Just can't get a good basic truck, like the old days!

[paulsharvey]

Anyone know since 2014 every new car in the US has an edr aka a black box that stores accident info occasionally used to reconstruct accidents. Anyways I used "snapshot" plug in obd driving recorder from progressive in the winter when it first came out. I was docked several times for rapid acceleration and rapid decelerations. No kidding, anyone who's ever driven on snow and ice covered roads will occasionally briefly spin the tires when starting off from a stop sign. Occasionally lock the tires even with abs. I dropped progressive after I got my report from them.

The GeoTab we have in our work vehicles is similar, although it includes stuff like frequent stops, meet up points, ect; and can be set to alert of off hour usage, or out of "zone" travel. I kniw they dont have some of that currently turned on, as I sometimes work nights and/or weekends, and haven't gotten a nasty email about it.

Moving the vehicle 15 ft without a seat belt on, yes...

 

[Eagle1]

I don't agree to those devices. While extremely rare these days, sometimes you just have roast the tires... like on your way to get new ones..

 

[Oaktree]

I quit driving to Dallas for work and asked about getting my insurance rate dropped. State Farm wanted to put a GPS tracker in my truck. I said no. It was very difficult to keep from cussing at them when on the phone after that response.

???
You asked for a way to reduce your insurance cost and they offered a solution, why the anger? It's not like they mandated it as a condition of continuing coverage. Could have just politely declined and left it at that.

The GeoTab we have in our work vehicles is similar, although it includes stuff like frequent stops, meet up points, ect; and can be set to alert of off hour usage, or out of "zone" travel. I kniw they dont have some of that currently turned on, as I sometimes work nights and/or weekends, and haven't gotten a nasty email about it.

Moving the vehicle 15 ft without a seat belt on, yes...

Glad I never worked for a company that was so "big brother".

 

[John0829]

When I worked for ATT as an outside tech working digital services, not POTS, my van was the first vehicle to get GPS tracking installed on it. Supposedly to help make for more efficient dispatches, next job closest to your current location type of thing. BOY do I have a stories about that!!! Anyway my supervisor came in the next morning for the group meeting and was showing the report... It showed me going though a school zone 4 mph above the speed limit. He asked me why I was speeding, my reply, that way the little b@$tards will bounce over the hood and not get stuck on the windshield. School was not even in session, he was not amused. From that day forward I made sure to drive 5 mph below the posted limit no matter how urgent the call, even taking back roads to take the shortest distance to the next job even though going another way would have been faster.

Like this day...

As for the more efficient dispatching, one day they ran me 60+ miles to my first job two counties away, the next job was in the complete opposite direction over 120 miles away. Third job of the day was back to within 5 miles of the first job of the day and job four was back to within 10 miles of the second. What did I care, being most of the day was windshield time and overtime. This was just one of several "efficient" dispatch days I had when working outside.

 

[paulsharvey]

We had one guy who was clocked at 90 mph in his yard. Because GeoTab is drawing info through the vehicle, im assuming he spun the tires in some wet grass or something, the the vehicle briefly read 90 mph?

 

[WinterDeere]

We had one guy who was clocked at 90 mph in his yard. Because GeoTab is drawing info through the vehicle, im assuming he spun the tires in some wet grass or something, the the vehicle briefly read 90 mph?

I had a neighbor who went thru a brief period of alcoholic binges during their divorce, get his Cadillac Escalade going nearly that fast through his front yard. Somehow, leaving his garage with the pedal to the floor mat, he got going fast enough to completely wrap the vehicle around a tree in his own front yard.

 

[3930dave]

That happened here in Nevada, not far from where I live. Some friends of mine found the van with the lady in it while hunting for sheds. Remains of her husband were found a year or so later up under a pinyon pine where he had taken shelter, by one of my coworkers who was elk hunting.

"Walking out" is not a good option when the town, the nearest pavement, the nearest anything can be 40 or 100 miles away and you are in mountainous terrain and not sure which way to travel.

I distinctly remember the picture of the van - looked fine, just hung-up. Don't leave the vehicle, is what most people should stick to. My quick search the other day didn't pull that^ up, but sadly, another more recent fatality.

Under those conditions ^, even someone fit, and prepared, has a big challenge. Having enough water, is the first (and often last) problem.

PACE planning...... Comms - people have a cell for P, then for many/most, nothing else.....

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

One reason I don't have "apps" on my personal phone.

Even w/o optional apps installed, if a cell is on, assume it's being tracked.

Tested-out Faraday bag, is one way to carry a backup phone..... and the battery will last longer between charges....

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

Due to the number of major catastrophes in recent years, there is typically a device from which each competitor must send a single text message each day, letting organizers know they're still alive and in the race. But this device cannot be used to request weather or any other information that might aid in their circumnavigation.

As much as I like olde-school tech, and solutions, going-rambling anywhere remote, having an InReach or equivalent with you is prudent.

inReach® Satellite Communicators | Messengers | Garmin

Am I remembering correctly ?...... Something about USN going back to teaching sextant etc. navigation ?

PACE....

Rgds, D.

 

[deserteagle71]

As much as I like olde-school tech, and solutions, going-rambling anywhere remote, having an InReach or equivalent with you is prudent.

inReach® Satellite Communicators | Messengers | Garmin

Been using a Garmin Montana 750i GPS unit for years now. It has the inReach circuitry and antenna built in and I can testify that it works really well no matter where I am in the outback. Only thing to remember with inReach is that it uses the Iridium satellite system and for that the inReach unit has to have a clear view of the sky. In other words, if you are in a vehicle with a metal roof...it ain't gonna work!