Comments By Nuts

Banks,

For me a driver facing camera would have me walking out the door. I wasn't exactly pleased with the option of getting the app. The company pays for your cell bill up to $30 a month since they require the app. I used that to get a budget plan on an old phone that I utilize only when in the truck and keep my main phone separate. My family has the number and I can make and receive calls when I am stopped, which is what I would do anyway. I like the ability to keep them separate and if that was not the case it would be different.

Rob,

The company I drive for uses a mandatory app called "Truce". If you want a job you download it and it automatically blocks cell usage above 5mph. I drive local and I could see it as an issue for people going OTR. All in all I would not use my phone while driving, to risky. But as we all know others are not so risk adverse. I am old enough to remember the roads without cell phones and it was dangerous then it has only gotten worse. Until they start punishing it like DWI's to many people will abuse it.

It's terrifying how many people on the road are messing with their phones. It isnt uncommon to see someone watching movies or soccer with their phone covering the speedometer, probably trying to keep it out of their cameras view. Last week with warm weather I even seen a couple motorcyclists fiddling with it. I don't know how to combat it. Some type of jammer that blocks them from transmitting while the vehicle is in drive sounds good in theory but isn't practical and would be met with more pushback than cameras.

We had a company wide message sent to all the drivers with a picture of the dashboard in one of our new trucks. Not even 30,000 miles on it and the gauges are all scratched up. It appears someone was putting their phone up there and was sliding around. I wanted to (jokingly) send a text back asking where else I'm supposed to put it so I can watch tiktok but figured I better not since that's probably what actually happened. Unfortunately nobody will admit fault. Biggest gripe with slip seating is any new damage gets met with "it was like that when I got in it" or "it wasn't like that when I left it". I've got some damage to my truck with only 24k on it that nobody will own up to, same with my buddy that has 25k on his.

Iowa DOT shared a video on Facebook recently. A truck on I80 for some reason crossed the median and came to rest in oncoming traffic. Another driver was driving distracted (doesn't specify the distraction) and plowed into him. Video

SMH, and what happens to the chains when they hit a bump and the tension comes loose from the spider? Lug nuts and studs are not fulcrums.

I have no words for this one...My only question is how long did that take you inside the fender, or did you open the hood to make it easier to install your chains? Probably not.

Tina and Dan, another option to look at would be Ford F550, Ram 5500, or Chevy 5500/6500 medium duty trucks in a chassis cab configuration. They offer options of 2wd or 4wd, different cab options, and come without bed. Then have a bed made by an upfitter company that is made for towing a fifth wheel trailer and is very customizable installed. They all use pickup based engines, utilize a majority of pickup parts, would come, with a warranty if new, and have better towing suspensions/brakes. Another option that is affordable regarding matching your trailer you buy is a vinyl wrap for the tow vehicle. They are less expensive than paint and you can change them out if you get another trailer. I see your out of the cities, Boyer trucks would be a call to make if your interested in a Ford product.

Packrat, I realize from reading through the forum and life's experience that you get a better return when your invested and dedicate effort in your own outcome. But yes, my thinking is if companies are going to be selective on their trainees they would also be selective on who will be training those trainees as well. If a person is a good driver candidate even with the economy not doing so well and freight slowing down the trucking companies would be interested in providing their best trainers to the smaller number of trainees walking through the door, and also for the person looking to start driving now might be a good time with the OTR trainers provided. I realize the classroom and pad trainers are good but like everything else there are people that have abilities to teach that are superior to others.

With companies being able to be more selective in who they hire as driver trainees, how does this effect the current company driver trainers?

Would I be correct in guessing most companies rank their trainers off different criteria and then as the number of trainees diminishes the top ranking trainers are the ones called on vs the trainers at the bottom of the rankings?

Fred does the company you work for employ both class B and class A drivers? I have my class B license and I applied at a local oil company that was hiring for class B but also had class A drivers. During the interview mentioned that they pay for the upgrade to class A if you prove yourself and then want the opportunity. If they do it would be a way to get that experience.