Has anyone dealt with some questionable "guidance" or actions their FM/DM and what steps did you take towards resolution?
A few facts about me:
I am in a team driving setting with my husband with a company owned tractor. My husband had driven for several years nearly a decade ago, but had to complete a refresher course and I am a complete newb with only six months under my belt.
My examples:
Our DM was adamant about us driving a DOT illegal trailer. We refused. Received validation from a 3rd party repair shop that the trailer was not DOT legal. DM then says another employee claimed our trailer was DOT legal and to drive NOW. Not only did we refuse, we had the 3rd party repair shop explain they never told anyone our trailer was legal. They also did not have the parts on hand to make repairs. So we are sent on a 433 mile DH for a empty trailer to transfer the load into and get going. Is that excessive?
I got sick. Sinus cold. Asked for a few extra hours to sleep since the company had me on a schedule that allowed me only 4 hours sleep (co-driver did not have the available hours to take over).
We were told "no problem" and "get some rest. Pick the load up first thing in am". A few hours later I get a call from our DM that we had "declined the load" and were put in a "out of service status". Now by call, I mean his screaming and cussing at me. He demanded we get our ###es in front of him pronto. We explained our situation and he decided to settle on telling me to be more efficient when getting sick.
Is that even a reasonable request?
We had also been asking for a new steer tire since March 2019. The company's maintenance shop claimed there was nothing wrong with that tire and slapped a passing inspection on the tractor ... Despite it failing Love's Tire Pass and being pointed out on numerous occasions when we had our truck serviced, we were told no. The tire was not DOT compliant, had very little tread and was fraying on the outer wall. On yet another roadside assistance adventure, it took two Petro techs, a series of pictures and me threatening to call a State Trooper before we finally get a new tire in June 2019.
We also developed a coolant leak. Six gallons of coolant in a 4 day period. We had a hard time locating the leak, but finally did find it right behind the fuel filter. Two DMs (ours and a temporary) kept telling/asking us to hold off on getting the truck serviced for another 1,700 miles. After experiencing a trailer tire blow out that resulted in a airbag being destroyed, we had to head to a local shop. I pushed for the coolant to be fixed along with the airbag. After six hours, the company finally agreed. We were told as long as we were out of shop by a certain time that we would still maintain our load lineup. We got out of the shop seven hours ahead of the timeline only to learn our loads had been pulled from us hours earlier. We were then left sitting 54 hours before getting a set of solo driver loads for a team. No cpm pay, just a flat $50 for "City work".
Is that common nowadays? I honestly feel like it was a punishment for pushing for repairs.
There are more incidences, but those are just the bigger examples we have faced recently.
Is there anything we can do or is this just a "normal" response these days?
Side Note:
One thing I did try was to request a new DM/FM. My request was denied and I was told that I was just to green at the gills to make the request or know why I was making the request.
My husband is disgusted with this company, but we are bound by another 3.5 months of contract before we can move on, but I feel there has to be some suggestions on how to handle these kinds of situations besides taking it like a seriously dry enema.
Suggestions?
Has my FM lost their mind?
Discussion in 'Motor Carrier Questions - The Inside Scoop' started by OTR_OMGah, Jun 17, 2019.
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And the company is . . . ?
firemedic2816, DTP, Western flyer and 3 others Thank this. -
i drove 730 miles once with the heat on during summer. had a 101 temp and throwing up in a big size cup as i drove. when your the only income you keep working and pushing hard.
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If all you say is accurate and documented, I'd take it up the chain of command until you get it resolved or get fired. Either way the problem will be resolved. I'd use the safety aspect as much as possible and not be afraid to go right to the top if necessary. Don't get pushed around by some hourly stooge with superiority complex.
88228822, Tb0n3, FlaSwampRat and 1 other person Thank this. -
you got to hook up to the trailer. then you got to ride on. here at wm the drivers that complain all the time get the shortest runs.
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That's nothing - I did the same, uphill both ways, in the snow - barefoot.
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did you have socks on.
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No - my step grand parents in law had switched my feet so bad they were swollen and I couldn't fit socks on.
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Not meaning to make light of your situation with previous posts.
When you said - "Bound by 3.5 months of contract before we can move on"
That got me.
A steer tire can kill people - not only yourselves.
No - you shouldn't pull a defective trailer. None of us should - fewer would.
Please name the company, so others are at least forewarned of being bound to a contract to drive defective equipment.cke, Dave_in_AZ, Tb0n3 and 3 others Thank this. -
The hard part is you are limited on experience. As hard as it may be, stick out the remaining 3.5 months. Start talking to new companies around 1 month out.
With a years experience with 1 company, and clean record, a lot of doors will open.
Then after 2 years, more doors will open, after 3 even more, and then after 5 you can go pretty much anywhere.
The FM/DM situation is hit or miss at almost every major carrier. I've had good ones, I've had horrible ones.
Honestly after 2 years, there is NO reason the two of you should be doing the whole company driver thing anyway. Even if you went to Lone Mountain and got a new truc . You could go just about anywhere and make really good money. I know couples that pay off their trucks in less than a year. Then they work 2 months on, 1 months off until the warranty runs out, then they buy another one.
The first 2 years sucks, your husband can verify that. If just learning the industry. Gotta put in your dues...OTR_OMGah Thanks this.
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