A Job Dilemma
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Two weeks ago, at our Monday morning staff meeting, the boss dropped a bomb on me; I'm no longer allowed to use my personal vehicle for company business. He mentioned that I may have to drive our unit 7, which I consider a death trap. He hasn't pressed the issue, as he's been travelling and leaving his company truck available for me to use, but a day is coming when he will. My job requires me to travel locally a lot. I've got one 25kV substation under construction and need to check on progress daily at least, and often more to answer questions from the line crew. I've got a 69kV substation in development, components on order, and I need to survey the site for grading as well as check in parts at the warehouse as they arrive (we have no warehouseman, though we need one). I've got a solar generating station under construction that I need to manage at yet another site. Since we took over the sewer and water operations for the tribe a month ago, I've also been designated the engineer in charge for managing the extensive remediation necessary to put both back into working order, and that takes a lot of onsite inspection and management. Unit 7 is a common work truck - I'd guess a 3/4 - 1 ton chassis - but the entire back end is solid toolbox, and I can't see anything behind the doors. I'm 5'6" tall, and this thing is designed to be operated by someone 6'+ in height. I'm blind inside the cab, and it feels like I'm stepping into my coffin when I get into it. The few times I've had to drive it - my truck was in the shop - I've been so paranoid about backing over somebody's kid that I left the vehicle with the shakes and cold sweats, and found it hard to concentrate while driving it. Everyone else at work thinks I'm being a PITA and a whiner about the issue. They all either have never been inside it, or are over 6' tall, of course. Aside from this single issue, this is the best job I've ever had. It doesn't pay as much as I made twenty years ago, but the pay is three times what I'd get in any other job around here. For the first time since I was laid off in 1991 I can finally make ends meet, and I can't afford to lose that again. I'm too damned old to start again... My options are limited. I can refuse to drive it and get fired for insubordination (there are no labor laws in Arizona - they can do anything they want). I can accept the inevitable and drive the thing, but I know human nature is to resist the intolerable, so I'll end up avoiding travel that must be done and get fired for failing to
Can you pay for the insurance thingy for your car yourself? Sets a bad precedent for the company in general, but seems to be the easy way out.
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Two weeks ago, at our Monday morning staff meeting, the boss dropped a bomb on me; I'm no longer allowed to use my personal vehicle for company business. He mentioned that I may have to drive our unit 7, which I consider a death trap. He hasn't pressed the issue, as he's been travelling and leaving his company truck available for me to use, but a day is coming when he will. My job requires me to travel locally a lot. I've got one 25kV substation under construction and need to check on progress daily at least, and often more to answer questions from the line crew. I've got a 69kV substation in development, components on order, and I need to survey the site for grading as well as check in parts at the warehouse as they arrive (we have no warehouseman, though we need one). I've got a solar generating station under construction that I need to manage at yet another site. Since we took over the sewer and water operations for the tribe a month ago, I've also been designated the engineer in charge for managing the extensive remediation necessary to put both back into working order, and that takes a lot of onsite inspection and management. Unit 7 is a common work truck - I'd guess a 3/4 - 1 ton chassis - but the entire back end is solid toolbox, and I can't see anything behind the doors. I'm 5'6" tall, and this thing is designed to be operated by someone 6'+ in height. I'm blind inside the cab, and it feels like I'm stepping into my coffin when I get into it. The few times I've had to drive it - my truck was in the shop - I've been so paranoid about backing over somebody's kid that I left the vehicle with the shakes and cold sweats, and found it hard to concentrate while driving it. Everyone else at work thinks I'm being a PITA and a whiner about the issue. They all either have never been inside it, or are over 6' tall, of course. Aside from this single issue, this is the best job I've ever had. It doesn't pay as much as I made twenty years ago, but the pay is three times what I'd get in any other job around here. For the first time since I was laid off in 1991 I can finally make ends meet, and I can't afford to lose that again. I'm too damned old to start again... My options are limited. I can refuse to drive it and get fired for insubordination (there are no labor laws in Arizona - they can do anything they want). I can accept the inevitable and drive the thing, but I know human nature is to resist the intolerable, so I'll end up avoiding travel that must be done and get fired for failing to
Back into the boss's truck. If that doesn't work back into your boss's boss's car. Etc... :~ Keep reminding them that you told them you couldn't see when backing up.
