SAIA | Decision making day

The post submitted by Canadian Flyer is a thing of beauty. Very insightful and well written. Drivers ARE assets, and are THE MOST IMPORTANT asset to any trucking company. Period. Treat them as such. And be honest with them...don't tell them in one sentence that cameras are a "training tool" and then turn around and use them as a disciplinary tool. It's a way to nit pick. In the Smith System, one of the keys is "Get the big picture." That phrase could and should be used in camera/disciplinary actions as well.

Very true, but when you mention the Smith System, you lose a lot of people today, even our police dept thought I was referring to a Smith and Wesson System, (whatever that is) I guess shoot every body.
If drivers would practice the Smith System, it would solve a lot of problems.
Worked well for me many years.
 
We were promised it would be used as a learning tool. Turns out, it's being used as a weapon. And what is more disturbing is that it's selective because all trucks don't have them. And that my friends is a big problem. When you do for one. You better do for all.
Kind of ironic the very thing you defended is the thing that bit you in the ass.
 
Kind of ironic the very thing you defended is the thing that bit you in the ass.
Yes it did Joe, perhaps not ironic is the fact that I really don't care if they terminate me. I just wanted to wait until I'm 63 but that may not be possible. It's day to day. Just know this Joe, even when I was defending this company I always knew my place. I could never be blindsided. I'm just too old and wise.
 
Yes it did Joe, perhaps not ironic is the fact that I really don't care if they terminate me. I just wanted to wait until I'm 63 but that may not be possible. It's day to day. Just know this Joe, even when I was defending this company I always knew my place. I could never be blindsided. I'm just too old and wise.[/QUOTE
Always good to have a plan B.......C,D,E.
 
phMJgQe.jpg

"All Good Kids Love Milk"

That's how I remember the five keys
 
I'm quite confident in saying that I departed Day & Ross, and a very nice Toronto-Vancouver linehaul run, over cameras and coaching.

The rollout started the same as it always does. My dad and I were both uncomfortable with the idea of having a Lytx nanny cam keeping tabs on what was arguably our home away from home each week. Combined with SPEED GAUGE and Peoplenet, the company knew what we were doing and how we were doing it at all times. And all it took to get a peek was a big enough bump.

My dad was coached twice. Once over what was falsely believed to be a phone-related incident and once over a hard brake. He's been driving safely for almost 30 years, and to say he felt insulted would be an understatement. I was coached once for another assumed phone issue... because my hand wasn't on the wheel and off-camera when I went over a bump. They assumed my phone was in my hand because I was, in their words, "very clearly looking at it". It was at this time that I realized they didn't know the difference between reaching for a knob or switch on the dashboard, or maybe a cup of coffee in the cupholder, and using your phone. Because all I was doing at the time was grabbing a pop bottle, something I reflexively paused doing when I saw the camera light go off.

It's impossible to act normally when your actions are under such intense scrutiny. Unless you're face forward, hands on the wheel at absolutely all times, you risk being judged by the all-seeing eye.

And according to the folks at Speedy Transport, cameras aren't of much value for insurance purposes beyond proving fault. They informed us that they had no interest in enforcing cameras on their fleet because it was an additional expense with no discounted rate for the "commitment to safety". They do encourage owners and drivers to get their own, though. And this fleet, while small compared to some companies, still numbers at easily a few hundred between linehaul and city. They have one of the lowest accident rates in the country and have a very high rate of loyalty among drivers and owners for the respect they give them.

In my experience, tools like the Lytx DriveCam are used, not for safety, but to terrorize drivers under the veil of safety. "Building safe habits" or so they say. I will never drive another truck with a camera mandated by the company, and the truck I drive now is my own so it goes where I go. And Speedy's been more honest with me overall, not just compared to past driving jobs but even every job I've ever had. I've been here nearly a year and I don't see myself going anywhere anytime soon.

When that decision making day comes, do what you have to do. We drivers may only be a cog in the great wheel of the transportation industry, and we may be replaceable...but we are not infinitely replaceable. We are human beings with imperfections and the robots they want to replace us with are still a long way off despite what they say. And fewer people enter the industry every year, while people are leaving by the boatload. We do not have to accept being treated like trained monkeys... because if they really could train a monkey to do this, they would have by now.

