Good helper discussion from last year:
http://www.browncafe.com/forum/f6/x-mas-helper-stories-272660/
http://www.browncafe.com/forum/f6/x-mas-helper-stories-272660/
The last 2 years I never got a helper board. I had a helper for at least 8 hours a day. He ran off the stops while I kept the heater at optimum adjustment.
FedEx just bought the last 4 truckloads. SorryYou should supply helper boards through Big B enterprises. ^_^
Some of the tried and true helper techniques that I developed over the years:
When parked on a snow covered hill, use your helper's head as a chock block. They work so much better than the wooden ones. I have yet to have a truck roll or slide away.
Remove packages from the selection area and place on the floor of the cab. Have your helper get out and lay down on the ground in front of the step well. This accomplishes 2 things. You have an extra step to enter/exit the truck (ALWAYS USE THE HANDRAIL) and you are able to wipe your feet upon entering the truck to keep your interior free of mud and snow.
This is an adaptation of one of UPS's yard safety rules for helper use. When you are in the back of the truck sorting your load, dress your helper in a bright orange rain coat and make him/her stand in back of the truck to alert traffic that you are inside.
As always, the proper utilization of a driver's helper will ensure a smooth and stress-free Peak season. REMEMBER SAFETY COMES FIRST!
2 helpers! Now you're pushing it! What if they start thinking? (Yeah Right, fat chance of that!!!)How about using 2 helpers that lay down in front of you to make a safe walk path through the snow/ice?
2 helpers! Now you're pushing it! What if they start thinking? (Yeah Right, fat chance of that!!!)
Guys, Take the 10 minutes to teach them the DIAD...trust me....it is well worth it. Like Upstate is saying..teach them how to do a simple res. DR....they don't need to sheet COD's and take one check for 2 pkgs or inderct mult. stops at one location.....scan, big arrow down, deliver. location, check mark....we have cheat sheets on the back of our helper DIADs.
It takes way more than "10 minutes" to teach somebody to use a DIAD proficiently. At best they might be able to fumble through a couple of stops at 1/4 the speed of an experienced driver. And the problem is only made worse by the fact that our driver/helper teams are being given mistmatched DIADS (we are on DIAD 4 but our helper boards are DIAD 3's). Hell, its a struggle for me to go back to a DIAD 3 now.
Not even a glimmer.Ok, a helper an an on road sup, no chance of a thought there right?
A big boy like you plays with dollies?Peak is here and I still had no helper with the added work load of setting up doubles 3 times last night!!
Today was my first day driving with a helper. Management tells me to drop him off with a handcart full of packages and finish a street off while I go deliver other stops.
Problem is it takes awhile to throw all the on a handcart and to scan all of it and driver release it. My helper doesn't know how to use the diad and refuses to learn so I have to do it for him.
He also.doesn't like being dropped off with a handcart cuz he said he feels uncomfortable and thinks its unsafe. The whole day I was like is this guy serious?
Any advice?
Had a helper today for 2 hours. Brand new kid. Boss told me to put a minimum of 41 stops in his DIAD 3. In the 2 hours we did a total of 31 stops. 6 residential.
Their printout told me it was an 8.12 planned day. I punched out a 7:45. I figure the helper cost me 1/2 an hour.
I performed so well that today they added an area to my town. No helper, punched out at 5:45. Sometimes you have to prove them wrong.
We also use mismatched DIADs here. I agree with Kid that it should take just a few minutes to teach the helper how to use the DIAD for residential deliveries. Scan, big arrow down, DR, stop complete---how long can that take to teach?
A helper who can use the DIAD makes for a much smoother Peak.
money whore !!!Is it peak yet? i actually got ot yesterday! total hours last week? 40.05