Outline of My Second Oral Presentation
Truckers, Dispatchers and Road Safety
This is a presentation of Driving Lessons, Pages 143-159, by J. Peter Rothe
By: Malia Tarayao
Instructions for this Oral Presentation are found at:
www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy22/g22-oral.htm
Concept One: Dispatchers and drivers
a. A dispatcher is someone who is in control of a fleet of trucks. The drivers drive the trucks from point A to point B and back to A.
b. My OpinionÉ
á I chose this concept because I was unaware of how this trucking industry worked.
á What was most striking to me was how the dispatchers are the ones making the drivers use risky behavior, however, if anything happens, they take no responsibility.
á My initial reaction was surprise.
á I completely disagree with the way things are run in the trucking industry.
c. Example
á This happens everyday in society. Dispatchers have so much power over the truckers because they are the ones who give the assignments to the drivers. If a driver doesnŐt want to obey the dispatcher, the dispatcher has the authority and power to punish the driver.
Concept Two: Breaking Laws
a. It is very common for drivers to break laws while driving
á Cheating on their logbooks (service hours)
á Driving a truck that is overloaded/overweight
á Speeding
b. My OpinionÉ
á I chose this concept because before reading this I didnŐt know that there were rules about driving time and things like that.
á What was most surprising was how often and common it is for truck drivers to break the law.
á My initial reaction again was surprise. I had no idea that it was such a common practice and that in the trucking business itŐs a known fact and you have to get good at breaking the law to make any profit.
á I find this unacceptable and donŐt agree with the tactics used.
c. Example
á There is a lot of pressure with time in the trucking business and this means that if something unexpected arises, the drivers may have to break laws to get around these obstacles.
á Weigh stations
á Speeding
á Claiming that a logbook is lost
Concept Three: Dispatchers Affecting Driving
a. Dispatchers have so much influence over drivers and they can determine the mood of a driver, which in turn will determine the driving of that driver.
b. My OpinionÉ
á I chose this concept because I never knew how much influence dispatchers have over drivers and how much they affect the driving behavior of the truck drivers.
á What was most noticeable was that drivers have so much time alone in their trucks and all that time they are able to sit and think about anything that went wrong and their feelings may get built up inside. This creates an angry driver and an angry driver is a dangerous driver.
á My initial reaction was that if this is the case then dispatchers should be more careful with the drivers so that the drivers wonŐt have this rage when they are on the road so they can focus on driving instead of being preoccupied with any events that occurred with the dispatcher.
á Again I find this unacceptable and donŐt agree with it.
c. Example
á Just in my own personal experience, if something happens during the day to upset me and then I have to drive after that, I have thoughts running through my head and my focus is not on my driving, that is very dangerous.
á There was a trucker who was told that he needed to make it to his destination by a certain time. This required him to go 75 MPH and the dispatcher knew this, the driver complied but broadsided a car.
My Home Page: www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/409as2005/tarayao/home.htm
Additional Links: http://www23.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/2001/e/groups/7411.shtml
http://www.iseek.org/sv/13000.jsp?id=100360
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos138.htm