Equipment Violation...Who's Responsible?

Especially with a bad dispatcher, it can be difficult to keep it all together, but the driver, like a pilot, needs to ensure that his vehicle is safe to operate before heading out.

As for the enforcement side... once I was driving the back roads in OK, and was pulled over for a dead light. The local cop led me to the local gas station/truck stop and helped me fix the light. No ticket, no warning. He was just making sure my truck was safe, and sent me on my way.
This is an act of an officer who really cares about you and your safety, rather than the mere equipment-tax-collection agents trolling the roads looking to fatten their masters' wallets. Ran into one of those in TX right about when the speed limits were coming back up. After passing three 70 mph signs, with nothing resembling a truck speed limit sign anywhere, I started easing up toward the 'new' speed limit.
BAM... deputy was on me. When I asked him whether they were making some good money on this stretch, he smirked and told me that taking those signs down was the best thing they'd done, financially, in a while. He told me it was posted a little farther down the road, evidently keeping THEM legal...
Technically, it was still my responsibility to *know* what the speed limit was, even if it wasn't properly posted, so I grumbled and took the ticket rather than face arrest, and the loss of revenue it would represent.

Ok, I've digressed enough.

 

It's just like marriage, no matter what you may think is right, it's your fault!

 

I believe that's the way it should be. A driver should know ALL the workings of the truck.

 

Ok let me ask you this How long have you had your own trucking company and how long have you been driving?? It is quite simple it is up to you no matter what kind of lease agreement you have it is your ticket no matter who's equipment you are pulling. Truck or trailer no matter who owns it it is under your care. If you know the light is out replace it and give the bill to the company. That is just the way it works no matter who owns what or who you are hauling for or what state or country for that matter.

 

2 very harsh, and simple words sum up all we need to know about the industry " driver's responsible"

 

I just got a HUGE gift from the PASP, got pulled over for 71 in a 55, divided highway, rural, have been running there at 71 for 3 years. So I am freaking out thinking it is going to cost me $2000 to fight it to save myself a serious offense.

Officer took pity on my and wrote me failure to obey a 55mph speedlimit sign, $109 fine, no points.

He said, that they were told to patrol and write tickets on this road, he did not agree with it, but it was his job. there have been 3 fatals in the area in the last year involving big trucks. All of the accidents have involved 4-wheelers failure to yeild and turning in front of big trucks. Sadly one ABF driver was killed due to someone pulling out infrount of him, he hit the brakes, smashed this trailblazer, and ended up dead after the trailers piled up on his cab.

So I will slow down in PA now, was a cheap lesson.


K