New job has me violating HOS constantly.
Posted by MJCbAdAsS@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 32 comments
I took almost 5 years off from OTR. But have 6 years experience before that. It was hard finding a OTR job with such a long gap, but i did. My options were pretty limited.
Right away I realized its all wrong. Dispatch changes my HOS remotely and has been pressuring me to keep moving as much as possible. Broke and desperate, I did for the first month.
After 4 weeks, I finally went to my boss and told him I can't be driving illegally. I need 10hr breaks and 34hr resets. Told him this place ain't for me and im going home. He said, no worries. Please stay, and ill give you a legal schedule. I was happy to hear that and stayed.
Now im out this week after talking to him. And Dispatch gave me another illegal impossible load to make on time. Messaged my boss. He said to just drop the trailer off at our yard and go do my 34hr. He said take my breaks and get it here when I can. He was nice about it.
What would you do in my situation? I feel like he's gunna find a way to get rid of me or something.
Ok_Bug_6470@reddit
If you run it then it’s on you. Even if you have evidence what’re you gonna do? Spend 10k to hire a lawyer and nothing will happen? Just find a job then leave.
Swamq@reddit
Don't just take screenshots and pictures of what they ask DON'T DO IT and call DOT on them and quit even if dot pulls you over it's on you and the company you don't get away with it because they told you do ignorance of the law doesn't make it legal
ExtentAggravating733@reddit
Ignore dispatch. Take legally required breaks. If a load can't legally get somewhere on time it's a dispatch problem.
EnolaNek@reddit
This was my take on it. I will get your shit there as fast as it can legally get there. If that’s not fast enough, give the load to a team.
Hambubger1k@reddit
Buddy can’t handle the 🇷🇺
Alarming_Star_6549@reddit
Id find a new gig and report the old one to DOT
GoodGoodGoody@reddit
“No problem, since you complained I’ll give you a legal schedule.”
So a couple things
Drive legal. If things are late so be it, you didn’t schedule them.
If things get super shitty and there’s no hope, have a plan to abandon the unit and freight in the most expensive, inconvenient, legal way possible.
Rothyn1@reddit
Is it true that companies will charge you for recovery if you do any of the above? I heard they would take your last paycheck and then pursue legal action for collecting the remaining amount. I don’t know if it’s true or not.
GoodGoodGoody@reddit
Generally speaking at the best of times the last paycheck at any trucking company is a 50/50 thing that it will be full. It’s just industry standard to screw around in it a little.
But regarding abandoned equip, if it’s parked legally there’s nothing the company can legally do. You decide when you quit and you’re not covered by Workers Comp or insurance after you quit. Now, is the co. going to try to withhold wages, maybe. Timing to when you’ve come back from days off so not much owing is ideal.
Rothyn1@reddit
Good to know. What about FMCSA reporting?
GoodGoodGoody@reddit
If you have a truthful reasonably provable complaint, make it. Whatever Trump and his boys do with it is out of your hands but if shit hits you can say I did this, this, this, this, and even an F complaint.
Dangerous_Ad1115@reddit
Never EVER abandon a unit especially when you are under a load. If you need to get out, get out at home. You Can quit, just quit while you are home. If you abandon a load? You will never get another job in your life. Dont let anyone ever bullshit you into believing you can abandon a truck
GoodGoodGoody@reddit
Ohhhh Son.
First, tell me who said “Zero consequences” because it wasn’t me. But those consequences, if you do it legally, are a fart in the wind.
Second, I know plenty of people who aren’t welcome at all at Shit Company A and doing just fine at Decent Company B.
MJCbAdAsS@reddit (OP)
🤣🤣🥰 Love it. Thanks for the laugh
GoodGoodGoody@reddit
I’m not really joking.
I don’t know anyone who has legally abandoned equipment or no-showed on the busiest day of the year who regretted it.
Be sure to keep all personal items in a bag and not scattered throughout the unit.
Beneficial-Gate-8617@reddit
My new job has me doing loads consistently were I have to break HOS to find a place to park after delivery. It's like once a week. Do t know if that's normal or not
IcyOutlandishness859@reddit
You need to grow a pair HOOOOOOOOLY. You’re letting someone hold you hostage while you have all the power because you’re the person that actually have the truck and the keys. Are you actually getting paid on time???? With an operation so crooked I would be worried about getting paid. I’ll hire you where are you located at?
mariamad89@reddit
Always in writing and record phone calls if they do call. Is this a foreign company?
melovemelongtimee@reddit
Sorry you’re going through this. I’m going through something similar. I checked with ChatGPT and started voice recording all the violations. If you have to check what state law says. The federal law says that only one person needs to consent to recording and that can be you.
SchityCityGangBang@reddit
Quit asap.
Delicious_Peace_2526@reddit
I just email dispatch and say “I can take this load, BUT I will deliver at this (date/time).
hugothebear@reddit
You dont need a 34 hour reset, you get back the hours from 9/8 days ago, assuming that covers what you plan on driving that day.
shadowmib@reddit
No brainer. Tell your boss hey you're nice but this company is fucked
fdisc0@reddit
Didn't that one dude post on here not long ago that a company was doing that, he kept records of everything then sued them for a giant bag.
Alvinnn___@reddit
Bro leave you must protect your cdl and yourself!!!!
MJCbAdAsS@reddit (OP)
You're right man
navlgazer9@reddit
Make sure all your communication to your dispatch is in writing and take screen shots when you inform them that you’re out of hours or just too tired to safely drive
If you get in an accident the first thing the injury lawyers are gonna look at is your driving hours
And it ain’t the dispatcher that’s gonna be in court . It’s gonna be you .
MJCbAdAsS@reddit (OP)
I've been screenshotting everything. You're right. Thanks for the info
Frogspoison@reddit
Keep a copy of your altered logs, File an fmcsa complaint, get in contact with a Federal Employment Lawyer, sue for big wins.
MJCbAdAsS@reddit (OP)
I've been screenshotting messages. Appreciate the info
SuspectOk2931@reddit
Bro leave that company, look for a hourly local job. They’re out there just keep looking.
NostradamusJones@reddit
Definitely, the dispatchers there only operate one way.