Question About Hands Free Phone Use

I am graduating soon from CDL school and have investigated several big companies. I eliminated a couple I really liked because of their rule of no hands free cell phone use while driving. My question is, am I wrong to feel this way? I understand we need to be focused but I keep thinking of not being able to talk to family unless I stop or during my break when I really need to be sleeping. Thanks for your input.

Everyone is going to have a different opinion on this, but I don't think there is exactly a right or wrong answer to your question as long as safety is your number one priority. I regularly talk on the phone using my bluetooth headset while I'm driving and it is not against company policy here at Swift, but there are times I have to get off the phone because I can tell it's distracting me. There are also plenty of times I call people when I'm starting to get tired because having a conversation helps keep me awake and alert so I can continue driving.

The most important thing is that you use your good judgment and hang up if you aren't able to focus on driving. And make a commitment to not even touch that phone while you're driving. Before you know it you're checking emails and reading texts--better to just leave it alone.

Thanks, I can see it's a 2 headed coin. My gut instinct (as of now) is to look for a company that allows hands free use. I totally understand the hang up if your dealing with a stressful situation. I just keep thinking of rolling miles of Nebraska cornfields or Oklahoma/Kansas sage brush and not being able to field a call.

Everyone is going to have a different opinion on this, but I don't think there is exactly a right or wrong answer to your question as long as safety is your number one priority. I regularly talk on the phone using my bluetooth headset while I'm driving and it is not against company policy here at Swift, but there are times I have to get off the phone because I can tell it's distracting me. There are also plenty of times I call people when I'm starting to get tired because having a conversation helps keep me awake and alert so I can continue driving.

The most important thing is that you use your good judgment and hang up if you aren't able to focus on driving. And make a commitment to not even touch that phone while you're driving. Before you know it you're checking emails and reading texts--better to just leave it alone.

Some companies have policies they don't enforce unless something happens. E.g. A no phone policy that doesn't get enforced unless you crash the truck and it's determined you were on the phone.

And then there are the times you might "miss your turn" because you were concentrating on a phone conversation; next thing you know, you're headed down a "no truck route" with no way out.

Personal preference, but I'm glad I didn't let that prevent me from going with Schneider out of CDL school.

Thanks, I can see it's a 2 headed coin. My gut instinct (as of now) is to look for a company that allows hands free use. I totally understand the hang up if your dealing with a stressful situation. I just keep thinking of rolling miles of Nebraska cornfields or Oklahoma/Kansas sage brush and not being able to field a call.

Everyone is going to have a different opinion on this, but I don't think there is exactly a right or wrong answer to your question as long as safety is your number one priority. I regularly talk on the phone using my bluetooth headset while I'm driving and it is not against company policy here at Swift, but there are times I have to get off the phone because I can tell it's distracting me. There are also plenty of times I call people when I'm starting to get tired because having a conversation helps keep me awake and alert so I can continue driving.

The most important thing is that you use your good judgment and hang up if you aren't able to focus on driving. And make a commitment to not even touch that phone while you're driving. Before you know it you're checking emails and reading texts--better to just leave it alone.

Depending on the phone company you won't get reception in OK KS and a couple other boring states anyway lol

But yeah..prime let's us use the headsets but like pianoman I get off the phone when I'm about to leave the interstate getting close to the customer or in construction and heavy traffic. You know...where the idiots pop up the most.

Thanks for that thought. Ironically you named one of the companies I really liked. I just have to try and wrap my head around being out of contact with kid and lil woman if they need something but I guess I can stop and talk and just deal with not being able to help or offer my thoughts.

Some companies have policies they don't enforce unless something happens. E.g. A no phone policy that doesn't get enforced unless you crash the truck and it's determined you were on the phone.

And then there are the times you might "miss your turn" because you were concentrating on a phone conversation; next thing you know, you're headed down a "no truck route" with no way out.

Personal preference, but I'm glad I didn't let that prevent me from going with Schneider out of CDL school.

Thanks for the reply. I can imagine that it is quite a distance between towns and cell towers. Yep ... the idiots will require my undivided attention to miss them I am sure. Thanks again.

Thanks, I can see it's a 2 headed coin. My gut instinct (as of now) is to look for a company that allows hands free use. I totally understand the hang up if your dealing with a stressful situation. I just keep thinking of rolling miles of Nebraska cornfields or Oklahoma/Kansas sage brush and not being able to field a call.

Everyone is going to have a different opinion on this, but I don't think there is exactly a right or wrong answer to your question as long as safety is your number one priority. I regularly talk on the phone using my bluetooth headset while I'm driving and it is not against company policy here at Swift, but there are times I have to get off the phone because I can tell it's distracting me. There are also plenty of times I call people when I'm starting to get tired because having a conversation helps keep me awake and alert so I can continue driving.

The most important thing is that you use your good judgment and hang up if you aren't able to focus on driving. And make a commitment to not even touch that phone while you're driving. Before you know it you're checking emails and reading texts--better to just leave it alone.

Depending on the phone company you won't get reception in OK KS and a couple other boring states anyway lol

But yeah..prime let's us use the headsets but like pianoman I get off the phone when I'm about to leave the interstate getting close to the customer or in construction and heavy traffic. You know...where the idiots pop up the most.

So which is less dangerous on occasion.....Touching one button on a collar phone and chatting (no more dangerous than reaching for a radio dial or talking to passenger) or being required to actually pull off the road to talk and then reenter the roadway when finshed? Which option wastes zero time and which can actually add up to a significant amount of stress and lost time (= miles = money) per week?

And yes, as mentioned before, radio off and/or phone call off when engaged in sensory overload of traffic, shippers, etc.

Excellent point, I hadn't thought of the danger posed by slowing down and re-entering possibilities only the wheels stopping angle. Thank for the reply.

So which is less dangerous on occasion.....Touching one button on a collar phone and chatting (no more dangerous than reaching for a radio dial or talking to passenger) or being required to actually pull off the road to talk and then reenter the roadway when finshed? Which option wastes zero time and which can actually add up to a significant amount of stress and lost time (= miles = money) per week?

And yes, as mentioned before, radio off and/or phone call off when engaged in sensory overload of traffic, shippers, etc.

Like every one has said use your head. I use my bluetooth all the time talking to costumers, shippers, brokers, wife and kids, but if I am in traffic or anywhere that requires 200 percent attention it can go to voice mail and I will call them when I can because the safety of the people around me is way more important then anything anyone will tell me on the phone.