Don't let them push you around

Might I politely point out that at this time you are still in the student phase and your opinions and comments may (and probably will) undergo substantial changes when you find yourself out on the road and actually working in this careeer field. Most potential whistle blowers do not have the appropriate documentation to substantiate their claims, nor doo they have the financial resources to hold on the length of time it takes to pursue such a case. And in most cases, there is no monetary pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, merely reinstatement into the same job at which they were working to begin with, and some lawyer fees to pay off.

 

I think you have to be careful here. I would choose my battles carefully when it comes to whistle-blowing. You could find the result to be worse than the initial unfair restriction. You don't want to win the battle but lose the war...

I'm not a trucker, and reading the boards I see lots of what I consider unfair practices by some companies. But I also see some very intelligent and savvy drivers posting here, and trust their judgement in what is best pursued and what is best simply leaving behind and seeking employment elsewhere.

Don't be discouraged, tomhorn, but make sure you keep your eyes open.

 

My husband and I worked for 3 different companies over the years who wound up owing us money.

Unfortunately there is NO RECOURSE other than small claims court to get that money owed to you. The labor board and other government agencies have no jurisdiction over wages owed to you.

I tried to get what was owed to us, but unfortunately nothing I did work out. One employer filed for bankruptcy shortly after we quit. One was for $88 in expenses, and while in theory I would fight on principle, being gone from home all the time does not work in your favor. Not time to do anything.

With the third one, we were left to broke to do anything. We tried to quit, put our notice in, but didn't get anywhere near home. By the time we quit, we had 50 bucks to our name. We were lucky to get out with that much.

 

I have seen what they do to wistle blowers and trouble makers.
They send you somewhere thats about 200 miles from New York
city. You spend the rest of your time there going to NY and back.
Back and forth. All very legal. Once every few days you will feel blessed
to go to D.C in the daytime. Better off putting your notice in before
they do that if you want a career in trucking.

 

I would also point out the most recent Congressional hearing involving whistle blowers.

Dealing with a female who was found responsible for her own misery, by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Why? Because she continued to work (for 15 years) at the same company. For less pay than her male counterparts. She did file more complaints during this period.

It's an interesting reality check, if you can get a transcript from C-Span. So much so, Congress is checking into changing the laws once again, to overturn the Supreme Courts decision, and prevent future "injustices".

So much for whistle blower protection.

So much for a Court of last resort.

The session proved to me that neither statement is true.

 

Any company that wants you to do something illegally, is simply the lowest company on the scum list.

 

I think you are misinterpreting the available data. While there are plenty of stories here of things that have gone wrong for people, those are the more interesting stories. You find very little of the "I picked up and delivered the load on time, and got paid for the load the follwing Friday as planned" variety, because there is little reason to tell those stories. For every load I have where something fascinating goes on and its worth mentioning here, I do many loads and miles where nothing happens more than the mileage markers going by.

You have to keep a perspective on these stories, and also recall that you are only hearing one side of the stiry, and there are many issues involved that never see the light of day that affect the overall picture.