Has your Dispatcher ever written you up for using the restroom?

If they don't have an issue with drivers using the restroom while on a 30min break, just make every pee stop 30mins.

 

In the 3 1/2 years that I’ve been with my current employer, I think I’ve gotten called twice about why I was stopped, and one of those times it was because an ELD glitch told them I was 200 miles away from my actual location. They don’t tell me where or when to stop or where to fuel, don’t tell me what route to take, or where to sleep.

They tell me where and when (if that’s important) to make my pickups and my deliveries. They give me enough time to get wherever I need to be, and usually with a decent cushion to account for traffic/weather conditions. And any needed bathroom breaks!

 

When you switch companies, please tell us which one it is so nobody makes the mistake of going to work for them.

 

Once you choose to work for a company that monitors your bathroom breaks I'm not sure there is a way to change the company. Not every truckign company operates that way, but when I suggest newbies do research into the working conditions at a trucking company before they volunteer to work there I am frequently told "all trucking companies are alike." That's not true.

My suggestion is you have these "conversations in a way that leaves a written record. Save the text messages or the qualcomm or peoplenet messages, even if you have to take pictures of the messages. When the company warns you about taking a brief break, such as for bathroom use, reply with a question. "If I need to use the restroom while driving from A to B, what should I do?" I took my pet dog with me for a few years and thought of her as my family. But I would try to never mention my pet in these discussions, even though you have permission from the company for the pet. When office dwellers get mad at a driver I'm sure they consider every second the drivers spends attending to the pet as unnecessary. It's not easy to do, but I would suggest you tough it out and get 1 year experience and spend the time between today at that 1 year mark researching a trucking company that treats drivers better. None of the people that may tell you to quit are going to help you pay your bills. Feeling satisfied you told the current company to "stuff it" may not prove to help find a better job quickly.

Instead of arguing with the company about these things I would ask questions, as if you genuinely want a solution that works for you and the company. Youare not going to argue the company into changing their procedures. Aksing the questions in a way that leaves a "paper trail" is to protect you when the company claims they had to fire you for ABC, when you never did ABC. Also, anytime appointment times or arrival times are involved you must do whatever is necessary to keep your company and the customers informed. Not updating the company or shipper is going to hurt you.

 

Plenty of good companies looking for quality drives, that don’t micromanage.
Figure out what the likes and dislikes about your current employment. Then start looking at companies that fit your list. Talk to the drivers from that company. Then apply. After everything is checked out, your sure you have a position. Leave that place.

 

Couple Of Companies I Drove For In MY Early Years Had Some Questionable Practices And Received Some VERY LESS THAN POLITE RESPONSES On The QUALCOMM.

WHO'S IN CHARGE OF THE EQUIPMENT O. T. R.??
YOU ARE!!
Who's IN CHARGE Of "Breaks" And "Pick Up/Delivery Arrival Times"??
YOU ARE, Weather, Traffic, Equipment Considered.
Who's IN CHARGE Of YOUR HEALTH??
IF NOT YOU, Then WHO??
Their "SAFETY DEPARTMENT" Backs Up Dispatch, Not DRIVERS??

You ARE NOT In Charge Of:
FAULTY DIRECTIONS.
CLOSED ROADS DUE TO (enter reason).
CLOSED CUSTOMERS.
VIOLENT WEATHER.
SNOW & ICE.
OVERCROWDED PARKING LOCATIONS.

YOUR HEALTH IS YOUR PRIORITY, So Get Somewhere Where CARE & SAFETY Are Tantamount.

 

Then tell em to F off they don't dictate your bathroom uses.......drivers need to learn the word NO.....no I can't safely complete the trip because holding my pee is unhealthy and will cause issues down the road...so you stop as needed and if they keep hounding you quit......btw they don't make you do anything they aren't behind the wheel, you don't have to be pushed or drive fast unless you allow it.....if they keep pushing or threatening thats coercion and you can sue their ###...

 

Have you contacted the safety department? If you want to stay with that company that is. I personally wouldn't put up with that ####. Time to move on.

 

My vote is they work for K&B....

 

Move on. It’s evident that they don’t want to hang onto drivers.