Exhaust leak in cab

grunntly · Oct 8, 2012

Hey everybody I finally remembered my password and am back. I drive for Schneider national and this truck they gave me at the end of march had a defective exhaust system that they knew all about but didn't fix prior to giving it to me-the truck is a glider kit and the exhaust manifold doesn't fit so they eventually had to retro fit it, It's been going on 7 months now with several failed repair attempts and the exhaust leak is worse than ever-it makes me cough and choke and my lungs burn and of course exhaust headaches so I just got home and asked SEM (road service) to tow truck somewhere for repairs I can't take it anymore and I was told the exhaust won't harm me and to be routed back to the Carlisle shop for repairs(last week the truck was there and to fix the exhaust leak all the shop did was change the cab air filter)
I contacted OOIDA and was told to get the DOT to put the truck outta service but after many phone calls I couldn't reach the right person so my last ditch effort is hopefully a friend of mine can get me the phone number of an officer to come and put the truck outta service or i'm SOOL.
Any advice out there besides getting another job?
Thanks
Dave
Any suggestions for a decent driving job living in southern NH?

volvodriver01 · Oct 8, 2012

Under your next load pull into a scale house and ask the Officer to do an inspection and point this problem out to him. That outta fix it.

Palazon · Oct 8, 2012

Won't Hurt You????!?!?!?

Agreed, voluntary scale inspection... I'd suggest you make sure it's noted on the DVIR before hand.

freightlinerman · Oct 8, 2012

If you have an exhaust leak, REFUSE THE TRUCK. Document it with video, document the Qualcam and DVIR reports. If you can see the leak, document it too. Stop being stupid and driving it, park it! You're exactly what's wrong with the industry today. What I won't drive, some one else will.

Mark Kling · Oct 8, 2012

Have them start their cars with the garage doors shut and then take a 10 hour break in the car. Let's see if it does not hurt them.... exhaust is exhaust...

dptrucker · Oct 8, 2012

carbon monoxide poisoning can kill you. one of these day you,ll drive that truck you,ll fall asleep and won,t wake up. park it and don,t drive!!!. if they demand you drive..tell ,em you will not!!

grunntly · Oct 8, 2012

Ya I thought something like that,get a couple of trucks running with their exhaust going into the office ans see if any of them could even make it thru the day

grunntly · Oct 8, 2012

Yes it's all been documented and been in the shop several times. I haven't been able to see anything visible but it's still coming in. I'll say a prayer for you,sounds like you need one.

CondoCruiser · Oct 8, 2012

You as a driver have a right to shut down an unsafe vehicle. When you write up an inspection report as unsatisfactory the company has no choice but to have a mechanic sign it off as repaired.

What I would do if I was you is stop at the nearest Walmart and buy a carbon monoxide detector and install it up high in the cab. You might use sticky Velcro strips.

To further your case there is a specific FMCSA violation for carbon monoxide. Put that on your inspection report in remarks. (392.66 exhaust leak)

Subpart G - Prohibited practices

§ 392.66Carbon monoxide; use of commercial motor vehicle when detected.(a) No person shall dispatch or drive any commercial motor vehicle or permit any passengers thereon, when the following conditions are known to exist, until such conditions have been remedied or repaired:(1) Where an occupant has been affected by carbon monoxide;(2) Where carbon monoxide has been detected in the interior of the commercial motor vehicle;(3) When a mechanical condition of the commercial motor vehicle is discovered which would be likely to produce a hazard to the occupants by reason of carbon monoxide.
Click to expand...

396.11

(3) Corrective action.(i) Prior to requiring or permitting a driver to operate a vehicle, every motor carrier or its agent shall repair any defect or deficiency listed on the driver vehicle inspection report which would be likely to affect the safety of operation of the vehicle.(ii) Every motor carrier or its agent shall certify on the original driver vehicle inspection report which lists any defect or deficiency that the defect or deficiency has been repaired or that repair is unnecessary before the vehicle is operated again.(4) Retention period for reports. Every motor carrier shall maintain the original driver vehicle inspection report, the certification of repairs, and the certification of the driver's review for three months from the date the written report was prepared.

(c) Corrective action. Prior to requiring or permitting a driver to operate a vehicle, every motor carrier or its agent shall repair any defect or deficiency listed on the driver vehicle inspection report which would be likely to affect the safety of operation of the vehicle.(1) Every motor carrier or its agent shall certify on the original driver vehicle inspection report which lists any defect or deficiency that the defect or deficiency has been repaired or that repair is unnecessary before the vehicle is operated again.(2) Every motor carrier shall maintain the original driver vehicle inspection report, the certification of repairs, and the certification of the driver's review for three months from the date the written report was prepared.
Click to expand...

I would also have them look at it closer. You might think it's the retro-fit when there is another leak some where else. Fumes that enter a cab are usually underneath a cab.

grunntly · Oct 8, 2012

Thank you very much guys, I filed an online OSHA and DOT complaint on Schneider and I printed out a OSHA document stating there is CO in exhaust and I printed out Condocruiser's info so I'm pretty much got my legal ammo to cover my butt and not have to drive it til it's fixed. I'm also not getting back behind the wheel til I get a signed statement from the mechanic that all defects have been fixed and the truck is totally safe to operate. Wish me luck or better yet say a prayer please : )

Log in or Sign up

Forums

Find Trucking Jobs

Exhaust leak in cab

grunntly Light Load Member

Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

Wait, employers can't reach you!

volvodriver01 Road Train Member

Palazon Road Train Member

freightlinerman Road Train Member

Mark Kling Technology Contributor

dptrucker Road Train Member

grunntly Light Load Member

grunntly Light Load Member

CondoCruiser The Legend

grunntly Light Load Member

Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

Wait, employers can't reach you!

Log in or Sign up

Useful Searches

Find Trucking Jobs

Exhaust leak in cab

grunntly Light Load Member

Wait, employers can't reach you!

volvodriver01 Road Train Member

Palazon Road Train Member

freightlinerman Road Train Member

Mark Kling Technology Contributor

dptrucker Road Train Member

grunntly Light Load Member

grunntly Light Load Member

CondoCruiser The Legend

grunntly Light Load Member

Wait, employers can't reach you!