SAIA | System Driver

DrivingLife

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Whats it like?

I’ve been told you can be out up to 5 days and something no more than 2 dispatches from home? What exactly does that mean?

Cameras... I hear you can get into trouble if your hands aren’t at 10 and 3 when the camera goes off? True?

Main question.. how does the system driver dispatching work? Since you don’t have a set run do they typically call around a certain time? Do system drivers typically work everyday?

I mean if you’re “on-call” basically 24/7 what happens if you don’t work the night before and then you wake up 9am the next day.. and then you’re up all day and they call at 9pm.. obviously you’ll be tired.. What do you do? Tell them you’re tired and not safe to drive or what?
 
Whats it like?

I’ve been told you can be out up to 5 days and something no more than 2 dispatches from home? What exactly does that mean? BS. When you are a system driver, they "try" to get you home within 5 days. But, they are under no obligation. Essentially, you are at the mercy of dispatch. I used to run system and at times was out for almost 2 weeks. USUALLY home within 5 days, but no guarantees.

Cameras... I hear you can get into trouble if your hands aren’t at 10 and 3 when the camera goes off? True? I wouldn't put anything past them. If they are looking for a reason to get rid of you, that is a tool they will use for discipline/termination.

Main question.. how does the system driver dispatching work? Since you don’t have a set run do they typically call around a certain time? Do system drivers typically work everyday? They will give you your mandatory rest break required by federal law, but that is it. You could have a day run that starts in the morning, or that starts at 3:00 in the afternoon. Or a night run that starts, just, whenever. No guarantee of work when you are system either. Depends on where you are domiciled.

I mean if you’re “on-call” basically 24/7 what happens if you don’t work the night before and then you wake up 9am the next day.. and then you’re up all day and they call at 9pm.. obviously you’ll be tired.. What do you do? Tell them you’re tired and not safe to drive or what?
They would tell you that you need to at least attempt to pull the set. Unfortunately, they have heard every excuse in the book and would use your example of an excuse not to work. They would classify this as a "refusal to pull" at that would go against you in your file. It's a slippery slope for sure.
 
Whats it like?

I’ve been told you can be out up to 5 days and something no more than 2 dispatches from home? What exactly does that mean?

Cameras... I hear you can get into trouble if your hands aren’t at 10 and 3 when the camera goes off? True?

Main question.. how does the system driver dispatching work? Since you don’t have a set run do they typically call around a certain time? Do system drivers typically work everyday?

I mean if you’re “on-call” basically 24/7 what happens if you don’t work the night before and then you wake up 9am the next day.. and then you’re up all day and they call at 9pm.. obviously you’ll be tired.. What do you do? Tell them you’re tired and not safe to drive or what?

Welcome to the world of truck driving!
 
Whats it like?

I’ve been told you can be out up to 5 days and something no more than 2 dispatches from home? What exactly does that mean?

Cameras... I hear you can get into trouble if your hands aren’t at 10 and 3 when the camera goes off? True?

Main question.. how does the system driver dispatching work? Since you don’t have a set run do they typically call around a certain time? Do system drivers typically work everyday?

I mean if you’re “on-call” basically 24/7 what happens if you don’t work the night before and then you wake up 9am the next day.. and then you’re up all day and they call at 9pm.. obviously you’ll be tired.. What do you do? Tell them you’re tired and not safe to drive or what?
Usually your not more than a day away.. 5 to 6 days a week on average depending on freight levels. Main thing with cameras is following distance, mobile devices and those pesky stop signs everybody loves (mostly people rolling through). If you get cut its only at your home terminal at the beginning or end of your week... meaning if your home terminal is Atlanta and your in Jacksonville and Jacksonville didn't have enough freight you would run and they would cut a driver from that terminal. They usually just run you wild as needed in the system... Avg about 2800 miles a week
 
Since most line is done at night you are expected to be rested & ready to run at night and as such you should be keeping a night time schedule.

as far as how many nights out they can keep you out per week - anybody that gives you a number is full of crap. it is all based in freight levels and if they need you to stay out all week, or two, then guess what - you are staying out. that said it if not that common for a driver to stay gone for more than a day or two at at time... but remember you can't be cut if you are already in a hotel.


as far as the camera goes - just stay off the phone while the truck is moving, and that includes in the yard
 
Since most line is done at night you are expected to be rested & ready to run at night and as such you should be keeping a night time schedule.

as far as how many nights out they can keep you out per week - anybody that gives you a number is full of crap. it is all based in freight levels and if they need you to stay out all week, or two, then guess what - you are staying out. that said it if not that common for a driver to stay gone for more than a day or two at at time... but remember you can't be cut if you are already in a hotel.


as far as the camera goes - just stay off the phone while the truck is moving, and that includes in the yard
I was in the system almost 3 years out of one of the busiest terminals we have, was never out more than 1 week. Was never even asked to stay out any longer.
 
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This was posted on Jan 4, 2018. Saia Careers on Twitter.
 
Save yourself a lot of trouble. Go to Old Dominion or Estes. Go away as fast as you can get moving.
Saia pays more than Estes. How’s the health insurance there? Are the premiums and deductibles reasonable? Saia doesn’t have auto shift trucks do you? If a driver wants to stay out a week at a time O.D gets most of there drivers home every day except for a few bigger terminals I hear. I’m looking to stay out a week at a time because of the drive I would have to do to get there. I’m trying to decide between Saia and Estes and they have cameras also but outward only.
 
Maybe this matters in your decision making, maybe not...

Saia is a publicly traded company, and Estes is a private company. Probably a lot more transparency with the numbers and reporting on the side of Saia, but also more accountability to investors as well. If I was choosing between the two, I would go Estes. There is BS at both places, but probably more palatable than at Saia
 
Saia pays more than Estes. How’s the health insurance there? Are the premiums and deductibles reasonable? Saia doesn’t have auto shift trucks do you? If a driver wants to stay out a week at a time O.D gets most of there drivers home every day except for a few bigger terminals I hear. I’m looking to stay out a week at a time because of the drive I would have to do to get there. I’m trying to decide between Saia and Estes and they have cameras also but outward only.
I should have said Saia starts at more per mile.
 
Save yourself a lot of trouble. Go to Old Dominion or Estes. Go away as fast as you can get moving.

I have a friend that runs linehaul with OD. We talk on the phone several times a week while he is driving. OD is ok with you driving and talking. And by the way, he left Saia for OD because of Saias hateful ways with the cameras. Not because he had any incidents, but so he would NOT have any.
 
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