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Two weeks ago, at our Monday morning staff meeting, the boss dropped a bomb on me; I'm no longer allowed to use my personal vehicle for company business. He mentioned that I may have to drive our unit 7, which I consider a death trap. He hasn't pressed the issue, as he's been travelling and leaving his company truck available for me to use, but a day is coming when he will. My job requires me to travel locally a lot. I've got one 25kV substation under construction and need to check on progress daily at least, and often more to answer questions from the line crew. I've got a 69kV substation in development, components on order, and I need to survey the site for grading as well as check in parts at the warehouse as they arrive (we have no warehouseman, though we need one). I've got a solar generating station under construction that I need to manage at yet another site. Since we took over the sewer and water operations for the tribe a month ago, I've also been designated the engineer in charge for managing the extensive remediation necessary to put both back into working order, and that takes a lot of onsite inspection and management. Unit 7 is a common work truck - I'd guess a 3/4 - 1 ton chassis - but the entire back end is solid toolbox, and I can't see anything behind the doors. I'm 5'6" tall, and this thing is designed to be operated by someone 6'+ in height. I'm blind inside the cab, and it feels like I'm stepping into my coffin when I get into it. The few times I've had to drive it - my truck was in the shop - I've been so paranoid about backing over somebody's kid that I left the vehicle with the shakes and cold sweats, and found it hard to concentrate while driving it. Everyone else at work thinks I'm being a PITA and a whiner about the issue. They all either have never been inside it, or are over 6' tall, of course. Aside from this single issue, this is the best job I've ever had. It doesn't pay as much as I made twenty years ago, but the pay is three times what I'd get in any other job around here. For the first time since I was laid off in 1991 I can finally make ends meet, and I can't afford to lose that again. I'm too damned old to start again... My options are limited. I can refuse to drive it and get fired for insubordination (there are no labor laws in Arizona - they can do anything they want). I can accept the inevitable and drive the thing, but I know human nature is to resist the intolerable, so I'll end up avoiding travel that must be done and get fired for failing to
Roger Wright wrote:
buy a rider from the insurance company to cover my vehicle while on company business
If money is the issue, make it clear that the costs associated by having a (likely) accident are more than the cost of what you mention here.
He who makes a beast out of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man
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Two weeks ago, at our Monday morning staff meeting, the boss dropped a bomb on me; I'm no longer allowed to use my personal vehicle for company business. He mentioned that I may have to drive our unit 7, which I consider a death trap. He hasn't pressed the issue, as he's been travelling and leaving his company truck available for me to use, but a day is coming when he will. My job requires me to travel locally a lot. I've got one 25kV substation under construction and need to check on progress daily at least, and often more to answer questions from the line crew. I've got a 69kV substation in development, components on order, and I need to survey the site for grading as well as check in parts at the warehouse as they arrive (we have no warehouseman, though we need one). I've got a solar generating station under construction that I need to manage at yet another site. Since we took over the sewer and water operations for the tribe a month ago, I've also been designated the engineer in charge for managing the extensive remediation necessary to put both back into working order, and that takes a lot of onsite inspection and management. Unit 7 is a common work truck - I'd guess a 3/4 - 1 ton chassis - but the entire back end is solid toolbox, and I can't see anything behind the doors. I'm 5'6" tall, and this thing is designed to be operated by someone 6'+ in height. I'm blind inside the cab, and it feels like I'm stepping into my coffin when I get into it. The few times I've had to drive it - my truck was in the shop - I've been so