you back and have to sit on hold forever". I put my phone in my bag and turn it on silent while I'm driving. Guess if they would let us use Bluetooths like every other company does, they wouldn't have to deal with this crap in the first place.

They created this monster, now they get to deal with the outcome. I don't feel sorry for them, either.
Click to expand...
Piston you are dead on. Do they pay all or part of your phone bill? You can only pull over in a safe place for DOT reasons. You were in a dead spot & didn't get the message till later. Sounds like you & some others know how to take a company rule, turn it around & burn them. My hats off to you & every other driver who learns how to turn the tables on dispatch. Excellent work. Carry on. von.
 
My truck went in for "recall" work a while ago and I rarely ever get the flashing red-green lights anymore. Of those flashing lights, I only get a coaching session once every couple of months.. similar to how it was before we started this whole creeper cam Fiasco..
 
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