Terminated By Schneider

The sensors are crazy, and have given me weird critical events as well. Some of them don't even get back to my DBL for some reason. I just had a stability control the other day turning into traffic. I was going 6 mph and hit a bump. I think when the wheel is turned, these things are super sensitive. I also had training on the new truck after two critical events. A stability control event, and a hard braking. The difference is as soon as I saw how sensitive the new truck is, these things would not have triggered my old truck, I asked for more training. Now I talk to myself every time I turn. It has been working mostly. I did have a critical event recently where it actually said I crashed the truck. Never triggered to the company. I was driving in a construction zone and it got wonky because a sign was ahead and it lightly put on the brakes and flashed red. Then I turned because the road turned and it triggered a collision critical event. With this said, I can't believe Schneider terminated you. They very much try not to. I'm not sure if you had an attitude, or something else happened. Good luck.

Just a tip that I've noticed. It's mostly steering input that triggers these events. Any sudden, or jerky movements WILL trigger stability control. That's why I repeat SMOOTH out loud as I go through turns. I can go twice as fast around a turn if I'm completely smooth and deliberate. If I'm going 9 mph(one of my events) and jerk the wheel it will trigger. Also, you may be issued a new truck, P4 in our parlance, with no training on it like I was. Just remember to go smoothly around turns, and don't hit the brakes as hard as the old Freightliners. The discs grab harder and faster and will trigger a critical event hard braking if you hit it too hard. I've also noticed that the sensors for the cruise control are not as precise as the last one. It doesn't want to slow me down for when people are really in front of me. It gets me much closer to traffic than I like. I think there is a way to adjust that and I'm going to ask about it. Also, sometimes it doesn't see stopped traffic. DO NOT DEPEND ON IT TO STOP YOU! You shouldn't anyway, but sometimes you think it'll slow you down and it won't. But it will for an overpass shadow. 😂 Bottom line...be very careful with it. It's different than you're used to. Ask for training on the new truck.

The sensors are crazy, and have given me weird critical events as well. Some of them don't even get back to my DBL for some reason. I just had a stability control the other day turning into traffic. I was going 6 mph and hit a bump. I think when the wheel is turned, these things are super sensitive. I also had training on the new truck after two critical events. A stability control event, and a hard braking. The difference is as soon as I saw how sensitive the new truck is, these things would not have triggered my old truck, I asked for more training. Now I talk to myself every time I turn. It has been working mostly. I did have a critical event recently where it actually said I crashed the truck. Never triggered to the company. I was driving in a construction zone and it got wonky because a sign was ahead and it lightly put on the brakes and flashed red. Then I turned because the road turned and it triggered a collision critical event. With this said, I can't believe Schneider terminated you. They very much try not to. I'm not sure if you had an attitude, or something else happened. Good luck.

JuSt an update...

This situation is wrong on so many levels. Apparently was not terminated? The word came from my DBL to get off the truck and sent me packing, but his manager reported to me today that no action was officially taken. Yet here I am, on a 64 hr greyhound without being able to use my CPAP machine, without all my belongings, on my way home.

The company is standing by the critical events, saying they are all valid, when they are literally all completely nonsense, but as everything was explained as I explained it in this post...the company is extending an olive branch and saying that this was handled improperly. Due process was not given to me, and there was a misunderstanding of the situation on both sides that lead to this point. But this whole thing has been such a grievance to me, that I feel philosophically opposed to given this another chance and just resigning in good faith right now and moving on with my career at another company.

The sensors are crazy, and have given me weird critical events as well. Some of them don't even get back to my DBL for some reason. I just had a stability control the other day turning into traffic. I was going 6 mph and hit a bump. I think when the wheel is turned, these things are super sensitive. I also had training on the new truck after two critical events. A stability control event, and a hard braking. The difference is as soon as I saw how sensitive the new truck is, these things would not have triggered my old truck, I asked for more training. Now I talk to myself every time I turn. It has been working mostly. I did have a critical event recently where it actually said I crashed the truck. Never triggered to the company. I was driving in a construction zone and it got wonky because a sign was ahead and it lightly put on the brakes and flashed red. Then I turned because the road turned and it triggered a collision critical event. With this said, I can't believe Schneider terminated you. They very much try not to. I'm not sure if you had an attitude, or something else happened. Good luck.

This my issue with this whole thing, where my DBL was trying to misrepresent my attitude toward safety. I DO endorse safe driving practices, but when you drive in a certain manner and have NO stability issues, and then are given a new truck and have stability issues for the same driving behaviors...how can you hold your drivers accountable without proper retraining or allowing for a transition? how can a company count those critical events against you? And then furthermore, it’s not even an actual safety issue, because they don’t care about safety-they just care about the critical events. They don’t care what the ramifications are, or what these things actually mean, or how they actually work, just that you are beholden to them under the false pretense of “safety.” They won’t even acknowledge that the collision monitoring system can just be plain dangerous for drivers. They won’t even acknowledge that the stability events are triggered when there is no loss of stability, just that you don’t get them, without further analyzing the technology. And frankly, if this is the direction the industry is going in, I’m not sure I want to be part of it. And good luck finding or keeping drivers if you’re going to throw them to the curb over things like this.

