Radio's?

[Cementups]

Flavor of the week, eh? I'll keep you updated if it makes it our way. I have hookups under my dash for alligator clips. I was told by my mechanic and his boss that as long as I have those factory installed battery pegs that I could use them with the proper hookups. And my boss has been made aware every time he is in my car with me. They've tried to enforce the "no radio" in our center before but unfortunately for them it's the biggest earmark in my union book.

[Mike23]

Our sups are pretty cool about it. As long as you don't have it on during ride alongs and as long as they don't hear it in the building then it's a see no evil sort of deal.

I think their next morale buster will be you can't drive with the driver side door open because if you roll your arm could possibly be rolled over on. Then they'll say no doors open at all because what if your diad flew out the other door while you were in a roll and hit someone?

What about the fact that our entire pkg car is metal with the softest thing in it being the seat (which usually isn't soft and not ergonomic!). I think we should fight to be wrapped in bubble wrap every day...mostly so I can pop it all day (more of my random thoughts on road).

[badpal.]

This hasn't trickled down to our center yet. I just strap in my little Sirius boombox after I get my NDAs off and put I take it home every night because things like that tend to walk away from the truck.

[Tony31yrs]

I drove for 27 years and only had a radio when I got a rental for Christmas. I could never find a station that I wanted to listen to all day. Even when I'm driving my own car, I play it like a keyboard. Drives my wife crazy. After a while you hear the same old songs and same news every hour. The only time I really would have liked one was when there was some big news going on in the world. I might have liked one when I got too much unwanted overtime and slowed down because my evening was shot anyway so I figured I might as well slow down and punish them for making me stay out so long.

[bigbrownhen]

I don't listen to a radio while I work, it is too much of a distraction. I can't seem to concentrate on the job as well, but that's just me. So I just keep entertained with talking to myself. Sometimes it the best conversation I have all day. lol

I did have one in my supply box in the back, just for storm updates when necessary, because I deliver in tornado alley and our center can't seem to keep us updated when there is a warning in the areas.

[City Driver]

portable radios are a pain in the ass because thoes batteries are expensive

but this whole policy is bull**** if u ask me

[cachsux]

I have found that I am a better driver when I have some form of entertainment. While something during the day might P-me off if something good is on the radio I`ll chill right back out and be on with the rest of my day.

[sano]

Has anybody tried this one?
I like the idea of a job-site radio for durability, however i don't want to carry my big Milwaukee in and out of the building.

[tourists24]

Originally Posted by City Driver

portable radios are a pain in the ass because thoes batteries are expensive

but this whole policy is bull**** if u ask me

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA280_.jpg

Have you tried one of these little babies? This is a rechargeable radio I bought for $29. I play it all day in my package car (great sound) and take it home and night for a recharge.

[Cementups]

Originally Posted by sano

Has anybody tried this one?
I like the idea of a job-site radio for durability, however i don't want to carry my big Milwaukee in and out of the building.

My Sirius radio is almost the size of those Milwaukee's. It just fits in my locker.

[City Driver]

this is interesting because we were just told we cant have radios on the dock anymore, i wonder if this is UPS' finest pencil pushers influencing our overnite management team

[lazydriver]

We had 2 tractors burnout the electrical system because of improper radio hookups or unauthorized equipment 120v inverter last week. How many old timers remember the positive ground F model Macks?

[dei8]

Originally Posted by HEFFERNAN

Drive for 10 more years and you will realize why a radio is not a bad thing. Do you drive home from UPS and just listen to the fan blow cool air at you? NO. It's a personal preference and helps break up the monotonous routine most drivers face driving the same route every single day. If you don't need one. Fine. Others do and that's why it is in the master contract.