paranoid about backing over somebody's kid that I left the vehicle with the shakes and cold sweats, and found it hard to concentrate while driving it. Everyone else at work thinks I'm being a PITA and a whiner about the issue. They all either have never been inside it, or are over 6' tall, of course. Aside from this single issue, this is the best job I've ever had. It doesn't pay as much as I made twenty years ago, but the pay is three times what I'd get in any other job around here. For the first time since I was laid off in 1991 I can finally make ends meet, and I can't afford to lose that again. I'm too damned old to start again... My options are limited. I can refuse to drive it and get fired for insubordination (there are no labor laws in Arizona - they can do anything they want). I can accept the inevitable and drive the thing, but I know human nature is to resist the intolerable, so I'll end up avoiding travel that must be done and get fired for failing to
I think the reversing camera is your best option. As far as I know, they are not that expensive, and are easy to install. If your boss resists, buy a suction-cap wireless cam. I know how you feel (from the other side of the spectrum), since I am a "moderate" 6'7". My uncle has a truck I cannot reverse in because that small window-thingy is too freaking low. A 3.5 ton beast straight from hell, which carries all his plumber's equipment for him - and the occasional 1-ton-oven and stuff. Oh, and maybe you can expand the side-mirror assembly as well. Shouldn't be too expensive.
Cheers, Sebastian -- "If it was two men, the non-driver would have challenged the driver to simply crash through the gates. The macho image thing, you know." - Marc Clifton
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Two weeks ago, at our Monday morning staff meeting, the boss dropped a bomb on me; I'm no longer allowed to use my personal vehicle for company business. He mentioned that I may have to drive our unit 7, which I consider a death trap. He hasn't pressed the issue, as he's been travelling and leaving his company truck available for me to use, but a day is coming when he will. My job requires me to travel locally a lot. I've got one 25kV substation under construction and need to check on progress daily at least, and often more to answer questions from the line crew. I've got a 69kV substation in development, components on order, and I need to survey the site for grading as well as check in parts at the warehouse as they arrive (we have no warehouseman, though we need one). I've got a solar generating station under construction that I need to manage at yet another site. Since we took over the sewer and water operations for the tribe a month ago, I've also been designated the engineer in charge for managing the extensive remediation necessary to put both back into working order, and that takes a lot of onsite inspection and management. Unit 7 is a common work truck - I'd guess a 3/4 - 1 ton chassis - but the entire back end is solid toolbox, and I can't see anything behind the doors. I'm 5'6" tall, and this thing is designed to be operated by someone 6'+ in height. I'm blind inside the cab, and it feels like I'm stepping into my coffin when I get into it. The few times I've had to drive it - my truck was in the shop - I've been so paranoid about backing over somebody's kid that I left the vehicle with the shakes and cold sweats, and found it hard to concentrate while driving it. Everyone else at work thinks I'm being a PITA and a whiner about the issue. They all either have never been inside it, or are over 6' tall, of course. Aside from this single issue, this is the best job I've ever had. It doesn't pay as much as I made twenty years ago, but the pay is three times what I'd get in any other job around here. For the first time since I was laid off in 1991 I can finally make ends meet, and I can't afford to lose that again. I'm too damned old to start again... My options are limited. I can refuse to drive it and get fired for insubordination (there are no labor laws in Arizona - they can do anything they want). I can accept the inevitable and drive the thing, but I know human nature is to resist the intolerable, so I'll end up avoiding travel that must be done and get fired for failing to
In the UK adding business use (as long as it's not for cold calling sales) tends to be cheap. In my case it added £25 to a £250 policy. I don't know if this is practial but could you add mirrors to help?
