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SAIA | Decision making day

runawaytrain said:
In hindsight I should have done that. But with the extra grommets I always keep and a pair of pliers I made a judgment call to fix it myself. In my mind at the time I didn't want to bring back all my deliveries and wait hours for a tow. My mistake. Going the extra mile is obviously not appreciated anyway.
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You are not the only one that done things like that....I punched the clock at a dark terminal one time and replace a mud flap on a loaded pup, and got questioned by the terminal manager why I was on the clock for 18 minutes. The manager tried to stay I built my set on the clock.....
 
bigbuck said:
Ummmm...why is a driver changing those grommets? Isn’t that a job for a mechanic? Should’ve just called th shop and got a tow.
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That makes perfect business sense. Would you want one of your drivers to sit there for 3 hrs and wait on a 600$ tow? Or maybe try and change a 2$ grommet and be back on the road in a few minutes. Most drivers with any experience carry xtra grommets and little things that will help them get back on road and not sit there. As for myself if i can fix it to get back on the road, im fixing it. I dont care who is picking up the tab for the tow.
 
Pooty tang said:
That makes perfect business sense. Would you want one of your drivers to sit there for 3 hrs and wait on a 600$ tow? Or maybe try and change a 2$ grommet and be back on the road in a few minutes. Most drivers with any experience carry xtra grommets and little things that will help them get back on road and not sit there. As for myself if i can fix it to get back on the road, im fixing it. I dont care who is picking up the tab for the tow.
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Any experience driver could obviously handle these little repairs (grommet, headlight, mud flap). But, Saia is taking a position here where a driver was suspended for a day by trying to do the right thing. The reaction by the company sends a clear message: they don’t want drivers making decisions and acting on them. Like I’ve said before: this is Saia’s game of Blackjack and Saia is the dealer. The drivers are just players. And in the end, the House always wins.

Take this experience as an opportunity to learn. Stop going the extra mile. Bring back bills. Miss the pickup. Whatever. You can’t beat the company at their game, but you can certainly play by their rules. You can’t have it both ways.
 
Another thought: in looking at the Saia website with job descriptions for City and Linahaul drivers, at no point is their any indication that handling repairs to the equipment is part of your job. Now, common sense would dictate that drivers try to handle those things to help out the company. Just as RAT was doing. And what did he get for his efforts? Screwed.
 
bigbuck said:
Any experience driver could obviously handle these little repairs (grommet, headlight, mud flap). But, Saia is taking a position here where a driver was suspended for a day by trying to do the right thing. The reaction by the company sends a clear message: they don’t want drivers making decisions and acting on them. Like I’ve said before: this is Saia’s game of Blackjack and Saia is the dealer. The drivers are just players. And in the end, the House always wins.

Take this experience as an opportunity to learn. Stop going the extra mile. Bring back bills. Miss the pickup. Whatever. You can’t beat the company at their game, but you can certainly play by their rules. You can’t have it both ways.
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So that would be your position as a owner ? You dont want your drivers to go the xtra mile ? Just stick you with the bill ? How would your bottom line look if your drivers have the same attitude as their owner?
 
Pooty tang said:
So that would be your position as a owner ? You dont want your drivers to go the xtra mile ? Just stick you with the bill ? How would your bottom line look if your drivers have the same attitude as their owner?
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You obviously don't know her. Yes, Buck is a female. She wouldn't have a problem going the extra mile but the company has to reciprocate. You must have mutual respect. They must be willing to meet you halfway. It's a give and take. You can't treat employees like ::shit:: and expect them to go the extra mile.
 
runawaytrain said:
You obviously don't know her. Yes, Buck is a female. She wouldn't have a problem going the extra mile but the company has to reciprocate. You must have mutual respect. They must be willing to meet you halfway. It's a give and take. You can't treat employees like :::shit::: and expect them to go the extra mile.
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Yep know exactly who buck is , been reading the boards long before i joined. Know she was a previous employee and about her past history with this company. And i have read the arguments you have had with her.
 
Pooty tang said:
Yep know exactly who buck is , been reading the boards long before i joined. Know she was a previous employee and about her past history with this company. And i have read the arguments you have had with her.
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We have had our share of disagreements but I've always respected her. I even respect you.
 
She says she owns her own company , yet jumps on tbe backs of people critical of this company.. Cant imagine her running her own company the way she says we should run ours.
 
Hey RAT, I think you are a lousy truck driver with a terrible attitude. You go F*** yourself. I think you did a lousy pretrip and you are trying to blame it on SAIA. I would to have a little face to face time with you some day. And don't give me any of that I've been driving a long time BS either, I've been at this for 41 yrs and know when a driver doesn't know or care what he is doing.
 
maverick50 said:
Hey RAT, I think you are a lousy truck driver with a terrible attitude. You go F*** yourself. I think you did a lousy pretrip and you are trying to blame it on SAIA. I would to have a little face to face time with you some day. And don't give me any of that I've been driving a long time BS either, I've been at this for 41 yrs and know when a driver doesn't know or care what he is doing.
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Your such a bad ass. No, I take that back. Your just a punk ass.
 
Making a comparison from my organization to Saia is apples to bowling balls. Because my organization is so small, I can operate and manage it completely differently. I also pay my people well and provide them bonuses for “job well done.” Does Saia give bonuses to anyone other than management?

Also, regarding repairs/maintenance...it’s way easier with us because I know and trust my people on an individual basis. They are my greatest asset and I treat them as such. I know that they have common sense and can think on their feet. I empower them to make decisions. That way, they can be a part of tg growth and success of the company. They aren’t just a number.
 
bigbuck said:
Making a comparison from my organization to Saia is apples to bowling balls. Because my organization is so small, I can operate and manage it completely differently. I also pay my people well and provide them bonuses for “job well done.” Does Saia give bonuses to anyone other than management?

Also, regarding repairs/maintenance...it’s way easier with us because I know and trust my people on an individual basis. They are my greatest asset and I treat them as such. I know that they have common sense and can think on their feet. I empower them to make decisions. That way, they can be a part of tg growth and success of the company. They aren’t just a number.
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Well you like to reply to posts as if you run a billion dollar company and what drivers should do. Please dont act like your company is perfect and your drivers dont make questionable decisions costing you money.
 
Pooty tang said:
Well you like to reply to posts as if you run a billion dollar company and what drivers should do. Please dont act like your company is perfect and your drivers dont make questionable decisions costing you money.
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You are correct in saying that I don’t run a billion dollar company. But, when I have a policy and procedure in place, it is followed by all. Can Saia say that same thing?
 
bigbuck said:
You are correct in saying that I don’t run a billion dollar company. But, when I have a policy and procedure in place, it is followed by all. Can Saia say that same thing?
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You can’t have that much common sense in one paragraph. It’s not allowed. Common sense has died. It’s..we..but, but...aw hell. Bucks right. If it’s good for one, then everyone should own up to that policy
 
truckdriver said:
You are not the only one that done things like that....I punched the clock at a dark terminal one time and replace a mud flap on a loaded pup, and got questioned by the terminal manager why I was on the clock for 18 minutes. The manager tried to stay I built my set on the clock.....
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Are you saying they ask you to hook your trailers OFF the clock?
 
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