Welcome to the Truckers Post: For truckers. By a trucker

Welcome Home

Ok I know you are tired after gripping the wheel for ten hours (well fourteen hours but I won’t tell) and you have somehow stumbled your way here to my blog.  Well welcome to my home.  My home is your home, so please make yourself comfortable, put your feet up, relax and kick back.  Oh yea in case I didn’t tell ya, WELCOME HOME!

Just a couple of quick rules before you come in.  First, you are welcome to post anything you like except for: racist comments and abusive language and no curing please.  None of these things will not be tolerated and I will delete any comments/posts/questions/answers that are deemed inappropriate.  Everything else is up to your discretion.  We can talk about whatever you like.  And you are always welcome to ask questions or post an answer to another member’s question.

What is the Truckers Post’s?

Well in a nutshell, the Truckers Post’s is a home away from home for truckers.  I too am a trucker (though currently recovering from an illness) so I know what it’s like to be on the road, living out of a truck.  You can be rest assured I feel your pain and share your joy.  Driving a truck can be a hard and thankless job.  But it can also be fun and rewarding.   Just like most other jobs I suppose.

Anyway, there is no set format here.  I will post blogs on anything and everything trucking related such as: fuel and maintenance issues, home time, truck stops, family issues, dealing with DM’s and load planners, saving money on the road, credit issues, insurance, State and Federal regulations, lobbying for your rights in Washington, HOS rules and violations, dealing with shippers and receivers and everything else under the sun.  Again these are just some of the topics I will blog about.  However, I’m going to need ideas and answers from you, the guys on the front lines.  So your participation will be appreciated.  See, I appreciate you already because I am you!  Just because I’m stuck here in the house recouping doesn’t mean I can’t relate. 

If you have just mowed down 700 grueling miles today all the while arguing with your DM because your 1400 miles into a 3000 mile run and she wants to repower your load so a guy can get home and your pissed about it, then write about it here.  Get it out.  I can guarantee you that you are not alone.  I’m online all day and will check this blog throughout the day and will do my best to respond to all questions, rants or raves.  That’s what this blog is all about.  Helping each other through communication.  A site for truckers written by a trucker.

As more people join the site will grow and so will our home.  Think of this blog as a starter home.  It’s fine for now.  But hopefully, if you are comfortable in our home, you will invite you friends to visit and they will tell their friends and before you know it we will have outgrown this home and will have to move to a bigger, better one.

So that’s about it for now.  You get the gist of what this blog is all about.  I hope you can see that I am here for you.  In me, you have a fellow truck driver who is here to listen to you, offer you advice and answer your questions to the best of my ability.

Go inside the truck stop and take a shower and have a nice meal.  Get some rest.  Don’t stay up on the computer or watching movies.  Remember, tomorrows another day.  If you had a cruddy day today, you get to start anew tomorrow. 

Please check back in tomorrow and spread the word!  I will certainly appreciate it.

Be kind, respectful and loving human beings and I will talk to you tomorrow.

Reminder

Each post will end with a reminder for you.  I might remind you to check your rigs oil, or make sure your logs are up to date, or to call you mom and dad, or to take a break, well you get the idea.

So this week’s reminder is: Home time for the holidays.  That’s right it’s that’s time again.  It seems like yesterday we were ringing in the New Year.  It seems to me the older I get, the faster the years go by.  Is it just me or is this you too?

Ok I’ll get back to being home time for the holidays.  If you have not done so now is the time to request you time off for the holidays.  Even if you are just coming off home time, you need to request which holiday you want off.  Your company should have already asked you to send a Qualcomm specifying which holiday you want off.  Think about it and talk it over with the family, but do it now.  The longer you wait the less chance you have of getting the holiday you want off.

I always asked for Christmas off myself.  But I have been offered bonus’s to work Christmas and that one’s a tough call.  I really needed the money my first Christmas away, so I managed to be home for XMAS eve and picked a load up at the yard XMAS evening and still got my bonus.  It’s a tough call I know and I hope you do not find yourself in this position during the holidays this year.

