Re: What? No A/C? I QUIT ! ! !

[rreschran]

File this under, "Are You Kiddin' Me", a driver I know called asking if I could help find him a job. He said he got in a huge argument with the tow company's manager because the tow truck's air-conditioning didn't work. He said they exchanged stupidities, he walked off the job. I'm sure he regrets quitting, but the damage is done. While companies around here struggle to make ends meet with this Covid mess, I calmly told him I didn't companies actively looking for drivers.

 

Personally, from my youth as a young tow truck driver with no AC, if it was hot, I recall my dad saying, "Roll the truck's window down and stick yer' head out like a dog." While his way wasn't the warm and fuzzy way to create Kumbayah, it was his silent way of saying, "Suck it up and git' back ta' work." So, that being said, and just for fun, how would you approach a driver's reasonable complaint especially when temps surpass 100-degrees? How would you handle his complaint and is it a valid one at that?       R.

 

 

 

[GRUMPS The Towman]

Inoperative a/c is a crappy thing, I agree BUT, It in no way is a reason to place a unit out of service or quit your job over. Dont get me wrong, I am an a/c enthusiast BIG TIME. There is nothing better than climbing into a frosty cab after slaving away loading up a vehicle on a hot day. Maybe I am "old school" and I would personally just deal with it if the a/c craps out in my truck untill I have the time to get it back up and running. I recall driving trucks with no a/c, power steering, weak, luke warm heat in the winter and a clutch pedal that would snap your knee to depress.

Whats next? Does the seat not have enough cushion for your liking?? 

No Offense but, Put on your big boy pants and get back to work... 

[TowZone]

"how would you approach a driver's reasonable complaint especially when temps surpass 100-degrees?"

 

Many of us old Tow Ops drove enough trucks without A/C, Auto Trans, Power Windows/Locks, etc. I have had times when I have driven a truck a day or two without Air till it could be shopped. At extreme temps drivers begin to stress as they have become adjusted to cooling off in the truck. Without A/C the stress level goes up and productivity goes down.

 

"Does the seat not have enough cushion for your liking??"

 

To be honest a Seat is more important than A/C. I have a pinched nerve in my back and a worn out seat puts me out for a few days. Yes, I have to refuse, it's not an option. But, A/C I can deal with.

[Stubborn66]

My guess would be that there was an underlying issue with that guy and the company and he used the broken AC as his justification to quit.  Welcome to this generations workers, that's why I prefer to work alone.

 

I run two older trucks today and neither has AC.  I hate the heat but the trucks work good and get the job done, I can live without AC, granted I am not spending 8-10 hours a day in them.

[goodmichael]

Hot day, fatigued driver who worked two or three calls the previous night and further added to his sleep debt. Now it is 4pm on a hot day, the operator is fatigued. A hot cab here in South Texas could be the difference between an alert driver and a crash. Also a hot cab for a customer waiting on the side of the road on 35 Ssouth is not going to get you accolades from a client. 

[someotherplace]

I've worked Texas Summers in a few trucks with no A/C and even at night, it can be punishingly hot.

 

There may have been other issues as someone else mentioned.

 

Still, with the current economic/jobs situation, I'm surprised people aren't more serious about keeping the job they have, IF they're fortunate enough to have one!  That extra $600/wk tacked on top of unemployment sure pulled a lot of dead weight out of the job market...but that's over with now.

 

Richard

[yoBdaBenO]

Yeah, I should probably just stay out of this one. It depends on the temps, our drivers and customers comfort is important to us. So, if the A/C or heat goes out we get the truck in the shop asap. Driver fatigue is an issue when the temps near 100. One of our drivers came from a company that once let a trucks heater core leak into the cab for several days till it got so bad he was adding more than a gallon a day.

[Towgodess14]

I suppose it depends on how long the AC was out and if there are other underlying issues with maintenance. But when it comes to the customers stop and think. If my car has broken down on the side of the road in 100 degree heat and I have to wait for the truck, to get in the cab and have AC is going to be a godsend. The heat can be life threatening, especially to older people. Think about your customers if not your employees

[brian991219]

As others have stated there is most likely more to this story. That said, to address your direct question I would not have let it get to that point. The air conditioning would have been repaired as soon as it was reported and an alternate truck made available (if possible). If the truck with the defective a/c had to be used because it is the only one of it's kind in the fleet then use would be limited and a repair plan implemented as soon as possible. So, yes it is a legitimate complaint from the driver about inoperative air conditioning.

 

CalOSHA requires employers to protect their workers from environmental exposure such as extreme heat or cold, going so far as to require cooling stations for outdoor workers exposed to temperatures above a certain level for a period of time. The same applies to truck drivers, working climate control systems and other mitigation measures are not optional items -they must function well enough to keep the driver from facing heat stress or frost bite among other environmental factors. Being fatigued from heat is a very real possibility. CalOSHA specifically mentions air conditioned trucks in their standard although a/c isn't mandatory if it is not available other measures must be taken to assure workers safety.

 

https://www.dir.ca.gov/title8/3395.html specifically mentions transportation in air conditioned vehicles, or the absence of air conditioning.

