In a not too surprising twist, Maverick Transportation is installing driver facing cameras in their new trucks as they get them. In nearly every instance I have seen, a company that has forward facing cameras almost always eventually turns on the driver facing camera. There are 2 sides to this. First, if you don't work there I unfortunately think you should not work there. A company that would choose to use these camera on all drivers does not respect the drivers as professionals. Being coached by some 20 year old college student who lives in their mom's basement and has a man-bun is not respecting drivers. The camera is a no-go for me. The second part of this is for drivers that already work there. It is a harder thing to switch so you will need to see how aggressively they enforce the camera and what they do about it when they believe you have transgressed from what they perceive to be safe driving. If they are very aggressive about it I would quit before I got fired. **I wrote to Maverick on 1-29-20 asking for a response and inviting them on the live show. I will update if I get a reply.**
The pervasiveness in the trucking industry of the driver facing cameras is pitiful. I am beginning to agree with the idea that this USED TO BE an industry where you could make a good living and be respected. Many companies are getting away from that idea now. You don't solve a problem by punishing everyone. Since some people speed should everyone get a ticket? No. There are better ways to ensure safe driving than through 24/7 surveillance of every driver in your fleet but companies are not interested in real safety they are only interested in a quick fix. See you on the road!
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A Federal Judge in Arkansas ruled this week on a case that has been ongoing against PAM Transport. The judge ruled in favor of the drivers in a summary judgement that drivers MUST be paid at least minimum wage for all on-duty and driving time. He also ruled that the $10 charge to get a $75 advance was not allowed as Arkansas caps this at 10% APR. Pam Transport said that the drivers logs are not accurate so they can't be paid from it. That is some nerve. The judge said it is the responsibility of the employer to keep accurate time records. Nice of Pam to accuse its drivers of being liars. Some other parts of the case are still to be decided in court soon like the $25/wk for 20 weeks escrow among other things. DO NOT SETTLE THIS CASE. Take this case to trial to get a court decision on these matters. Ultimately, the only reason they can do this is because the drivers allow it. Why are people working for a place like this? The answer my friend is blowing in the wind. Don't take it anymore. QUIT. They can only take advantage of you if you allow it. HERE is an article about this. As I just don't have time, the podcast is officially ending. It has been up for a while and I keep paying the monthly fee but if I can't make more of them it has to go. I only have so much time in the day to do things and answer the numerous emails I get daily takes much time.
See you on the road! At the Transportation Research Board annual meeting, the president of NATSO said that the industry will see more parking when companies basically step up to pay for it. NATSO is the organization representing 90% of truck stops in the US. She said companies should help pay for or provide parking for their drivers. Is she right? She went on to say that we do not expect the government to pay for hotels for pilots so why should they provide parking? It is a cost of doing business. Interesting. I have for years said that if you want more truck stops and more parking you need to go inside and buy something every time you stop somewhere. They make those spot for CUSTOMERS. Parking and never buying anything will not get you more parking.
My take: Drivers forever complain about the government unless they want something from it. While there should be more rest areas and there is much land that could be used for parking, I think companies should provide parking for their drivers. If that means paid parking or renting a lot, that is what it is. We cannot be begging the government for things the company should provide. If parking is a problem for you, it could be time to look to another aspect of the industry. Local drivers and many dedicated drivers have much less problem with this. Protect yourself on the road with this dashcam. It could save your career. See you on the road! Christmas for me this year was Tuesday. Of course, there were plenty of sick kids there and by Friday I was sick as well. Great. Tuesday the 31st I had a doctor's appointment already scheduled. I get there and the doctor wants to give me a flu shot. I tell her I am sick so she takes my temperature (99) and looks me over and says I just have a cold and since I don't have a temperature I can still get the flu shot. That was a huge mistake. The next day I felt horrible, fever and chills. Mind you, I'm off on the 1st so I could rest at home. Thursday comes around and I am still in bad shape but if I call off not only do I not get paid for Thursday but I also lost New Year's Eve and Day which are paid holidays here. UGH. We don't get any sick days. So, because of a company policy that puts freight ahead of drivers and safety, I went in. I am not one to call off, I rarely do but I considered it for Thursday. Today is Friday and I do feel a little better but I don't really have a voice because of all of the coughing I have been doing. So, no video again today. I am sorry for that but there is literally not much I can say do to no voice. The lesson here is do not under any circumstances get a flu shot unless you are 100% well. I still feel terrible and I was reading up on it. It won't be as effective because of the fact that I was sick when I got it. So, even after all this I could still get the flu. That would be just wonderful.
See you on the road! As I figured, some group went to court and got a restraining order on AB5 as it relates to trucking. Meaning, no enforcement yet until the court can have a look at it. The problem is, trucking is one of the biggest violators of the independent contractor rules. I see many post advertising "Come drive our trucks, 1099!" NO. That is not allowed and they know it. If you drive someone else's truck, you are an employee. Period. Trucking companies for too long have shifted the cost of employees on to the employees themselves. Drivers tolerate this and shouldn't. You get literally no benefits and really I have not seen any of these fly-by-night places advertising any more pay than you would get as a company drivers anywhere else. Don't let these AB5 hawks bamboozle you. If you work for someone else, you are an employee. Independent means just that, independent.
My live show will change times starting on Jan 6, 2020 due to a schedule change at work. I have to leave earlier, at least in January, so I had to move the show slightly. It will still overlap the time I used to be on and I hope to get back to that time soon. The new show time is 1130AM to 2PM Eastern. I hope to see you there! See you on the road! |
AuthorHi! Welcome. I'm Mark and I've been a professional truck driver for over 33 years, the last 19 years at the same company. It is time that drivers got paid for every minute that we work and we are treated like the licensed professionals we are. Archives
February 2022
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