Cityslicker
TB Lurker
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Everyday I drive is a championship.
Damn skippy it is, amen brotha
Everyday I drive is a championship.
Couple points of correction, Franklin.
For the most part you are right. The only things I would disagree on.
1) studying the book does make you more knowlegable about the industry and more importantly the rules and regulations. I've used that knowledge to dispute many claims made by overzealous managers, dispatchers etc. Granted a lot of the info that you have to study is of little use, but you can never have too much knowledge, don't ya think?
2)The cost: Unless you win and collect the $1000 prize, the cost isn't very significant when you factor in the fact that participaition WILL make you a safer driver. Once you've been (and actually won), you'll be extra carefull in your daily driving to avoid any little accident. Even to the point of taking a different route to your destination because it's safer. Some may doubt this but ask anyone whose been and they'll tell ya that the closser it gets to the event the more cautious they are because almost ANY accident will keep you from competing.
I can understand some questioning the value of the competition, epecially with some layed off, pay cuts etc. But I think it probably is cost effective. Plus if you do it, it's for yourself, not so much fedex.
Just some thoughts... Feel free to flame
Couple points of correction, Franklin.
For the most part you are right. The only things I would disagree on.
1) studying the book does make you more knowlegable about the industry and more importantly the rules and regulations. I've used that knowledge to dispute many claims made by overzealous managers, dispatchers etc. Granted a lot of the info that you have to study is of little use, but you can never have too much knowledge, don't ya think?
2)The cost: Unless you win and collect the $1000 prize, the cost isn't very significant when you factor in the fact that participaition WILL make you a safer driver. Once you've been (and actually won), you'll be extra carefull in your daily driving to avoid any little accident. Even to the point of taking a different route to your destination because it's safer. Some may doubt this but ask anyone whose been and they'll tell ya that the closser it gets to the event the more cautious they are because almost ANY accident will keep you from competing.
I can understand some questioning the value of the competition, epecially with some layed off, pay cuts etc. But I think it probably is cost effective. Plus if you do it, it's for yourself, not so much fedex.
Just some thoughts... Feel free to flame
Well, Slider said theirs is on Friday and Saturday so maybe they get paid hourly to compete
Franklin said:... There is very little incentive for a driver to give up a weekend to sit and wait for hours to run a 2 minute course. The divdends for his superiors in the eyes of their superiors is much more than any hope of winning.
But if you want to test yourself, just be aware that you may be giving points to your boss who you may feel is a bit less than worthless and in the end, he/she won't give a crap you were there unless you win.
Now...what exactly were you able to bring to the table from the book when confronting overzealous managers? What I understand is that the book deals with dates and acronyms. I guess if you're having a discussion on the actual dates that said committiee became said board, you are right.
Oh, by the way... They CAN pay you to compete, but NOT to practice...
No you can't have too much knowledge, but you have to guage what is worthwhile for the time you spend doing it. Do I want to know that in 1953 the Department of Labor turned over it's interest in trucking safety to the Department of Interior Truck Cab Design? No, not really.
How will my going to a TDC make me a safer driver? I mean really. What makes me a safe driver is doing my daily business. Getting out of my tractor to look. At the rodeo, you have to guage how close you are to a back stop line or a front stop line. In real life, I don't worry about how "close" I am to something, I take pains to make sure I'm NOT close to something in the first place. I'm a safer driver because I have to be not because of problems set up on a course. If you want to make it more real, use cars and buildings as the problems.
Hey if I wreck during the rodeo is that counted as a preventable?
And when he is done helping him out, he can help you out. Mr.Rodeo....or is it Roadeo, the way you perceive it to be. Is it because it pertains to trucks that operate on the road? Watch those stones......you still live in a glass house.
The thing to realize about the competition is that during everyday operations we are constantly told to leave ourselves an out, give yourself room....don't tailgate. I'm the competition, they want you to get as close to objects as possible. They preach but want us to win the big shiny trophy for the good of all things company.