 

For states other than Washington, Minnesota and California (which have specific state level rules) US OSHA relies on the general duty clause to impose environmental exposure controls for hot or cold working conditions. They generally follow the same guidelines as CalOSHA does. Further, FMCSA prohibits a driver from driving if they are ill or fatigued so all a driver needs to do is claim the heat is fatiguing them and the employer must remove them from service without retaliation.

 

Yes I understand the sentiment of "in my days we didn't have any air conditioning" as I am old enough to have worked back then as well. I did not have working air conditioning in many of my early tow trucks and spent many hot summer days sitting in snarled traffic on the Cross Bronx Expressway (what a misnomer...there isn't anything express about the Cross Bronx) or other New York City roadways just baking inside my cab. That said, since we have a reasonable means to prevent this type of exposure we as employers have a duty to maintain the system. I also didn't have air ride seats with good ergonomics (my back feels it today) nor did I have window defrosters that could keep my glass clear during those cold winter days...neither of which I will drive a truck without today unless I am playing with an antique for a short period of time.

[rreschran]

Brian's right ... there was plenty more to the story.  I spoke to the company owner this afternoon and the driver has since returned to work. In all fairness to the driver, he made notes of the A/C problem nearly a month ago on his truck inspection and continually until a heated exchange between driver and the manager took place. The owner stepped up to admit the truck should have been repaired, but, "It's been really busy." So, how do the possibilities of earning a dollar differ from the safety or employee's welfare. Thanks Brian for your explaination that helps define the old school mentality of, "suck it up?"

 

Here's my short version: The driver went to the manager (maybe) with a little attiude asking, "When ya' gonna' get the A/C fixed?" The manager held his ground when challenged by the driver. The manager was representing the companysaying the truck will get fixed when it can be scheduled to the shop. The owner gave power of authority to the manager.  The manager forced his hand by giving a lawful order, albiet perhaps questionable in the long-run. The driver got upset because his legitimate complaint wasn't being heard or reacted to. He told me., "Why do a truck inspection if nothing's gonna' get fixed?" That's a reasonable question in my book. The driver was guilty when he walked off the job, but, did he do so in a manner to force something to get done? Was his a peaceful protest? Was getting the A/C fixed an absolute priority? Was it seen as "an emergency priorty?" Was it a safety issue that required right now fixing? You decide.  

 

I feel there were plenty of lessons to be learned by all parties as it regards the ability to communicate openly and what happens at the supervisor's level when they give the order to get back to work? Under the conditions of high-heat and the possibilities of heat related illnesses, rhe driver's complaint WAS valid as explained further by Brian herein. I could go on and on about what think could have been a better way to have handled the situation. Should the driver called his complaint directly to the owner? Where does"Chain of Command" apply here? There were plenty of components to this situation worth reviewing if the same were to happen to you as owner. I believe that if the driver were to take his issue before the labor board, an administrative judge may have taken interest in his case even though he wasn't fired.

 

But, all things being equal, today I was told the driver's back to work, the truck's getting fixed and everybody shook hands. I was happy to be part of this process to see that even though the work environment isn't perfect, when offended parties can settle their differences in an ammicable, reasonable and adult-like manner, positive results can happen. I'm proud of what those guys were able to accomplish.  Note: I'm especially proud of the driver who did what was required of him and conducted a well-prepared tow truck inspection; he documented repeatedly that the A/C wasn't working. For a month he held his tongue, didn't whine and worked through the heat of summer.  By documenting the A/C problem, his best evidence to his claim was his thorough and detailed truck reports. Good for you Alex. Once I learned the entire story, you had me on your side and I congratulate your return to work. And to that company's management, I salute them because they admitted there was a better way to have handled this simple complaint from the beginning.          R.

[TowZone]

"Why do a truck inspection if nothing's gonna' get fixed?"

 

The majority of companies have drivers write up daily inspection sheets to satisfy OSHA requirements. Those seem to often be filed away and not reviewed. I may be wrong but going further than an OSHA requirement. This is a daily inspection report, should it not be reviewed for any issues that require attention. And should those issues not be prioritized with the highest priority receiving immediate service and the lowest scheduled within a week. If there was an accident OSHA would review the reports on that unit. Even though many of us came up through an industry without such luxuries. It is likely a safety review could attribute a non functional A/C to driver fatigue. A month was a bit excessive and it seems the driver simply ran out of patience. I likely would have within a few days and without a date scheduled for repair become aggravated. In the end it is seems each party involved walked away a resolve.

[GRUMPS The Towman]

Now with better details available I can see the operators frustration. Its different for me if the guy comes in, sees the a/c crapped out and walks off the job.I mean, give me a day or two to get things around and get the truck out of service. But If a guy is writing up a truck for a defect for over a month and not even getting an idea of when it will be repaired, Then Yeah, I see a real problem with that. What else is getting written up and just kicked aside? As most of you know, I am a little guy. 2 trucks, 2 guys. so when 1 goes down, I am halfway out of business. ( totally closed for wrecker or roll back work depending on the truck thats down ). So when something like the a/c going out happens, It has to roll for me untill I have time to get at it. Normally I will do a diagnostic on the issue, order parts/materials and when all comes in, get her back up and running ( usually at night when things quiet down for me ).

