Telematics
We all thought PAS was such a big deal when it came out. Now that we've been using it for a few years it doesn't represent the big evil that everyone was afraid of. Everyone has gotten used to the idea and realized that functioning under it has made them more valuable, not less. Now we move on to Telematics. For those of you new to these pages, or relatively uninformed, Telematics is the new system installed in your package car to monitor your seatbelt usage, your bulkhead door position, your first move after start-up, and your vehicles computer functions, (ie. check engine codes etc.). My understanding is that it also contains a real-time GPS capability along the lines of your DIAD. I also understand that the system will not download any information until you reach the building and the key is shut off. It will document that time. It will not know if you are at the air dock, or unload doors, but it will provide an approximate arrival time. It is amazing to me how many drivers have approached me trying to justify their reasons for not using a seatbelt, or leaving the bulkhead door open once they heard about the system. 
My only response to them is, "there is no excuse". The bulkhead door will subject you to the disciplinary procedure, and the seatbelt will get you fired for other serious offenses. The contract protects you from Telematics being used as the sole evidence against you, but it will be a simple matter for them to observe you on area, then back it up with the printouts available to them showing every infraction. The computer screen will show a flag at the stop where the infraction occurred. Did you back first? Did you move without the seatbelt in place? Was the bulkhead door open? Management will be given a 3 day class in the use of Telematics. My understanding is it will be operational in our facility sometime in the next two to three weeks. Please understand that I am not privileged to the official information or use, I just have the information based on the system installation, and where the sensors are installed, so you need to keep your eyes and ears open, and let us know if you have any differing, or new information on the system. I also have no information regarding it's use in the more extended centers. I know the company is not installing the system in some of the older vehicles, but that isn't an across the board statement. It's easy to see if the system is installed as there is a big antenna glued to the ceiling, and if you have a new squealing sound in your radio, you need to look around. Please do not think you can disconnect or otherwise vandalize the system without consequences. They can tell if the system is unhooked, and will discipline you if they catch you messing with it. For those of you that do your job everyday, the system is a joke, and will mean nothing to your day. In fact they feel they can reduce management to watch you so you will likely be subject to less harassment which is a good thing. For you running, jumping, kiss ass, fireballs, that think you are running a paper route, you gotta big problem. You are who they will nail. They will not care what you've done for them in the past. Remember our famous words here, "if they can nail you, they will"! Not one of you is immune, and none of you will be spared. For those of you savvy enough to be reading these pages, pass the word. Let your Teamster brethren know about the system, and about Denver Brown.
My only response to them is, "there is no excuse". The bulkhead door will subject you to the disciplinary procedure, and the seatbelt will get you fired for other serious offenses. The contract protects you from Telematics being used as the sole evidence against you, but it will be a simple matter for them to observe you on area, then back it up with the printouts available to them showing every infraction. The computer screen will show a flag at the stop where the infraction occurred. Did you back first? Did you move without the seatbelt in place? Was the bulkhead door open? Management will be given a 3 day class in the use of Telematics. My understanding is it will be operational in our facility sometime in the next two to three weeks. Please understand that I am not privileged to the official information or use, I just have the information based on the system installation, and where the sensors are installed, so you need to keep your eyes and ears open, and let us know if you have any differing, or new information on the system. I also have no information regarding it's use in the more extended centers. I know the company is not installing the system in some of the older vehicles, but that isn't an across the board statement. It's easy to see if the system is installed as there is a big antenna glued to the ceiling, and if you have a new squealing sound in your radio, you need to look around. Please do not think you can disconnect or otherwise vandalize the system without consequences. They can tell if the system is unhooked, and will discipline you if they catch you messing with it. For those of you that do your job everyday, the system is a joke, and will mean nothing to your day. In fact they feel they can reduce management to watch you so you will likely be subject to less harassment which is a good thing. For you running, jumping, kiss ass, fireballs, that think you are running a paper route, you gotta big problem. You are who they will nail. They will not care what you've done for them in the past. Remember our famous words here, "if they can nail you, they will"! Not one of you is immune, and none of you will be spared. For those of you savvy enough to be reading these pages, pass the word. Let your Teamster brethren know about the system, and about Denver Brown.
Interesting topic. One near and dear to my heart.
I believe it was 1991 or 1992, we at the Bedford Park Illinois Hub got IVIS that was preloaded with our assigned tractor, Name, Employee number, and best of all “Planned Day”. Didn’t have to think, just follow the orders in the IVIS, when they were correct?
Lets start with the Feeder Drivers who would run like Hell, bring in illegally licensed, faulty, unsafe, empty trailers to be loaded with outbound freight who would take an hours lunch, and maybe sleep for another 1-1/2 hours, and still look good, “under allowed” on paper. Now IVIS wouldn’t let them manipulate their time and days work, creating a lot of hostile Feeder Drivers. That was when there were actually worse drivers than me, (hard to believe).
I for one embraced IVIS as did many of my friends who did the job, did it right, did it well, but were always “over allowed”. So much so that I had a manager ride with me for 30 days straight after being fired for insubordination, “failure to pull an unsafe trailer that missed service at the rail yard.” They had to reload it onto another UPSZ because the trailer was so unsafe and required too much maintenance, UPS wouldn’t do because it was a leased trailer belonging to either the Burlington or Santa Fe RR. I’d like to tell you about my 30-day ride, but this would get too long.
IVIS accepted numbers and letters because every trailer had 2-4 letters followed by a series of numbers BNZ….. SFTZ…… UPSZ….. Etc. Because of the unusual circumstances surrounding a Feeder drivers day (especially in the city of Chicago) we were always changing numbers of trailers because the “Planned Day” was not very well planned.
At lunch the 1st week of using IVIS, my friend Teddy made an interesting observation, “I wonder if we could leave messages in the IVIS”? Being the observant individual I have been known to be, I did just that on the lines below the trailer number where additional trailer numbers would go because some guys pulled doubles, and triples, but not me. I had to create my own code, such as NOBRKS, LTSO, NOMKRLTS, BDBRKS, NOREG, and my favorite NOHZM Pouch?
Needless to say the Manager in charge immediately called me into the office telling me he had to hire another clerk just to edit my IVIS reports before they were uploaded to Atlanta. I of course made the observation that they were falsifying documents and some DOT regulations. Kamakowski insisted I stop, I reminded him that I used to turn in 8 x 11 sheets of paper explaining the problems I encountered every day that he told me to stop doing because the new IVIS Planned Day would fix all my problems.
So… the new clerk kept working, and I made sure I got printouts of my IVIS report and the edited IVIS report sent to Atlanta. By the time I retired, I had a lot of IVIS reports and half of Feeder using my codes that I shared on 3 x 5 cards. The codes were infamously listed under the heading “DAPROBE"
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Sure happy I retired before this system came in. Since I worked in downtown, using the 799 methods is fairly easy compared to the drivers who have to do residentials until late at night. We all realize the challenge they will have, but in one way it is good because it will force them to work safe and actually close the bulkhead each stop, set brake,turn off engine, etc. Me and George have recently seen drivers not doing it right. In my hood several days ago I watched a driver jump out with engine running. I know there are still a lot of drivers not using the 799 methods. George can remember my struggle to conform, and we were in the office every week for months during that time. I know it can be done, and I was doing residentials then. I really feel for these drivers now days. So, they will have to do it right after telemantics is hooked up, then they will be in the office for running over by 3 hours. Catch 22, but they must use the methods or get fired. Finally, I wish the company would put in the fair and honest time study numbers so the drivers can still feel good about using the 799 methods,but I doubt they will
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