Profile For Robert B. (The Dragon) yes, I breathe fire and other sideshow tricks

I tend to only use truck stops for fuel and showers, there's a gazillion places you can find to park. Like Davy, I'm opposed to paid parking and refuse to do it. As a comment on Lebanon Tennessee, there's a bit of truth to their safety concerns after dark. There's a couple homeless encampments in those woods across the street and they like to get out and steal stuff after dark. Not to mention, go around that area enough, like I do, and you'll realize that law enforcement is always in that area with something going on.

I wish I could say I'm surprised.

Everyone wants to mention matching or tuning the radio to the antenna. That's a bit of a false claim because the antenna gets "tuned", more like properly grounded to the truck. You don't need any crazy antenna either, a good copper core with provide the best results in signal transfer and one of the most important things is the coax. Factories aren't using the top tier product in that regard and that makes all the difference in overall performance.

I'll go back to my previous statement when this conversation came up a while back.

I'm going to quickly pursue my law degree so that when the system fails and it kills an unsuspecting motorist, I'll represent the family. I'll sue the tech company, the logistics company utilizing the truck, the truck manufacturer for allowing dangerous utilization of their vehicle, the state for allowing it on their roads and file against the federal government for causing a fatal accident with a product that didn't have human redundancies in place for when it failed.

I figure it'll take a while to get the entire settlement but I'll retire and bring you all with me.

I think prime was given a sales pitch and the cameras do not work the way they expected.

I also think the rating system is wrong. How can 3 people have the exact same score rank wise? Me & 2 of my students all ranked # 8 on the same day. How can our bonuses be based on a flawed system?

And something else... they are constantly changing the parameters. So something that did not trigger yesterday... triggers today. And my pay is based om that?

When you dispute, they can refute your dispute. Didnt move over cause somone was on your left, but of course not seen in the camera? The guy sitting in the office decides.

Prime has already had a mass exodus. Another one is coming as drivers' leases complete.

I am heartbroken.

It's hearing things like this that really bothers me. I'm already enough of a skeptic anyway and this just adds to it.

I'm honestly very glad where I'm at and what I'm doing because we don't have to deal with that stuff. If anyone wants to try their hand in the hopper game and not deal with the lunacy that these systems seem to be causing, let me know lol.

I have a question for you OS. This isn't a criticism by any means as you've established yourself over time as an asset, they respect and appreciate your skill and dedication and rightfully so. Do you think that had another driver who was newer and didn't have your reputation would have found a similar discrepancy regarding your fuel economy, that the result would have been the same? I honestly don't think it would have and that's a consistency issue which can be an issue at larger companies. Not every dispatcher will run it up the flag pole because favoritism is a very real thing. Not every driver is capable of achieving your status and reputation for a number of reasons and I think sometimes people forget that, even though that individual without that reputation is also correct in their findings. A lane departure trigger might be ignored as a flaw because wait, that's Dale vs safety calling a newer driver and it absolutely happens. That inconsistency will effect the bonus structure.

I'm so happy to have none of that garbage active. We have outward facing cameras, always a good choice but will never have an inward facing system. The trucks do have the lane departure and such but it's only active running the cruise control. I could never work for a company forcing those systems, let alone using a flawed system as a basis for effecting your income.

Become a truck driver they said, it'll be fun they said.........

Minnesota is one of the states flooding the markets with immigrants who can't speak English or read road signs as well. Not to mention being a major port of entry for Canadian drivers who in many cases are just as un attentive and dangerous behind the wheel. With the amount of tailgating, speeding in construction zones and distracted driving leading to drivers swerving in and out of their lanes, it's a miracle that there aren't more accidents.

It depends on how it's implemented. On our trucks, it's only active if you're on the cruise control. I don't use cruise so it doesn't effect me at all.

It does matter. Insurance companies run the trucking industry and the litigious society we live in forces trucking companies to stay on their toes. The way the regulations are currently structured, truck drivers and companies are always held responsible, regardless of the reality of that situation. Because of that, trucking companies look way back into your driving history and multiple incidents of irresponsible behavior do not weigh in your favor. As was mentioned, apply everywhere and see who might bite but it's getting tougher and tougher to get your foot in the door. As far as clearing your record, you'll need to hire an attorney and have those previous incidents expunged and wiped completely from your record. Otherwise, time is your only friend.

Good luck.