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Two weeks ago, at our Monday morning staff meeting, the boss dropped a bomb on me; I'm no longer allowed to use my personal vehicle for company business. He mentioned that I may have to drive our unit 7, which I consider a death trap. He hasn't pressed the issue, as he's been travelling and leaving his company truck available for me to use, but a day is coming when he will. My job requires me to travel locally a lot. I've got one 25kV substation under construction and need to check on progress daily at least, and often more to answer questions from the line crew. I've got a 69kV substation in development, components on order, and I need to survey the site for grading as well as check in parts at the warehouse as they arrive (we have no warehouseman, though we need one). I've got a solar generating station under construction that I need to manage at yet another site. Since we took over the sewer and water operations for the tribe a month ago, I've also been designated the engineer in charge for managing the extensive remediation necessary to put both back into working order, and that takes a lot of onsite inspection and management. Unit 7 is a common work truck - I'd guess a 3/4 - 1 ton chassis - but the entire back end is solid toolbox, and I can't see anything behind the doors. I'm 5'6" tall, and this thing is designed to be operated by someone 6'+ in height. I'm blind inside the cab, and it feels like I'm stepping into my coffin when I get into it. The few times I've had to drive it - my truck was in the shop - I've been so paranoid about backing over somebody's kid that I left the vehicle with the shakes and cold sweats, and found it hard to concentrate while driving it. Everyone else at work thinks I'm being a PITA and a whiner about the issue. They all either have never been inside it, or are over 6' tall, of course. Aside from this single issue, this is the best job I've ever had. It doesn't pay as much as I made twenty years ago, but the pay is three times what I'd get in any other job around here. For the first time since I was laid off in 1991 I can finally make ends meet, and I can't afford to lose that again. I'm too damned old to start again... My options are limited. I can refuse to drive it and get fired for insubordination (there are no labor laws in Arizona - they can do anything they want). I can accept the inevitable and drive the thing, but I know human nature is to resist the intolerable, so I'll end up avoiding travel that must be done and get fired for failing to
Talk to your boss, find out the detials of why you can't drive your own vehicle. Unless he is totally unreasonable or wants ot piss you off there should be wriggle room. And yeah whining about it is only going to piss off your fellow workers.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH
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Two weeks ago, at our Monday morning staff meeting, the boss dropped a bomb on me; I'm no longer allowed to use my personal vehicle for company business. He mentioned that I may have to drive our unit 7, which I consider a death trap. He hasn't pressed the issue, as he's been travelling and leaving his company truck available for me to use, but a day is coming when he will. My job requires me to travel locally a lot. I've got one 25kV substation under construction and need to check on progress daily at least, and often more to answer questions from the line crew. I've got a 69kV substation in development, components on order, and I need to survey the site for grading as well as check in parts at the warehouse as they arrive (we have no warehouseman, though we need one). I've got a solar generating station under construction that I need to manage at yet another site. Since we took over the sewer and water operations for the tribe a month ago, I've also been designated the engineer in charge for managing the extensive remediation necessary to put both back into working order, and that takes a lot of onsite inspection and management. Unit 7 is a common work truck - I'd guess a 3/4 - 1 ton chassis - but the entire back end is solid toolbox, and I can't see anything behind the doors. I'm 5'6" tall, and this thing is designed to be operated by someone 6'+ in height. I'm blind inside the cab, and it feels like I'm stepping into my coffin when I get into it. The few times I've had to drive it - my truck was in the shop - I've been so paranoid about backing over somebody's kid that I left the vehicle with the shakes and cold sweats, and found it hard to concentrate while driving it. Everyone else at work thinks I'm being a PITA and a whiner about the issue. They all either have never been inside it, or are over 6' tall, of course. Aside from this single issue, this is the best job I've ever had. It doesn't pay as much as I made twenty years ago, but the pay is three times what I'd get in any other job around here. For the first time since I was laid off in 1991 I can finally make ends meet, and I can't afford to lose that again. I'm too damned old to start again... My options are limited. I can refuse to drive it and get fired for insubordination (there are no labor laws in Arizona - they can do anything they want). I can accept the inevitable and drive the thing, but I know human nature is to resist the intolerable, so I'll end up avoiding travel that must be done and get fired for failing to
Roger Wright wrote:
Everyone else at work thinks I'm being a PITA and a whiner about the issue. They all either have never been inside it, or are over 6' tall, of course.