Well I believe, I believe, I believe that’s all folks….

Until the next post, have a GREAT and SAFE day driver’s……. Dana

What is False DAC reporting?

What is False DAC reporting?

From Wikipedia:

False DAC Reporting

A truck driver's “DAC Report” refers to the employment history information submitted by former employers to HireRight & USIS Commercial Services Inc. (formerly called DAC Services or “Drive-A-Check”). Among other things, a truck driver’s DAC Report contains the driver’s identification (Name, DOB, SSN), the name and address of the contributing trucking company, the driver’s dates of employment with that company, the driver’s reason for leaving that company, whether the driver is eligible for rehire, and comments about the driver’s work record (e.g. good, satisfactory, too many late deliveries, etc.). It will also indicate whether the company stored drug and alcohol testing information with USIS. A separate section of the DAC report contains incident/accident information.

The DAC report is as critical to the livelihood of a professional truck driver as the credit report is to a consumer. When a trucking company reports negative information about a truck driver, it can ruin the driver’s career by preventing him or her from finding a truck driving job for several years or more. It is widely known that trucking companies often abuse this power by willfully and maliciously reporting false information on truckers’ DAC reports, either in retaliation for seeking better paying trucking jobs elsewhere, or for any number of other fraudulent, anti-competitive reasons. As long as truck drivers can be threatened with a false DAC report for standing up to management or leaving their company for a better job elsewhere, working conditions at truck driver jobs will not improve. End Wikipedia.

 As explained in an earlier post, a DAC report is the trucking industries version of a consumer’s credit report.  The only difference is a DAC report contains negative issues from previous employer’s, from a MVR to a person’s criminal history.  A previous employer can wreak havoc on a driver’s DAC report the same as an identity thief can ruin a credit report.

Every day truck drivers are threatened by companies with the promise of filing negative reports for a number of reasons, the most common mentioned above.  And with very little recourse, some drivers find themselves unable to secure another position within the trucking community again, all for something their employer deemed unacceptable, whether or not violation occurred.

I know a driver who used to work for a major carrier and leased a truck through them.  He had some issues at home so he hired a couple of drivers to run the truck for him. Everything was OK at first but, as sometimes happens he started having problems with the drivers not wanting to run hard, the revenue to the truck plummeted and, since his problems at home still warranted his attention, he decided to turn the truck in.

Arrangements were made for the truck to be taken to the company’s home terminal and he would turn the truck in. He received a phone call a couple days later informing him there were no loads going to the company’s home terminal so the truck was taken to his home terminal and he was told it was his responsibility to get the truck back to the company’s headquarters.  He let them know that was impossible and they promptly considered the tractor abandoned and subsequently the false abandonment found its way onto his DAC report.

Lucky for him he decided he would not be returning to driving anytime soon so he was not too concerned with this incident.  But it does prove that these companies know that false reporting can, in some cases, ruin a driver’s career leaving the driver little recourse.

However, there are a couple things a driver can do to try to get the false incident removed from his DAC report.

Some drivers have filed lawsuits against the company that fired them.  This seems the obvious course of action, right?  Not always. We need to keep in mind that the burden of proof is on the driver, not the company.  Just as if a District Attorney brings a charge against someone, it is always up the D.A. to prove the person’s guilt and it is always up to the defendant to prove they are innocent.  Too most, this seems entirely biased even if it is the foundation on which our legal system is built.

A driver can go to www.HireRight.com and request a copy of the DAC report. USIS teamed with DOC Services and is referred to as HireRight DAC Trucking Solutions.  If you have anything on your DAC report, they know it. You are allowed one report a year and each one thereafter will cost $9.50 each. To file a dispute on your DAC report, click here and just the follow the directions.