First off, I am not saying we shouldnt be allowed to do this, or that it should be removed from the contract. And I am not sure what another 10 years of driving will do to change my perception. But for discussion purposes, you cant listen to any kind of talk radio, because you would miss half the conversations. As for music, you would always listen to half a song before your next stop. Driving home from work, its a straight 25 minute drive. I dont stop every 3 minutes for the heck of it, so yes I listen to the radio. Also, the first thing I do in my personal car when I am driving and need to concentrate, for example when I get lost, is turn down the radio. And finally, the only way to hear your radio over all the noise would be to crank it, which I think is very unprofessional. Please dont take this post the wrong way, everyone on this job should do whatever it takes to make the day go by, but personally, I dont get this one. If they told me no radio, I would move on. Just my two cents

[Cementups]

^you need to change your name. you're 2 years behind.

[rushfan]

I didn't work here when we had the positive ground Macks. I did work for a 2 way radio shop where trucks were burnt up due to the positive ground system. Funny as hell. Like someone said, it would have been remedied through the use of a fuse.

So far, I've heard a couple of package drivers complain it's not fair for the feeder dept. to have radios hard wired in, and package can't. Waa waaa waaa. The tractors come from the factory with the "power points" standard-no radios. All I can say is fuse,fuse,fuse. If you're not sure, fuse.

[raceanoncr]

Originally Posted by lazydriver

We had 2 tractors burnout the electrical system because of improper radio hookups or unauthorized equipment 120v inverter last week. How many old timers remember the positive ground F model Macks?

Yes, positive ground Fs is what I started out on. Never did burn radio out cause always had both sides fused. It got cornfusing, tho, when we had to switch with other districts and didn't have crossovers with or radio wasn't compatable w/positives, etc.

[westsideworma]

Originally Posted by sano

Has anybody tried this one?
I like the idea of a job-site radio for durability, however i don't want to carry my big Milwaukee in and out of the building.

a preloader in my building has that one, seems plenty loud enough

[mattwtrs]

Originally Posted by raceanoncr

Yes, positive ground Fs is what I started out on. Never did burn radio out cause always had both sides fused. It got cornfusing, tho, when we had to switch with other districts and didn't have crossovers with or radio wasn't compatable w/positives, etc.

I always bought at least 2 pkgs of fuses at a time cause I would forget to change the wire set up too. I remember my wife got me a radio from Radio Shack for my birthday that you could use in either positive or negative ground vehicle. I forgot all about it till this thread came up about radio's and F Models.

[raceanoncr]

Originally Posted by mattwtrs

I remember my wife got me a radio from Radio Shack for my birthday that you could use in either positive or negative ground vehicle. I forgot all about it till this thread came up about radio's and F Models.

Yeah, the Radio Shack AM/FM was the hot ticket for us newbies back then. Couldn't hardly go wrong with that. I think I still got my original one in garage somewhere.

Got brave after some others were trying radios out of junked cars, stereos (wow, what an invention), eight-tracks, tapes, now CDs and, of course, the required satellite. The neg. ground made a big difference for some guys but, still, you need to show some how to even turn it on!

[drewed]

This issue wasnt regarding just radios, its any non-spec non-authorized modification to any UPS equipment

[Johney]

It most likely has to do with 3 package cars being destroyed at the Riviera Beach building. The driver has not returned yet and I have heard no word on the progress of said driver returning.

[Dustyroads]

Sears makes a great little craftsman radio that runs on a 19.2 volt cordless drill battery. It will run 14 hours on a one hour quick charge, it sounds great, doesn't take up much room, and straps down securely with a bungee cord. They are nice on extended routes where a driver may go 20 minutes between stops. For me, they have been great in tracking severe thunderstorms about to hit. They also help one stay awake and alert when compared to the drone of the barely muffled package car engine. It's a personal choice of the driver, and bottom line, the contract allows a radio in the package car as long as it isn't wired to the UPS equipment.

[Mike23]

Originally Posted by City Driver

portable radios are a pain in the ass because thoes batteries are expensive

but this whole policy is bull**** if u ask me

Buy a charger and rechargeable batteries?

[jw55wags]

What will be next--? Maybe no farting in cab!!!!!!

[Braveheart]

I wonder if the union will cave on this issue just like they did on the 9.5 one?