Why is it trucking companies only for the most part, just pay lip service to safety?

Question

For instance; I just was let go by Navaho Express for a log violation. On many occasions everyday with many companies this happens. It was an 11 and 14 hr log violation.

In the end the safety director told me on the phone that his job was to protect the business. I thought a safety directors job was to make sure all drivers tow the line with safety and be legal.

This violation was because I was pushed and pushed and then pushed again to go get a load even though I told them I could not due to not having the hours to pick it up.

The companies are constantly pushing drivers beyond the limits of what they can do, legally and safely, and drivers, by far the majority, will accomodate them, while as long as they do not get caught there is no penalty.

Swift, Knight, Apollo and also now Navaho all operate this way. It is truly a sad thing. Bring on the black boxes!!!!

Answer 1

Frog is sure right about Knight whom I recently got fired by. (They said my inverter was too big, cpl weeks before 3 rd year vacation pay which I'm sure was a coincidence!!!)     But the real reason, part  A, office politics, the shop boss hated me, he was 30's, I'm 60's, sound familiar old timers?  part B, follow the money. Companies sure seem to forgive a lot if you do proper brown nose technique.  I've since retired Now they pay me for doing NOTHING!!!   HAHAHAHA!.... RE your question about safety, my opinion, it's just a tool they use to exert power over us. You've seen certain drivers be forgiven for way more than what you've done. As have I.

Answer 2

I would report this and file a claim against the company for wrongful termination and s***w them, you are doing you job and they should do their job and follow the rules...

Answer 3

By LAW a company CAN NOT force dispatch. Have to agree with another comment I would report them all it takes is a phone call to DOT and it would not take them long to figure out how many trips verses your log books.

My guys get in trouble for not logging correctly, however, there IS NO FORCED DISPATCH. If a driver tells us he is out of hours we make other arrangements,even though this happens vary rarely, our drivers are home AT LEAST 34 hrs a week, there time off is ALWAYS AT HOME. NOT ALL TRUCKING COMPANIES run illegal. Some of us take pride in our drivers and what services they provide for us, not to mention we take pride in NOT RUNNING ILLEGAL. But I'm also a truck driver, so I know what my guys go threw.

Answer 4

So why did you say yes?

It *does* take two to tango, you know.

The honest truth... safety director's job, officially, is to make sure everybody follow the safety policy. However, what he r REALLY do is to make sure the company is in compliance of whatever standards DOT and Insurance company dictates the company to have. Remember, if anything happens, insurance company pays out big $$$ if ANYTHING was found to be wrong vehicle or driver, and one of the FIRST things they check is the logbook, then the driver's priors, then if the driver was (or wasn't) enrolled in everything required (such as drug/alcohol testing program), then the maintainence and inspection records of the vehicle in question. Insurance companies want the company to CYA, and the safety director wants to CYA, and as the saying goes, **** flows downhill. :)

Answer 5

They push you because they know they can. I always said "NO" when I was asked to go over on my hrs. I still make close to $800 to $1000 a week and never broke the HOS rules. (I'm a Company driver) Yes, I have been fired once because I wouldn't run illegal but you don't want to run for a company that does that. And Black boxes are more of a danger than they would help......

Answer 6

you also broke safety rules so don't blame it all on the co. they cannot force you to go over hours but you can take the chance and do it. you needed to stand up for your workplace rights and you didn't .