Pachiquin
Member
In my center in California we have drivers who are working straight through (sometimes over 12 hours) and taking all of their breaks at the end. Often drivers are working 12 1/2 up to 14 hours a day (paid).
The only rules that our management team enforce are "10 hours off between shifts" and "60 hours per week maximum".
The drivers seem to like working straight through without any break because they can "get it done" and then take 15+30+15+10 minute breaks when they are all done, taking their DIAD with them to wherever they please.
Management says that this is allowed but that they would prefer we took our breaks as scheduled; the long dispatches would have us out there until 9 to 10 PM.
Drivers are wanting to avoid working in the darkness and stop working before it is too late.
I researched the hours of service online and it appears that CA requires a 30 minute break after 8 hours. This is a new law which went into effect 7/1/12.
Also there is the matter of a meal violation if we don't begin our lunch between the 4th and 5th hour and finish that lunch before the 6th hour. This was enforced for awhile but no longer.
I know that management just wants to get it done and I never expect management to be reasonable, but taking your breaks at the end defeats the whole purpose of taking a break in order to prevent driver fatigue. I saw a graph on Wikipedia where the odds of getting in an accident are more than doubled and tripled at 11 and 12 hours respectively (I Googled hours of service).
Finally, as expected, the dispatches in our center are irresponsibly long by any standard because UPS is trying to manipulate us into working off the clock. I know that this will never change; I just use the methods and make a ton of money.
Sorry for such a long post but I wanted to stave off questions asking me to clarify the situation.
So what is the LAW in California!? The DMV website says 12 hours. Is that total paid or onroad time? I do not understand.
The only rules that our management team enforce are "10 hours off between shifts" and "60 hours per week maximum".
The drivers seem to like working straight through without any break because they can "get it done" and then take 15+30+15+10 minute breaks when they are all done, taking their DIAD with them to wherever they please.
Management says that this is allowed but that they would prefer we took our breaks as scheduled; the long dispatches would have us out there until 9 to 10 PM.
Drivers are wanting to avoid working in the darkness and stop working before it is too late.
I researched the hours of service online and it appears that CA requires a 30 minute break after 8 hours. This is a new law which went into effect 7/1/12.
Also there is the matter of a meal violation if we don't begin our lunch between the 4th and 5th hour and finish that lunch before the 6th hour. This was enforced for awhile but no longer.
I know that management just wants to get it done and I never expect management to be reasonable, but taking your breaks at the end defeats the whole purpose of taking a break in order to prevent driver fatigue. I saw a graph on Wikipedia where the odds of getting in an accident are more than doubled and tripled at 11 and 12 hours respectively (I Googled hours of service).
Finally, as expected, the dispatches in our center are irresponsibly long by any standard because UPS is trying to manipulate us into working off the clock. I know that this will never change; I just use the methods and make a ton of money.
Sorry for such a long post but I wanted to stave off questions asking me to clarify the situation.
So what is the LAW in California!? The DMV website says 12 hours. Is that total paid or onroad time? I do not understand.