I reported the power steering was getting bad on my company issued truck about three weeks before it completely went out. I asked to be routed to a shop to have it repaired. I was ignored and asked if I was able to drive the truck. I replied yes. All the messages are saved on the qualcomm. I asked to have one permanant fleet manager. Again, I was ignored. It was my second full week and I was on my fourth fleet manager and still didn't have a permanent one.
I called into to dispatch and didn't who I was going to talk to next. I was on my way to deliver in GA and I had to stop for a bathroom break. I went to turn around in an open spot off of the main highway and I sunk my truck and trailer bumper deep into mud and had to be pulled out.
I was charged with a preventable incident. I was trying to exit a Flying J truck stop off of I-40 exit 369 in TN. Being that my fleet manager had been ignoring the fact that I had reporting that the power steering was going bad. I had to pull forward and back up numerous times to keep from hitting other vehicles. I had manuevered my truck in such a way that instead of hitting the other vehicles that were inproperly parked, my front bumper hung the guard rail that guards the scale and those particular truck stops.
I took pictures to prove that there was not any property damage other than my company issued truck#310842. I delivered my load the next morning because I had to stop for my 10 hour break the night that the incident happened. I then had permission to deadhead home to Pleasant Shade TN some 275 miles away. I reported what had happened the night before to the safety dept, road support, and to dispatch. It just happened to be on a sunday and my normal temporary fleet manager was not working.
I was contacted the next day by a rude and screaming phone call from my temporary fleet manager and when my wife had answered the phone, may I add that she was in the next room of our house, I could hear how loud he was speaking to her when he rudely asked for me. I answered and with frustration he started to ask me what was going on. Why I didn't get my truck fixed in Memphis, TN.
Why I stayed at the Memphis TN terminal and why I didn't let the mechanics fix my truck. I replied back with I did not stay at the terminal and I did not let the mechanic fix my truck because they said that they couldn't get to my truck til the next day in which I had a delivery to make the next morning and that I couldn't be late for the appointment.
I was terminated due to poor work performance in the first ninety days and the bumper incident was not going to be put on me as an accident. Now, I am having one hell of a time getting hired anywhere in the trucking industry because once I tell them that I got fired for an accident that isn't even on my dac report, they don't want anything to do with me. I got screwed royally when I signed up for JB HUNT period.!
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