Falsifying logs

I wish I could just mind my own business and just move forward with this, but the drivers are coming to me for help, plus on top of that we are due for an audit and this will hit the drivers and very well will hit me, I've only been with the company since May so this is been going on prior to me and since it's something I recently discovered I don't want to be the scapegoat for the company so I'm not going to keep to myself. It truly sucks to things like this happen for whatever reasons such as your example or others, but I really want to try to do my best to help the company do things properly for the safety of their drivers and the benefit of their company in the long run.

 

You need to change that format. Each login must be unique and not easily guessed by the other employees. This isnoart of the regulations.

 

Many drivers, struggle with, acknowledging and accepting, the justification of the multitude of restrictions the government has placed upon drivers.

Restrictions that can interfere with efficient completion of tasks and restrict their ability to maximize productivity and income.

Many drivers view themselves as grossly over-regulated. So the temptation to exceed limitations is very real.

The industry tends to label such drivers as outlaws. However, the excessive regulations are the root of the situation. Classic example of creating laws to create criminals.

Personally, I couldn't work in the regulatory end of this over-regulated industry.

 

Just to point out the obvious, but this company has seen enforcement action before, and sees fines as just a cost of business.

“Explaining” to them them they can or even will get fined is unlikely to have ANY impact. What WILL have a chance of getting their attention is a file on their desk, hard copies, of criminal convictions and civil lawsuit verdicts targeting carrier executives.

A fine to the business is just moving Monopoly money around. When their own heiny or their personal wealth is at risk, they may, just may, sing a different tune.

 

Of course you can’t mind your own business, it’s your job not to. Lol
I’d just be upfront and be like, “if you want me in this position I have to do my job and do it right and here’s a major issue we need to address and it’s in your best interest to let me deal with it. “
Something like that.

in the long run they’ll respect you more then if you buried it.

 

What you are describing is the reality of being a "safety man" anywhere. In trucking that may be the DOT compliance officer, but same difference. The reality of being a safety man is that you have to thread the needle so to speak between the way work gets done, properly and profitably, and the regulations, which many times were written by academics, politicians, and other unknowing types. I think the fact that these two sides do not mesh perfectly is why you have a job. If everything was perfect and everyone did it 100% by the book, what would they need you for? Safety videos, counseling sessions, nodding of the head, wink wink nod nod, etc. That's your job. You work with a "thin red line". Try not to cross that red line, there could be serious ramifications. But try to be reasonable. You will likely have to sonetimes pretend x, y & z doesn't occur, but you don't have to acknowledge this fact to anyone. In the end if all is coded out correctly, you might be better off to stop using your common sense to discern foul play, and instead making sure the way everythibg is coded and recorded is all above board. Over time, should you be able to keep both sides of the equation happy, you will probably get a raise or could apply for safety man at a larger outfit with greater responsibility and compensation.

My advice: Figure out how to help the company meet the regulations while remaining profitable., and do so in a way where everyone else at the company doesn't think you are a complete SOB.

That uncomfortable feeling you have, that's the job security of your position. You will feel less queasy about your role in time.

 

Omg, what the hell is all of this.

ok op, you are not on the hook for any of their actions.

you are an outside third party if you are an actual consultant.

I know what needs to be done, this is your obligation as a consultant to follow through with these steps.

it all has to do with corrective actions and behavior changes that you can show the auditor.

they deserve the fines and punishment, no doubt of that, the fall out is on the owners of the company.

Your job isn’t to change or alter logs to fit their needs, that actually is a crime.

so …

First document all of the violations for the auditor. Print each log out to put in binders,

Divide them up by issues and do a summary page to make it easier for the auditor.

then produce a mitigation plan to eliminate any future violations. This should also include what you have actually saw to produce violations (for example dispatch told the driver to change their status from driving to pc to deliver) and what needs to be changed in the management of the company to prevent abuse of the drivers.

tell the owners that this is what is going to happen, you are providing them a means to continue their operations.

if they don’t cooperate, walk out.

if they do actually listen, they have to understand that they can’t tell drivers to work outside the hours of service and if they give you any crap, walk out.

as for the drivers, they should know better, no excuse. They are on their own with this issue, and should know better.


Oh and one last thing, if they can’t make money in this market and with these hours of service, they don’t need to be in business at all. The state or FMCSA may actually close them down which sounds like this is needed,

 

I agree, and it is something I brought up to my direct supervisor, but since our company is hired on as a consulting company for the trucking company I was told by my direct supervisor that I have to make things as easy as possible on the trucking company and this is how they want it set up. If that doesn't say that they're open to break and regulations then I don't know what does actually say that. So unfortunately I don't have that much power to be able to change that at this moment, unless I can convince them.

 

I actually agree with you completely as I think fines hitting their pot get book would be a big deal, but just off of observation I don't think it will be enough for them to make the proper changes. Now my question is besides Google, what is the best way to find these court cases in litigation notes to show them what connect truly happen if they can continue to run things the way they do?

 

And that's why I'm standing my ground and trying to get everything together before I bring it to the table for them to address properly. The worst that can happen is I get fired from the company I'm actually hired to work for. But I guess it is what it is and it's better to take the higher ground in this situation.