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R&L | Partially rebuilt JUNK...

No reason to bash, everything you said makes perfectly good sense, although I'll likely get the bashing because I am perceived as "anti-driver". You did omit one issue regarding the newly-purchased, used equipment. Several 3 to 4 year old, freshly refurbed tractors were put into a ditch, or driven into the back of another trailer in a zero visibility sandstorm within two weeks of going into service. Using the the pricing you quoted, we could destroy three used tractors for the price of one new one. Now its my turn to take the beating for you.
Have a great day, and thanks for stating your opinion so eloquently.
 
oneeightyfive said:
No reason to bash, everything you said makes perfectly good sense, although I'll likely get the bashing because I am perceived as "anti-driver". You did omit one issue regarding the newly-purchased, used equipment. Several 3 to 4 year old, freshly refurbed tractors were put into a ditch, or driven into the back of another trailer in a zero visibility sandstorm within two weeks of going into service. Using the the pricing you quoted, we could destroy three used tractors for the price of one new one. Now its my turn to take the beating for you.
Have a great day, and thanks for stating your opinion so eloquently.
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Or we could hire drivers with more experience with a better rate of pay and buy new trucks because they likely wont destroy them.Ive had 2 new trucks with this company and can tell you that in the time Ive driven them the biggest thing to go wrong with them is the turbos.It all comes down to how you treat the equipment and how safe you are.My present tractor remained dent free with the exception of the roof on the back of the cab due to ice from the top of the trailer until they let a combo guy drive it.He has cracked the fender and destroyed the clutch. But what do you expect,hes only had his licence for a bit over a year. Requirement when I started was 4 yrs. experience. Go figure.
 
oneeightyfive said:
No reason to bash, everything you said makes perfectly good sense, although I'll likely get the bashing because I am perceived as "anti-driver". You did omit one issue regarding the newly-purchased, used equipment. Several 3 to 4 year old, freshly refurbed tractors were put into a ditch, or driven into the back of another trailer in a zero visibility sandstorm within two weeks of going into service. Using the the pricing you quoted, we could destroy three used tractors for the price of one new one. Now its my turn to take the beating for you.
Have a great day, and thanks for stating your opinion so eloquently.
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all do respect man, you are towing the company line well, and your points have good reasoning and look great on paper, but the reality of what this equipment really is just doesnt make sense at the end of the day. the shop and mechanics are doing the best they can with this crap, but sometimes crap is just crap.
when things were new, or at least almost new, we didnt have these issues. and saying the equipment is only 2-3 yrs old is flat out wrong. most of the trucks ive seen are around 03-05 models, making them about 6-8 yrs old approx.
 
I have been instructed drive it till it breaks. LOL I have been stuck many times from thing I write up. And it is not repaired or red tagged. So I drive it I look at it this way. I walk to the nearest store get something to drink Sit back and tune in talk radio. And wait for the tow. I get paid to drive or sit. If the shop wont work on it. Then drive it till it breaks.
 
My truck Has 1million 900000!!!!! on it rebuilt 2 years ago if something breaks i get it fixed they cant fix it if you dont write it up
 
Awe come on gang,, this isn't anything new. Anyone recall the 41XX series that were pulled from the sale line??
WIL, refurb. jobs, ie: fresh paint. Got one in LEB once, it sat in the shop for 3 weeks before hitting the road...
I know there is different maintenance management now a days, but from the sounds of it the shops and shop foremen need to stand up a bit more. And not just 2 or 3 per region,,, all of them.
 
