November 2001

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November was a fairly calm month -- which I very much needed it to be after the mess that was October.  The weather was good, roads were good and I was happy to have spent Thanksgiving at home.

 

Detroit, MI

What a joy to load out of a place that posts such warnings on the side of their building.  I guess I have to give them some credit for at least trying to draw drivers' attention to the fact that they're in a high crime area -- but in truth all you had to do was open your eyes and it became apparent.  I've surely been in much worse areas -- and not had any warning at all.

 

My biggest gripe about this shipper, though, had nothing to do with their location.  My complaint was about a 6 hour wait without any facilities.  I finally had to ask them where the restrooms were and I was told that the supervisor had decided that they would no longer provide any restrooms for drivers, due to vandalism.  The worker who told me this said he knew it wasn't the drivers vandalizing the restrooms, but the supervisor didn't care.  In the end, thankfully, I was escorted to the potties and I didn't vandalize a thing.

 

Delivering for a Super Valu is always a special treat for a driver.  I found their power equipment policy interesting and have to wonder if it is legal.  (I don't think so.) (See below)   On December 1, 1998 OSHA published a final rule for powered industrial truck operator training.  This is a fancy way of saying that there are now training requirements for anyone who operates a power pallet jack.    Large Image

Power Jack on left, Hand Jack on right.

In this brilliant rule, drivers are not allowed to use power equipment to unload unless they have a certificate of training.  Even worse, some receivers can require that you have additional training on their equipment, in their facility.  (Which makes any certificate you might have useless.) 

 

This was no favor to the driver.  Using a hand pallet jack to unload heavy freight is very difficult, even bordering on impossible, with some loads. 

 

Some have used this to profit.  Case In Point:  Sysco Foods, Des Plaines, IL.  As of October 1999 their policy was this:  Drivers delivering to Sysco must take Sysco's training course and receive their permit before being allowed to use power pallet jacks. (As if the driver has the time to take this course and as if it is offered during all hours...)  Instead of taking the course, though, the driver can pay $30.00 to a lumper who will off load the truck.  Sysco will not accept permits from any other organization.  The lumper, of course, uses power equipment.  My question is whether the lumper takes a course.  Somehow I doubt it.  There are quite a few receivers who have policies like this one.

 

Anyway, Super Valu's power equipment policy, which every driver must sign, reads:

 

"To assist me in delivering incoming product as required by the carrier's contract, I have asked for and received the use of a pallet jack to remove palletized loads from the trailer and place them on your dock.  I am trained in the safe use and operation of the power jack for unloading purposes.  I represent my prior experience in the use of this equipment as satisfactory training per OSHA regulations.  I understand Super Valu will allow me to use the power jack relying upon my promise:  to use the power jack at all times in a safe manner; to ride the platform on those power jacks that are equipped with a platform whenever the jack is in use and to report any defects of the jack I am using and not operate the jack until it has been properly repaired. 

 

By my signature below I agree and understand the proper and safe operation of the jack.  I agree to hold Super Valu, it's employees and agents harmless in the event I am injured as a result of my use and operation of the jack which has been provided by Super Valu for my sole convenience."

 

Hmmm.... The nice thing is that they will allow you to use the equipment.  Power jacks make unloading much easier and much faster.  On the other hand, they are forcing the driver to lie and to sign their name to this lie. (For those of us who have never had this type of training.)  I told the receiving desk person that I had no training and just fished for a reaction of some kind.  He shrugged his shoulders and said, "Every driver has to sign it."  

 

Sure, I've used power jacks, but to tell you the truth, I find driving the truck 100 times easier.  I don't like people to be too close to me when I'm running one of those things because I admit I am slightly dangerous.  The line that says, "I am trained in the safe use and operation of the power jack for unloading purposes."  is not true.  I would have refused to sign the paper if I was doing my own unloading, but I was not, so I signed. 

 

If anyone out there has a better understanding of this law, I'd sure like to hear what you have to say.  My suspicion is that this policy is illegal, but a lawyer I am certainly not.

 

A Few "Nature" Scenes...

 

I must say that with all the frustration and difficulties that trucking often brings, the moments that I love are the ones that no trucking company or law can ruin or take away.

 

The magic is in enjoying them for just what they are while they are there.  It is too easy to be distracted by emotions and stress. 

 

I am lucky in that I get to so often see the beauty of nature in all of it's many forms and in so many places.

 

To me, this is the true spirit of trucking and is the reason so many of us, up-to-our-necks-tired of the hassles, stay in the truck.

 

 

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