Big Brother

My company uses all sorts of spy equipment. First, was the computer we carry around to record stops and get signatures. But that wasn’t enough, because drivers could still fool the company by pre-recording stops and then completing them at a later time (they don’t show up in the computer system until they’re completed), or by pretending to attempt deliveries that in fact are not being attempted.

So a couple years ago, a new version of our computer was introduced GPS capable. Now, they know exactly where we stand every second of the day.

But still, that was not enough for them. They have now installed sensory equipment that records when we are wearing our seat belt or when the bulk-head door is closed. We are required to do both while the vehicle is in motion.

If, by using these Big Brother tactics, their suspicion is aroused, they will send a private investigator out to follow us and record our actions in order to find sufficient evidence to fire us.

Considering my management team has all these resources at their finger tips, I was surprised to hear some of the questions being asked me by a supervisor yesterday.

“What do you think is holding you up on this route?” He asked, referring to my new route. On my second day of the being on the route, I asked for help with 10 stops. On my third day, I asked for help with 5. This was to be my fourth day—still within what I consider a reasonable learning curve time.

“Nothing. I just need to get to know it.”

“Do you think you need more training on it?”

“No. It’s five streets, what more training could I use?”

“Well, we just want to make sure you’re ok out there. We’re just curious to know, are you following trace, or are you jumping around trying please the customers that are asking for you to get there early.”

“I’m following trace, doing all one street, then the next. You can see that for yourself, it’s all there in your computer system.”

“We’re just making sure,” he said, lamely. “Do you need any kind of help?”

“I’ll probably need help with some business stops later, but I’ll have to see how my day goes.”

“Ok, maybe I’ll meet you out there.”

And by meet me out there, I thought he meant later in the day with a driver to take stops, or with a steward’s permission to help me deliver. So imagine my surprise after only three stops, he showed up to hop on car with me.

“Are you here to help me, or just ride with me?”

“Just ride with you. Make sure you’re getting the route.”

A babysitter. They sent me a babysitter.

“I’ve been sent out cold on routes before, never receiving a second of training, and never got this kind of concern. When I’ve asked for help on other routes, never has anyone asked if I need more training on the route. Why are you here?”

“We just want to make sure you’re ok with the route.”

Bullshit.

“We know it’s a hard route,” he added.

“Yeah, it’s a hard route, so it’s going to take me more than a couple of days to fully get it down. And if I don’t get it down, and everyday I can’t finish it then you’ll just have to take stuff off the truck.”

“Well that’s not going to happen. This is how the route is.”

“Well I’m not going to work unsafely at an unsafe pace to deliver packages.”

“I’m not asking you to.”

No, you’re just using intimidation practices in hopes that I will.

“Look, the first day the only way we could finish the route is by taking a half hour lunch, and by you helping me.” We’re supposed to take full hour lunches and supervisors are never supposed to touch a package.

“I know that’s why we want to make sure you can do it by yourself.”

“And what if I can’t? I’m not out here stealing time. Not sitting on my ass not working. I’m moving at all times. Once I know the route well, I’ll probably get it just fine. But like I said, I’m following the company methods, and working safely.”

“Well, we just want to make sure.”

He was with me all day. Observing. The second he touched a package, I would have filed a grievance, but I think he understood that. Except for with one 107 lb. package, he didn’t even attempt to help me. I already have to listen to all the customer complaints about getting their packages “late,” I don’t need intimidation from my management team. I was able to complete all my deliveries, but I had to deliver with pick-ups, which was doable that day only because pick-ups were light. I picked up 100 fewer packages than in the past three days, so I had some extra time to finish off the deliveries.

The funny thing is, before this incident, I actually felt motivated to get the route down. I was trying to take into account my customers complaints as I figured out the best way to do the route—trying to see if there was a way to do what’s best for them and me. After all, this is my route and I have to see them everyday, potentially for the next 26 years. Now I don’t care one bit. Complain away customers, complain away. I’m not listening to you anymore. My company doesn’t care when you get your packages, so I don’t either.

