Hope all owner's are not like this

[WorriedInAkron]

We drive for one of the major expedite companies. My husband and I, had a horrible experience with a fleet owner. We feel like the owner put the revenue of the truck above the safety of his drivers. We were driving, picked up a load in Cleveland and were on our way to deliver in Detroit. Both of us became overcome by exhaust fumes, making us very sick. We immediately called the owner and told him there was a bad exhaust leak. Owner stated it's to much to fix on the road. He told us to go to Walmart, go to the paint section, and get a couple of those white painter masks and drive the truck back home 230 miles to have it repaired. Keeping in mind, it was very cold outside and had to ride with windows down. We refused to do that. We got a hotel room and got the truck fixed at the truckstop. We both ended up in the hospital later that morning. We thank god that we did not have a layover or fall asleep as we wouldn't be here to write this post.

 

[nightcreacher]

sure hope you quit,to many owners that are above board,that need drivers. if its to much to fix on road,maybe you might have to worry about your pay next

 

[WorriedInAkron]

We appreciate the imput nightcreacher. And yes we finally after a yr and a half of to many issues. We found new home, new owner, and new equipment! Thanks again!

 

[fortwayne]

I know that you were 200+ miles away from the home base to get the truck fixed, but, how far were you from dropping off the load.
Maybe, the o/o felt you were closer to getting the load off the truck first, than being closer to anyplace else to get the truck fixed. Let's face it if that was the case then he may have a point, if not, well, you may be more in the right.
Either way, the truck needed to be fixed and the load had to get dropped. More information would be helpful in this case.

Fort Wayne
'Stand Up For Yourself - Don't Wait For Someone Else'

 

[bamamule]

next time stop by scales ask dot for a DOT tell them what happened and see what bill he or she gets

 

[WorriedInAkron]

More info! We had already dropped our freight when the owner told us to go to walmart to get the masks and drive back the 230 miles.

 

[fastman_1]

I would have told the Owner to get a mask and come get the Truck, If you had gotten stop for a DOT. Guess who gets the Most hassle! You done Right.







































Owner/Operator since 1979
Expediter since 1997
B Unit Semi Retired
Somedays are Diamonds and Somedays are Stones
Home is Wherever you Park.
The Price of Freedom is Written on the Wall.

 

[tom tinker]

That's not to bright on owners part, paint masks don't stop carbon monoxide. Not surprising wanting you to drive that distance with exhaust leak. Sounds like he can't afford to be in business???

 

[fortwayne]

Hey worriedinakron -
Check your opening post. You said he were on your way to Detroit not that you had already dropped the load off. You said you called the owner directly. Well, either way, the good thing is you are Ok now and have moved on. It sounds like you had one of those rare breed o/o that can and will get things fixed at one place which is stupid. Heck, I drove for one of those cheappies. I was in Toledo when I had a problem and he told me to drive to Detroit and fix it. I told him the same company has a shop 2 blocks from where I was at. It made him no difference. So I drove to Detroit. Man - somethings just do not make sense. So you just keep moving!

Fort Wayne
'Stand Up For Yourself - Don't Wait For Someone Else'

 

[Turtle]

A diesel doesn't put out carbon monoxide like a gasoline burning engine does, so that's the one thing you can breathe easier about, assuming you can still breathe through the soot, that is.

 

[Wingnut]

It sounds like you definately had an uncaring owner...more concerned with the almighty $$$$ instead of his drivers lives. Not all of us owners are like that. You did the right thing by getting out when you did. I hope you sent this person the medical bills.

If you ever get in that situation again (let's hope not), you could contact the safety dept and let them know. I guarantee they will take action against the owner. How ludicrious of the owner telling you to drive with masks and how very dangerous. I'm glad that you're ok.

 

[greg334]

Turtle, Whats up with that?

Hey I would have pulled into the nearest weigh station and ask for an inspection.

If they would have found a violation, especially an exhaust leak - wouldn't they take the truck off the road?

If the owner complained, what can he really do about it, he can't control the DOT and you feel compelled to have an expert second opinion.

 

[joebob1_30132]

Good God peeps.. If any one thing s important for saftey..its exhaust ..there have been cab deaths..because of it ..I repaired mine this past summer ..and stll check on it ..but im an equipment check geek anyway..been towed a time or two.. when a look see could have saved some trouble..

 

[x06col]

something stinks here. I certainly don't understand how a leak gets sooo bad under load... Maybe it was a little bad before the truck was loaded. Maybe it should have been repaired before you had a crisis. not sure you should have been on the road at all. I'm not sure at all. Kinda wundering? What did the shop fix that made it all better? Did the truck stink when you got in it? Stil wundering??
Maybe a bad owner, maybe a bad pre-trip. Maybe.

 

[Hoops4]

WorriedInAkron, This wouldnt happen to be a couple of fedex owner/ops out of seville ohio would it ?

 

[kangar0085]

What a very unfortunate position for both of you and I'm sorry that happened to you. I think getting the DOT and safety on him would have been the best thing. At least you would have felt like "we taught him a lesson".

 

[WorriedInAkron]

Well, the truck had spent time in a well known garage getting a motor put in. Come to find out when we finally was able to get the exhaust repaired, the garage that had done the motor had forgot to properly hook the exhaust back up.
No, the truck did not stink at all. At first when we started to smell an odor, we just thought it was because of the new motor.
The well known garage that originally done the work for the motor paid to have the exhaust hooked up properly at a TA in Michigan.

 

[WorriedInAkron]

Nowwwwwwww Hoopssssssssssss, you know it's not nice to use names!?*

 

[Hoops4]

> Nowwwwwwww Hoopssssssssssss, you know it's not nice to use
>names!?*


I agree totally.

You noticed i dint name no names.

So was we close ??? seville aint all that big

 

[WorriedInAkron]

>> Nowwwwwwww Hoopssssssssssss, you know it's not nice to use
>>names!?*
>
>
>I agree totally.
>
>You noticed i dint name no names.
>
>So was we close ??? seville aint all that big




No it's not!! :7