At Covenant Transport, SAFETY should be first but few are listening

As a Covenant driver, I wish to report what I feel is a violation of Covenant Transport Policies. The FORCED dispatch of a load through a known area that has been shut down for severe weather conditions on I-90 in Washington State.
On 21 January 2016, I was issed a load with a pickup in Sumner, WA to be delivered to Clifton, NJ. As always, I start planning my route of travel by checking the local weather condition, route weather conditions and final destination "forecasted weather". Upon doing this I was made aware that I-90 was Shut Down in both East/West directions due to slick, icy, snowing conditions and a possible treat of Avalanche.
I informed dispatch and my Fleet Manager of this information and suggested an alternate route south down I-5 which was and still is open. A follow up call was made to my fleet manager to make sure that there was no questions. My Team Advocate, went to the Customer Service Representive (CSR) with my concerns for this load. All messages were sent through QualCom and can be verified.
I was informed that I was to proceed with original route (I-90 East across the northern track) and that there was no alternate routento be used. I replied "OK, will Do".
I picked up my loaded trailer in Sumner, WA and spoke to the Shipper about the possible delay in delivery and I-90 Shut Down. He said to do the best I could and that this load was not time sensative.
Proceeded to the TA at North Bend, WA exit 34, I-90 to get the trailer weighed because of Covenant Transport policy that all loads over 30,000 lbs will have a certified scale weight ticket to protect the driver from any over weights issues at the scale stations. I noticed while driving to North Bend, WA the snow was falling heavily and the roads were begining to ice over. At mile marker 34, I witnessed many semi tractors shut down along the road and others being turned around by WA State Troopers. I was then approched and informed by a WA State Trooper to turn around and go back to where I came from. When asked for how long? He stated until the roads are opened and safe to travel with a time unknown for reopening.
I felt that driving to a known location where the road was shut down for severe weather conditions was an unnecessary risk and further more, I felt that I should have never been forced to proceed on a route when other "Safer" routes were available and suggested to my team advocate.
Upon returning to Tacoma, I called Night Dispatch and talked to the floor supervisor and explained my dismay with our company's unwillingness to re-route this load to a "safer route" and how I felt the "PUSH" to go into an unsafe severe weather location".
The night dispatch supervisor re-routed this load along I-5 South to Medford, OR then on to Reno, NV where I could pick up I-80. As a company driver, I feel that any forced dispatch to a known severe weather location with the roads shut down is totally unacceptable. Plus, this is a prime example of our company's Operations Division not willing to listen to it's drivers who are out on the road. If they need to verify said information coming from the driver it is easy to access all website for roads conditions on the internet.
I have been asked by many people WHY DRIVERS DO NOT STAY AT COVENANT? This is why... The lack of Communication.
Covenant Transport keeps asking why drivers only stay for 6 weeks to a maximun of 6 months and here is a perfect example.
Thanks for listening to my concerns.

 

Follow up to my posting:
At Covenant Transport, SAFETY should be first but few are listening
After driving 422 miles to medford, OR from Sumner, WA along the authorized re-route from the Night Dispatch Supervisor. I was notified that the re-route was removed and that I was to return to my original location upon which I would drive the I-90 Northern Route when the road was reopened.

The re-route from a safer route to a route through a location with severe weather being reported makes no since to me at all. Why would any company route a driver through an unsafe route when a safer route is available. I was further notified that the additional 600 miles that the re-route authorized was removed.

I continued to Reno, NV as my authorized re-route stated where upon I notified Covenant Transport that I would no longer drive for a company that did not make SAFETY of it's drivers its first concern.

SAFETY is always my first concern and I will not work for any company that refuses to listen to it's drivers when a safety concern is voiced. Actions are far louder louder than words and I notified Covenant that I will never compromise my personal safety, the safety of my co-driver and that of my tractor.

 

OH Brother, you are so right.
I was on hold for 40 minutes until I finely got someone to answer but she was a first line worker. I requested a supervisor to call me back. The night dispatch supervisor called me back 10 minutes later.
Sounds like you know Covenant Transport.

 

All good points that you made.
The main reason I send all messages through QualCom is that there is a record of my concerns and conversation with any company. A follow up call was to make sure that no issues were not understood. With Covenant, if there is no record of a question or concern it will be denied that the conversation was ever had.

 

Thanks for your advise Brother.
I just wanted to move the load in a safe manner but I understand what you are saying.