Sometimes, a lot of information can be extracted by listening to the employees around the businesses in the back or garage bay areas over the course of either approaching or passing some 20 visits over the course of undisclosed dates and Southern California locations in 2008. What I have seen and heard, or experienced while at and on U-haul sites, I now share with you.
It is not just the consumers that have problems with Uhaul, but employees who seek to have a professional career with a professional company as well.
Listening to the management and employees at Uhaul in the Southern California area, it seems to be that Uhaul almost likens itself as sort of a fast food service, but is unlike fast foods, is unwilling to commit resourses to train the employees properly... Even those who have been there 2 years and more.
1) when transferring either a 14' or 17' truck, one employee was scolded by the group of fellow U-haul employees that preceded that employee, that they should have driven between 85-90 miles an hour like the rest of the pack (!), and had "no right to drive freeway speeds of 70 mph and make everybody wait an extra 10 minutes" to arrive, or words to this effect. Fortunately for innocent freeway drivers, these employees were not towing trailers at that time;
2) employees are encouraged to spend time on a Uhaul self-help instructional site on their own time as unpaid workers in order to be orientated, and learn the ropes that way... This way is done so it is without labor costs to the company, and forces the employee to invest up to hundreds of hours at no charge to the employer;
3) if the employee makes a mistake on the job and it is caught, scolding them for being idiots is the quickest way to conform them to the rules... That is, of the particular facility they were never previously instructed or orientated with;
4) rush, rush, rush the safety issues..including that which endangers the consumer unless they personally refuse to keep from properly inspecting or "level" the trucks, etc. The manager threatened that employees job with being replaced because they did what they were legally obligated to do... Protect the customer.
According to two management members, and some other employee who has been around a while..."If the damage isn't major, get it [the U-haul truck that just came in the driveway for a return] checked in right away and check the slips off in a minute or two, if you want to keep you job, or else..." For a member of management saying this to the employee in the showroom area in front of witnesses, because he was "too thorough" and "too focused on safety and accuracy" and "took a whole 5 minutes to check in a truck" that was all scraped up, or words to this effect, is revealing.
If there's a dent or crack, the essence was that you can pass the charge to the next customer who rents who did not purchase the $14 safemove to. If you and the next customer missed the damage to the attic area of the truck... Hopefully the next check in will pass the charge to that customer. Ah, the confessions of a Uhaul showroom.
In the Garage Bay Areas, when cleaning the truck, employees are being instructed to air blow or sweep it out and get it ready for rental in 3 minutes or less. They are not allowed to take the time to mark or decal the damages that can be passed on to the innocent and unsuspecting consumer who doesn't know better, and to just sign the back of their "R&D" tag off. Every customer gets this same tag at the time of rental whenthey first walk out to the truck they are renting. I suggest those who wish to rent from Uhaul to personally run down the same checklist on the back of the tag before the counter person takes it from your accessibility when you go back inside, and gives you an inner sheet above it, stapling it to your xerox copy contract.
It would take 3-5 or even 7 minutes on most of these trucks, just to clean the outer and inner windows and mirrors alone. If the truck (or trailer) gets sent out dirty and unchecked, especially on a high volume day like Friday or Saturday (the most dangerous Uhaul days of the week) all that matters is that the slip given to the customer says it was dispatched in order... As most all customers don't know better, and will receive and accept liability.
Poor safety endangers both the lives of customers and employees. Besides not taking the time to verify fluid levels or not grounding out of compliance vehicles, or not checking tire thread and thumping tires for tire pressure before dispatch... Non-certified employees at Uhaul sites are instructed and sent by management to actively operate - dispense - and fill propane. Uhaul plays against the odds that one of its "uncertified" employees whom management knowingly sends out to fill propane, won't blow themselves - the customers - passersby - nearby businesses up sky-high.
The problem with U-haul, is that it is a major corporation growingly having a third-world mentality while being a US based company, seeking to pass the cost to the consumer and its own labor force by a "low-cost" lure / deception.in the near future, OSHA or whatever appropriate agency should rifle the U-haul employee files for training documentation, and send suprise inspecting mechanics and audit fleets on Saturdays, and catch Uhaul when they are the most irresponsible.
Honest
Hidden, California
U.S.A.
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