Rigged!

The call was "Hey James, you've been selected for a random drug test. Drive over to the 'testing facility.'"
Whether DM followed through and made any appointment with testing facility for me, I don't know. All I know is that the receptionist at testing facility (Urgent Care clinc) told me "you have to fill out papers from your employer," not "sign here; have a seat over there. And then, when I tried to call DM he was MIA.

 

Yeah, in my case that's exactly what didn't happen. When I told them who I was and what I was there for I was told "You have to fill out papers from your employer." No "authorization," no "intake." Not easy peasy. Pain in the ###.
Then called/texted DM for authorization. No answer. Then checked ELD. Load waiting.

 

Yeah, that's when I said "Do you mean paperwork that you have on hand for me to fill out, or papers that I have to get from my employer?" to which the service agent replied, "From your employer."

 

I certainly agree with your observation about WE's crappy equipment, but as far as getting a lawyer goes, it has been my experience that very few attorneys know anything about federal transportation law and even fewer who are willing to take on a corporation like Western Express. The only one that agreed to do so wanted a $3,500.00 retainer and told me "it's going to be an uphill battle" and to not "expect a 'money judgement' in your favor."

 

No sir, nothing was hitting the fan. The text message I eventually got from DM later that day read "sorry, I was out to lunch when you called. Did they [the testing facility] take care of that [the test] for you?" Then the only correspondence I got from him regarding the test was a week later when he called me to tell me I was fired for "failing [to take] the test.

 

No money.