An Industrial Route

When I left work Friday, my manager promised that on Monday I would be seeing one of the routes I’m up for. As it turns out, his word was good. At least this second time around.

They sent me out with a supervisor to show me the route, and as it turns out, I like it just fine. It’s an industrial route which means bulk stops, heavy pick-ups, and lots of over-70 packages. But the area is tight, and the nice thing about commercial areas is that everything must be delivered by 5pm. I will work a safe, honest pace, and if I can’t finish in time, I’ll call in and tell my management team, and then it’s their problem.

There’s one catch to the route though: they throw in residential stops from other routes. Without the residential, I could be finished with the route by 5:30 everyday. But that would mean I only work 8 hours everyday. Big Brown can’t have that. If every driver only worked 8 hours, they couldn’t start laying people off now. Nothing is more important than over working some drivers and turning others out into the street in order to maintain profits.

Yesterday, there were 24 residential stops on the truck. All next day air packages that we pick up must be dropped off at our building by 6:15pm in order to make the planes. But I couldn’t finish before then, so I had to drive in to drop off my air, then drive back out to the route. It’s a route close to the building, but few things piss me off more than dropping air and going back out. It’s a waste of time, and quite frankly, I can’t see how it makes financial sense.

My point is, the route has potential in terms of working reasonable hours. But it also has potential to keep me out late, just like any other route. But I’m going to take it. I don’t need to see the other route. The other route is mostly apartments, and I hate apartments. I hate going back two or three times with the same package. And the buildings in that area are old without elevators, and you might be surprised at some of the heavy shit people expect us to carry up three flights of stairs. Plus, the potential on a mostly residential route for working reasonable hours is practically nil.

The other nice thing about my new route is that a lower seniority cover driver has been sitting on the route for months and all the customers have come to know him as “their driver.”

So yesterday, there were lots of people asking, “Is our regular guy on vacation again?”

My supervisor explained the situation, and quite a few people responded with, “It’s a hard route.” Or, “Our regular driver is usually here earlier.”

So now that I’m taking the route, I can righteously respond with, “I’m your regular driver now.”

And let’s face it, who doesn’t enjoy a good opportunity to feel righteous?

My Own Route

I’m up for two bid routes. All drivers at my company start as floaters—filling in on routes for drivers who are sick, on vacation, or injured. We get a route only when one opens up from a driver who retires or otherwise leaves. When a route opens up, it starts the bidding process. All drivers who think they may want the route, sign the bid list, and then management offers the route to the driver with the highest seniority, if that driver decides not to take the bid, they ask the driver with the next highest seniority, etc.

I don’t have all that much seniority. So the fact that I’m up for two bid routes, means they must both suck. Since I’ve never driven either route, I’m allowed to try them out before I decide, but of course, my management team must assign me to one of those routes for me to try it.

I was told in December that my name was next on the list for these routes. Because it was our peak season, they were entitled to make me wait until January to try the routes. Now it’s January. I was told on Tuesday that I would be trying out the first one on Thursday. It’s Friday, and I haven’t seen either route.

“Staffing is still tight,” was the excuse from my manager. “But I’m committed to getting you onto those routes, so you can look at them.”

Yeah, because the contract says he has to be committed.

Fact of the matter is, they like to be able to bounce us around anywhere they like to cover routes, and they frequently violate seniority to do it. My steward says I should give it till next Tuesday and then file a grievance. Staffing is actually legitimately tight because volume has not dropped even though Christmas is long over. Apparently, there are plenty of people taking advantage of internet sales. Stop it. I’m tired. No more buying until February.

I desperately want my own route. I hate waking up in the morning, not knowing where I’ll be working. Many times, I’m thrown on routes I don’t know very well (like this week), and I end up working 10 or more hours (like this week). They also take advantage of cover drivers and over dispatch them more often than route drivers. We are made to things the route drivers would never put up with. So, stability is the advantage of getting a route, but it also means the end of variety. It also means I’ll stop doing routes that allow me to come home for lunch. That makes me sad.

I’ll profile the routes here when I try them out. Wish me luck.