MyFox
 

jteamaz's Blog

by jteamaz from Phoenix

Last Post 14 days, 10 hours Ago


Truck Accident And Fatigued Drivers
Apr 29, 2008 | 10:59 AM
Category: News
Report This Post

So this morning I get up and turn on my computer to catch up on the latest blogs and I see how the morning commute on the US 60 turned into a nightmare after a tractor and flatbed carrying a grader crashes into a wall and slams a disabled vehicle. It was initially reported that the driver fell asleep at the wheel. Pretty scary, that's why I can't keep silent any longer........and I need your comments to pass on to those who claim to be "safety" oriented.

As a Truck Driver myself, this really hits home. Let me tell you why, and give a quick lesson in some of the regulations that govern us. We are allowed to be on the clock 14 hours per day, of that we can spend 11 hours driving. The rest (3 hrs.) is for pre and post trip inspections, loading/unloading, fueling etc. We must take 10 hours off after completion of our work day. Going back on duty before that 10 hours is up is a violation. These are rules that are basically set up for over the road drivers, so when you're considered "local" or less than 150 air miles from your terminal the situation becomes quite different. Here's where we lose, and the situation can become dangerous.....

My shift starts at 11:30 AM which means that I must be finished and off the clock by 1:30 AM the next morning. That's a 14 hour day, nearly double what the average worker spends at work. I usually work at least 12 hours, but lately have been bumping the 13-14 mark routinely. This is where the problem comes in. Instead of logging out and crawling into a sleeper as an over the road driver would do, I need to finish paperwork, then I have commute time, around 1 1/2 hr. per day to and from the terminal. Then there's time spent up at home on both ends, usually around an hour or so. This all comes out of my 10 hours off, which simple math tells you that leaves about 7 1/2 hours.  I can do fine on 7 1/2 hrs. sleep but it doesn't usually work out that way. Most employers insist on pushing the limits, citing "business needs" and workload. For those of us who take our jobs seriously it seems excessive to work back to back 14 hours, and I fully admit I'm not at 100% when it happens to me. But voicing concern about it can only get you in hot water if you're not careful. Dispatchers will even push you to use an emergency rule that's available once in a week that allows you to add another 2 hours to your day, for a total of 16 hours, more than excessive as I see it. My questions to you are this....

Does it not bother you that you are sharing the roadways with drivers who are extremely fatigued and being pushed to the limits? Any employer that says they don't are probably being untruthful, kudos to those who actually don't push their drivers to this point. This is an industry problem that is usually met with cold dismissal when brought up by drivers. I think the rules should be different for local drivers, say a 12 hour maximum.

Our "Safety" Coordinator recently told us at our quarterly meeting "I have you for 14 hours, don't think you're going home after an 8 or 10 hour shift." We even have it in writing.  When and if we're involved in an accident of any kind, we're automatically guilty until proven otherwise. Employers wash their hands of any and all responsibility and will be the first to wag their fingers at us telling us it's our responsibility to make sure we're properly rested. I was stopped by a DPS officer 3 weeks ago on the way home on I-17. I wasn't speeding, I was falling asleep behind the wheel and he happened to see me weave a bit. I was 10 minutes from my home. I had just worked a nearly 14 hr. shift and was exhausted. Had he not stopped me you may have been watching me on the morning news as well.......

We need your help, voice your concerns. I plan on sharing all of your comments with our "Safety" people. It's a very important issue that needs tackled now.

17 Comments |  Add a Comment

Member Comments Total Comments: 17
Page 1 of 1
simonk read my blog
Apr 29, 2008 | 12:45 PM

Companies are only interested in the bottem line and could care less about public safety. They are way too quick to absolve themselves of and responsibility and won't hesitate to wiggle out any way they can.
garamps read my blog
Apr 29, 2008 | 1:58 PM

JTEA....I'm guessing the rules and regs that you cited are D.O.T. guidlines. How about O.S.H.A. can you get any help from them?
I know that what you say is true and it's a dang shame that you are being pushed so hard. Even if you never are injured in a fatigue related accident there are other health consequences that your company NEEDS to examine.
aznorthstar read my blog view my photos
Apr 29, 2008 | 5:04 PM

It is too much that OTD falsify their log books in order to cover more territory quicker. The consequences are seen across the country.

