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Yellow | Open Letter to YRC Freight Drivers

I am very sorry to hear of the great loss for his family and our teamster family. I stop to check on ppl just as another brother of mine still does. It is appalling the attitude so many drivers have adopted. There are still some of us out here doing the right thing. The old school thing. The road curtious thing. Thanks for all your posts bud. I currently run out of Cincinnati. Dan Reardon is my name and I go by coinman on the cb.
 
Kennesaw Kid said:
Open Letter to YRC Freight Drivers

4/8/2013

I will make this statement as my own opinion, if it disturbs you enough to be mad at me, then you are part of the problem, and it is time you became part of the solution.

This past week at ATL/402, we lost a 36 year Road Driver to a heart attack. After being way over due for his arrival, the Dispatcher started calling him and did not get an answer. He then got in touch with Police who started checking along I-75 for his truck.

He was found around the 147 mile marker south of Macon, GA.

What disturbs me; no what pisses me off the most about this is the driver sat on the side of I-75 for approximately nine (9) hours and not one driver stopped to even check on him. Nine hours Brothers and Sisters, that is unacceptable!

What has become of us as drivers these days?

That was a Brother Teamster who died on the side of the road. Have we become so unconcerned for one another these days?

I have many questions to ask of this, because I am still stunned and pissed that this happened at 402. It does not matter if you are an ex-Roadway or ex-Yellow employee. What matters is that was a Teamster Brother on the side of the road. When I started here 25 years ago today, it was an un-written rule to not only check on your own Company driver, but drivers from ABF, CF, Jones, etc. We should be looking out for our Teamster Brothers and Sisters, as well as other drivers on the road.

Many times I have stopped to check on a 402 driver, only to have him pull away as I stopped and walked all the way back to check on him. You could at least wave me own or contacted me that all was well.

How inconsiderate of you to do that after another driver took the time to check on you. At least have the decency to remain there until a driver gets back to you before taking off.

It does not matter where you came from, the fact you do not like the driver or you are in too big of a hurry to get in to get back out on a call-block……some day YOU may be the one sitting on the road sick, cell phone does not work, the battery is dead, engine will not run and you have no heat or a/c. But most of all, we have to look out for each other, even if the other person does not want to be bothered, who knows, your act of attention make win him/her over……But check on them just the same.

What happened last week is a tragedy for the driver and his family. The indignity for a 36 year Teamster to be locked up in a truck with motor off for nearly 9 hours and MANY 402 drivers reported seeing it parked there (I would be ashamed to even mentioned that I saw it, as my response would have been something I could not print here!) and passed it on by, some even twice, but did not even think to check it out or call it in.

We need to quit worrying if we are going to make a trip. We need to quit worrying if we are going to make a call-block. We need to get over all of this worry and hate over any issues you may have with this Company….we are still here and getting our paycheck. Don’t let all this consume you to where you forget what we as Teamster drivers are suppose to be about. We are considered to be a cut above the rest, but stupid, inconsiderate in-actions like what happened last Friday are unacceptable to me as a Teamster driver……no excuses…..don’t even bother trying to give one.

We have to be a better Teamster Brother and Sister than this!

Fraternally,

Jimi Richards
"Kennesaw Kid"
402 Linehaul Driver.
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I agree with your post. That happen to me I pull the stops on the panel & come to a halt in the middle of the road. I hope no one hits me but it is a quick way to get help from someone. According a study by the University of Michigan, the chance of surviving an out−of−hospital heart attack long enough to be eventually discharged from a hospital is only 7.6%, roughly 1 out of 13. My prayers go out to his loved ones.
 
I have no idea exactly where on or off the road this man died.Was he on an exit ramp secluded from view of passerbys?I know of alot of guys including myself that pull off the road onto exit or get-on ramps to get a nap.
 
I don’t get the gist of this rant. Are we supposed to stop for every trucker stop on the side of a highway?
1. If I’m buzzing by at 60+ MPH How safe is that
2. Be advised it’s 2013 the era of cell phone communication So I can only ASSune that when I see a truck on the side they have notified the proper channels
3. On the highways in my state the troopers would have reach the scene in a matter of hours not 9.
4. It was his time to go. And when it’s your time your time is up

Sorry for being so callus nevertheless those are the cold hard facts
 
Jimmy,
What about a distress flag to hang on the mirror? Most guys don't stop thinking you have a cell phone now so no problem, help is on the way. A lot of guys like myself got sick of listening to the crap on the C.B.
 
Rock&Roll said:
Jimmy,
What about a distress flag to hang on the mirror? Most guys don't stop thinking you have a cell phone now so no problem, help is on the way. A lot of guys like myself got sick of listening to the crap on the C.B.
Click to expand...

I was told by some former Roadway drivers, that back in the day, you would hang a white towel on the mirror arm as an indication that all was well.....makes sence, because in a moment of sickness, you would not be able to hang it outside.....makes sense to me if everyone would do it...Hell, we can't get "some" of these road slobs to clean the mess they left behind in the truck when they get out of it.....KK
 
at 1 time even roadway dock guys had gotten a road distress bag 1 thing in that bag was a white plastic piece about 2x2 foot and said roadway need help or something like that , I still have mine some where have to find it I guess
 
The white flag i a good idea.

But i thought i would post this . Im waiting here by the indiana toll gates with alotta people drivin by , the second yrc freight truck stopped guy walked up and asked if i was ok , needed a phone or anything, i said nah im ok my trailer door opened latch broke . Said i appreciated he checked on me .

So its not totally forgotten or maybe he may have read this post .
 
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