Winter Driving - Page 2 - Brown Cafe

Big Duke 6 · 10-14-2008, 04:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cementups

I just take my time. It will get there when it gets there.

A seasoned driver coined a phrase that I use now everytime the weather gets bad,

"Slow in the snow, make more dough"

I love it!

dannyboy · 10-14-2008, 08:25 AM

the biggest tip i could share is leave yourself a big cushion in front of your package car. you never know when you have to stop, and cant assume the one in front of you will keep moving forward to make room.

we had several drivers not make it back twice in the last 30 years. both had to spend the night out on road with a customer, because they were out in the boonies.

not due to snow, but rain. one was stuck for three days before he could get out of where he was at.

for snow, stay back, see it all, leave room to react and stop.

and while i know i shouldn't have to even say it, buckle up, please!

d

dino · 10-14-2008, 08:36 AM

Never driven in snow, but a wet, red clay road with a hill is a thrill ride you won't soon forget.

dino · 10-14-2008, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannyboy

..........................................

we had several drivers not make it back twice in the last 30 years. both had to spend the night out on road with a customer, because they were out in the boonies. .................................................. ..........................

d

danny, did they have to bunk with the farmer's daughter?

mrvngrdns · 10-14-2008, 08:59 AM

I'm retired now, but was a rural route driver in Iowa for 28 years. The worst part of nasty weather was simply getting to my route, once I was there, it got better. I have numerous stories of days where people were advised to stay off the roads, but of course, UPS doesn't close. I remember one time 4 of us made the 35 mile drive to the town where we delivered, and didn't see one vehicle on the way, not a snow plow, or an emergency vehicle. And common sense worked well in the country, phone calls to customers, you could usually leave some packages at a friendly general store for them to pick up when they made it to town, but I usually got rid of all my packages even in a snowstorm. The first thing I did was make sure I could turn around at the farm I was delivering to. If the house was near the road, I even have parked on the road and ran the package up to the house. I can count on the fingers of one hand, the times I actually got stuck, and was only pulled out by a wrecker twice. On the interstate or highway on the way to and from, I went slow, and left a big cushion around me. Never had a problem.....by the way, I'm a Circle of Honor member.

What'dyabringmetoday??? · 10-14-2008, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrvngrdns

I'm Never had a problem.....by the way, I'm a Circle of Honor member.

Congratulations on the Circle of Honor!! We have had a handful from our center that accomplished that, but they are few and far between. Of course, these days they simply want to see paid under on the report. I know they always have, but now they don't care how many trucks get wrecked to see that minus sign next to a driver's name. Congratulations again. Hope I live long enough to make it to the Circle.

browniehound · 10-14-2008, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wornoutupser

Ohh... you meant handling the snow. we dont have that here! YIPPEE!

Yes Wornout,
He said "snow" and not "snowheads", LOL.

Living here in New England I don't know which is worse

.

browniehound · 10-14-2008, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DS

Never ever attempt to drive up a street or back into a dock unless you are 100% sure you can get out.
Watch out for idiots driving too fast for the conditions.
Always have a good ice scraper on board.
Insure you have plenty fuel.
Dress warm...

If its really bad I would call out sick. I'm not talking a few inches of snow, I'm talking 8-36 inches. Don't feel guilty. Nobody should be on the roads in these conditions.

Think about what you are risking. You risk your safety and vehicle on the ride to work. One slip-up by an idiot and you are hurt and your car is totaled. If you make it work you are now under the pressure of 170 stops and no sliding on the road. There could be a 20 foot stretch of ice under the snow that you can't see and if you hit it, the accident is on you.

I gave up on UPS's safety mantra 2 years ago. I learned that 1 day that THEY DON'T CARE. It was early peak and it was snowing to start the day. Later in the day visbility was about 5 feet. I was driving down a main st. at 10 MPH and could only see headlights. It wasn't until I was next to my buddy that I realized it was another UPS truck driving towards me. It was literally 5 feet!

We didn't get called off the road until 2 hours later 530 PM and thats when I lost all respect for UPS and its commitment to safety. Nobody should have been driving or walking in these conditions, but we were.

