Helen,
Not sure if anyone answered your question on the Day 1 portion of "just observation". It is up to the supervisor on how to proceed. If there is something major that needs to be corrected they need to correct it. Some like to observe - some like to correct methods as they go.
Dill - great posts! You sum it up on the safety portion with speed... If they want you to drive faster - hand them the keys! I LOVE IT!!
As a driver... If you don't think it can be done, ask the supervisor to demonstrate it to you.
Soberups hit a key point as well. The driver is responsible, and you should only drive as fast as conditions will allow. If you are sand bagging it will be pretty obvious and I would instruct a supervisor to demonstrate the proper way to do it.
Tie - I got to agree with you on NI1. Something isn't right. I would NEVER waste one of my supervisors days on someone who is under-allowed. If it is a 9.5 problem than work it out with the driver. Why in the hell would you want to piss off a driver who is under-allowed?? Absolutely does not make any sense????!!
Also, he said that management "tightened" up the area and took stops off of him. With the low amount of delivery stops that are out there today, how do you do this without it being obvious? . ... Not sure we are getting the whole picture on this.