Last week ups informed us package car drivers that we are no longer allowed to have radio's. Is this only in my area (Chicago) or is this happening across the country?
The contract is clear that we are allowed to have a radio.
Same thing happened here a few months ago. We had a few accidents back to back to back to back.... They blamed the radio as a distraction and said they had to be in back. They have since backed off as long as it is a small radio, secured, and battery run it seems to be ok.We were told that they cannot be in the cab and must be in the back of the truck secured to a shelf. For decades we have strapped radios in our cabs and have also wired them to the truck, either with alligator clips, or cigarette lighters.
The grievance has already been filed. Nothing like lowering our moral a little more. This was a corporate pcm, yet Chicago appears to have added to it.
We were told that they cannot be in the cab and must be in the back of the truck secured to a shelf. For decades we have strapped radios in our cabs and have also wired them to the truck, either with alligator clips, or cigarette lighters.
The grievance has already been filed. Nothing like lowering our moral a little more. This was a corporate pcm, yet Chicago appears to have added to it.
It would seem like a no brainer to just to have a radio installed at the factory when the truck is made. I'm pretty sure Mack, Sterling, and International include a AM-FM radio as standerd equipment on their tractors. UPS either has them removed or not installed in the build.
I have read this topic so many times, but what I dont understand is why drivers have to have a radio in the truck. As a split driver, the only times I listen to the radio, if its on the truck, is on lunch. Other than that its pointless. You are in and out of the truck so often, whats the point. I guess for drivers in rural areas it makes sense, but otherwise who cares. I remember before I started working at UPS, my hometown driver would crank his radio so loud you could hear him coming over the noise of his truck. I thought is was really unprofessional.
Article 18: section 8-Transistor radios will be allowed in package cars.PERIOD!
I have a small battery one on my dash. I sometimes like to listen to it, sometimes I don't. But it is in the contract. We haven't had anything here about it. If they do say anything, I'm still leaving it where it's at. Let them take me to a hearing for it and explain how I can't have it when its clearly in the contract. This isn't even one that can be elaborated on. It's a clear winner.
Article 18: section 8-Transistor radios will be allowed in package cars.PERIOD!
Cracks me up. Just like cell phones are so dangerous to talk on and drive yet people since the 70's have been doing it with C.B. radios. It's like UPS going to feeder drivers and saying no more C.B.'s.
Why do they pick on package car drivers so much? Only reason I can think of.
And this is were the past practice comes into play. How many ojs/safety rides have the drivers been put through by management all with the radio in the cab?But to play Devils Advocate, it doesn't say the radio is allowed in the cab of the package car....