Truckers need to join together and stand up against those dishonest Trucking Companies that knowingly file false reports to DAC in an attempt to ruin a driver’s career.  This practice must stop now.

HOS rules and Mike

HOS rules and Mike

Good morning drivers.  I trust you are all well today? It’s cloudy and muggy here in So Cal.  We get a few days a year here when the humidity gets pretty high but nothing like you guys back east.  How do you take it?  Myself, I’m looking forward to winter.  Easy for me to say I know, I don’t have to chain up during a blinding snow storm on my way up or down Donners.  It sucks I know.

Last night I mentioned a friend I have who got called out on a potential HOS violation from his DM.  For the sake argument I will call my friend Mike.

Mike is based in Fontana, Ca and had just pulled into a receiver in L.A. and was eager to get unloaded at get home.  He had sent in PTA earlier in the morning as required by his company.  He stated in the message that after he dropped he would have ONE hour of driving time left and ONE hour left on his fourteen.  It’s pretty simple to understand right?  Well not for Mikes DM.

As soon as he pulled into the receiver his Qualcomm started blowing up.  He was being asked to pick up a load on his way to the Fontana yard and drop it there before heading home for his home-time.  He sent his DM another message making them aware that he just enough hours left to get home and not enough time to pick up a load on the way.

I should let it be known that this driver had never had a late load due to any fault of his own.  He is a hard working, safe and competent driver.  I can attest to this because I trained him.  Well he has bent over backwards for his DM’s and he is the one they call to rescue loads or he gets the “don’t ask, don’t tell” loads and he always delivers them on time and no questions are asked.

To make a long story short after he reminded his DM that he didn’t have the hours to grab the load he received an email in which his DM was accusing him refusing the load.  Wow!  He was, in a sense, refusing the load.  But he had a valid reason why.  He let his DM know again that he would be happy to pick up the load IF he had the hours.

Well the receiver took too long to empty the trailer so he was out of his fourteen now too.  Meanwhile the DM never took the pickup off him and he let her know he now had no hours left on his fourteen but had one hour left to drive.  He told her he could not pick up any load and was driving to Fontana in “off-duty” status.  He was immediately told by his DM is so many words to either; pick up the load on his way in or he would get a log violation for driving off-duty” and driving while out of hours or he had to stay at shippers a take his ten there.  The yard in Fontana was 40 miles away.

He was angry and I do not blame him.  He had saved so many loads for his DM’s it’s not even funny and when he COULDN’T pick up this load, he gets threatened by his DM.  She never complained or asked questions before and now she’s threatening him.  He said fine and ended up getting the load and dropping it at the yard. 

We talked about it and he thought it was ok to drive off-duty as long as you weren’t under a load.  His DM never took the load off him so technically he was still under a load.  I told him I thought he could drive off duty as long as he was empty and not under a load and he should tell his DM to kick rocks.  Well I did some research to get the right answer according to the FMCSA and here is what I found.

Below is the definition of on-duty time according to the FMCSA Part 395 regarding on-duty.

Hours of service of drivers

§ 395.2Definitions.

On duty time means all time from the time a driver begins to work or is required to be in readiness to work until the time the driver is relieved from work and all responsibility for performing work.

On duty time shall include: (1) All time at a plant, terminal, facility, or other property of a motor carrier or shipper, or on any public property, waiting to be dispatched, unless the driver has been relieved from duty by the motor carrier;(2) All time inspecting, servicing, or conditioning any commercial motor vehicle at any time; (3) All driving time as defined in the term driving time; (4) All time, other than driving time, in or upon any commercial motor vehicle except time spent resting in a sleeper berth;(5) All time loading or unloading a commercial motor vehicle, supervising, or assisting in the loading or unloading, attending a commercial motor vehicle being loaded or unloaded, remaining in readiness to operate the commercial motor vehicle, or in giving or receiving receipts for shipments loaded or unloaded;(6) All time repairing, obtaining assistance, or remaining in attendance upon a disabled commercial motor vehicle;(7) All time spent providing a breath sample or urine specimen, including travel time to and from the collection site, in order to comply with the random, reasonable suspicion, post-accident, or follow-up testing required by part 382 of this subchapter when directed by a motor carrier;(8) Performing any other work in the capacity, employ, or service of a motor carrier; and (9) Performing any compensated work for a person who is not a motor carrier.

