No idea what to think...

Hi people:
So I know that this is the BAD company area, but I'm going to likely disappoint because I'm not going to divulge - and I'm going to rant a bit.

For the past three weeks I've been out with a trainer, two of them actually. The first one turned out to be a racist, and surprise-surprise the mgmt made me out to be the problem when I requested to be removed from the truck asap. Not only did they give me a hard time, but they told the second trainer that I wanted a new trainer because the old one "played the wrong radio station" and that I was "on my last shot" with the company.

The second trainer was very nice, but he had devised a plan to basically screw the company out of money by getting himself reimbursed for his own hotel room over the Thanksgiving holiday. You see, he had figured out that, since my personal vehicle was at the terminal, that I'd be likely going home instead of sitting in a hotel room while everyone else was enjoying holiday dinners. He asked me point blank, and I let him know that it was indeed my plan to go home. About a day later, he had a new plan - he asked me to not send in my resignation until after Friday so he could get himself a hotel room rather than staying with relatives. This way he could say he got the hotel for me and get reimbursed and no one would be the wiser - except I am the wiser and it has not been sitting well on my conscience.

I know, I've already decided I'm done with that craphole of a company, why should I care? Besides, why risk getting a guy fired, right? Well, I feel strongly about integrity, and I'm afraid I just can't reconcile going through with his plan. Besides, I'm fairly certain that the company will pull the hotel costs from my last paycheck, and that definitely does not sit well with me.

So, how would you guys proceed?

 

How did the first one turn out to be racist?

 

Used the "n" word - referred to "n" 's of all shades when referring to "Mexicans". Stated I was a good one, that the company owed him a good one since the last two were an Indian and Mexican. Was about to disparage Jews until I cut him off and informed him that I was Jewish, and spoke disrespectfully of my military service.

 

When you talk to management don't get mad. Just stay calm and explain the situation, even if you need to explain the same thing multiple times.

Don't get exicted and lay down ultimatums, quick trip to the curb.

 

I already kicked them to the curb - and I don't get mad at ignorant behavior anymore, found at 51 It's way too common to get upset about it.

 

The big question is...what have you learned from all of this? Trucking is full of bigots, racists, misogynists, passive/aggressives, anti semites, and just about every other kind of character defect you can think of.
I'm not saying that you're wrong to quit, just don't expect the trucking world to be some kind of politcally correct haven from abberant behavior.
Good luck on your next job.

 

It's unfortunate but not surprising that my post would elicit a response like yours - it's not just "politically correct" to not speak and act in a manner that suggests any kind of racial bias/discrimination, it is morally and and ethically wrong as well - and oh yeah, it's illegal.

 

I know that. I've lived it. If I wanted to play the race card I could play the whole deck.
Sometimes you just have to grit your teeth and realize that the person that's being a jerk is never going to change. Hey, it's not your fault they're an idiot.
Get past it, get them out of your life as soon as possible and get on with whatever your life is about.
Being stuck in a truck with someone that you find odious is a rough deal but it's not uncommon.

 

Desciminating against a protected class is illegal. Being a racist isn't. This is America. People can be whatever they want as long as it doesn't infringe on the rights of others. They can even be things that I or others find distasteful.

 

His behavior did rise to the level of discrimination - he did all he could to change my way on how I viewed "Mexicans" and other minorities from telling me how disgusting he felt that their personal hygiene habits were to how they've burdened our social services systems. Those trucks are the workplace, and his position as a trainer puts him in a management role - I hope you're not trying to convince me that he was free to speak/argue in that manner in the office.