In my opinion, the local driver is much more dangerous. I'm not saying they are worse drivers, they are on the road more hours. I have drivers who work for me, and honestly, I don't think of how many hours they have been behind the wheel. I see the work that needs to be done and pass it along as need be. It isn't that I am ignorant to the law or care about safety. I'll put any of our trucks up against any other fleet in the state. My trucks are safe!

However, it is impossiblef or us to keep track of how long each driver has been on the road. When one of my drivers tells me he is done, he is done. Be it that he has put in his day. I was a driver first, and will always think like a driver.

The concerns made in the post are true concerns. Not one employer will admit it. But every driver will validate it!
thebritishchick read my blog view my photos
Apr 29, 2008 | 6:33 PM

Gawd jt please be careful!!! Do not want anything to happen to you ole buddy ole chum!!! :0)

Do they have such things as I think its called a 'Tacometer' or something like that?? I know they have them in England to track the miles and distance and time travelling, and it is limited to a maximum anyone can do in one day. There needs to be a reasonable maximum number of hours that anyone can drive, because as you know it becomes hazardous to you and everyone else on the road. If the employer is pushing any driver to a limit then that should be Illegal because of fatigue and danger caused, and it wouldn't be your fault you are just doing your job. Please stay safe.
trucker101 read my blog
Apr 29, 2008 | 7:36 PM

Absolutlt jt. I'm a local driver myself and I refuse to work any more than 12 hrs. a day, with 10 hrs. driving. It may not be popular with employers, (one of the reasons I'm parked now) But safety for everyone is much, much more important.
splat read my blog
Apr 30, 2008 | 5:48 AM

Thank you to those of you who ARE concerned about others. When I'm driving the last thing I think of is if the guy driving the big rig has had his sleep. I shouldn't have to worry about the truckers on the road. That's the companies responsibility and the next time I see a trucker crash I'll remember to think about the company he works for and wonder if they're doing right by their employees and innocent people.
Stay safe and get your rest. You too trucker101.
Paul81 read my blog
Apr 30, 2008 | 6:00 AM

When it comes to professional drivers, safety on the road MUST be the top priority! Safety cannot and must not be sacrificed in the quest for profit! Several tons of rolling metal in the hands of a sleeping driver can not only cost lives but will nave a negative effect on the profit line as well.
jteamaz read my blog
Apr 30, 2008 | 10:13 AM

Thanks for all the input, and thanks BC for the concern. Not gonna let myself get hurt here.....or anyone else for that matter.

We are monitored electronically, by a XATA unit. It records everything we do, even when and how much we're dropping at our stores. The point of my post is that these limits, excessive though they are, are perfectly legal. Local drivers need a different set of guidelines as I see it, just basing my opinion on observation, and of course experience. I've often called us no more than "a hunk of meat attached to a steering wheel." It's a chore to head for work daily and wonder if it's not the one that you don't make it home, for whatever the reason. This is my 30th year in this business. I've driven for most of it, but have worked in Dispatch, and in Management. Most companies do great lipservice to safety, but closer inspection will find otherwise. And they'll deny any wrongdoing every time.
thebritishchick read my blog view my photos
Apr 30, 2008 | 10:50 AM

Good take it easy!!

Ahh I did wonder if you all had those monitors thingys. So these Companies dont really have Strict guidelines that they 100% abide to eh?!?! How sad and downright dangerous.

