Spring Forward, But Carefully
The good people who sponsor my adventures across the country (that would be the trucking company that employs me) would like me to remind, ..well, ...me, that Daylight Savings is tonight. When the clock strikes two, it will become three because that's what the government says it will be in most states. This means one less hour of sleep. Historically, my sponsor reminds me, there is a spike in vehicle crashes and even a 6 – 10 percent increase in the number of heart attacks in the days immediately following the Spring time change. So please get some rest, and do please be careful behind the wheel. We would all like to get from Point A to Point B with minimum drama. And as always, thank you for shopping Ricochet. We now return you to sprightly, spirited, and smart conversation.
- Comment (19)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (2)
Comments :
Jun '10
Re: Spring Forward, But Carefully
Thank you for the reminder. Now it's my turn. Can anyone access the member feed? Things on this site have been problematic most of the day. Does anyone know what's going on? Tabula rasa posts about addiction to Ricochet an poof! the whole system forces users to go into withdrawal. Are the two events related? Is the FDA onto us? Will agents sweep in and inspect Dave's rig?
Gotta go, I'm stattin' to get the sweats. Ain't lookin' forward to dealin' wid dis jones.
Jul '10
Re: Spring Forward, But Carefully
Hay, Cas,
Notice the problem started when Queen Claire left Her post? Conspiracy? Just saying....
Jun '10
Re: Spring Forward, But Carefully
I knew it, Jimmy, its the Joooooos. What with Claire in the Holy Land and all.
Re: Spring Forward, But Carefully
Cas Balicki: Thank you for the reminder. Now it's my turn. Can anyone access the member feed? Things on this site have been problematic most of the day. Does anyone know what's going on? Tabula rasa posts about addiction to Ricochet an poof! the whole system forces users to go into withdrawal. Are the two events related? Is the FDA onto us? Will agents sweep in and inspect Dave's rig?
Gotta go, I'm stattin' to get the sweats. Ain't lookin' forward to dealin' wid dis jones. · Mar 12 at 6:21pm
I dunno. They inspected my rig once,...I bribed them with fig newtons.
I know there were problems earlier today,...and tonight I found that I can only log in via Explorer (usually I use Firefox, but it won't log in now for some reason). Sinister forces are at work. I blame El Nino.
Dec '10
Re: Spring Forward, But Carefully
Silly and technical question that most people probably won't get, but how does DST affect your log? Do you coordinate your trip so you lose an hour of rack vice an hour of road?
Jun '10
Re: Spring Forward, But Carefully
Sigh! fig newtons. Was there milk involved? Give it to me straight, Dave, I can take it. But whatever you do, don't mention cowboy poetry, I'm still fragile o'er dat one.
Fig newton's, a glass o' milk,
And a good horse.
It don't get better n' dat
'cept maybe in spring
When the clocks git set a back
Cuz dat night's shorter n' most.
An' we eat Oreos steada toast.
That der is your cowboy free verse. I calls it free verse cuz it didn't take no grant from the feds to compost. If you catch my odoriferous drift.
Re: Spring Forward, But Carefully
We do electronic logging now, so the actual logging of events is easier. Just the same, DOT mandates a 10 hour break, regardless of time changes. So that tonight, for example, my log must show at least 11 hours on break, even though one of those hours was lost to the ether due to the time change. That way, there will be 10 actual hours of down time to satisfy DOT requirements. Fortunately, I stopped early enough that my break time will be more like 14 hours and there will be no question but that I took the minimum DOT required down time. These days, the computer does it all and tells me how many hours I have available per day and per week. I just have to make it all work and deliver the goods, as it were.
Dec '10
Re: Spring Forward, But Carefully
Dave Carter
I just have to make it all work and deliver the goods, as it were. · Mar 12 at 6:59pm
I suppose staying on your dispatcher's good side is an imperative then. Some days I'm really glad I just drive on base for the government.
Re: Spring Forward, But Carefully
Cas Balicki: Sigh! fig newtons. Was there milk involved? Give it to me straight, Dave, I can take it. But whatever you do, don't mention cowboy poetry, I'm still fragile o'er dat one.
Fig newton's, a glass o' milk,
And a good horse.
It don't get better n' dat
'cept maybe in spring
When the clocks git set a back
Cuz dat night's shorter n' most.
An' we eat Oreos steada toast.
That der is your cowboy free verse. I calls it free verse cuz it didn't take no grant from the feds to compost. If you catch my odoriferous drift. · Mar 12 at 6:50pm
Step away from the milk jug, Cas.
Jun '10
Re: Spring Forward, But Carefully
Is there a GPS tie in to the computer? I have a laptop that I can do globally positioning with when I plug the radar detector into the USB. The reason I ask is how does DOT check your mileage against your time. Or are your odometer readings also a part of the picture the DOT looks at. Conceivably driving 2,200 miles in a ten hour stretch would tip someone off that a UFO was likely involved in the delivery.
Re: Spring Forward, But Carefully
Yes indeedy, there is a GPS, and it is tied in with the system. It tracks odometer readings and actual miles driven. Also, DOT checks my logged mileage against the time I passed through weigh stations (Pre-Pass logs that), and even the date/time stamp on fuel receipts. There are a number of ways they can keep a driver honest now.
Jun '10
Re: Spring Forward, But Carefully
You'll love this, Dave. I have a friend who produces a fungible product in Poland that he ships by truck. One morning he is told by his shipping manager that they lost two trucks full of product. My friend went into his office and produced a computer recorded itinerary of the trips the two trucks made. No one in the firm except the shipping manager knew he'd installed GPS locators on the trucks. On questioning his drivers it took him less than ten minutes to prove they were lying. He fired them, of course, pressed charges and prosecuted. Unfortunately, he lost the cargoes as the crooks had transfered the goods during the night.
Dec '10
Re: Spring Forward, But Carefully
Dave Carter
There are a number of ways they can keep a driver honest now. · Mar 12 at 7:13pm
Taking trust but verify to a whole new level.
May '10
Re: Spring Forward, But Carefully
Dave Carter
Wow. I've never seen a clock with a man as the cuckoo.
Feb '11
Re: Spring Forward, But Carefully
Daylight Saving Time. Not "savings" like what you have in the bank. It saves daylight, therefore it is "daylight saving."
Edited on Mar 13, 2011 at 5:10amJul '10
Re: Spring Forward, But Carefully
Aaron Miller
Wow. I've never seen a clock with a man as the cuckoo. · Mar 12 at 8:30pm
It's easy work if You can get it, but the pay "is for the birds."
Re: Spring Forward, But Carefully
Here's a question: Is there a similar 6-10% reduction in accidents in the days following the other switch thanks to extra sleep?
If not, does that mean daylight's savings time is harmful enough to warrant a policy change?
Jun '10
Re: Spring Forward, But Carefully
Dave, my first Ricochet post is to you. Thanks. Thanks for all the warnings of driving around big rigs. I am much more aware of the trucks and how my driving affects their maneuvering.
PS You make me laugh too.
Re: Spring Forward, But Carefully
AUMom: Dave, my first Ricochet post is to you. Thanks. Thanks for all the warnings of driving around big rigs. I am much more aware of the trucks and how my driving affects their maneuvering.
PS You make me laugh too. · Mar 14 at 5:54am
AUMom, as long as my driving doesn't make you laugh, all will be good. And welcome! Glad to have you here and posting.