It used to be you would sign up on the opt-in list or the opt-out list and you would stay on that list for six months and then the lists would be posted again to sign up.
The way it works now is you have to work over 9.5 hours on three days in a work week. When that has happened make sure you get with a steward to help you speak with your center manager and inform them you are opting-in on the 9.5 list. It's not an option for the center manager to decide if they want to put you on the opt-in list, with your steward tell the center manager your are opting-in as of now. Make sure you remember this date, wright it down. You will be on the 9.5 list for 5 months excluding November and December. Also, keep track of the dates you were worked over 9.5 hours. If you are worked over 9.5 hours on three days in a work week again while on the opt-in list you now can file a grievance. You should do so for every week that you are violated with three days of over 9.5 hours. Once the five months are up you will automatically come off the list and you start the whole process over(one week of three 9.5 days then opt back in for another five months).
I have heard in some areas the company just pays the tripple time and the drivers continue to work the long hours. In my location our center manager doesn't want us to file grievances. I am on the opt-in list and when I have worked over 9.5 on two days of the week, the remaining days of the week I am instructed to be punched out by 9.49 hours. I bring back volume to the building and they get those who want the hours to take the volume back out and have it delivered.
It most likely will put you on their radar. Management is going to be looking to see if you have methods that need tightening up. It actually is a good chance to have mangament look at your route and notice anything they can do to help reduce your overtime. Sometimes the way the route is setup to be run has many flaws that can be corrected to help reduce inefficiences. We all want to do a good job and make money, but sometimes the over time can really burn you up. Its important to use the opt-in list if you want the reduction in overtime and especially important to use the the list if they decided to just keep working you because at least you will then be getting tripple time to help compensate for the long hours. Once you opt-in don't flip flop around about it. Don't get violated and just decide to do nothing about it. Be a clean driver, follow the methods and you can survive. If your not doing things right it will catch up to you. Good luck.