This is from the FMCA Part 395.3 regarding HOS;

Hours of service of drivers

§ 395.3Maximum driving time for property-carrying vehicles. Subject to the exceptions and exemptions in §395.1:(a) No motor carrier shall permit or require any driver used by it to drive a property-carrying commercial motor vehicle, nor shall any such driver drive a property-carrying commercial motor vehicle:(1) More than 11 cumulative hours following 10 consecutive hours off-duty;(2) For any period after the end of the 14th hour after coming on duty following 10 consecutive hours off duty, except when a property-carrying driver complies with the provisions of §395.1(o) or §395.1(e)(2).(b) No motor carrier shall permit or require a driver of a property-carrying commercial motor vehicle to drive, nor shall any driver drive a property-carrying commercial motor vehicle, regardless of the number of motor carriers using the driver's services, for any period after—(1) Having been on duty 60 hours in any period of 7 consecutive days if the employing motor carrier does not operate commercial motor vehicles every day of the week; or(2) Having been on duty 70 hours in any period of 8 consecutive days if the employing motor carrier operates commercial motor vehicles every day of the week.(c)(1) Any period of 7 consecutive days may end with the beginning of any off-duty period of 34 or more consecutive hours; or(2) Any period of 8 consecutive days may end with the beginning of any off-duty period of 34 or more consecutive hours.

According the FMCSA Mike was in violation because he was not relieved of his duties and was out of hours due to the fourteen hour rule, so I was wrong as well. 

He did pick up the load and get home.  But one would think after all he has did for his DM’s (I say did because I’m sure he will not be doing them any more favors) they would have told him do not worry about picking up the load and to just get home to his family.  Yea right, we all know darn well that is not how it works.  Most DM’s could care less about you, the drivers.  And that is just wrong.

Like I said, Mike got home ok.  I’m actually waiting for him to come by my house and say hello.  He must be catching up on his sleep.

Do not forget to post you opinions and comments regarding this post and let me know what if there is something I can research for you.  I want the feedback from you guys whether positive or negative. 

THANK YOU DRIVERS! I will post another article later tonight and check for comments.  Time to watch the Pat’s/Raider’s game.

Be safe my friends,

Dana

Another day ends.

Well here we are boy's and girl's.  The end of another day.  I hope your day went well.  And if you are a night driver then, GOOD MORNING!!  Wake up sleepy head.  Hope you slept well.

Did anyone get a chance to read the first couple of post's?  Does anyone have any questions?

I cannot stress enough drivers that this is your site, this is your home away from home and I want you to fell good about being here.  So please ask questions and suggest topics for me to write about.  And please remember to tell you fellow drivers to join us.

Tomorrow I will blog about a situation and friend (and fellow driver) of mine found himself in this weekend when his DM challenged him regarding his HOS for that day.  This guy is a darn good driver who bends over backwords for his DM/Planner and gets the short end of the stick all the time!

How many of you find yourself in the same perdiciment time and time again?  And what do you do about it?  Please think about this tonight and we will discuss tomorrow.  I will write a noce blog about the subject and you guy's can chime in with you qeustions and comments.

Big day tomorrow sports wise.  There is going to be some great match-ups in the NFL and the points chase in NASCAR looks as though it might come down to the last race.  What a chase.  Who thinks Jimmie is going to SIX peat?  Humm we'll just have to wait and see.

Anyways ladies and gentlemen, you all have a good night and I will see you in the morning.

Dana