JB Hunt - Lowell, Ar.

Don't worry. I won't be caught dead in a J.B. Hunt rig. Well, MAYBE I will the day after doomsday. Are you gonna be my trainer, Skull? You sound like a sound-bite for J.B. Hunt. How much do you get paid to push J.B. and all his empty, cleaned-out trucks?

I'm just foolin' with you, Skull. I really do enjoy reading your posts, man.

 

Reply to the [previous poster]:

Based on your reply, I can only say the following:

1) I never claimed to have been hired by JB Hunt as a lawyer. However, a smart and professional driver is always aware of the legal requirements and responsibilities of the job.

2) In your reply you indicate that I should "drive the truck and shutup". This statement indicates to me that you may have issues regarding your ability to carry on a thoughtful discussion without resorting to "name-calling". I do not know why you would say this, I can only suggest to you that you possibly schedule a visit with a anger management specialist to discuss your tendency to make "snap-judgements" and "fly off the handle" without thinking clearly.

3) If you read and understood my writing, you would have found that the trailer in question was missing a current trailer inspection sticker/document and not just a mudflap. No current inspection is a potential out-of-service violation with a stiff $5,000 fine for the driver and a potential $10,000 fine for the company. In this case, I could have replaced the mudflap quickly and easily myself, however, I could not have inspected the trailer myself, since I am not a certified inspector. Therefore, I thought it was "prudent and wise" to get the equipment inspected and legal before proceeding further "down-the-road".

4) In your reply, you gave advise on how to log time. I can only say that I have always logged time as legally required. I do not try to be "creative" regarding my driver logs. You, however, suggest that I should "never" run out of drive time if I knew how to properly log time. I have a feeling you will be the one needing a lawyer at some point in the future on charges of "false logging".

5) I do not believe I was "upstaging" my dispatcher by refusing to drive a commercial motor vehicle illegally for a trip of nearly 700 miles without proper inspection and maintenance being carried out first.

6) As you suggested the traffic ticket cited JB Hunt and I did give the ticket to JB Hunt. No argument there.

Finally, I believe that professional drivers today should be aware of all the laws, regulations and rules regarding their work. I believe knowledge is power. You suggest that I "just drive" and leave the thinking to JB Hunt management. I have to disagree with your ideas here. A wise, mature and thoughtful professional driver tries to always drive legally and expects his/her employer not to suggest, direct or command that he/she drive illegally. If I wanted to perfom illegal acts for pay, I would not drive a truck. There are plenty of other illegal activities that pay much better than truck driving. My question is: Why should I have to drive illegally and unsafely as JB Hunt management suggested to make an "honest" and "legal" days-pay?

 

In reply to the skullitor:

I do not believe it is proper, moral or ethical to lie, cheat and/or steal. Possibly, you do not believe as I do regarding these core personal values. Submitting a false document to a federal agency in a federal investigation is an illegal cheating lie. I expect that federal authorities would take more than a "passing interest" in such lying cheats (ex: Enron). I also expect that federal authorities should do the job we, as taxpayers, pay them to do and conduct official audits of trucking company records as required by law.

 

To equate Enron and what happened there with a single case of a possible fraudulent annual inspection on a semi trailer is pushing the envelope a bit. The trailer may not have been inspected, and you obviously found this issue during your pretrip, but it isn't quite an Enron level case of defrauding the public. This sounds to me like making a mountain out of a molehill.

 

Burrows; I was saying YOU sound like a lawyer,quoting all kinds of statutes ect.Most trucking companies see this as a direct threat.Why???
But they do. I've heard Schneider canned quite a few for the same reasons.We're paid to drive, NOT out think management who makes a lot more money than us.Sadly you may have black balled your self from the trucking industry.I wish you well Burrows. 8)

 

Thats what I was trying to say Burky.It's not an Enron thing.Sadly the feds could care less about 1 trailer.Burrows in my opinion should have told his dispatcher OVER THE QUALCOM!!! The trailer he was dispatched to drive 700 miles DID NOT HAVE AN ANNUAL Inspection.And asked for his (Dispatchers) opinion on what to do.(OVER QUALCOM)The dispatcher would then arrange to get it inspected asap or have you drive the first day at night.Then inspected inroute.

