Critical event! What's next?

Hi Doc, when I had a computer in a truck I drove once, this was my biggest gripe about that "hard braking" thing, and I got a few of them too. Usually, it just required an explanation, and I think companies go on an average type thing. 1 or 2 spaced far apart, generally isn't a cause for alarm, and these people have to realize, stuff does happen, however, if they get a "hard braking" 6 times a day, something is wrong. Like years ago, my 1st trucking job, when my truck would go in for a service, it was the mechanics job to report to the boss, if the brakes needed a big adjustment, the boss would call you in the office and say, "we had to adjust your brakes more than normal, are you overdriving the truck?" Naturally, the smart guys who knew how to adjust brakes, got around that, but it's the bosses way of keeping tabs on you. I wouldn't worry about 1 or 2 of those.

 

I would be surprised if they ever call you back, I have had a few and nobody every called me or said anything really. I know in winter when the roads are slick if your tires lose traction even the slightest bit it will go off as a critical event. At least that's how my truck was setup and I was going maybe 5-10 mph. The main use for it is like what semi retired mentioned about how often it goes off and or if you have damaged product and a critical event for hard breaking than you are doing something wrong and would be called up to safety pretty quick I would imagine

 

I would imagine that it varies from terminal to terminal. I have had a few situations like that and so has my co-driver and neither of us even got a phone call. I think I've had the truck record hard braking two different times(maybe only once?).

The worst that could happen is you might get called in to talk to safety and your side of the story would clear the situation up pretty quickly. But you probably won't even hear another word about it so I wouldn't sweat it.

 

They've been doing that at Prime for awhile now. Occasionally I'll get a call from whoever is sitting in the FM chair about "what happened." With us they're more concerned about whether we (the driver) are OK. Now if you get a critical event from the rollover prevention nanny, that's a different story. I'm told you get a call, a dispatch to your home terminal, and a sit-down with your FM and safety.

...of course, if you're far enough into a potential roll-over event, by the time the rollover prevention nanny starts biotchin' you're way over the line anyhow.

 

I've never had one, though I think it should have been triggered once.
I had to slam my brakes hard enough to send things flying in the cab. I thought for sure it would trigger an alarm. But no QC message and no call.

 

another good reason NOT to use eobrs. eh.

the short period i ran one. i had a bad speedo sensor. didn't work under 25 mph. finally found a kw shop that would take me right in and change the sensor. and get the company off my back. ringing up my cell minutes over the idiot alert.

 

They are looking for a pattern. Once in a while is an almost certain event. Several a week and they they need answers.

 

No worries.../

 

I had one of those last fall. Conversation went something like this:

Him: "You registered a hard braking. What happened"?
Me: "Some jackwagon in a 4 wheeler made a quick right hand exit from the left lane."
Him: "Did you hit him?"
Me: "No."
Him: "Everything OK?"
Me: "I'm fine. My map slid off the passenger seat. I'm pretty sure that the other driver crapped himself, though."
Him: *chuckle* "Well, OK. Be safe out there."

As others have said, they are looking for trends. Everyone has the occasional run-in with the 4 wheel idiot. When your crits get well above the noise, then you will get their attention.