PHL problems and solutions (equipment)

[D M G]

Next, while your post, albeit someone elses answer and description, gives accurate information on the issue, it disputes neither my point nor the intial intent of my post...... The type of fuel in the diesel vehicles has never been the real problem during cold weather operations in our vehicles.....The glow plugs in the engines and block warmers are more than sufficient to get the engine started after a cold soak.

Your first post questions "winterized" fuels and then you go on to say "the fuel in the vehicles have nothing to do with it." One of the first articles that came up on a search talked about winter fuel additives, which Piney spoke about, and the effects of cold on diesel fuel. Blast me all you want, but you're wrong.

Park 10 gasoline powered tugs next to 10 diesel powered tugs on a frigid night. In the morning 90% of the gasoline tugs will start and 90% of the diesel won't. End of story.

Most of the ramp's equipment is diesel.

Do you have any idea of the number of gallons of #2 that US uses per month on the ramp in PHL?

Not sure I'll be able to get it, but I'll see what I can do.

 

[MarkMyWords]

I don't agree Bob.

You are putting every Manager in the company in the same catagory. How is that any different then someone saying that all union employees are lazy? Not every person that wears the title Manager, Supervisor, Director or VP are bad employees. Not all are responsible for what has happened in the past.

 

[allstrike]

Park 10 gasoline powered tugs next to 10 diesel powered tugs on a frigid night. In the morning 90% of the gasoline tugs will start and 90% of the diesel won't. End of story.
Most of the ramp's equipment is diesel.

DMG is correct folks its just a fact.And the fuel we use is not the problem.
As for PHL well when the first snow comes I hope you can be there for the show its going to be a good one.
1.us/east does not use block heaters,no place to plug in 100 tugs on the ramp.
2.There is no place to put all the belt loaders inside,also the brakes freeze up when they are left with them set on the ramp.
3.Glow plugs do work if you cycle them 2 or maybe 3 times.But it never gets done.
4.either start works well...
5.The battery's well they just wont hold a charge,lights get left on...etc etc..lots of dead stuff all the time.
6.One big problem is since us/east has stoped changeing oil in the vehicles except for twice a year,yes 2 times a year to save money things have worn out.Try that on your vehicle and see what the oil looks like in 6 months ha..........black crude....
Then there is always the guy who cranks it till the battery dies and moves on to another tug,then another then another,in frustration to get one to start.
If any one doughts this give a call to PHL GSE and set up an appointment for a one night tour,Im sure someone will be pleased to show you the rest of the story.
Is this all managements fault NO,the Mech's NO..the Ramp.NO..its just the nature of the beast in the north.
10 more mechs and 5 more trucks that will run to help keep the operation going would help but we are working smart with less remember,well mother nature doesnt play like that.

Then also we have the ever present problem of just plain old human error,cold weather busy airport,workers under pressure,etc etc..

then we have the fuelers but thats another story....it goes on and on...Lord help us if it snows....
Not to mention the baggage tunnel that floods when it rains...hahahaha...

if you only knew the half of it.
ALL THE NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO PROTECT THE INNOCENT,ANY RESMBLANCE TO ANY THING YOU KNOW IS COINCADENCE!!

 

[diogenes]

FWIW, from a station well south of PHL.

Come the first frost, diesel equipment s%*ts the bed.

US allows them to be fueled with JP4. If I have been reliably informed, oil is supposed to be mixed with JP4 when used as ground equipment fuel, to boost lubrication. That rarely happens. I have had decent mechanics differ on the effect on bearings and injectors, but I do know an unusual number of engines have s%*t the bed. Of course, this could be due to the reduction of A checks (regular interval service, such as oil changes).

On a lot of equipment, glow plugs are fine down to about 32 degrees. Below that, not so much.

So, if you haven't run the battery in the ground (they tend to s%*t the bed in cold weather, too), you use ether, which certainly contributes to premature wear (see unusual number of engines s&* the bed).

Or, you jump start, and grind the teeth off the bendix.

Plus, the vendors do a poor job checking fluid levels. Many times agents have gone behind them and found equipment where oil did not touch the dipstick, or there was low coolant or transmission fluid.

All adds to wear and tear.

Small stations can work around this by plugging in heater blocks or garaging equipment.

Now I just know they have the hundreds of receptacles, extension cords, working heater blocks and/or garage space to accomodate all of PHL's ground equipment.

Right?

My advice this year to PHL. Follow the starting instructions explicitly. Tag out each piece of equipment that fails. Make sure y'all retain a copy of the tag-out. Now you've got a document trail when the fur flies.

 

[allstrike]

My advice this year to PHL. Follow the starting instructions explicitly. Tag out each piece of equipment that fails. Make sure y'all retain a copy of the tag-out. Now you've got a document trail when the fur flies.

You make some very good points,my hats off to ya.
We used to change oil 4 times a year now its 2.
And the venders that repair,I mean repaint our our equipt do poor work,engines get the minmum of parts on rebuilds,if its still in tolerance its used over.wich sounds ok looks good on paper but on a rebuild its not worth crap.It just insures its going to be re built sooner,vs using all new high wear parts.

If all the work groups could meet together to come up with a group plan it would help,it was tried in pitt years ago but I dont know if it worked out very long,it was all volunteer work..well maybe we can put up a prayer box hu.