 

They were calling CRST driver lounges. To me that takes Balls! LMAO pure and simple.Large trucking companies do anything they can to get drivers.Be it right or wrong.

 

Thanks Tip. I drive for the "ORANGE ARMY" 8) I wouldn't drive for J.B. Either.

 

I personally think he has a claim.

It's companies like this, their policies and their collusion with other entities in every aspect of trucking, that lend themselves to the state of trucking today.

Anyone reading this epic novel of a story, (accepting as fact, that he has documentation, photographic or otherwise, to support his/deny their claims) would have to be an idiot NOT to see how this companies collusive and willful behavior (and all other companies involved in this matter) systematically and deliberately conspired to ruin this man's reputation and ability to receive compensation through unemployment (which I feel he's rightfully entitled to considering) or earn it through other employment.

I say to him, pursue it and don't let the naysayers around here get you down. They're hoping you'll give up and quit so they'll have a bigger slice of the pie.

Secondarily, I say to the negative posters, that you're full of crap!

Asking "Are you sure you're telling us everything?" is a terribly obvious attempt at lame humor in sideswiping the length of the post. I'm sure the length of the post is directly related to the amount of questions a D.A. would ask had he NOT been given more information.

As for him sounding like a lawyer, you should stay away from me then. I'll be the first to quote these assinine companies the Federal, State and Local regulations as pertains to CMV operations. I'm not out here to do anything to endanger myself or anyone else. I've walked away from places like this in the past and I will again should the need arise.

Some suggest that he not question certain company practices or that he just "shut up and drive" or "never run out of hours" and leave the thinking to management, only causes me to agree with him in his assessment that someone is going to be needing a lawyer someday.

It's terrible commentary to believe that "professionals" would suggest that he do otherwise.

Some of us are "questioners of authority" and whether it's legal or principle based, we stand up to these type companies, just because our standards are a little higher than the almighty buck and other self-procliamed "professionals".

Some of us labeled "crybabies" are the only ones trying to stand up to this industry, these type companies and their associated behaviors. Unfortunately we're in the minority. We would probably have more success in transforming things if it weren't for others constantly doing their part to perpetuate things. It would sure help if "everyone" did as we do.

Every discussion I've ever heard or participated in, on the subject always manages to deteriorate into, if I'm personally making it why should I help you, or your problems aren't my problems, or don't haul cheap freight. Or worse yet, into name calling when one can't properly debate an issue.

Someone, somewhere always manages to squirm their way out of their own personal responsibility for their contribution to the way things are because their greed gets in the way of reasonable thinking and ends up with them passing the buck to someone else.

I suppose however, that my support of this man shall fall on deaf ears and will substantially change nothing. Those who do as they do, will continue blaming the other guy or calling him names because they're too ###### lazy to stand up for what's right instead of what they feel is normal business practice.

You see it in all business on a daily basis and whether you wish to believe it or not, it's how you earn your living. Someone stepping on heads just so they can get ahead. GREED IS RAMPANT.

If it's not that, it's someone attacking your character and personal beliefs. Pulling others down to advance onesself is the great American pasttime. Welcome to "the American way."

You think I'm wrong with my assessment of the attitudes and actions within America and our industry? I only need submit the two instances of rebuttal and the original posters saga contained within.

Who did you crush today?

Have a nice day.

 

Just out of curiousity .. if you were being 'forced' to drive illegally, but you didnt exactly want to refuse to drive directly to your employer.. what would the turn out be in flagging down a police officer or DOT offical and explaining the situation them and asking them to place you OOS?