need advice on company demanding drivers drive in unsafe conditions ASAP

I am an Army veteran myself and if the conditions are not safe enough to travel, I stay put. I am an Owner/Operator and if the conditions are not safe enough to drive I will insist they pull over until it's safer. Not only is the driver jeopardizing their safety record but also mine plus putting the load at risk of being damaged. Arrive at the drop off point with even the slightest bit of damage to their shipment and explain to them how you drove straight on through with no stops and through dangerous road conditions and see how happy they are once they ask for insurance info and your boss's phone number. If you came to me looking for a job, I would not feel right having someone like you driving for me or leasing from me. I emphasize safety and expect no less from anybody who drives under my banner. If the conditions are not safe enough in the driver's opinion, I will not fire them for not driving but the opposite. You must not only look out for you but everyone on the road. People see a big rig or a logo on the door they see dollar signs. Do not play with anybody's life or safety on the road.

 

And here is what has happened in the rest of the world, and possibly some of the areas your husband may have been in from TTR on bad weather, iced roads. Click on the uh oh lol to open.

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...enced-truckers-advice/243505-uh-oh-lol-2.html

 

What is the latest on your husband and his predicament?

 

Hmmmm. No mention of being IN THE MILITARY himself. Just a military brat. As retired military with TWO wars under my belt, I CAN say that as a senior NCO, being foolhardy is NOT good military tactics. Sometimes you have to hunker down and wait for more favorable conditions.

 

I guess if his dad was a Drill Sergeant in his mind he would have authorization to yell at people and smoke them.

 

To OP:

Ma'am; I advise to get the F away from the current situation and do it in such a way as his current employer is pacified the best you can. Sometimes that's not possible but just be as cool about things as you can and get thee to a mega and spend the time gaining experience with one of them. I don't like them for various reasons but I'll give ALL of them their props on this: They will NOT make you run when conditions or equipment are poorer than you as the driver - even a brand spanking new one - than you think you can make the trip safely in. It's not that they love and respect you as a driver (as they say in recruiting), but that it's BAD for business and their financial bottom line when things go bad on the road during a trip. The why they do the right thing isn't quite as important to your husband's safety and your piece of mind as it is that they actually do it. The drawbacks are that they won't penalize your husband for it - but the load WILL have to be re-scheduled and that will mean a delay and the delay means less time for Hubby to pull another load.

That's just kinda the way it is in trucking. None of us (drivers or companies) get paid or can get going on the next paying load, til the one we are under is finished. By NO means EVER jeapordize Safety, but do understand that when things happen and we get delayed, we loose money.

That doesn't mean be crazy. It means be smart and during the time with a mega, pick up the skills that can keep you going, learn when to say NO, and learn to plan finances so that when winter hits you got money in the bank to cover for the decreased income we ALL get when we say:

"NO. It's not safe to drive. Reschedule the load."

The megas will simply reschedule it no problemo, but it sucks because you don't get paid til you deliver. When we say Winter sucks: It's not just about the winter driving challenges. It's also because we don't make as much money because the smart ones know when to say NO and as a result we can't pull as many loads.

In any case - from what you have said; PLEASE get away from the current jack@ss and get him to a mega to gain his experience.

 

I would return the truck and find a legitimate outfit. Easy for me to say, of course, but this is an untenable situation; you can't win with people like this. They are deceptive with pay practices, obviously outside normal business practices (a nice way to say "illegal"), trying to get your guy to pay for their expenses and, well $crew em! Yes, its hard looking for work, but it's also hard being exploited. Worse, if you ask me.
Use that cross around your neck; the Lord shall provide. You'll be okay.

 

Nothing I like to see more than a starving lawyer. Except mine, of course.

 

Common sense and logic over rides Tombstone Mentality..or you would think so.

v/r,

a life long 11B.