Blame Game.

After having some experiences as a local class B driver, it seems that, at least where I have worked, that the current driver is entirely to blame for things that happen. Has anyone else thought about this before? An example would be the prior driver left the truck in awful condition, the current driver decides to take the truck in it's poor condition and is the one blamed entirely for what happens.

This concerns me because there seems to be a trend of people doing the most they can to leave vehicles in bad condition and hope that the next driver is blamed.

First... Make a report of the state you find it in. Take pictures. But don't leave it that way for the next driver... That is rude.

Don't accept sub-standard equipment.

If it's "Take it or leave it", then leave it. Take control of things you can; don't allow others to. Don't be "A Settler."

For the less experienced folks reading this the OP is talking about slip seating - he doesn't have his own assigned truck, he drives whatever truck is available. I did that - in the army - in the 80's. Never again! Like all unnatural acts things go sideways pretty quickly. You have to start each workday going over the truck with a magnifying glass and documenting all damage so you won't be blamed for it. That light on the dash that the other driver didn't want to deal with because he was only 15 miles from the terminal? That's now your problem. More than 1/32 of a tank of fuel? It's your lucky day!

None of this is new. It's the CDL version of a tragedy of the commons. Outdated pay-per-mile schemes are largely responsible. Why fuel the truck, fix the truck or fill out a DVIR if I'm only being paid by the mile? I bet a lot of these shenanigans would disappear if the drivers were paid by the hour or the day.

There is no blame game to be had. As said photograph everything and report it. Then depending on circumstances make decisions how to handle it and move on.

Document everything. When I worked emergency roadside, the last person to touch the company equipment or the member's vehicle is on the hook.

It is tedious and it sucks. But it is an unfortunate reality that covering your own ass is mandatory to prevent wrongful accountability being leveraged against you.

I disagree with cleaning someone else's mess though. I used to have to deal with that in tow trucks and I finally had enough. Told my boss that, I will take before and after photos, but if I am sharing a truck with someone, I will clean MY mess, but I don't get paid to change some else's adult diapers.