[rreschran]

Good comments guys. Thanks. For small companies like Grumps, shutting down is difficult choice and one that has to be carefully scheduled. But for large companies like the example shared, I'm not so sure. Especially true for drivers, when companies require a daily truck inspection, someone has to be tasked at looking at what's important and what's not. To the manager in this case, perhaps he didn't feel that A/C was overly important to down the truck. Perhaps taking a look at the big picture would have been a better choice? A business has to work to make money to fix the truck, but when the truck's in the shop, no money is earned. It's a difficult cycle. So, how do you teach priority from one person to the next?       R.

[TowZone]

Oddly enough It's often like trying to common sense. Some folks have it and some don't.

[BJ Towing Adelaide]

Well, my truck doesn't have A/C and not getting it fixed in a hurry. Well atleast until the pandemic is over and business returns to normal.

Suck it up.

[goodmichael]

It is that suck it up mentality that gets people killed. Having worked and pushed myself past the point of fatigue and then having to complete a 100 mile tow in 100 degree heat I can tell you that the lack of ac is an extreme hazard. The lack of ac is also a huge turn off for a client. And what about your defroster aspect. Your defroster does not function without ac operating. If it breaks and needs to be scheduled for a repair that is one thing. But waiting with no target to get it fixed is unacceptable in my book. I am not going to suck it up and risk a crash. And have a black mark on my CDL.

[rreschran]

The old school “suck it up”, mentality is a questionable consideration, today’s generation is more that of entitlement where comfort wasn’t really part of the job description year’s back. I recall one driver’s interview where I offered an applicant a driver’s position with above average pay, benefits and a take home truck. After the interview and job offer was on the table, he decided that he wouldn’t work for a company that didn’t have a newer truck for him to drive. He made the right choice and showed his true colors. He could have been that Diva from hell that I didn’t want working for me. From that moment on, I learned a valuable lesson to suggest, "Ya' can't please all the people all the time."    R.

[goodmichael]

I vividly recall having to drive a casualty to Fort Worth, Texas on a hot 100 plus degree Texas afternoon. I had been up multiple times the previous night for police rotation calls and was not at all well rested. The ac was out in the deck I drove. I had to stop multiple times to just gather my composure. I made it back, but it was a very dangerous and treacherous ride. Lack of ac is easily a contributing factor in exasperating driver fatigue.  If I worked exclusively at night it would have been a different story. But here, not having ac, working in the heat of the day in 100 plus high humidity can lull an operator into a fatal one vehicle fatal collision. Which will leave survivors to quote unquote suck it up.

[TowZone]

Ultimately scheduled service is the key to keeping equipment in top notch condition. That includes the A/C as goodmichael has mentioned the A/C effects the defrost. To the point the windows would fog up which caused an issue which became even worse problem then having no cooling. When issues arise on the equipment either repair it immediately or schedule a repair in a reasonable amount of time. And as for working without A/C I did that 40 plus years ago as many tow ops did. In the late 80's customers began to expect A/C. Did we become a soft nation or is it global warming. It's comfort at this point, the same has occurred with power windows and locks becoming a safety issue.  In another topic, I will explain the safety issue of not having power windows and locks. Specifically power windows, but they are a combination.

[BJ Towing Adelaide]

The "suck it up" comment is generally designed to evoke a response and it usually does.

In Australia we usually get summers with temperature above 115 and often have 110 daily for two weeks at a time before it drops to 100 (which is classified as a cool change in summer). It is not summer here yet, but it is just around the corner.

At the moment, I am getting 1 Tow a week and if I am lucky sometimes 2. COVID 19 has shut a lot of us down over here. People are out of work and have no money and competitors are towing just to cover costs as they would rather be busy. A lot of drivers are even starting to behave in ways that they will later regret.

Sorry, the A/C will have to wait. Atleast until the phone starts to ring like it did 6 months ago. I will suck it up as No money = No A/C. I have two kids to feed and they are more important than my comfort. A brimmed hat and lot of fluids and windows rolled down. She'll be right.

[TowZone]

Extreme Times require Extreme Actions! With that said funds and few tows an be a motive. Sounds like you were hit harder then we were as most companies here seem to have used the time to make repairs on their equipment. Now everytime the economy starts to rebound politics step in. Be thankful your not dealing with all the unrest. But then maybe you are, media isn't reporting on world issues it seems.

Sent from my SM-G950U using TowForce mobile app

[BJ Towing Adelaide]

We don't have anywhere near the civil rest as you guys do. Isolated patches here and there and mostly led by a minority of activists and socialists.

I live in Adelaide, it has a quarter of the population of LA spread over 3 times the area. Unemployment in nearby suburbs to me is about 30% (in the worst 1% within Australia).

The advantage of a low population is civil harmony. The disadvantage is few opportunities for employment. I am not sure what the future holds for the US (just too many people with different views on how the country should be run). By comparison, we are just simple country folk in Australia.

Things will pick up again. I am one of the lucky ones. I can still do other things while towing has slowed down.