Wow it sounds like most of you have it great! I've been dealing with no shop no mechanic and no support from management since we opened in 2005. Pull triples 110,000 pounds 580 miles per day. We have never had a new Tractor. Most of the problems are written up, then when the Tractor goes to a terminal that has a shop they top the fluids off and send it back with the same or more problems. The only way we get them fixed is when they break down and outside venders are called in to fix them. My assigned Tractor is the same one I drove out here in 2005. It has been in the shop at another terminal since last october. It was running fine when it went in it just used a little coolant??? I was told by my Dispatcher drive it till it breaks many times. When I tell him something needs fix he gets pissed off at me because I am not making my gate time. We are then punished for getting things fix by moving the meet point closer to our terminal. so the insentive here is not to get things fixed but to haul ass and let the next driver worry about it. I dont blame the Drivers or the Mechanics. It is Management that has created this enviroment and they all need to wake up!!!
 
JAC , if you are in BSD. I know there is a new Field Maintenance Manager for that area based out of Salt Lake City. I heard he was in WIL this week. Get with him on your equipment problems.

I
 
I didn't think I would miss it but it could definitely be worse. My current job we have used Volvo's and Internationals from Swift and USA. I will take even the oldest of those Macks any day. Although we do not have any Ford's. I think a lot of companies are holding out as long as possible for the manafacturers to get their act together. I see there is even $1,000 sign on bonus for mechanics now. If only corporate would understand older equipment reguires more manpower to maintain, I think I would come back. An additional mechanic at each terminal is cheaper than just one new truck per terminal..... hmmm.
 
big cheese II said:
JAC , if you are in BSD. I know there is a new Field Maintenance Manager for that area based out of Salt Lake City. I heard he was in WIL this week. Get with him on your equipment problems.

I
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No I am not from BSD. A much bigger trm that will go un named due to possible retaliation by management. If I go above TM for anything I get retaliation. I am looking for new job even though I am #1 senior employee above TM at our location. I have worked at other LTL company's for much longer then here. Starting over may sound bad but, I have done it many times and I have to trust my gut and know when its time to move on. The only thing that has changed here at R&L in the last 6 years is the lies get bigger along with the broken promises. For instance, new tractor was promised to me for 1 month in advance. When it came in it did not have a pintle hook on the back. They gave it to another driver because they didn't want me to right it up! What ever makes Dispatch happy and look good is the policy here...
 
well, i see things havent changed. first off, let me clarify. i quit(sort of retired )from R&L last year.i was a team driver. i will say that for 9 of the 10 years it was the best job i ever had.the last year (2009) was terrible, due to the yrc bunch, paramount, and the equiptment.I never had a problem getting a truck worked on anywhere in the system,IF they had the part or the time. sometimes my problem had to wait as it was less important than others,(unless safety related) but it did get fixed,unless there were no part for it. you know your company is in trouble when they start taking parts off a broken down tractor to fix yours.i never, and i repeat never, had a problem with the WIL shop. those guys are good as gold. besides being old and worn out, one of the biggest reasons i quit was the equiptment. breakdown after breakdown, no parts, using tractors no one had parts for(freightliners),and the general conditions of the spare tractors. the gentleman that spoke of the way the drivers take care of the companies equiptment was right on.Many spare tractors had trash,mud all over,spoiled food left in the bunk, dog hair in the bed, porno mags under the mattress,once even vomit on the floor. R&L always had a policy it was the drivers truck to take care of.we always thought at least the sleepers should be checked every now and then but they werent.and to have to switch trucks every 2-3 weeks for a team is terrible,especially having to clean on before putting you stuff in it. well i guess the purpose of this post is just to say i am sorry things havent changed,as you drivers deserve better than what you are getting to drive, but it appears it is not changing any time soon. and yes, i do miss the old R&L, but not the one now.this is not sour grapes,well maybe it is, but it is the truth.
 
There is only a few locations in the west pulling tripples without a shop ; RNO & BSD. The economy changed a lot of decisions for the Fleet. I know there is some upset employees & a lot of understanding employee's. A lot of companies had to make adjustments to secure the companies future. Going into major debt is not a solution. Without knowing both sides of the story on the "promises broken" , no comment. You'll have to make a decision for your future. A small percentage of employees leave & then re-fill an application out a month or so later. Not being rude or mean about it. But being with the company 20 years, I know this happens a lot.

Good luck.
 
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