Well you know if you want to quit I have a full time job here just driving my kids to where they need to be and back again LOL
trucker101 read my blog
Apr 30, 2008 | 7:49 PM

Thanks splat. But dont worry about me, currently I'm getting more rest than I need. (no runs due to my ideals). When I do get to work again, I'll stick to them.
truckdriverswife
May 1, 2008 | 12:22 PM

http://community.myfoxphoenix.com/blogs/truckdriverswif
e
truckdriverswife
May 1, 2008 | 1:23 PM

It seams as though you have forgotten some of the issues at hand, yes this was probably the drivers fault this time. Have you actually looked at the statistics only one in 8 fatal truck accidents is caused by the truck driver. It is usually the four wheeler that is at fault. I have told my husband every time (twelve years no accidents that were his fault) he leaves me and our three kids to go out on the road there is nothing in that ditch for you come home safely to us, if a four wheeler wants to drive poorly and they end up under our truck so be it. I know this seems harsh but I am sick of stupid drivers and you know you see them every day they speed up to get in front of the big rig and then slam on the brakes, or any other number of stupid things four wheelers do. Have you ever tried to stop an 80,0000 pound truck so you don't kill someones family (I am sure you have if your a truck driver) and I know it was not pleasant! I have been in the truck when this has happened and more than once! It seems to me that all you and the rest of the country wants to do is find fault with the driver. Case and point two years ago my husband was going down 75th ave he had the green light a woman ran the red light going east and ran in to the trailer he was pulling she was given a ticket and my husband was not but she went after our insurance company and was given two hundred thousand dollars. Is that fair no I think not especially when we are now making a quarter of what we were making just a few years ago because of the greed of the oil company's. Another example last summer my hus
truckdriverswife
May 1, 2008 | 1:26 PM

I can't get this to post correctly so just go to
www.ooida.com and look at the statistics.
jteamaz read my blog
May 1, 2008 | 4:30 PM

I think you may have misunderstood the purpose of my post. It is concerning hours of service and the pressure put on drivers to work excessively long hours. I know the statistics of which you speak, and yes, they speak for themselves. Bad driving is a topic for another post, we all know how bad it is. My point here was concerning how companies expect their drivers to work long hours, then point the finger at them when they're involved in some kind of accident, or fall asleep behind the wheel. I was pointing out hypocrisies and inconsistencies. Trust me, I know all the issues, have been at this for 30 years now. I just couldn't tackle them all at once here. This was concerning the accident Tuesday morning when the driver fell asleep on the US 60. Be safe out there, I feel your frustration as well........
jteamaz read my blog
May 1, 2008 | 6:38 PM

P.S., you'll get cut off after so many characters when you post a comment. You can submit then just add another one if there's more you'd like to say........
hopefaith read my blog view my photos
May 2, 2008 | 6:34 AM

I can't tell you how many semi involved accidents I have dispatched police/fire/medical to in the 11 yrs I have been dispatching. I feel drivers spend far too many hours on the road with legal logs let alone those truck drivers that have a 2nd drivers log. That 2nd drivers log doesn't fool many police they can tell by your speach and body language if your driving over the legal amount of hours. Before I became a 911 dispatcher I used to travel I40 from Lake Havasu Az to Ford proving ground in Yucca Az. For 2 years I saw at least 7 over turned semi trucks NB I40 east of Lake Havasu exit 9 due to sleepy drivers. I test drove semi trucks at the Ford Proving Grounds and know how long it takes to stop a semi loaded or not. Something needs to be done. I just wish something would change before anyone else is hurt or worse. Glad you got stopped and home safe......stay safe out there.
jteamaz read my blog
May 2, 2008 | 9:49 AM

Thanks for your support, much appreciated! You'd be surprised how many times I've approached this issue and have been shot down. The sad part is, it's all perfectly legal. The truck lobby must have a lot of influence in the government, on the employer side anyway. The rules for local drivers need to be changed. The employers have abused the rules making "maximum daily allowed" into "required daily minimums." Innocent people should not have to get caught in the crossfire of all this.
Page 1 of 1


Write your comment below:




jteamaz

Not much to say actually. Just a normal kinda guy. I drive a truck delivering groceries for a major food chain here in the valley. Try to keep educated on local and national events especially those concerning corruption and moral ineptitude by our "elected officials." Very much for protecting our freedoms and rights, always open to new ideas and discussions. I don't identify as Democrat or Republican, and don't like to be labeled as liberal or conservative. Just try to stay responsible and informed as possible.

Member Since: 4/18/2007


 

RSS: XMLWhat is RSS?