Sorry for such a long post

Hello everyone.
I just registered to this forum today as you can see.
I'm going to kill a few birds with one stone here with this posting. A little about myself, a little rant, plus a couple of newb questions. I'll apologize now again for such a long post. Please just bare with me.

About myself. I'm almost forty. Man that kind of hurts to say. I live in Alexandria VA.
I'm married to my childhood sweet heart, meeting one another at the age of 12 years old about 27 years ago.
Only been married for 5 years
Currently I hold a class B and have for almost a year. For the past year I was driving a 5 axle dump truck for a company.
Which last week I was fired from this company. Which I am not really upset about. Why?

For the past year I have complained about the re caps that my truck has on the front. Even though they are legal to have on, they are
plainly aren't safe to have while going down the highway at 65-70 mph. After I had to explain to him he isn't worth going to prison for if I kill someone because of his cheapness but mostly stupidity. He always comes back with" if you don't like it I can find someone else to drive".

Two I was told over and over that no matter what. I could not go over the scale. I had to always go about 30 minutes out of my way, loaded or un loaded around the scale. Reason being? Bald cracked tires, air leaks, brakes kept coming unadjusted just to name three. Again very unsafe wouldn't past inspection even if I paid the officer. (Joking of course)

When I first started to work for this company, we started at 5am in the morning getting paid for 2 hours wait time. About 2 months later he takes that away with no wait time but we still sat in our trucks sometimes up to 2 hours. Now not getting paid for it.

Paydays when I first started they where once a week always on Mondays then Tuesdays then Fridays. Ss time went by, he was a check behind. Getting paid every two weeks. Since, I have had 2 bounced checks for him. Both being over 800 dollars. Isn't that against the law to write bad checks?

This is a very minor thing I know. Last summer in 110 degree heat my air conditioner didn't work. Do to what we had to haul while getting loaded I had to roll up my window because of the dust was toxic to breath. I sweated my ### off. All that was wrong was the blower motor was bad.


Now this is his reason why I got fired.
I messed up the truck to many times in one week. Hmmmmm
Tuesday... I burnt out the batteries. How did I do this? Because about a month ago while dumping a load at a local landfill,
I sank in the mud, having to be pulled out by a bull dozer, which ripped the bumper off my truck. Which by myself
(a 200lb steal bumper) I put back on, on the spot, knowing if I didn't have it on. I could get pulled over by the DOT.
But about 2 weeks ago we went and got the snowplow equipment put on for winter. Keep in mind it doesn't snow here in VA until maybe very last Nov or late Dec. Once a week I would tell him what minor little things was wrong with the truck the bumper being one. he ignored them. Well why dumping a load, playing follow the leader with the other trucks, going up a small incline, the snowplow did a nose dive, jamming the bumper back into it's place, short circuiting the whole wiring system, burning the batteries out.

About two days later in a rush which yes it was my fault, but was in a rush to produce. I turned to soon blowing a tire and bending a rim on a pony tire. I hit a (at slow speed) end part of a highway guard rail. I offered since it was my fault to pay for it. which I did.

The other problem was I only did two loads one day out of the quarry when most got 7 that day. Reason I was kicked out while getting my third load. Reason the rubber seal around the door was partly missing, which I had told him a couple of times in my weekly report to him, plus the back of the truck was all dented up in areas without the seal, so the #8 stone kept falling out the back even at a stand still, little lone going down the highway. I was told I had to go and get it fixed.

But mostly after talking to his brother, the reason I was fired was because I had told him that I had been looking for a different job.
Which I'm not stupid where I would quit a job before I had another one to go to. I was being fair I thought? Letting him know that as soon, if and when I find another? I would be putting my 2 weeks notice in. Yes, I know, kind of stupid to do. I am just to honest of a person, trying to let him know after almost a year with very little changes for the good. I was very un happy with the unsafeness of his trucks. Not only to me, but the other people around me. I-95 and 495 is no joking matter around here in VA. He got mad basically because I was quiting his company.


Now here are my questions

1) What if anything can I do about my issues above?
2) Currently I am studying for my class A using practice tests online. It's my understanding that all I need to do now is take the combination trailer part of the CDL test? Yes / No

Note: About 10 years ago I did go to a truck driving school but like many, didn't get past the walk around, which I can do now having already recieved my Class B. I know there are a few other things I have to mention about the fifth wheel and trailer. I'm now confident that I can past this part of the test.

3)My third question is? Any of you independent solo drivers would be willing to take a stranger along with you becoming a team, for as little as a week, so this stranger could get a little driving experiance so he could past the road exam? My guess is no but thought I would ask.
I do have a very clean DL. Okay okay 3 no seat belt tickets I have had maybe 6 in my life. Only 3 are showing now. Just the seat belt isn't user freindly to me I guess. Also I can past a drug test on a minutes notice as well.

4) I mite of missed it (online) but just incase, does anyone know if there is a place where I could rent a truck to practice and then take the road test in around Nothern VA?

Well Finally I am done. Thanks for reading if you got this far. Any help will be very apperciated.

P.S I am sorry if my post doesn't have all the proper grammar that many look for I have found on forum.
I am a high school drop out having to go to work to help support my 6 other siblings at age 17.

 

bullhaulerswife--->Wow, your X employer is a real piece of work. And yes, it is illegal to write a check and have it bounce. In our state anything over $250 is worthy of a court appearance. Check your local and state labor laws.

Yes, I know that is is illegal.. yet where would it get me really? Him and his brother knows a lot of the trucking companies around here. I would hate to get blacked book right off bat. Plus I am trying to be sibble knowing that I will have to use him as a ref for another job.


bullhaulerswife--->You honestly need to put a bug in the ear of the DOT for this company, if the trucks are that bad. They need to be inspected and held accountable for the shape the trucks are in.

I have thought of this even going as far as going down to the yard and taking pictures of the trucks and their conditions.

bullhaulerswife--->Don't get discouraged about the CDL thing, I'm sure that some of the guys here will chime in on what you need to do to get your Class A. Have you checked with your local workforce development, to see if they have any classes locally that they can help you with? Just a suggestion.

I am getting a little discouraged with it. Especially the way the economy is right now and with so many without jobs in the USA. It's going to be almost impossible as many I am sure know to find another trucking company at lease get my last year in that good companies demand.
Saying to myself I should of just shut up and dealt with the messed up truck. Then again what would of happen if I did kill someone?


Lurchgs--> BullHaulersWife nailed it pretty well. Only thing I'd add is maybe check with local Class A schools, see if you can either rent the truck (some allow it), or even maybe take a refresher course.

Currently I am checking this avenue out. Again the way the economy is, only having one pay check but a house payment, car payment and everything else that goes along in life. I don't think i can afford it for awhile. I'll know more when I get a response back from the companies I emailed earlier.


Personally, I'd suggest the latter as a minimum. Driving isn't just about .. driving. There's logging and the like as well. Far better to make sure you have that nailed down.

In any event, it would - I'm told - greatly improve your marketability

Thanks for your help and suggestions. I use them wisely..