A recent report issued by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) shows that the number of transportation related whistleblower cases filed through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has increased by 61.87% in the past five years. From 508 complaints in 2008 to 821 in 2013, steps being taken to strengthen and spread the word about the program are making progress.
The report was actually titled “Opportunities Exist for OSHA and DOT to Strengthen Collaborative Mechanisms” and was meant to show that OSHA and the DOT could increase whistleblower claims and their effectiveness if they worked together to improve communication between the two offices and avoid inconsistencies when dealing with claims.
While the complaints are all transportation related, they are not all from the commercial trucking industry. The largest number of complaints comes from rail employees. The report indicates that this may be because they have the most safeguards in place to protect them against retaliation from the companies that they report.
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Source: gao, bespacific, environmentalsafetyupdate
Well, there’s plenty of room for whistleblowing in the trucking industry.
I was working for marten transportion broke down seven time in six for no heating in the bunk for six months this winter, I reported it many time just to be told we will fix it an after so call fixing it i was told wires were missing from apu unit need new flow system this went on til last month when i could not take anymore abuse from this company,I marten lies to get you in the company by promising truck no older then three year , how they take care of there drivers when the truth is marten charges you for tows,scale tickets, tolls, locks with out a po# number from your dispatch . you are ask to break rules by dispatch this is done by phone alway not by qualcomm . Marten makes it own rules an at the same time being under paid ,” i was told by a DM after staying home for three days i would be wrote up because if i not in the his truck not making money,” an as far as equipment goes of been repaired they try to keep you running even if you have reported as needing repair they care more about the loads they haul an there DM even if not a one has even been behind the wheel of a truck an have not a clue on anything not even the load half the time, and the only reason i was with them so long we sign a six month contact in order to pay back for the hotel, and bus to orientation other wise we must pay it back when we quit.an as for per diem we are forced on it an never see any diffrents in pay. i made $1500 one week with per diem but after they took out it was only $700 they claim higher taxs this company needs to be investigate for corruption in all sectors of the company.
There is also plenty of room for “false accusations” that ruin innocent people’s lives…just by the accusations,and they have to hire an attorney to defend themselves,at a cost to their families also.
I was interested in this story until I saw that railroads lead the number of complaints.
What ever happend to leaving a job ,Instead of winning to some goverment offical. WE are not slaves to the carrier we drive for. In 30 years on the road I rember when even the weman had a pair. If your mvr is any good changing job is no big deal