expect this

[reppy007]

You guys that dont have computers in your trucks yet,but will be getting them soon,this is what you may get....GPS,yes they can track you,but they also are watching where you are cause if new orders come in they can see which truck is closest,you may get what they call supertech....where other lineman can see what orders you have,not all lineman have that on their computers....these guys can call the dispatcher,or text them and cherry pick your orders....taking the easy orders and leaving you with the buzzard orders....all without you even knowing it....its called helping you out in their eyes,these are the guys that only want the easy overtime.....you can also find out what the other lineman have turned in,on any trouble call,you can read his notes that he sent to the dispatchers,without even asking him what he did.....you can see his arrival time,his completed times......the bosses want you to give good notes,anything you can type down as to what you have done,seen ,or what is needed if a big crew is called......it takes time when your new to it....but you dont need all that paperwork and the system works really well,you name it and they got it.....maps of your destination no problemo....maps of the urd loop that your on,its there,maps of a circuit its also there.......ohh.....your lunch or your meal....theres a place for that also,its call un-available.....truck broke down...no need to worry they have that covered too.Linefuses on a 3 phase lateral...they want that info also,which was blown......north south east or west,top,bottom...its all there....even weather conditions,you get to be the weather guy for the day.....they want that....what else can I say?

[Hebrew]

Question,is your dispatcher required to make and keep a log of all the jobs you attend and what you do to fix or not fix?

[reppy007]

Question,is your dispatcher required to make and keep a log of all the jobs you attend and what you do to fix or not fix?

No,all orders are sent to you by computer,weather it be a big job like setting many poles or meter orders,trouble,lockband removals,ect....and everything you do is sent back by computer,so once its sent its like an e-mail...its gone,and cant be changed,everything is on the computers,theres little that they can do except read the info that you provided.....now there are a few things that they can change,but not much....if there is a change you could call them or text them to let them know what the situation is........when they recieve an order that requires a big crew,they can drop /send that order to that larg crew....or a foreman can make the decision and transfer that order....all this doesnt have to be done at the trouble-board/dispatching....the system is great,if its used proper.....you must remember that a computer is as good as the one who is using it,lineman have always tried to pull the wool over anything they have had contact with,and computers are no different.....if you catch my drift......if you dont fix something theres a slot for that too.you would just click on the trouble on customers side box.....or the order could be refered to another crew if it was on the utilitys side.......I had the computers in my truck while I was with the utility.....and while I was with the contractor....no difference,except that the utility owns the computer and they keep track of you and your where-abouts if they want to....so its not just a utility thing.

[gwolf001]

Reppy
what type of computer system do ya'll use for you mapping and service orders?

we use milsoft for our mapping, and Clevest for our orders

[reppy007]

Reppy
what type of computer system do ya'll use for you mapping and service orders?

we use milsoft for our mapping, and Clevest for our orders

Thats a good question,cause I dont have the answer,Im not working with them anymore,Ill be sure to ask when I talk to one of their workers.I want to say they had a disk that you would download for the mapping.How long has your company had computers in the trucks?

[gwolf001]

we have used computers in the trucks for our mapping system for about 5 years, and the field personal have used truck computers to recieve there orders for about 3 years. technology is great! if everthing works right

[reppy007]

we have used computers in the trucks for our mapping system for about 5 years, and the field personal have used truck computers to recieve there orders for about 3 years. technology is great! if everthing works right

I think we started fiddling with them in the late 80s,they didnt look anything like the one they wound up with.One was small,very small and I knew then ,that it was pretty much a wast of time.They had a lineman named George that kind of tested it out,he was super intelligent and things just didnt work out,although the idea was great.I knew this cause i happened to work with him.As time passed by they messed with a couple of other systems...finally it all came together,there were a few problems but they were small,like being knocked off and out or reach.Now everything goes really smooth.I still dont favor the mapping cause Im used to seeing the big picture...the whole picture...theres only so much that you can get on the screens without dragging.There were times when I went un-available and sat at a location for a couple of hours waiting on a tech to come to my location to fix computer problems.I didnt care for that at first...it slowed me down,but they didnt mind and they didnt complain....the company just wanted the situation corrected......and I learned to deal with that....with the computer down,they couldnt get real time info,and thats what they wanted. At first the lineman complained that the computers would slow them down,it may have at first..but as they got used to it, things quieted down

[Pootnaigle]

Ummmmmmm the ones I just loved were blinking light calls or Pt lts calls where when ya got there it was obviously a bad connection inside the customers breaker box.Melted wire at the main or something of that nature. Run the customer down and explain the situation to em and that they needed to call an electrician. Leave and 30 minutes later the same call comes back thru the computer. I reckon they figure if they call enough times they can skip the electrician.

[reppy007]

Ummmmmmm the ones I just loved were blinking light calls or Pt lts calls where when ya got there it was obviously a bad connection inside the customers breaker box.Melted wire at the main or something of that nature. Run the customer down and explain the situation to em and that they needed to call an electrician. Leave and 30 minutes later the same call comes back thru the computer. I reckon they figure if they call enough times they can skip the electrician.

That can irritate a man Poot...very seldom would I go back....now if it happened to be a blonde in a bikini in the middle of the summer ,that was a little different....I might tell the dispatcher that I may have missed something,and go back for a second look.

[reppy007]

people seem to look ,they see your woRk vs a contractors work......... on the average who does more work? I KNOW ,DO YOU ?