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GBL Rebel Moderator
Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Posts: 608 Location: Long Island, N.Y.
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shortlineMCI
Age: 54 Joined: 07 May 2007 Posts: 241
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Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 10:15 am Post subject: |
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This is horrible and it really affects all the drivers from other companies as well. So sad for everyone involved. |
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traildriver
Joined: 26 Mar 2011 Posts: 2459 Location: South Florida
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Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 3:55 pm Post subject: |
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After enduring the current DOT and police blitz in inspections due to the recent previous accidents, we were hoping things would quiet down and get back to normal. But with this and the other new incident, it will surely get much worse.
Companies need to screen drivers much better than they have been. Instead of hiring any warm body to drive their half-million dollar vehcles, with over 50 lives in their hands...they need to pay better to attract a more professional class of driver. |
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shortlineMCI
Age: 54 Joined: 07 May 2007 Posts: 241
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Posted: Sun May 15, 2011 8:06 am Post subject: |
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Yes..DOT has really been checking us at Coach USA very closely as well, however it's mainly the guys that drive in the middle of the day. I haven't been spot checked being my tripper ends early in the morning and I don't pull out of the PA until early evening.
But I still think its a much better idea that DOT spot checks these companies that own two or three buses and hire these guys that come to work and sit behind the wheel wearing a golf tee, blue jeans and sneakers.
They are the ones that ruin it for the rest of us OTR drivers. |
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GBL Rebel Moderator
Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Posts: 608 Location: Long Island, N.Y.
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Posted: Sun May 15, 2011 3:55 pm Post subject: |
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shortlineMCI wrote: |
But I still think its a much better idea that DOT spot checks these companies that own two or three buses and hire these guys that come to work and sit behind the wheel wearing a golf tee, blue jeans and sneakers.
They are the ones that ruin it for the rest of us OTR drivers. |
We are not going to pick out bad drivers because they don't wear a uniform are we? I really wouldn't think that is fair since I can give you a list of drivers who have lost jobs due to there poor driving and/or judgment. And these guys did wear uniforms. Some guys just DO NOT BELONG behind the wheel. What makes this really bad is everything is happening in a short period of time.
If I had a side job wear I could dress in a golf tee, black jeans (as they are my preference) and sneakers, bet your money I would. |
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traildriver
Joined: 26 Mar 2011 Posts: 2459 Location: South Florida
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Posted: Sun May 15, 2011 6:34 pm Post subject: |
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What you weat doesn't necessarily equate to how you drive. That said, I believe that a professional driver, who takes real pride at their proficiency behind the wheel, will want to dress sharp, to reflect that attitude. A driver in a sharp looking uniform will make a good first impression on passengers and gain their confidence that they are riding with a 'pro' as they board.
The condition of the bus does the same. Passengers will prefer to ride in a clean well-maitianed bus then a rolling wreck, regardless of its age. |
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shortlineMCI
Age: 54 Joined: 07 May 2007 Posts: 241
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Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 9:05 pm Post subject: |
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GBL Rebel wrote: | shortlineMCI wrote: |
But I still think its a much better idea that DOT spot checks these companies that own two or three buses and hire these guys that come to work and sit behind the wheel wearing a golf tee, blue jeans and sneakers.
They are the ones that ruin it for the rest of us OTR drivers. |
We are not going to pick out bad drivers because they don't wear a uniform are we? I really wouldn't think that is fair since I can give you a list of drivers who have lost jobs due to there poor driving and/or judgment. And these guys did wear uniforms. Some guys just DO NOT BELONG behind the wheel. What makes this really bad is everything is happening in a short period of time.
If I had a side job wear I could dress in a golf tee, black jeans (as they are my preference) and sneakers, bet your money I would. |
Point well taken. From what I have observed especially in Woodbury common upstate new york, There are a number of small no name bus companies who try to undercut Shortline, anyhow, DOT inspectors waited for these buses to unload and escorted them to the rear parking lot where we lay over. my co workers and I counted 13 no name buses with bright orange stickers on the drivers side windshield in one day alone. This is frightening. Could have been a range from log violations to flat out safety violations. Who knows really. Fact is, they were all down for the count.
Shorline buses out of service? None. But bringing my point to a different context, anything out of line is going to raise the eyebrows of the DOT inspectors, drivers with no uniform, old worn looking equipment, things of that nature. While I am sorry for painting with a broad brush, as you mentioned above, I have never seen these types of accidents with this kind of intensity happen with such frequency. |
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GBL Rebel Moderator
Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Posts: 608 Location: Long Island, N.Y.
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Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 10:44 am Post subject: |
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Put the company a side. If you have a jack*** on the wheel, it is problems you will get.
Bus on its side due to driver speeding, driver trys to run over police officer trying to stop bus and driver kills pedestrian while driving drunk. Of these three incidents, I don't think the name on the side of the bus would have changed anything. When you lay over between trips, a supervisor does not come out to make sure you are in the proper order to drive. Who verified you did not have a beer with the 2 slices of pizza for lunch? Nobody. YOU KNOW the difference between right and wrong. These clowns do not. That's my point, when judgement lacks on an individules part, this is what you get.
Last edited by GBL Rebel on Wed Jun 01, 2011 9:41 am; edited 1 time in total |
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shortlineMCI
Age: 54 Joined: 07 May 2007 Posts: 241
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Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 11:39 am Post subject: |
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Precisly. It is the individual that actually ruins it on a broad scale. So sad. Especially when it comes to the death of so many innocents who are just looking for a nice day out, not having to drive, so on and so on... |
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JimmiB
Age: 81 Joined: 19 Apr 2011 Posts: 516 Location: Lebanon, PA
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Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 1:32 am Post subject: |
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Quick story. Several years ago I did a weekend trip to a religious convention near D.C. Parked the bus behind the motel and was cleaning it when a bus from Maine parked near me. I went over to introduce myself. The driver opened the door and the marajuana smell drifted out. Had a girl sitting on his lap and a cooler of beer. Offered me a beer and I said not till later. I had to take my group to dinner. He said so did he, but his company didn't care what he did because he was their "ace driver".
The next morning we took our groups to the convention center. That afternoon, I went to pick up my group and returned them to the motel. I didn't see the other bus, so I went back to the convention center and his group was still there. I offered to take them back and they accepted. When they got off I asked their group leader where there bus was.
She said its at BWI airport waiting for a relief driver to be flown in. Seems he was drunk for the entire trip and she called the company.
I guess they DID care what he did. This was a well dressed driver in a brand new Prevost. |
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GBL Rebel Moderator
Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Posts: 608 Location: Long Island, N.Y.
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Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 1:37 pm Post subject: |
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JimmiB wrote: | This was a well dressed driver in a brand new Prevost. |
YOU MADE MY POINT. |
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Q65A
Age: 66 Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 1768 Location: Central NJ
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Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 10:59 am Post subject: |
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Agreed.
Clothes do not make a man more or less safety conscious. |
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shortlineMCI
Age: 54 Joined: 07 May 2007 Posts: 241
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Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2011 12:32 pm Post subject: |
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Q65A wrote: | Agreed.
Clothes do not make a man more or less safety conscious. |
This is true, I know I sound like I contradict myself here, but when DOT sees a man driving a bus out of uniform and with dumpy looking equipment, my point was, this alarms DOT and cause for a spot check.
I can tell you, it is alarming to see the amount of buses in the back of Woodbury commons with bright orange stickers on their windsheilds, however there are none on our Shortline buses.
I must also make mention that DOT surprise checks Shortline at our home base. Which is probably why we dont' get spot checked on the road so much and in our terminals.
Ken |
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