From the road...

My Dad always said, "That's why God put a steering wheel on it, so you can turn it around."

 

I own a small forklift company, and have been thinking about putting on GPS systems in my service trucks....not cameras. I haven't done it yet, partially because I don't want to lose good guys that think I'm trying to big brother them. We really want it to help with dispatch, I don't have the time/patience to try and watch them all day.

I'm wondering if this company may just want it for when there are problems and it could be a good place to work?

 

Yep. Outward facing dashcams cover your liability. People's first thought sue the company, we gonna get paid.

Texas is a fun state,. That's why you see so many "been in a truck accident" lawyer billboards.
They will sue you, your driver, and anyone else they can claim had any amount of liability. Even the accident up the road that caused the backup that forced everyone to stop and them rearend YOUR employee.

 

I agree with covering your ass camera pointing out.
I have bought 2.It's saved me 2 times last summer. Both vehicles were charged in the accidents.

 

I put in a dashcam on my truck a couple of years ago. I realized quickly that it ended up making me a more courteous, and less aggressive driver. They went into my entire fleet as soon as the Amazon delivery came in! Forward facing only, and I set them up to not record sound.

 

If you want max views on your YouTube videos, you'll need sound so we can hear what music you were listening to, as well as you cussing out the other driver in Russian.

 

Yob tvoyu mat!

 

so I was at the Pilot this afternoon and there were some trucks parked out on the side of the road in front of the Pilot and on the ON ramp getting back onto the interstate but there were open truck spaces in the parking lot, which made me wonder.....

do you drivers have to pay for those parking spaces? I also found it odd that some of the first 5 or 6 spaces, closest to the store were blocked off with "Reserved Spaces" signs.

Also, if you don't have to pay for those spaces......why stay on the on ramp our out on the side of the road??

 

Reserved spaces is just another money racket,. With the log rilule changes a few years ago and now mandatory ELD parking has become a commodity. They were $10 now there $15.
Previously some truckstops charged $10 gate fee waveable with purchases of $20-40.
Some locations they have more than half the parking lot listed as reserved.

The ones parking on ramps and along the driveway are usually too lazy to back into a parking space or just incapable of backing up a combination vehicle. Some of there driving abilities are just scary..

 

Some states have made it illegal and strictly enforce no parking on ramps.
Va, AR, In, are a few. VA starts around 5-6am with stare troopers waking up these drivers and writing tickets. Last I heard Nj was looking into it. Parking in some areas in the NEast is very minimal. You either park early or risk it on the shoulder.
I prefer parking early,. Seen too many drivers half asleep at night that can barely maintain a lane. No way do I park on the shoulder anywhere.

 

Some park on the ramps because the truck stop is full.

 

Yep..

If your not settled in around 7pm,your probably screwed.When I ran dedicated in Florida,the truck stops were full
around 5-6 pm .Most of those drivers you see parked on shoulders,and on/off ramps probably didnt plan on it.

Ive been held up at shippers,road work,wrecks ,you name it,bad weather.When your trying to stay on schedule to make
a living,shit happens.In my opinion there needs to be waay more parking for otr drivers.Not walmarts,but legal parking.
It pisses me off to see some dick cop waking up a driver.That asshole cop doesnt have to worry where he sleeps every night,
and just fucked an already tired drivers rest time.Ive personally driven illegal,tired as hell just to make sure I found parking
so that shit wouldnt happen.The same dick cop writing tickets just ensured those drivers will also drive illegally until thay can
find a safe place to park next time.Shit happens..rant off

 

I had to deal with this driver that went down a road that was posted with three signs that the road was closed.



Edit. Tried to upload a pic but the file was too large for some reason. Or I’m a idiot.

 

Just to update:

The more you drive, the more you realize that you have been there before.

 

When you say backing up a combination vehicle do you mean tractor/trailer or pups (doubles etc)?

 

Where you at? Where you been? Been missing this thread! Whats 418 doing?
I just quit Coke and now drive for Ricoh electronics.Its a Japanese outfit,and Im pretty much driving my same old route.
Very heavy overweight paper loads.Smoking brakes,but home nightly.I miss otr