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Towing bill

Discussion in 'Motor Carrier Questions - The Inside Scoop' started by JReding, Nov 11, 2014.

Page 1 of 5
  1. Nov 11, 2014 #1
    JReding

    JReding Road Train Member

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    Can anybody give me some input? I already gave my opinion, sort of, but other opinions/advice would help: a couple I know own a small trucking company (about 5 drivers work for them), and one of their drivers got his truck stuck, blocking traffic. Police showed up and called for a tow truck. The driver paid the $400 with his credit card, and gave the bill to my friends (the owners). They were wondering if they are legally obligated to pay the bill. I said I didn't know, but anywhere I worked before, the company would pay the bill, but there was a point system of some kind, and a discussion of what happened with the employer. Anyone else?
     
    JReding, Nov 11, 2014
    JReding, Nov 11, 2014
    #1
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  3. Nov 11, 2014 #2
    DrFlush

    DrFlush Road Train Member

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    Unless the driver has previously signed paperwork saying he would be responsible for such a bill, the owner of the company owns the bill. But that's just my limited knowledge of labor law.
     
    DrFlush, Nov 11, 2014
    DrFlush, Nov 11, 2014
    #2
  4. Nov 11, 2014 #3
    JReding

    JReding Road Train Member

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    I was kind of thinking the same thing. I tried to find something on the internet, but I'm not exactly sure where to start. I'm usually pretty good at researching, too...
     
    JReding, Nov 11, 2014
    JReding, Nov 11, 2014
    #3
  5. Nov 11, 2014 #4
    davo727

    davo727 Bobtail Member

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    Sep 29, 2014
    Cleveland, Texas
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    Im just a new guy around here but im wondering if this is a one time deal by a good employee? Would it bankrupt the company to just pay the driver back for the #### thing?
     
    davo727, Nov 11, 2014
    davo727, Nov 11, 2014
    #4
    ShortBusKid Thanks this.
  7. Nov 11, 2014 #5
    Big Don

    Big Don "Old Fart"

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    And why exactly are they thinking they DON'T have to reimburse the driver for this? Did he do something extremely stupid? If he did, they can, (and perhaps should) fire him. But it is their truck, not his. Do they expect him to pay for it when, (not if,) the truck breaks down? Come on, this sounds like a total rip off to me.
     
    Big Don, Nov 11, 2014
    Big Don, Nov 11, 2014
    #5
  8. Nov 11, 2014 #6
    JReding

    JReding Road Train Member

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    I'm guessing they've never dealt with something like this before. I can tell you that they are very generous and helpful with their employees: even though they are very small, they have always provided medical coverage for their employees, because they believed it was the right thing to do. They had a driver a while back who was having some personal problems, and his performance suffered greatly. They invited him to dinner: he assumed they were firing him, but instead that asked him about his troubles, and figured out a way to help him, and even gave him a raise that night. Try not to be too hard on them, please...
     
    JReding, Nov 11, 2014
    JReding, Nov 11, 2014
    #6
    Big Don Thanks this.
  9. Nov 11, 2014 #7
    JReding

    JReding Road Train Member

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    And yes, it sounds like the driver was completely at fault for the incident. I don't have details, but as I said, somehow he got himself stuck, and was blocking traffic.
     
    JReding, Nov 11, 2014
    JReding, Nov 11, 2014
    #7
    Big Don Thanks this.
  10. Nov 11, 2014 #8
    Trckdrvr

    Trckdrvr Heavy Load Member

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    Getting stuck?..It happens,i guess.
    In 14 years of driving tho I have yet to call a wrecker or been stuck,and I have run a lot of snowstates.

    So,maybe the driver did create the problem,Need more info before I can make a judgement.
     
    Trckdrvr, Nov 11, 2014
    Trckdrvr, Nov 11, 2014
    #8
    Mudguppy Thanks this.
  11. Nov 11, 2014 #9
    Mudguppy

    Mudguppy Degenerate Immoralist

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    Why exactly are you automatically siding with the driver? It's not like there aren't thousands of "drivers" nowadays who aren't total freaking idiots, and not only do stupid things while driving, but I personally see multiple examples of downright DANGEROUS driving every day!!!

    I'll reserve my opinion until I hear exactly what caused the truck to need to be towed in the first place....If it was something idiotic/preventable the driver did to cause it, I would give him/her an option- Sure, I'll reimburse you for the tow, but you will no longer be driving MY truck...OR you can eat the bill and consider it a pricey lesson on what NOT to do in the future in MY truck.....
     
    Mudguppy, Nov 11, 2014
    Mudguppy, Nov 11, 2014
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  12. Nov 11, 2014 #10
    The Challenger

    The Challenger Kinghunter

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    Mudpuppy,

    I presumed its because they own the truck. If I owned the truck, and one of my drivers got the truck stuck, id be obligated to pay the tow bill. If you own the truck, you pay the bill not the driver. Then the driver gets disciplined by the owner or manager. That's how it goes with the companies.

    KH
     
    The Challenger, Nov 11, 2014
    The Challenger, Nov 11, 2014
    #10
    semi retired semi driver Thanks this.
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