Company calls during 10 hour SB.

I like the way you think. I almost never have my ringer on, but especially not when I am sleeping.

 

THIS.

Any time they (Dispatch) calls you out of dreamland, YOU SWITCH DIRECT OUT of sleeper berth to ON DUTY. Then finish the phone call reminding them now that they fat fingered and dailed you from your required rest it will be ANOTHER 10 hours before you come out of that berth to get to work.

DOCUMENT this, name names, who called what about what exactly the time the call came in etc. Make a notation on the ELD and so on.

When you are OFF DUTY or in SLEEPER BERTH you cannot be interrupted with work related calls until AFTER that time is UP UNLESS....

Dispatch wants to reset your off duty clock or berth clock another so many hours until you can restart your next working day because of their stupid phone calls.

I generally pull battery from cell. That is the only number they get to call when I am asleep, guess what. That cell is too. If they cry about it or sprout policy tell them or remind them gently that any time they call related to work it restarts everything all over again and delays you even more.

 

I had this problem with brokers as well as dispatchers. Most smartphones can also be set to mute the ringer during certain times of day. Of course, you could always create a custom ring tone that isn't loud enough to wake you, for all numbers from your company. LOL

Eventually, I began to use these apps. There are free versions as well as paid versions that can block or mute response to any number or group of numbers (an area code exchange for your company, for example), either on an absolute basis, or a simple schedule (such as 8 pm - 8 am, or whatever your 10-hour break is most likely to fall within).

 

Question 5: Do telephone calls to or from the motor carrier that momentarily interrupt a driver’s rest period constitute a change of the driver’s duty status?

Guidance: Telephone calls of this type do not prevent the driver from obtaining adequate rest. Therefore, the FHWA does not consider these brief telephone calls to be a break in the driver’s off duty status.

Regulations Section

 

I appreciate the rules application, however. That does not mean dispatch is aware of this. In short I train dispatch not to call me. Eventually the number of calls when on break or at home or in bed in the sleeper drops to zero. I'll get to them in the morning after I have had my rest.

Usually a company has thousands of other people to deal with whatever emergency that may arise. In the meantime Im getting my rest. They can fire me if they like. lolz.

 

Regardless, it is stupid and intrusive. I don't care what regulations say. When your duty status is off-duty or sleeper berth, that truck is effectively your home. Dispatch calls during those times are the same as a telemarketer interrupting your sleep or dinner. I treat both accordingly.

Me personally, if it continued to be a problem, I'd call your safety director at home. This IS, in fact, a safety issue. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. Better yet, send QC/ PeopleNet messages that you are sleeping and not to be disturbed. Or, deploy the apps mentioned in my previous post. You can't FIX stupid, but you can definitely muffle it with enough duct tape.

 

When I go to sleep, my fone is on mute. They can call all they want and leave a message. I'll see it when I wake up. F em -

 

Fortunately everyone at flatbed companies is at home by like 17:00. I never get calls at night.

 

The regulations don't say the driver has to answer the phone.

 

Perzactly... And the first few times they do this...