Am I responsible for paying for tire replacement / repair??

sounds like you have a dick head for a boss--tell him he should be paying you cause his crappy tire ended up costing you down time--what next?? does he want you to pay for the fuel that you burned as well?

 

Feel lucky your turbo didn't go out. It doesn't matter the circumstances. The tire was destined to go flat. It's not a drivers job to pay for maintenance.

I would quietly tell him to kiss your lily white *** and let him fire you. Then go draw unemployment while you find another job. If he'll throw a hissy over a tire, he'll find other ways to beat you.

 

you screwed up, you failed to do a PTI, hence, you failed to catch a violation. Could have been worse, it could been spotted by LEO who placed you OOS on the side of the road til it's fixed. Then you'll be paying for the ticket, the tire, and the reschedule of the load.

 

When I had my fleet, I paid all the expenses. There were times I wanted to 'reward' a driver with a tire billy for stupid decisions or lack of attention, but I paid the costs.
If a driver screwed up too many times, I found reason to squeeze him out.
the tire should be the employer cost, not yours. If he doesn't like it, he can fire you, but it's his responsibility.
Let me ask you this: If you had found a way to run that load cheaper...a shortcut or whatever, would he have shared the savings with you?
Probably not. Well the tire is the same catagory in my book. Cost of doing business.
Tell him firmly, but with respect, that it is his cost.

 

#####, when can I start for yous IMO the driver opened the door to being liable for the tire cause he didn't do a PTI. I had a steering wheel holder run a tire from 9/32 to totally bald because it was [almost] flat. The tire beside it was fully inflated and since the very low one was barely touching the ground, it basically skinned the tread off it. YES I ate it,but I knew then he wasn't a guy I wanted on my ship. He had taken the truck home for 2 weekends but when he left the tires were in good shape. What really pizzed me off was all week he was obsessing about his logbook and HOS, but give a sheet about my equipment ? Not a care !
I walked out when he brought the truck in for another maintenance issue and spotted it in 10 seconds. But the POS couldn't be bothered to even kick the tires much less use a hammer to check them.

Some of new guys these days just don't friggen get it all. Seems their attitude is :As long as the truck still moves everything is OK ! THAT IS NOT THE CASE ! Until you take care of your boss's equipment like it's your own, treat it like the high priced piece of equipment he has invested in, you will continue to be treated like dirt. A driver who treats my equipment gently, gives respect to my customers AND me, will be someone who I wish to treat as I would my best asset.

 

Thank you. Finally someone knows this driver broke the law by not doing his pre-trip. I suggest that the OP read FMCSR's §392.7 where you have to be satisfied that the tires are in good working condition. He didn't bother and he's lucky to still have a job. My company would have booted him for that type of unsafe operation. Pay for a tire and thank your lucky stars you're still working.

 

Would of, could of, should of. There's no proof it didn't just happen 10 miles back.

It's funny how some crucify, yet if you watched them all day, you'd find them screwing up somewhere.

Have you ever sat in a truck stop parking lot and drink your coffee. A large majority doesn't even do a pretrip, let alone check their tires. You're lucky if you see 20% do an actual pretrip.

 

I picked up my truck at the terminal one morning. I told the dispatcher it would take about 45 minutes to check it all out and the APU. They said I was wrong and it would take only 15 minutes.

I was not leaving the yard with a truck that sat for the weekend out of my sight.

 

NO Load is worth a life. You drove on a tire that could have Killed someone. Heck with the cost of the tire. Don't do it again. Loose the truck your driving, Hire on to a real trucking co.

 

Why in the world would you tell your boss that? Are you serious? You should pay for it, for admitting that.

Always do a pre-trip......