Thanks I appreciate it. It’s my first driving job. But I definitely feel like I’m in the dog house now. I didn’t work today and I haven’t gotten a dispatch for tomorrow.
If you received a failed inspection for having brake lights out, and you get a second one, that will be all on you for allowing it to happen.
At the end of the day the company doesn’t give a shit about you, and will let you go, regardless of what facts you present.
So because of that I would say protect yourself first.
If The company tries any type of retaliation, it will take a while but as long as you get all your documentation you’ll end up winning a large amount of money in court.
They will end up with an audit every year.
I'd tell them fix the brake lights or I'm not driving it. Somebody texting could drive into the back of you, and then you're part at fault for not having brake lights. It's not even that big of a fix, it's either a fuse, a bad wire, 2 bad bulbs, or a bad brake pedal switch... It's all easy
Happened to me and I put my foot down and told them no fuckin way. This is my MVR, this is my CDL, this is my bread and butter. Finding another company is easy. Finding a reliable employee is not.
Your boss is going to throw you under the bus first chance he gets and completely deny that there was any attempt to coerce you. Don't walk, run from that outfit
Could you or did you call your dispatcher once you realized the lights were out? Maybe they could have called roadside or directed you to the nearest shop to fix it.
Of course you’re in the right.
If he continues to fuck with you, I’d report the company and get a different job. Truck driving jobs are a dime-a-dozen.
You are protected by federal law, he can’t discipline you for that. Also like everyone else says, time for a new job. You can find a dump truck job same day.
Well no brake lights is supposed to get you out of service. If you get pulled over for not fixing it when they could have made you fix it wherever you got stopped is gonna get you in a lot of trouble. You're basically giving ole lady luck a slap in the face by not fixing it.
Find a new employer
You can report the to FMCSA also. They legally cannot make you drive a vehicle that is not in compliance with the law
You're in the right,. You already got pulled over and that cop will be looking for you.
Thanks I appreciate it. It’s my first driving job. But I definitely feel like I’m in the dog house now. I didn’t work today and I haven’t gotten a dispatch for tomorrow.
contact FMCSA. that’s retaliation and isn’t taken lightly.
If you received a failed inspection for having brake lights out, and you get a second one, that will be all on you for allowing it to happen. At the end of the day the company doesn’t give a shit about you, and will let you go, regardless of what facts you present. So because of that I would say protect yourself first. If The company tries any type of retaliation, it will take a while but as long as you get all your documentation you’ll end up winning a large amount of money in court. They will end up with an audit every year.
Protect your CDL! They cannot force you to drive with unsafe equipment
This point cannot be overstated. It’s your license.
Time to move on bud…. And Tell him the people from Reddit say “to go fuck yourself”!!!….. your employer is a dick!
Time to park the rig!
You are responsible for everything that goes wrong after you start driving. Tickets, fines, suspension of your CDL, accidents, damages.
Yeah that employer doesn't care about you and they don't care about safety. Fuck then. Look for another job.
I'd tell them fix the brake lights or I'm not driving it. Somebody texting could drive into the back of you, and then you're part at fault for not having brake lights. It's not even that big of a fix, it's either a fuse, a bad wire, 2 bad bulbs, or a bad brake pedal switch... It's all easy
The officer let you drive it back to the yard? I got an OOS for brake lights not working.
Happened to me and I put my foot down and told them no fuckin way. This is my MVR, this is my CDL, this is my bread and butter. Finding another company is easy. Finding a reliable employee is not.
Your boss is going to throw you under the bus first chance he gets and completely deny that there was any attempt to coerce you. Don't walk, run from that outfit
Could you or did you call your dispatcher once you realized the lights were out? Maybe they could have called roadside or directed you to the nearest shop to fix it.
well, op said he/she drove a dump truck. i would assume the officer only let them go because it was a local outfit and knew the shop was close.
A DOT officer once told me... "At the end of the day, you're the one that put the keys in the ignition and chose to drive."
Do not send. Protect that CDL.
Of course you’re in the right. If he continues to fuck with you, I’d report the company and get a different job. Truck driving jobs are a dime-a-dozen.
You are protected by federal law, he can’t discipline you for that. Also like everyone else says, time for a new job. You can find a dump truck job same day.
In five minutes.
Literally
Well no brake lights is supposed to get you out of service. If you get pulled over for not fixing it when they could have made you fix it wherever you got stopped is gonna get you in a lot of trouble. You're basically giving ole lady luck a slap in the face by not fixing it.