Co Driver Being Woke By Customer During Sleeperbirth

I would question my company about it. Maybe they should not send team trucks to those locations. There are places that don't care if your clock ran out and will not let you sleep on their premise. However, sometimes playing nice can reap great rewards.

Its a high value load meaning could be worth millions of dollars The monitoring company that tracks the truck during shipping probably requires it as per a contract with the carrier. The more valuable the freight the tighter the security. Only teams run high values because one needs to stay with the truck at all times.

I'm guessing Freight Watch was the monitor and it was a very valuable load.

Double edged sword here.

Do they have "a right" to pull the off-duty out of the sleeper? On a HV load, and depending on the rules at the shipper/reciever - they do. There's nothing in the FMSCA's about it. And while "technically", the driver can't stay logged in sleeper - if they're not ACTUALLY IN the sleeper. But a combination of sleeper/off duty for 10 hours, resets their clocks anyway.

So the sleeping driver doesn't necessarily have to go On Duty in this scenario (they're not in the truck, they are not doing paperwork or handling the load), I'd almost be tempted to go On Duty ANYWAY (to stop the 10 hour break) so y'all could go park and let everyone get the rest they need.

Is it RUDE, CRUDE AND INAPPROPRIATE? Sure is. But, how many shippers (except maybe dedicated DC type routes) actually CARE about the drivers comfort or time? NOT MANY (unfortunately).

This is one of those "it is what it is - roll with the punches" type of scenarios. Now - if you were running only HV loads, and you are frequently pulled out of the sleeper (to the point where you are regularly denied rest), then it's time to escalate to the company level.

Shippers/receivers DON'T CARE ABOUT OUR TIME - which is why they have no problem WASTING IT. If they were getting charged decent $$ hourly for detention time - they might start caring more. But I wouldn't hold my breath.

Congress looked into this a few years ago - detention time as the reason why drivers are forced to violate HOS (to move a truck once they run out of hours at a customer site), or choose to violate to make up for lost time at shippers. For better or worse, in an industry that was deregulated decades ago (at least as far as tariffs go - otherwise we are one of the most regulated industries), they really weren't in a position to regulate mandatory detention pay, as a penalty for shippers. Drivers see detention pay as "compensation", companies see it as a "penalty". Unless it is equal to (or greater than) what you could be making hourly if the wheels were rolling, it's a wasted effort. And for "good contracts", most companies won't charge the shipper the detention time, in order to keep the contract.

Rick

They can't "go park and rest". High val loads are priority with tight appointments and the truck is to keep rolling to prevent theft.

Usually one driver drives in and the other with the full clock rolls them out. This is because each load...not just each shipper...but the dollar amount of each load determines the security measures.

For example some loads do not allow you to stop for 150-250 miles.not even for fuel, which must be done before arrival at shipper. So if you sit in traffic for 2hours but only moved 30 miles, you probably aren't stopping for another five hours or so. Which is why the driver with a full clock rolls it out.

How often and the length of time you can stop is determined by the security company and the shipper. How often you report is for security. One load may require you to update security of your location every four hours, but allow you yo stop as often and for as long as you want. Another may only allow you to stop for two hour periods at a time. Almost all require you to report every stop and start.

I asked FedEx why the photo was taken. They said for two reasons: 1 to prove the correct drivers picked up the load. And 2. To have current photos and clothing descriptions in the event the truck is stolen.

Yes I have only driven for one company and perhaps it takes hi val more seriously than other companies. However, if the " sleeper" driver had driven them in, then waited off duty in the lounge..the second driver would be driving the ten hours and the sleeper would still get 10+ hours in addition to the off duty.

I come from an area where things "fell off the back of a truck" quite often. Truck/freight theft is very real.

I'm curious as to whether the OP is new to high val loads, new to the company or if high Val's are new to the company because its kinda just part of the procedure.

Yeah High Value loads just have their own set of rules you need to follow. Its harsh but truthfully if you don't like it they'll find another company that would love to haul it.

I once had a High Value load for Prime and I parked in the front spots of their terminal (before inspection bays) to go to sleep. Security woke me up in my sleep/10 hr break telling me I need to drive through the inspection bay, drop my trailer in the yard and then bobtail park to sleep. My next shift I had to drive 650 miles with 4 hours of sleep.

OTR trucker life...