Not necessarily. I know that I am personally comfortable driving ANY vehicle. If you can't get your boss to see reason, then perhaps you need to expand your comfort zone. It should not be possible for a driver of any vehicle to not know what is behind them unless it is coming from underground into the line of the vehicle. Look what is behind you BEFORE getting into the vehicle and keep an eye on your surroundings. don't park in a position where you have to backup whenever possible (or backup into the parking stall when parking so you know whats there instead of the unknown of having to backup when first getting into the vehicle. Hell, honk the horn before backing up if all else fails.
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Two weeks ago, at our Monday morning staff meeting, the boss dropped a bomb on me; I'm no longer allowed to use my personal vehicle for company business. He mentioned that I may have to drive our unit 7, which I consider a death trap. He hasn't pressed the issue, as he's been travelling and leaving his company truck available for me to use, but a day is coming when he will. My job requires me to travel locally a lot. I've got one 25kV substation under construction and need to check on progress daily at least, and often more to answer questions from the line crew. I've got a 69kV substation in development, components on order, and I need to survey the site for grading as well as check in parts at the warehouse as they arrive (we have no warehouseman, though we need one). I've got a solar generating station under construction that I need to manage at yet another site. Since we took over the sewer and water operations for the tribe a month ago, I've also been designated the engineer in charge for managing the extensive remediation necessary to put both back into working order, and that takes a lot of onsite inspection and management. Unit 7 is a common work truck - I'd guess a 3/4 - 1 ton chassis - but the entire back end is solid toolbox, and I can't see anything behind the doors. I'm 5'6" tall, and this thing is designed to be operated by someone 6'+ in height. I'm blind inside the cab, and it feels like I'm stepping into my coffin when I get into it. The few times I've had to drive it - my truck was in the shop - I've been so paranoid about backing over somebody's kid that I left the vehicle with the shakes and cold sweats, and found it hard to concentrate while driving it. Everyone else at work thinks I'm being a PITA and a whiner about the issue. They all either have never been inside it, or are over 6' tall, of course. Aside from this single issue, this is the best job I've ever had. It doesn't pay as much as I made twenty years ago, but the pay is three times what I'd get in any other job around here. For the first time since I was laid off in 1991 I can finally make ends meet, and I can't afford to lose that again. I'm too damned old to start again... My options are limited. I can refuse to drive it and get fired for insubordination (there are no labor laws in Arizona - they can do anything they want). I can accept the inevitable and drive the thing, but I know human nature is to resist the intolerable, so I'll end up avoiding travel that must be done and get fired for failing to
I don't see the issue. I've driven several types of trucks, including various U-Haul trucks that have the same type of visibility rearward. If the mirrors aren't sufficient, it's not much to add an extension. Make no mistake, I'm not a fan of driving trucks, but I've learned to adjust when I have to.