Slip and fall its your fault. Slide on ice into a tree its your fault. I disagree, its UPS's fault because the conditions were so bad that we could not follow the methods and 5 seeing habits safely.

I couldn't aim high in steering because I could only see 5 feet in front of me. I couldn't get the big picture because my picture existed of the road only. I tried to leave myself an out but I didn't know if it was effective because I couldn't see anything (UPS want 4-6 secs. of following distance under 30 MPH but how am I to judge when I can't see 2 seconds in front of me?). I put my headlights on so people could "make sure they see you", but nobody could see me because I couldn't see anyone else. I did keep my eyes moving for whatever that was worth

.

Mainly it was #5 on preventing slips and falls: Make adjustments based on changing weather conditions. This is fine, but to make these changes I would need snowshoes, goggles, and an ice pick to work safely!

When I can't recognize that its a UPS truck 10 feet away from me, I think its time to call it quits for the day? When this didn't happen I lost respect for their safety campaign.

browniehound · 10-14-2008, 01:21 PM

It tick's me off a bit about what UPS thinks about safety. They want us to know the 5 seeing habits, 10 point commentary, 5 rules of backing, 8 keys to liftering and lowering, and 5 steps to preventing slips and falls.

Then they want us to work in a blizzard and apply those methods? I understand they don't want packages sitting at the center, but if you are risking even 1 human life to try to get "what we can deliver", I think its too much. I think they put more than 1 life at risk when they send us out in a blizzard.

I can sit with my center manager and recite word for word every element in the first paragraph. He thinks if I know this I will not get into an accident or suffer an injury. I agree that I might be less likely to suffer one than someone who doesn't know it.

However, if you send me out in a snowstorm it will do no good. I'll work your methods, but if you still blame me in 12 inches of snow and 65 MPH winds, I will say you are wrong and most people will agree with ME.

New Englander · 10-14-2008, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by What'dyabringmetoday???

Congratulations on the Circle of Honor!! We have had a handful from our center that accomplished that, but they are few and far between. Of course, these days they simply want to see paid under on the report. I know they always have, but now they don't care how many trucks get wrecked to see that minus sign next to a driver's name. Congratulations again. Hope I live long enough to make it to the Circle.

I hope your jesting......as that is one of the stupidest things I've read here.

UpstateNYUPSer · 10-14-2008, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by New Englander

I hope your jesting......as that is one of the stupidest things I've read here.

NE, one look at the member who posted that garbage should have been your first clue.

What'dyabringmetoday??? · 10-14-2008, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by New Englander

I hope your jesting......as that is one of the stupidest things I've read here.

Sorry for congratulating a guy on a job well done. Thank you for your input though. Perhaps I should have you screen future posts.

What'dyabringmetoday??? · 10-14-2008, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UpstateNYUPSer

NE, one look at the member who posted that garbage should have been your first clue.

Okay Captain Post-A-lot, what part of that post was garbage in your expert opinion??

New Englander · 10-14-2008, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by What'dyabringmetoday???

Sorry for congratulating a guy on a job well done. Thank you for your input though. Perhaps I should have you screen future posts.

Nope....it was the stupid comment that UPS care's more about the over/under then accidents.

Amazing that someone can sit there and hear the safety crap and injury/accident target numbers crammed down our throats and STILL fail to understand they are very concerned about accidents.

Seems to me....in my area we get a whole heck of a lot more safety rides then performance rides.

What'dyabringmetoday??? · 10-14-2008, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by New Englander

Nope....it was the stupid comment that UPS care's more about the over/under then accidents.

Amazing that someone can sit there and hear the safety crap and injury/accident target numbers crammed down our throats and STILL fail to understand they are very concerned about accidents.

Seems to me....in my area we get a whole heck of a lot more safety rides then performance rides.

Maybe I should have confined my comments to the center I work at. You may not believe it, but ALL they care about is seeing a minus sign on the report. Many accidents get swept under the carpet. Not saying that they are all severe, but eventually one could be.

I guess I deserve your attitude since I have been on the mean side with another poster here.