Flatbed driver being forced dry van

Show me the contract. You have a copy right? Let's get it up on here and we all lean over it to read the #### thing right heah on TTR. Let's pull up some chairs and coffee. Go over every sentence in that there contract over yonder your way.

We will fix this right quick. But without reading the contract I cannot tell you they cannot touch you or not.

GENERALLY... if I had to guess. If contract says NO VAN then by Gawd, no van.

 

If the contract says nothing about you driving van or flat and just describes you as a driver or employee then guess what. I hope you don't have to swing doors.....

 

In that case I would look elsewhere. You two will never get along now.

 

I agree. If contract says proclaimation you are a flatbed driver? Awesome.

Mr Slate says you run van now boy? Not so awesome. You best look for another flat bed out fit because you and boss are fixing to fight over your use of the prohibited word No to his face. Flatbed only! Fine you fired.

Understand? My writing is bad today but I hope you see my view.

 

If they have it stated on the contract that you are pulling flatbed only, and they breach that agreement by trying to force you to pull a van...then they have violated the agreement 1st. If it were me, I would say it's flatbed or bye-bye, and if they try to sue for your remaining time on the contract, a lawyer could solve it with one certified letter since they were the one's breaking the deal.

If it isn't on the contract, then you can either take your chances and leave and hope they don't come after you for any damages(if it was an agreement for something like "we will train you for nothing, but you have to work here for xxx number of months")...or, bite the bullet and be a door slammer until the day after the contract ends, then move on to another flatbed company. As long as you are employed driving a truck, flatbed experience is valuable, even if it isn't the most recent experience listed.

 

Also do not be nice and say yes I'll do the van.

Stand tall and tell the boss you drive the van if you need someone to do it. Good bosses will. Rest will just whine.

 

All contracts are negotiable. Make it about the pay. Not about the trailer. Won't hurt to negotiate a pay raise comparable to flatbed. Don't make dollars, don't make sense. Any "reasonable" business man should understand that professional perspective. A man knows his expenses. Lower pay won't pay the bills? Move around. That's a reasonable, rational, professional act. Not just whining about the type of trailer you drive (as it might seem). Change the subject.

 

You can sit down and discuss it, but you have a few choices. Let them know you won't switch, you have it in writing, and they leave you sitting for days and you get no miles, meanwhile you have no paycheck, and can't go elsewhere without a penalty. Not sure how much longer you have under contract, but if it is a few months, make the switch and leave when your time is up, this way you end up with a paycheck.