Roehl, losing faith in them quickly...

I certainly hope not... I've got the paperwork sitting across from me on the table for RDTC right now. Please do keep us updated. If (when) you get your own truck, I'd love to interrogate you.

 

Perhaps you can fill out your log pages as on duty not driving & turn them in at the usual time.

Afterall, you are in full readiness to work.
You made yourself available for dispatch.
That's considered on duty not driving time isn't it?
Not unlike waiting for a load once you've emptied?

If they ask what did you do during that time, you were continuing your education thru re-reading the manuals & practicing in your mind the proper routines for pretrips, logging etc.

If they ask what you're doing handing in log sheets, say it's in the rules that once I'm employed here, my time has to be logged in one way or another.

Since I'm available for dispatch, I'm on duty not driving per the rules.

Also remind them that it is Federal law that you must be given minimum wage for all hours worked despite the lack of overtime provisions.

They can't argue that because it IS the law & you are not exempt from that particular aspect of it.

That's what I would do anyway.
Otherwise, they can talk to my employment lawyer.

 

And by doing all that BobC says to do you will have now black balled yourself with the company. Not a good idea to rock the boat right out of the gate. I don't care what any old hand says. Just wait it out and be patient, ek5858. Before you know it this will all just be a memory.

 

Wow, I don't think that'd fly any more than if I was employed at a gas station and said because I was available to work on the days off that they should pay me for the hours.

I know Roehl offers a layover pay of $60/day (same as evo 1 training pay). They also pay $5 per half-hour detention time. I think there's something in there about once you start Evo 1 you get $60/day, not sure if that covers the days where you _should_ have been on the road. I don't think I'd risk my career and reputation with the company over a bad start. I'd be scared of getting the dispatcher mad at me, giving me low miles, and trying to get rid of me.

 

And you're gaining what just sitting there?

I'm not saying get in their face over it, just slip it in and see what happens.
The most they can do is say no.

In the meantime, if the company isn't willing to cut you this little bit of slack in following federal law to this small degree, do you really want to be there?

No it's not the same as a garage mech. You generally don't have days off as a driver until you've been out the requisite number of days to earn those days off.

Did someone in the company tell you to go off duty on your logs?
A letter stating you're off the clock?
Are you not waiting for a dispatch?

If push came to shove in a courtroom, producing your logs would most likely result in them having to pay you at least the minumum wage for all the hours you were in readiness/on-duty not driving.

But then, why should anyone rock the boat over a legality that happens to improve your situation & maybe the industry?

Ok, better you should just suck it up & call it an educational experience.

I hope it works out eventually.

 

Hey *****, This is Bob the mechanic from Maryland in your class at Roehl. I didn't even hear from my Evolution 1 trainer until 12 days after leaving Wisconsin. I decided not to work for Roehl. I have been trying to get a job locally but haven't had any luck. I don't think training with any otr company is going to happen very fast. Maverick will pay 500.00 per week for new drivers in training. Let me know what you decide to do.

 

If you take BobC's advice you'll be out of a job. Threatening your employer with legal action?? Yeah, that's a good way to have job security.

 

Here's the point, Bob. A rookie, fresh out of school and trying to get in the door with not only a company but an industry as a whole shouldn't risk your "take a stand" attitude if he expects to make this career a successful one.

There are times when we drivers need to come together on certain issues, but today's industry is so much different than when you started some 28+ years ago. While there might be a legal angle he can play, what's the point in it if he can't ever work in the industry thanks to a giant black mark? I'd shudder to believe you if you told me you would've made that same decision when you first started.