Know your place, but don't sell yourself short.
Does SAIA's new partner TST Overland have DriveCam?
 
Does SAIA's new partner TST Overland have DriveCam?
As far as I'm aware, TFI International as a whole has not yet invested themselves in a cab camera system. TST Solutions, Overland's division parent, does operate somewhat independently but as far as I know they don't have cameras. Overland is represented by the Teamsters, as are most of TFI's LTL carriers, so the union may be keeping them out.
 
I'm quite confident in saying that I departed Day & Ross, and a very nice Toronto-Vancouver linehaul run, over cameras and coaching.

The rollout started the same as it always does. My dad and I were both uncomfortable with the idea of having a Lytx nanny cam keeping tabs on what was arguably our home away from home each week. Combined with SPEED GAUGE and Peoplenet, the company knew what we were doing and how we were doing it at all times. And all it took to get a peek was a big enough bump.

My dad was coached twice. Once over what was falsely believed to be a phone-related incident and once over a hard brake. He's been driving safely for almost 30 years, and to say he felt insulted would be an understatement. I was coached once for another assumed phone issue... because my hand wasn't on the wheel and off-camera when I went over a bump. They assumed my phone was in my hand because I was, in their words, "very clearly looking at it". It was at this time that I realized they didn't know the difference between reaching for a knob or switch on the dashboard, or maybe a cup of coffee in the cupholder, and using your phone. Because all I was doing at the time was grabbing a pop bottle, something I reflexively paused doing when I saw the camera light go off.

It's impossible to act normally when your actions are under such intense scrutiny. Unless you're face forward, hands on the wheel at absolutely all times, you risk being judged by the all-seeing eye.

And according to the folks at Speedy Transport, cameras aren't of much value for insurance purposes beyond proving fault. They informed us that they had no interest in enforcing cameras on their fleet because it was an additional expense with no discounted rate for the "commitment to safety". They do encourage owners and drivers to get their own, though. And this fleet, while small compared to some companies, still numbers at easily a few hundred between linehaul and city. They have one of the lowest accident rates in the country and have a very high rate of loyalty among drivers and owners for the respect they give them.

In my experience, tools like the Lytx DriveCam are used, not for safety, but to terrorize drivers under the veil of safety. "Building safe habits" or so they say. I will never drive another truck with a camera mandated by the company, and the truck I drive now is my own so it goes where I go. And Speedy's been more honest with me overall, not just compared to past driving jobs but even every job I've ever had. I've been here nearly a year and I don't see myself going anywhere anytime soon.

When that decision making day comes, do what you have to do. We drivers may only be a cog in the great wheel of the transportation industry, and we may be replaceable...but we are not infinitely replaceable. We are human beings with imperfections and the robots they want to replace us with are still a long way off despite what they say. And fewer people enter the industry every year, while people are leaving by the boatload. We do not have to accept being treated like trained monkeys... because if they really could train a monkey to do this, they would have by now.

Know your place, but don't sell yourself short.
I heard a Canadian court (Quebec) ordered Sysco to take the driver facing cameras out of their trucks. Any truth to that?
 
Yes it did Joe, perhaps not ironic is the fact that I really don't care if they terminate me. I just wanted to wait until I'm 63 but that may not be possible. It's day to day. Just know this Joe, even when I was defending this company I always knew my place. I could never be blindsided. I'm just too old and wise.
Sorry to hear about turn of events at saia! I know a lot of drivers may have disagreed with you in the past me included, however you always struck me as a veteran driver who was doing his job right! I hope saia sees the light at some point!
 
I heard a Canadian court (Quebec) ordered Sysco to take the driver facing cameras out of their trucks. Any truth to that?
I don't know about Sysco, but I heard from upnorth that when Con-way tried to bring the DriveCam into Canada, the drivers fought it and won based on privacy laws.
 
S&W M&P Shield 40
Big bang little gun!

But takes longer to make accurate follow up shots on target. I'll stick with modern 9mm in a Glock 19 and Glock 43 for concealed carry. I prefer Federal HST in 147 grain standard pressure. I do carry a .40 caliber Glock 22 as a sidearm when hog huntin'.
 
The Smith System is great. I would practice it all the time when I drove.

It should be required for every new teen driver or new driver in general
 
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