New to Truck driving and now working with unsafe equipment. Any advice?

Ok. So OP got her advice. It's been almost a week.

Now what? Still driving?

 

Ever since the thread started, I've had a feelin it's a troll post.

 

AS I said, state law...

(b) All commercial motor vehicles required to be inspected under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations are also subject to the regular state inspection requirements as provided in Texas Transportation Code, Chapter 548.

If you try and report a trucking company that never leaves the state to the FMCSA, they will tell you they do NOT have jurisdiction, and you will need to contact the state agency.
So Texas, has adopted the FMSCA regulations as the state regulations. It is up to the STATE agency to enforce the law.

And anyone who has traveled texas, and the border area of texas, we all KNOW just how the state of texas turns a blind eye to unsafe trucks.

 

Vote with your feet. If the equipment is not up to state minimums and you're getting nowhere with repairs, get out. I have a rule...I will drive a truck with cords visible in the tires, air leaks, etc...TO THE SHOP. Not a foot further. Fire me if you want, I'll have a job elsewhere in the time it takes for a drug test.

I'm sure the terrain in TX is a little more friendly than PA, but (for example), losing better than half your air pressure on a 12% grade lease road is a recipe to disaster. A tire with cords visible will ruin your day if you run over the corner of a cattle grate, or a pointy rock on a gravelled lease. Trust me, company men get incredibly upset when you shut down a frac because your truck broke on the lease road and you're holding up the other inbound 30 or so water trucks.

 

27butterfly-Just thinking about your Dad's situation-I don't know how many times he has been turned down because of his age, but I do see older drivers in the oilfield. Maybe it would be helpful if some of us "old guys" could share our experiences about getting hired on.

I'll start- 64 years old, hired at 60 (oldest guy where I work). Winch, Vac, Lowboy, and fill in as a field mechanic. Not a blue-chip company and always struggling to keep the rigs rolling, but VERY pro-active on critical safety items, and generally good folks. Probably every truck here has something wrong with it, but nothing that would give it an OOS. Our roads here are pretty primitive-we run chains a lot on the lease roads and even sometimes on the county roads, so you can imagine what our trucks look like.

IMO it is always best for an older person to apply in person when possible. Age on a piece of paper is just a number, but if you are standing in front of an HR person and they can see that you are fit, then age may become less important. I have applied and gotten other offers this way, but they weren't as good a fit for my situation.

Good luck to you.

 

Never drive an unsafe rig! and NEVER work for ANY company that asks you to do so! Tell your daddy there are companies out here who APPRECIATE older drivers because we VALUE THE EXPERIENCE!

Remember, YOU are responsible for that rig when it is going down the road. The ticket will go to YOU, not the company, if something flies off the truck and damages someone's car or property. If you blow a tire and turn your rig over, the ticket goes to YOU. It will follow you for 3 years on your lost runs, and it will affect your insurance, as well as resume. It is just not worth it. There are too many trucking jobs out there for newbies, women, and older gentlemen! You might have to leave your home area, but it is worth it to be safe.

 

Sounds like you were warned; and still choose to go there. Now that you have experienced it first hand. Its time to move along I would say. *** Looks like you left *** Good Call and GL