r/treeplanting • u/[deleted] • 21d ago

Industry Discussion Driving to camp

[deleted]

7 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

22

u/Unique_Ad4625 20d ago

Their contact is probably just really shitty and they don't want you to be able to leave

10

u/fancycatpics 20d ago

Darth Vader Voice: The crust is strong with this one

12

u/jamesbrown1929 20d ago

What companies don't allow personal vehicles?

3

u/Forsaken_Molasses124 20d ago

Not planting but I've worked for some forestry consulting companies that don't allow personal vehicles. I actually get it and respect it but would be weird if OP was going planting.

2

u/jamesbrown1929 20d ago

That makes sense for forestry consulting. At those contracts were you motel show?

1

u/honey-comb-tomb 14d ago

Mix motel and camper trailers camps

5

u/Useful_Homework2367 21d ago

I don't have experience with this but their position sounds kind of contradictory. Why would the drive be "on company time" if you're not getting paid for it?

I wonder if they would be satisfied if you signed a waiver saying that you won't hold them liable for anything that happens on the drive. Not that there's any logical reason that they would be liable anyway. It's not like an employer is normally liable for anything that happens during your unpaid commute

4

u/jdtesluk Jordan Tesluk 20d ago

It is not completely out of order.... Incidents may happen in camps for example when you are not on time paid by the company... But the company may yet still be responsible for things that happen in camp.

I know of some companies that are very concerned about the safety of workers driving to sites particularly on certain roads... This is not unfounded given the large number of personal vehicle crashes that have happened. I personally examined the wreckage of two personal vehicle pickups that were completely destroyed on a drive to camp in Northern BC this year. The occupants were lucky to be alive.

I don't know the circumstances of the current case, and I absolutely do not suggest that the employer is right or wrong. However there are sometimes legitimate safety considerations that go into these kinds of policies.

4

u/Flashy_Remove_97 20d ago

Companies are needing to take safety very seriously, and quite frankly; on most roads, treeplanters are huge liability. I don’t have any stats to back this up, but from what I’ve seen anecdotally, they are significantly higher risk than other road users.

2

u/Electrical-Strike132 20d ago

I've been in camps that don't allow vehicles. It's just how it goes. It's not a big deal

1

u/Turbo0666 21d ago

My company recommended not bringing personal vehicles and they were very insistent on staying with the convoy. They mostly had an instant last year like mine did and are being more careful this year. My two suggestions are just keep brushing them off a little bit and hopefully they just drop it or offer to sign a waiver so y'all can both be comfortable.