When I went otr to a company , I happen to have a delivery in my home state. I informed my trainer there is a very large dip and sharp turn on I-90 . He was from my same state but didn’t actually know the state ( guess he was new ). Anyway he didn’t believe me. When I got to it, I slowed down to about 35mph , made the turn and got a critical event for going too slow on the highway and roll over . They pulled up the gps, talked to me about it. And was cleared. Nice and easy

I’m local now and we have forward and rear facing cameras. When I hard brake, turn to fast, hit bumps, they camera goes off and records 8 seconds prior and 8 seconds after. Third party company actively reviews it and if I did turn to fast, they’ll send it to my job. But if everything is ok. They’ll move on. In a large truck you’d be surprised what even a sudden jerk or medium braking would do to the load ( I only read the first page )

What I get from reading this series of events,

if I was you Christian, the 6 months with 1st truck and no events, I'd use that. Explaining in calm and relaxed fashion, that most if not all of those critical events (26?) between you, and your co-driver have to be related somehow to the New truck's system ! Since it "sounds" like all your troubles started with the new truck Because it seems you both racked up way too many so quick, to not have been told something, by someone,way before this all transpired!

Funny, how your 1st DBL quit/left while you were on home time?? Not knowing how you and he got along or not, or if ya'll had some bad blood for some reason?

All I know is,if it was me and my lively hood at stake, I'd try like hell to remedy the problem, and not just ''go away'' so easily.........But I don't know as much yet ,since am not driving yet ....

What I get from reading this series of events,

if I was you Christian, the 6 months with 1st truck and no events, I'd use that. Explaining in calm and relaxed fashion, that most if not all of those critical events (26?) between you, and your co-driver have to be related somehow to the New truck's system ! Since it "sounds" like all your troubles started with the new truck Because it seems you both racked up way too many so quick, to not have been told something, by someone,way before this all transpired!

Funny, how your 1st DBL quit/left while you were on home time?? Not knowing how you and he got along or not, or if ya'll had some bad blood for some reason?

All I know is,if it was me and my lively hood at stake, I'd try like hell to remedy the problem, and not just ''go away'' so easily.........But I don't know as much yet ,since am not driving yet ....

Yes the problem is that they are confirming that 100% it is the new truck’s system and saying that as a driver It shouldn’t make a difference and that we shouldn’t be getting them regardless because they are flagrant safety violations, which is absolutely nonsense. They have nothing to do with safety. It’s About playing a game now and trying to figure out what makes the system trigger those critical events, and I apparently suck at this game.

The company is standing by the critical events, saying they are all valid, when they are literally all completely nonsense

Christian, these kind of remarks is what makes your tale seem implausible. I noticed you also stated your DBL mentioned insubordination - that adds another twist to this crazy situation.

You describe the critical events as "complete nonsense." Schneider claims they are valid. Somebody has reviewed them and determined that.

You describe your insubordination as not answering a phone call that you never received. Can you expect anyone to believe that?

We are all drivers here. We understand the issues and frustration with the sensors. What doesn't make sense is your denials in the face of their confirmations that the triggered events are valid.

Taking personal responsibility is an important trait out here. I hope you can figure this all out, because I can't make any sense of it by hearing only your side of the story.

I agree with Old School Christian. Attitude can make all the difference in the world.

My guess?

Your previous truck likely did not record an event if you were following too close. Your new one does.

Your previous truck likely did not match the speed limit from the telemetrics feed and compared it to actual truck speed. Your new truck does.

Your previous truck likely wasn’t as sensitive to lane changes or lane control. Your new one is.

Part of our job as professionals is to adopt new equipment, different equipment and changing technology. The biggest part enabling that is effective and professional communication. And taking responsibility for mistakes or lack of understanding throughout any transition process. And doing so with a professional attitude.

After about 1 day of what was happening to you, I would have insisted the truck be evaluated and the problem addressed. Tools used to accomplish thus? Qualcom messaging followed up with phone calls. Using only the phone does not provide a record or audit trail of any communication.

Something is amiss with this continuing story...just not sure what exactly it is.

Good luck Christian. Try to recover from this by Applying For As Many Truck Driving Jobs as Possible

When I went otr to a company , I happen to have a delivery in my home state. I informed my trainer there is a very large dip and sharp turn on I-90 . He was from my same state but didn’t actually know the state ( guess he was new ). Anyway he didn’t believe me. When I got to it, I slowed down to about 35mph , made the turn and got a critical event for going too slow on the highway and roll over . They pulled up the gps, talked to me about it. And was cleared. Nice and easy

I’m local now and we have forward and rear facing cameras. When I hard brake, turn to fast, hit bumps, they camera goes off and records 8 seconds prior and 8 seconds after. Third party company actively reviews it and if I did turn to fast, they’ll send it to my job. But if everything is ok. They’ll move on. In a large truck you’d be surprised what even a sudden jerk or medium braking would do to the load ( I only read the first page )

If I drove a truck with this system on I90 in NY and MA, they would be convinced I had taken flight. There are places I feel like I am going to be tossed right off the road.

I have a simple collision mitigation system, and hit bumps so hard it will turn off the cruise and disable it. It picks up overhead road signs, cars exiting, won't let me pass vehicles in a left hand curve, etc.