Boss Trying To Make Me Drive Unsafe Truck

Hey guys, just wanted some advice. I’m currently driving for a small company of 7 trucks, I just gave my two week notice last week and I’m going to a new company at the end of next week. I’m on my last week here and I’m not sure how to finish the week at this point. I’m in a really old truck that’s falling apart and has multiple mechanical issues and most of the gauges don’t work, before this I was in another awful truck that broke down and the owner left me on the side of the highway for 8 hours before he decided he should call a tow truck, he ignored me for hours telling me to try to move the truck even though it kept shutting down while driving and oil was leaking out, it was a huge mess. Anyways I’m just nervous I’m going to get pulled over any day, and get multiple violations for the issues with the truck. I keep telling him if I do it goes on my PSP report and he keeps trying to change the subject and avoid it. I’m not sure what to do at this point. I’m trying to be a man of my word and finish my two weeks, but don’t want to put my ass on the line because he doesn’t maintain his trucks.

Hey guys, just wanted some advice. I’m currently driving for a small company of 7 trucks, I just gave my two week notice last week and I’m going to a new company at the end of next week. I’m on my last week here and I’m not sure how to finish the week at this point. I’m in a really old truck that’s falling apart and has multiple mechanical issues and most of the gauges don’t work, before this I was in another awful truck that broke down and the owner left me on the side of the highway for 8 hours before he decided he should call a tow truck, he ignored me for hours telling me to try to move the truck even though it kept shutting down while driving and oil was leaking out, it was a huge mess. Anyways I’m just nervous I’m going to get pulled over any day, and get multiple violations for the issues with the truck. I keep telling him if I do it goes on my PSP report and he keeps trying to change the subject and avoid it. I’m not sure what to do at this point. I’m trying to be a man of my word and finish my two weeks, but don’t want to put my ass on the line because he doesn’t maintain his trucks.

I’m probably the wrong one to make an initial reply to your issue as I’m as green as they come, however I’ll pose this rhetorical question to you: how would you feel if an unsafe truck was directly behind your loved ones and was (possibly) endangering their safety as well as that of others? Right...you wouldn’t like it at all, so why would you put others in danger while you’re driving a truck that you believe is unsafe?

I remember my training from school: if it isn’t safe, don’t drive it.

I get it (I think); you’re worried about your current company putting negative statements on your DAC , right? I’d take pictures of the truck in its current condition, therefore you have some evidence if/when a future employer asks you about the situation.

I’ll sign off now and wait to read what other, (much more) seasoned posters have to write.

Dennis. In reading your posts, your record is clean and at least 7 years experience. If you’re not broke, I would think you’d want to protect your license from an infraction and quickly walk away. Another reason is you’ve already got a new job. Good luck!

Write it all up on a DVIR and give it to the office. If the air gauges are part of the ones not working then that truck is parked. Do not take chances. Just my opinion.

Don't walk away.

RUN AWAY!

Nothing is worth your clean record.

But more important - NOTHING IS WORTH THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC. If the truck is in that kind of shape - what happens if (God forbid) you get in a wreck with soccer mom van full of kids - and end up GOING TO PRISON because you operated a CMV YOU KNEW TO BE UNSAFE.

RUN FOREST - RUUUUUUUNNNNNN!

Rick

People bash Mega carriers, but thanks to Prime, this is an issue I never had to deal with. All of my repairs requests are dealt with immediately.

Make them pay you your final paycheck before you turn in the truck and if they refuse tell them you’re going to drop the truck off at a waystation and tell DOT to inspect it. Make a video of all the problems and tell them if they put anything on your dac you’ll show the video to DOT. Tell them you also have been thinking about talking to the IRS.

Make sure the company has all their property then walk away. It's not worth it staying there any longer. Hopefully you get paid the money owed to you.

If the trucks are that poor maintained and dangerous, you should contact the state police commercial vehicle enforcement bureau. I would with a completely clear conscience. You may save someone's life.

The difference between the Mega's and the Mom & Pops

We pull into the terminal (any of ours) they have a DOT line mechanic. He has to inspect the loaded or empties we have connected.

We take empties into any Fed-Ex DC, we have to go to their maintenance shop, and have that empty trailer inspected by them BEFORE We can drop it,to get our loaded trailer there. Usually I try to grab a "newer" empty trailer, since ,I know they won't usually have any issues.

We did recently pick up a load, did my walk around inspection, and I seen a polished nut/bolt on frames middle spring hanger, I knew something had to be wrong with the tire, found the inside tire had NO tread, was down to the casing wires/cords, outter was also junk, off to the Love's to get 2 new tires. Don't know if last driver knew it or not when they dropped it to be loaded.

1 load we picked up at a Fed Ex, we got down the road onto the highway,and our dash ABS lights came on for the trailer. We went back to F-eX n had them fix it, knowing it was the trailer, since none prior turned on the dash lights. Fixed and on we went.

Lol Truck he’s trying to have me drive, the ABS light is constantly on, the box connected to the steering linkage is leaking and crusted with oil, fuel gauge doesn’t work, engine light stays on, half the trailer tires have wire showing

The difference between the Mega's and the Mom & Pops

We pull into the terminal (any of ours) they have a DOT line mechanic. He has to inspect the loaded or empties we have connected.

We take empties into any Fed-Ex DC, we have to go to their maintenance shop, and have that empty trailer inspected by them BEFORE We can drop it,to get our loaded trailer there. Usually I try to grab a "newer" empty trailer, since ,I know they won't usually have any issues.

We did recently pick up a load, did my walk around inspection, and I seen a polished nut/bolt on frames middle spring hanger, I knew something had to be wrong with the tire, found the inside tire had NO tread, was down to the casing wires/cords, outter was also junk, off to the Love's to get 2 new tires. Don't know if last driver knew it or not when they dropped it to be loaded.

1 load we picked up at a Fed Ex, we got down the road onto the highway,and our dash ABS lights came on for the trailer. We went back to F-eX n had them fix it, knowing it was the trailer, since none prior turned on the dash lights. Fixed and on we went.