Ready To Go To Court

After speaking with the U.S. DOT and the U.S. Department of Labor, I am ready to take Navajo Express to court for using intimidation and threats to make me drive longer hours and more miles. They told me that if I did not driver 10,000 miles a month I would be fired. I told them that the only concerns I have are picking up the load on time, and delivering it on time. How many miles it takes I don't care. Since I was threatened by intimidation the DOT and DOL both told me that comes under the title of abusive treatment of employees. Can anybody tell me if you have been told the same thing by your company? After driving for Swift, CR England and USA Truck, they never even brought that subject up.

First of all let me just warn everyone to keep this clean because this is a real issue that a lot of newbies are going to want to know about.

Now Patrick, for starters let's be clear about a few things:

1) 2,500 miles per week is quite a reasonable request and can be done legally with ease.

2) Most people would love to have those kind of miles available every single week

3) I don't think you're going to help your career any by suing someone for asking you to do something that the Federal government has already deemed to be legal

4) Trucking is not a vacation and a company's big rig is not your personal recreational vehicle. From experience I would highly recommend an RV for recreational travelling

Your defense seems to be that you're always on time with loads. That's great. It's a goal everyone should strive for. But you're playing the "on time" card as if that's all they can ask of you and I'm afraid that's not the case. You can't just sit around and use their truck as a free home by delivering one or two loads per week on time. They have every right to expect a certain level of productivity out of you, especially considering the Federal government has already created guidelines for what is reasonable and legal.

But more than anything I'd really like to hear your expectations for yourself. You keep coming here complaining about Navajo's expectations of you being excessive but you haven't explained to us what your actual performance has been and what you feel should be fairly expected of you.

How many miles have you been turning on average per week and how many miles per week do you feel an over the road trucking company should reasonably be able to expect from their drivers?

If Patrick is smart, he'll say "I'm sorry but I can't comment on pending litigation," and then refer you to his attorney.

Then again, he did create the original post, so I assume he wants to discuss.

I do agree with Brett, you're not helping your future career any. And i sure hope you can afford quality representation, because you can bet that Navajo will have a team of lawyers.

Patrick,

I hope this is a joke. Your previous posts about this seemed to indicate you weren't interested in making money and we're basically driving as a hobby. Didn't they ask you to actually start working, so you just quit? I don't recall you staying that you were threatened.....did you?

Here's the deal. Are you at the shipper and receiver early or on time?

Does Navajo give you assignments that you can make legally?

Are you sluffing off, by that I mean quitting early (have two or more hours on your 11) or starting late (starting well after your 10 hour break)?

Look, it is the nature of trucking. If you did quit, unless you can PROVE that they wanted you to break the law (unsafe driving, or drive over your hours), you might not have a case.

By driving, you said you do NOT care how many miles they give you. By that, I took it to mean that whether it is 5, 50, 500 or 1,000 miles, you'll take it.

Dave

I never had a major problem with Navajo. My FM or DM , I forget which, wanted me to deliver early. NOT a problem in and of itself, except the receiver did NOT take early delivery.

Another time I was on time/early to pick up. Well, I was ONE DAY too early, and the shipper blew me off, and Navajo, because I was parked under a tree (it somehow interfered with the Qualcomm), did NOT know where I was.

Other than that, I am NOT bitter with Navajo.

I probably would NOT go back with Navajo, as I clear at least $700, after taxes MOST weeks.

Dave

My dedicated route is 2,250 miles a week. And I have to do it in 5 days. Just sayin....

I'm sorry but that's what's wrong with this country... People are quick to sue.... Shut up go to work and earn your keep just like everyone else....your job was to turn miles and Navajo gave you miles and you didn't turn enough... Suck it up buttercup you failed as a trucker now move on with what little pride you have left...

So you had two incidences where you had to wait? And you are ready to sue them? Please tell me I am understanding this wrong! Isn't waiting at a shipper/receiver quite a normal part of this job?

So you had two incidences where you had to wait? And you are ready to sue them? Please tell me I am understanding this wrong! Isn't waiting at a shipper/receiver quite a normal part of this job?

I think you are confusing ME with Patrick. I didn't have any MAJOR problems with Navajo, the time I was with them. I mentioned a couple of incidents, and I just took it in stride. I just happen to get lucky and find a job that paid better.

Dave