Company tricks driver.

You speak of abuse in regards to drivers knowing full well that companies in this industry do it all the time. Yet you don't seem to think of all the ways a company could screw you? Was that damage there before you hooked, it was night are you sure? What does it matter your word against theirs, pay or get fired and your record is dinged. How about that blowout? You should have seen the tire was bad. See how it goes? Now just answer that, no blow hard holier than thou diatribe. One simple question, could a company abuse this policy?

 

My first company (a smallish company) would give the driver their first (and sometimes second if not too expensive) damage screw up for free. Beyond that you were offered a choice: 1) Pay for the damage out of your check. or 2) Find a different company to get a check from.

The company carried a $10,000 deductible on a $50,000,000 umbrella (lots of hazmat) policy.

Insurance is to protect the company from catastrophic loss. It isn't to pay because a driver is too lazy to GOAL or do a quality pre/post trip.

Of course, they hired drivers that gave a #### about the well being of the company and their equipment so it usually wasn't an issue.

 

I guess if you were a "contract driver" and they made it clear to you at hiring (and you signed something agreeing) that you would be responsible to pay for preventable damages or be terminated.

But I think the worse they could do if you don't pay is terminate you, I don't think they would be able to actually take you to court over it, but I could be wrong just what I would think. Unless it was damage from malicious intent, you get pissed and slash all the tires or something.

Since you only have to pay $500.00 I say pay it to avoid a bad reference, then put in your two weeks and find a driving job with less liability.

 

At what point is the driver responsible for his/her stupid decisions?

I never said there's was a contract that required you to pay for damage, but if a driver and is regularly dinging company equipment or customer property there should be some fiscal responsibility by the driver.

 

A manger can make a driver responsible any time. Firing, write ups, dac reporting etc...

 

The driver is responsible for his stupid decisions by what ethos has said below, not by having to pay for it.

 

Perhaps a driver appreciates the fact that they have the option of paying for it versus losing their job.

Please point to the post where i said anyone was required to pay for damage. It was an option versus being terminated.

 

Pre-existing damage would be caught during a proper pre-trip, IF you did one. Too dark to see? It's called a flashlight. Use one.

Any ANY policy/law/regulation can be abused by ANYBODY if the victim of that abuse either doesn't know any better or has no spine and simply accepts the abuse. Could be a dispatcher pushing you to log your "on duty" time as "off duty" (which too many drivers are MORE THAN HAPPY to do), a DOT writing you up for driving on a flat tire 1/2 mile after it blew when there is an exit 2 miles up the road with a large gravel lot at the top of the ramp you were trying to get to, or it could be a safety guy at a company deducting from your paycheck because the paint on the truck faded. It is all abuse, and it is all possible. Whether or not you as a driver ALLOW it to happen is another story. Don't want to be abused? There is a pretty simple 2-step solution: 1) Learn the rules, and 2) grow a spine.

You shouldn't HAVE to sign anything at orientation...it SHOULD be common sense that it would go down that way if you tear up the company's equipment. In a lot of states, the paycheck cannot be touched unless the employee signs an agreement stating the terms of the deduction...total amount owed, amount of the deduction, and the duration. There are also other rules governing the deal, such as the paycheck must be at least what the person would have been paid at minimum wage. In other words, if you DID sign something at orientation stating you agreed to repay damages, it probably wouldn't be binding unless you signed another agreement at the time of a screw up when the company was about to begin deducting from your check. Although at that point, it is "sign here or there's the door" sort of deal.

Simple solution to avoid all of this? DON'T TEAR STUFF UP!!!

 

Paying for the damage is option one, firing is option 1a. And keep in mind if you actually read and comprehend my post the paying part only came into play after the 3rd incident of damage due to driver carelessness. Of course the first 2 incidents were noted in a personnel file and the driver was put on notice that the next incident can result in termination unless the company agreed to accept payment from the driver for damage at their discretion.

Sometimes I believe people want to argue just for the sake of arguing.

 

Exactly. Do your job properly and it doesn't become an issue in the first place.