friends of the TDR idea

[Todd T]

I have been in contact with an answering service here in IL. we talked about them providing us with a nationwide 800# that when a member calls in, they can leave names, locations, phone #'s, etc. and the answering service rep will then post that info here or email it to someone. their fees are pretty reasonable. we also talked about them providing the caller with a list of names or #'s of members or supporting shops in the area of the breakdown. I would like Steve or Kat to contact me if this sounds like something the membership would be interested in. im sure we can figure out something that would work for all and the price, spread out over all the participants would be something like $. 11 a month and that is based off of 3000 members using it and 6 hours of use for the month.

email me and i can set up a call to explain it better.

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Todd,
2001 Q-cab SB 4x4 5spd 3. 55's, A pillar Boost/EGT,Jardines 4" turboback kit, and more to come...

 

[Brandon]

for the 35 a year i think the TDR could accomadate a database, shoot raise the rate $5 i still would do it, count me and my shop in i'll post the address right here, i think the benefit of having ph # and addresses outweighs the security risks for the Bombers
B

well unoless the ford guys got a hold of the list



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END THE OPPRESSION FREE HVAC NOW

 

[Todd T]

Brandon, I'm not talking about a database here. this is more like roadside assistance or for lack of better words "Clubside" assistance. this would be an 800# that members could call night or day verify their identity and get a list of shops or members in the area that would agree to help out. also the service would post it on this site for everyone else to see and respond to accordinly. like give suggestions, or FYI's,or even look up TSB's or trouble shooting help from a manual.

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Todd,
2001 Q-cab SB 4x4 5spd 3. 55's, A pillar Boost/EGT,Jardines 4" turboback kit, and more to come...

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Todd, I think that doing something like that would be a big headache to manage as far as getting people to sign up for it, billing, etc, etc. The webmaster is currently working on an online solution for this and hopefully we'll be able to roll it out soon (we started discussing it within days of it being recommended). With the availability of the internet now (libraries, friends and family, truck stops, etc) it shouldn't be a problem to be able to get online to look up the info. Using this route will be totally free and not add any additional workload on anyone once it's set up.

-Steve St. Laurent
Lead Moderator

 

[Todd T]

Steve, you are right on a few points, but keep in mind that not all of the members have Laptop computers and some can only acess the TDR from work not even at home. the direction i was heading with this is to provide a fool proof way to get the word out when someone is broke down. weather it is this way or not makes no difference to me just that you use the following pionts to guide you in your discission.

what i discussed with the answering service was that they could field a call,take down caller info i. e. who what when where. . and then either give the caller info for members or shops in the area, or allert the board with a message similar to what bill's wife did the other day "bill K needs help" and then gave numbers and a location for him and let the chips land where the did. the setup would take some time, to get a list of members and then keeping it current would be a once a month thing or so, but i'm sure somebody could volunteer it or even rotate it between volunteers.

think about it and i know you guys will come up with the best solution. i was just feeding the machine.

 

[rhoads]

If i read the post correctly a 800# for national break down help.
Having been in the nationalease system for many years i know this is no small task but do'able. The only added cost is for the 800# Which could be zip$$ unless used- but some one would have to man the phone 24/7 and be on top of the game,unbias,and a very good working knowlage ,and then you have to put together the repair sites,or road service and some one directing service knowing if they are up to the task. Still do'able.
could also be expaned to discount parts purchase/veh order's/purchase's-numbers = $
spec'ed veh and ordered min 25units and cost/- savings are earth shaking for the avg Joe. There is power in numbers/units/members. Let's get it together
$10-20 a month on membership cost is chump change to the savings every member could realise.

 

[Todd T]

you are correct Tdrmbramr,what i proposed was a live answering service with the 800 # pointed to it. they could then field the calls Live 24/7 and respond however we set them up to, i. e. post a notice on here in every forum, or provide the caller with info in regards to their location #'s for member shops and members in the area.
there would be a ontime setup fee and then monthly costs relavant to the usage in minutes per month + the cost of the 800#.

this however has been rejected to date by Steve. he replied by saying "they are working on an online solution with the webmaster" and that was that.

 

[Doc Tinker]

I see an alternative to the 800# program.
If TDR sets up the information on the site, all you need is a network of friends that you can call upon to access the site and help you line up the roadside assistance.

Sound pretty simple to me, if you have any friends. #ad


Doc

 

[Ladders]

Doc that leaves u and me out!!! #ad


SOTSU!!
\\BF//

 

[gitchesum]

Here's my take on the idea. Have the list of people on the site but have it password protected. Have it separated by states. It could possibly use the same software as the classifieds.

If your planning a trip from say Florida to California then you could print a list of people in the states that are on your route. If your constantly on the road then you could print the entire list and keep it in the truck with you at all times. Then if you run into trouble, you could call the person closest to our location.

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Curtis Harris
1997 3500 Club Cab
"CASPER"
Check out the Lone Star TDR

 

[illflem]

Curtis,that's the best idea yet. I'd like doing away with the computer end of it on the road. Many times just calling the closest member for his recommendation on where to get quality help nearby is all that is needed. I don't really like the idea of searching for a computer and net connection then waiting for a member to respond to his email while stuck in the middle of the Nevada desert. All it would take is getting the phone numbers of the members who would like to participate into list organized by states or even area codes. Make it only available to members who are also willing to share their phone numbers. Seems pretty simple to me.

 

[Joe G.]

Todd,

Please explain how the deaf and almost deaf members can use your service? Maybe Briar Hopper has some ideas how this could work.

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Joe George
Eureka, CA

'95 2500 CC auto 4X4,3. 54,Combo EGT/boost guage,custom switch panel,PacBrake,TST #5,BD valve body,Automatic motorhome steps on both sides,Foldacover hard bed cover,Cummins chrome kit,Black steel grill guard,Front hitch receiver

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

If someone wants to set this up and deal with it more power to you! I talked with Robert (the editor and owner) about it and there simply aren't the resources at the TDR to deal with it. You would have to deal with billing the subscribers that want to participate (not everyone that subscribes to the website or the magazine would want to participate) and then the people at the 800 number would have to somehow know who is and isn't a subscriber, etc. That's why we are working on an online solution here on the website. Only TDR members will have access to it and will be zero cost - which will mean more members participating. There are many options these days for getting internet access on the road to get access to the information - most truck stops have public internet access now as do most libraries. Once it is setup on the website there will be no additional workload on TDR staff nor any cost. Like I said though if someone else wants to set it up on their own then go for it!

-Steve St. Laurent
Lead Moderator

 

[OO]

The 24/7 idea of the phone service is nice. Why not make it a 900 number where only the people that use it would pay for it. The persons answering the phone would then look up the information in the private forum.