Driver selling fuel

Well I haven't been asked to buy stolen fuel but one time and that was about 25 yrs ago. By a marten driver. She also said that there were other favors for sale. It would be really stupid to try to get away with that now days. But he has been driving for you for 3 weeks and is having this go on then he is a bad driver. I think what I would do is have the truck checked out. Like many have said check the computer. Have it done at a dealership or other third party shop. This way he can't say you had your shop make him look bad. Or give him short runs if you can. If you can get him back to the yard every night then watch the fuel. Or that might make him move on. Like the others I would like to see him prosecuted and not be able to do this to anyone else.

 

[QUOTE="Hang - Man";3693916]Carguy, I just don't think you posted enough info here.
Is this driver a newbie or a 10 year trucker ? How many trucks do you have? I can see stealing fuel from your employer as more of a scenario where the driver has been there a while -treated like crap - makes no monies and gets desperate or just criminal to get even selling your fuel to pay his rent.
I am not saying that happened -- i just think there are easy ways to check --you may end up firing a guy that went to the trouble to put in an application and go through your hiring process and wants to work - when all that is wrong is a brake is hanging up slightly here and there and you are sending him out with 80,000 every time and uphill both ways.[/QUOTE]

If a truck suddenly starts getting 3-4 mpg when they have previously been getting 6 mpg or better, you can bet that unless there is an obvious mechanical problem, that the driver is stealing your fuel. And, there is absolutely NO excuse for stealing. If a driver thinks that he is not being treated fairly, then he needs to quit and find another job. The driver I had mentioned in an earlier post that stole my fuel was treated very well and was making very good money. As I recall, one of his largest paychecks was over $1,600. Some people simply lack character. It isn't always the company that is at fault.

 

Oh i agree Gman --the driver could just be a thief --or not. I would hate to think that a driver was accused of stealing and fired before all the facts were in.
To the original poster --make sure you give us the final on this story and dont leave us hanging (pun intended).
FYI: this could be another thread, but i wonder if any drivers on this forum have been, accused or fired for stealing fuel, or for that matter any or how many truck owners have had a driver actually doing this.

 

I saw a Royal truck sell fuel at that J in Brookshire a month ago. Doesn't matter how some guys are treated, some drivers are always going to be dirtbags. There's absolutely no way he had that much fuel stolen. 50 gallons, a hundred maybe.

What should you do? Call the police and have them waiting there for him when he gets there. And fire him. 3 weeks in, the guy is a career dirtbag...he knows he's going to get caught and fired. Anything out of the ordinary, like switching trucks, he's going to know he's being watched. He might trash the truck. Your main priority is getting your truck back safely.

All of you up and coming driver and rookies who are being micromanaged to death, thank the dirtbags out there. If you REALLY want to thank them, call their company.

 

I'm with Danny on this, you need to make absolutely sure that the driver is actually stealing the fuel before confronting and accusing. It's possible that you have some mechanical issue, and possibly a driver with a lead foot that that has been hauling heavy into strong headwinds and constantly idling, could be some of both causing the mileage to plummet. Double billing, or fuel stop errors need to be ruled out also. The fuel is going somewhere. Find out where and how exactly. I think it's unusual for a driver to blatantly steal that much fuel in that short of time. But, if this guy is stealing from you....prosecute.

 

I think your first concern is to protect your asset, the truck. Someone that's willing to steal will most likely be willing to trash your truck too. Take his keys, fuel cards, access, etc. and suspend him while you have the truck checked out. If it's nothing mechanical, fire him. If you have the documentation you need, it should be enough to fight his unemployment. Trying to prosecute without definitive proof will be a waste of your time. If he was having fuel stolen from him, tell him about safer parking choices so he'll have that knowledge at his next company.

 

Just a thought , Have any of you thought about or called the companies these drivers are stealing fuel from and told them ? I am no goody 2 shoes, but some day these fuel thieves may be selling or stealing your fuel should you own or do own trucks.

 

First off, dont tell him your on to him untill he drives the truck back to your lot. Then call the cops and have him arrested. When he is arrested, the fireing is a moot point. Also sue him for the money...and do not give any more checks going forward. Withhold any money he is owed.

 

[QUOTE="Hang - Man";3694260]Just a thought , Have any of you thought about or called the companies these drivers are stealing fuel from and told them ? I am no goody 2 shoes, but some day these fuel thieves may be selling or stealing your fuel should you own or do own trucks.[/QUOTE]

I agree, turn in the SOBs. A thief will steal anything, as long as he thinks he can get away with it, not just fuel.

 

My first flatbed gig was 20 years ago at Osborn Transportation out of Gadsden,Alabama. They were a decent company (a hard working driver could make decent money) but they were chocked full of dirtbags.

there were drivers who would start, be issued brand new chains and tarps, first run, go to the first truckstop they came to, and sell the tarps. They worked just long enough to draw a check, then they won't show back up. They'd sell everything they could and in two weeks, they were history.
the beancounters at Osborn got the bright idea to weld the chains and the binders to the trailer. That didn't work. It just put all of their decent drivers into a bind.

the thing that you have to be careful about when you operate a small fleet is whereas the megas can stay afloat when a dirtbag sabotages something, the smaller carriers will not stay afloat. There was a driver I met that drove for CRST Malone. He had worked at a smaller carrier for over a decade, until a dirtbag improperly secured a load, allowed part of the load to fall off the trailer and he dragged it behind the trailer for miles purposely. The small carrier's insurance went through the roof and the owner told his drivers that he won't be able to keep his doors open.

I know, worse case scenario...but the safest thing to do is can the SOB and put him out of your truck. Don't allow him to go back it after you confront him.