 

[libertybell]

My advice this year to PHL. Follow the starting instructions explicitly. Tag out each piece of equipment that fails. Make sure y'all retain a copy of the tag-out. Now you've got a document trail when the fur flies.

Tag out equipment WOW thats an orginal idea!

Write ups on equipment has been going on for years I would say most in Philly would think the documents went right in the managers file box its called the garbage can!

Folks less than a month and still no equipment in site! The Meltdown tricke is now running water

Oh but lets all have a positive attitude management tells us so here you are.... Yippie terrific hooray!

Ok management you happy now .....Just get us some "F"n equipment Tempe!

 

[BoeingBoy]

Or pray for good weather......

Not to minimize the equipment issue in PHL, but it appears most people forget the root cause of the two "meltdowns" last Christmas - both at US (East) and Comair. That was bad weather.

Jim

 

[mlt]

Folks less than a month and still no equipment in site! The Meltdown tricke is now running water

Oh but lets all have a positive attitude management tells us so here you are.... Yippie terrific hooray!

Ok management you happy now .....Just get us some "F"n equipment Tempe!

Mgm't will order the equipment as soon as they decide what they want to be for Halloween. :down:

 

[mbmbbost]

I passed a USAirways pushback tractor headed out of Boston this afternoon on the Mass Pike (on a flatbed). Sort of an unusual site on the highway. Couldn't help but wonder where it was headed... <_<

 

[barbeetantrums]

I passed a USAirways pushback tractor headed out of Boston this afternoon on the Mass Pike (on a flatbed). Sort of an unusual site on the highway. Couldn't help but wonder where it was headed... <_<

I don't know but now I bet BOS will have an equipment shortage!

Good goobily goop!

 

[diogenes]

Tag out equipment WOW thats an orginal idea!

Write ups on equipment has been going on for years I would say most in Philly would think the documents went right in the managers file box its called the garbage can!

Folks less than a month and still no equipment in site! The Meltdown tricke is now running water

Oh but lets all have a positive attitude management tells us so here you are.... Yippie terrific hooray!

Ok management you happy now .....Just get us some "F"n equipment Tempe!

Indeed?

Did PHL fleet or the IAM make proper use of their copy of the tag-outs?

When the company blamed employees for the meltdown, did fleet or the IAM make these tag-outs available to the press and DOT inspectors?

If these documents were provided, I'd say in view of the DOT report they served their purpose, yes?

If not, why not?

 

[roadtrip]

Indeed?

Did PHL fleet or the IAM make proper use of their copy of the tag-outs?

When the company blamed employees for the meltdown, did fleet or the IAM make these tag-outs available to the press and DOT inspectors?

If these documents were provided, I'd say in view of the DOT report they served their purpose, yes?

If not, why not?

You know its funny you said that Its been brought to the attention of the IAM local boys and the suggestion was to do a write up on equipment. The IAM local boys are so scared to tag out the unsafe equipment they get NO support from the overpaid AGC's or President Canalle (P.O.S). We had a guy get fired for tagging out equipment a while ago. The Reps are worthless the only time we seem to see them around is when there are workers talking about getting another union. We expect to see them around soon with the talk of TWU brewing.

So yes I agree if documents were provided the DOT they would have a field day when this forecasted meltdown happens.

 

[diogenes]

Let me tell you WHY there is pressure on IAM fleet not to tag out equipment.

Because in some locations, IAM mechs maintain that equipment. Tag outs put the pressure on them, and repeated tag outs on the same piece of equipment for the same thing makes a paper trail management can beat mechanics over the head with.

As IAM at US is all about mechs, and fleet is mere cannon fodder, it is no surprise the reps don't rock the boat. Where else can an uneducated ramper make 100, 000 large a year? They will toe the IAM line.

On the night the lights went out in Philly, and chairs sailed thru the air, I believe what provoked it was Canale calling fleet agent scabs, so we know how he feels about agents.

I saw this mech/fleet pissing contest over tag-outs too many times to think it's not happening now.

My advise to Phl. You're not going to get too far listening to what passes for union representation up there. Tag out the equipment - it's company policy. Keep a record separate from the union AND the company. After a few hundred, send copies to Doug.

 

[EricLv2Fish]

Let me tell you WHY there is pressure on IAM fleet not to tag out equipment.

Because in some locations, IAM mechs maintain that equipment. Tag outs put the pressure on them, and repeated tag outs on the same piece of equipment for the same thing makes a paper trail management can beat mechanics over the head with.

Repeat and Reoccuring problems should be investigated, but no one should be "beat over the head" for not getting the repair right the first time unless of course negligence can be proven. Often it's a training issue and should be identified and corrected. Not many people will purposely neglect or lack the integrity to do the job right. Could it be a training issue?

 

[Harry Callahan]

As IAM at US is all about mechs, and fleet is mere cannon fodder, it is no surprise the reps don't rock the boat. Where else can an uneducated ramper make 100, 000 large a year? They will toe the IAM line.

I resent that comment about uneducated rampers making 100,000 large a year. I can't speak for your station but at mine I know of only one who may make that or close to it & he lives there! Also on the uneducated myself & most of my co workers have college degrees.