Anyone who thinks he has a better idea of what's good for people than people do is a swine. - P.J. O'Rourke
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Two weeks ago, at our Monday morning staff meeting, the boss dropped a bomb on me; I'm no longer allowed to use my personal vehicle for company business. He mentioned that I may have to drive our unit 7, which I consider a death trap. He hasn't pressed the issue, as he's been travelling and leaving his company truck available for me to use, but a day is coming when he will. My job requires me to travel locally a lot. I've got one 25kV substation under construction and need to check on progress daily at least, and often more to answer questions from the line crew. I've got a 69kV substation in development, components on order, and I need to survey the site for grading as well as check in parts at the warehouse as they arrive (we have no warehouseman, though we need one). I've got a solar generating station under construction that I need to manage at yet another site. Since we took over the sewer and water operations for the tribe a month ago, I've also been designated the engineer in charge for managing the extensive remediation necessary to put both back into working order, and that takes a lot of onsite inspection and management. Unit 7 is a common work truck - I'd guess a 3/4 - 1 ton chassis - but the entire back end is solid toolbox, and I can't see anything behind the doors. I'm 5'6" tall, and this thing is designed to be operated by someone 6'+ in height. I'm blind inside the cab, and it feels like I'm stepping into my coffin when I get into it. The few times I've had to drive it - my truck was in the shop - I've been so paranoid about backing over somebody's kid that I left the vehicle with the shakes and cold sweats, and found it hard to concentrate while driving it. Everyone else at work thinks I'm being a PITA and a whiner about the issue. They all either have never been inside it, or are over 6' tall, of course. Aside from this single issue, this is the best job I've ever had. It doesn't pay as much as I made twenty years ago, but the pay is three times what I'd get in any other job around here. For the first time since I was laid off in 1991 I can finally make ends meet, and I can't afford to lose that again. I'm too damned old to start again... My options are limited. I can refuse to drive it and get fired for insubordination (there are no labor laws in Arizona - they can do anything they want). I can accept the inevitable and drive the thing, but I know human nature is to resist the intolerable, so I'll end up avoiding travel that must be done and get fired for failing to
I have to say that in the end you will likely need to make yourself comfortable driving the truck. BTW 5'6" is not too small to drive a truck like the one you describe. In my Army unit I had smaller men and women driving MUCH bigger trucks, including tractor trailers. It is all a matter of training and practice. Driving a vehicle does not require the inside rear view mirrors. Practice using the side view mirrors, they are effective for when you are driving. For backing out, one good practice is to use another person to help guide you out (called a ground guide - which are required in the military). If there is noone around to ground guide you, then there is also probably noone to run over. My experience is that accidents backing out are most often because of lack of attention. To me it seems that you will be hyper-attentive until you overcome your reservations and become comfortable with the size of the vehicle. Until you are comfortable, park far at the far ends of the parking lots where there is plenty of room. You will do just fine. Some of the suggestions for rear view vision (mirrors, video) are really good. Extra add-ons requested for safety sake are taken seriously (it would look really bad if you asked for help with rear vision, were denied, and in 6 months had an accident that could have been prevented if the request was full-filled). This means make the request in writing, formally, most likely through the maintenance department (with your manager's acknowledgement). More more thing, your manager is likely just the messenger. Approach him with these concerns and ideas as if he is your friend.
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I have to say that in the end you will likely need to make yourself comfortable driving the truck. BTW 5'6" is not too small to drive a truck like the one you describe. In my Army unit I had smaller men and women driving MUCH bigger trucks, including tractor trailers. It is all a matter of training and practice. Driving a vehicle does not require the inside rear view mirrors. Practice using the side view mirrors, they are effective for when you are driving. For backing out, one good practice is to use another person to help guide you out (called a ground guide - which are required in the military). If there is noone around to ground guide you, then there is also probably noone to run over. My experience is that accidents backing out are most often because of lack of attention. To me it seems that you will be hyper-attentive until you overcome your reservations and become comfortable with the size of the vehicle. Until you are comfortable, park far at the far ends of the parking lots where there is plenty of room. You will do just fine. Some of the suggestions for rear view vision (mirrors, video) are really good. Extra add-ons requested for safety sake are taken seriously (it would look really bad if you asked for help with rear vision, were denied, and in 6 months had an accident that could have been prevented if the request was full-filled). This means make the request in writing, formally, most likely through the maintenance department (with your manager's acknowledgement). More more thing, your manager is likely just the messenger. Approach him with these concerns and ideas as if he is your friend.
Unfortunately, there is no way to see anything behind the vehicle, even using the side mirrors, as the toolbox is as high as the mirrors. It is a solid block that extends more than halfway to the top of the rear window, unlike any other truck I have ever seen. Even if I was 6' 6" tall, there is no way I could see a child behind me - the angles are wrong, and it really shouldn't be driven by anyone. I will check with the boss, but I'm also going to ask OSHA for an opinion (without naming any names, for now) and see what they have to say. Thanks for the input... :)
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