Company Suddenly Requires Double/triple Endorsement

Heyo, been awhile.

Got something to throw past you guys.

I am currently working for Ruan out of Idaho and are contracted to run all of the state's liqour to various stores and contract stores all over Idaho. Its been an absolute blast and I am actually really enjoying the solid mix of driving, delivering, and building relationships with my various customers. After my foot surgery, I went back OTR for a bit because I didn't want to risk excessive wear on my freshly healed foot, but after gaining weight, I decided it would be better to get back to some physical activity with work. Plus, my buddy who did local beer delivery with me at Molson Coors out of Boise is an assistant manager and really prodded at me for months to join up.

Anyhow, this comes with a fair share of downsides that I assume come with working for any higher profile company. Up until now, I have mostly worked for smaller operations. With the larger scale company comes your corporate trained managers that have little to no knowledge when it comes to what really goes into trucking and what things are like in the trenches. Yes, I know that tale is as old as time. That said, we were just told today that everyone in the fleet is now suddenly required to have double/triples endorsements in order to continue working for the company. Our operation only makes $26 an hour plus per diem for layovers at hotels with some decent overtime. When asked about having our pay raised as a result of pulling additional trailers at much higher risk, the response was "no raise but you get to keep your job" which naturally put a bad taste in my mouth.

I really do genuinely enjoy the work that I do, but is it worth pulling doubles for no additional pay? These guys also have a clear lack of understanding when it comes to winter conditions. I am particularly cautious on snow and ice as I am a native Floridian. And while I have yet to be involved in any sort of collision in my person or commercial vehicle, I don't particularly want to start now. The 95 that runs from i84 from just east of Ontario to Coer D'Alene [the main road we will be driving] isn't particularly known for its good weather either.

Anyhow, what are your thoughts? Should I give an ultimatum? Or just deal with it? I cannot express in words how detached from reality this guy is when it comes to our world of driving.

A couple of thoughts;

I once read on this site, "If you don't like a policy your company implements, stick around around awhile. They usually change it back anyway."

Will you absolutely be pulling doubles or does management just want all drivers to get the endorsement?

I pull double tanks daily and it isn't much more terrifying on ice or snow than a single trailer would be. The trip to DMV is way more of a hassle than the job itself.

Good to know about driving in weather. The main concern I had was driving empty 400 miles in it. My manager is a good guy but way out of his depth when it comes to running what is essentially a beverage operation.

I do plan on sticking around. However, their compliance department is giving me all sorts of grief with my DOT medical card which is an entirely different topic.

I was just a bit caught off guard when it came down the pipe that we would now be pulling doubles and having it be mandatory with no additional pay.

A couple of thoughts;

I once read on this site, "If you don't like a policy your company implements, stick around around awhile. They usually change it back anyway."

Will you absolutely be pulling doubles or does management just want all drivers to get the endorsement?

I pull double tanks daily and it isn't much more terrifying on ice or snow than a single trailer would be. The trip to DMV is way more of a hassle than the job itself.

Drew says:

However, their compliance department is giving me all sorts of grief with my DOT medical card which is an entirely different topic.

What seems to be the problem with your medical card? Usually your medical is ok or it isn't. Can you put more light in this?

I don't see the issue with requiring a doubles/triples endorsement.

It's just a quick computer test. Have you actually seen your company with the equipment needed to build a set? It may be entirely a checklist item, that they want to use in their negotiating position.

For instance:

"90 percent of our fleet have TWIC and Passports".

The hidden meaning? Our drivers can pass the homeland security background check for TWIC and can legally leave the country. But saying "none of our drivers are criminals" would be frowned upon and hurt someone's feelings

As far as the medical card goes, Ruan's compliance department is just doing what any major corporate entity does best: unnecessarily complicate a cup of coffee.

I'll give a brief run down because its been quite a story.

Got hired in and sent for routine physical at the urgent care clinic the company uses. Exam goes well but they detected trace protein in my urine sample. [I've been doing hardcore keto/carnivore for a couple months to lose weight so it didn't really surprise me or my personal doctor]. Anyhow, they issue me a 3 month card and tell me to see my GP.

Fast forward a month or so as his appointments are booked and I waited for my medical to kick in. I goto my doctor and he immediately says that they [the urgent care nurse practitioner] is crazy. Tested my levels, everything is fine. Mind you this little trip cost me about $400 between losing a day of work and cutting into my overtime for the week.

I call primary health to let them know that I followed their instructions and received the all clear from my personal doctor. The actual doctor who answered then looked at my original test and literally told me over the phone that the levels of protein detected at my first visit were within normal levels and I never should have been hit with a 3 month card. He asked me to come in and he would issue me my one year [I have controlled high BP] and all would be well. I do exactly that. Sat and waited for about two hours, but I got the card.

I submit my new card to my terminal manager and all is good right? Wrong! Ruan's compliance department sends me an email and told me that, even though I followed the directions of the doctors THEY sent me out to, I would have to complete ANOTHER exam despite having a fresh one year card because their 3rd party company has to screen it out or something. I know this comes off as a first world problem, but the original nurse's mistake has literally cost me way too much personal time and money. My annoyance is more about the principle and redundancy than anything else.

Drew says:

However, their compliance department is giving me all sorts of grief with my DOT medical card which is an entirely different topic.

What seems to be the problem with your medical card? Usually your medical is ok or it isn't. Can you put more light in this?

They actually DID get a dolly for doubles. I'm honestly kind of over it. If I have to pull doubles in unsafe conditions, I'll just stop. What can they do? Its my CDL and my decision to not risk a potentially fatal accident. If they want to pull them empty on ice, they can unglue their muckity muck asses from the computer chair and do it.

Ill just use this as an opportunity to learn something new and get some additional sweat equity on my CDL record.

I don't see the issue with requiring a doubles/triples endorsement.

It's just a quick computer test. Have you actually seen your company with the equipment needed to build a set? It may be entirely a checklist item, that they want to use in their negotiating position.

For instance:

"90 percent of our fleet have TWIC and Passports".

The hidden meaning? Our drivers can pass the homeland security background check for TWIC and can legally leave the country. But saying "none of our drivers are criminals" would be frowned upon and hurt someone's feelings

Your DOT Medical issue is a common misunderstanding on the driver's part. I don't know this when I went and got my second medical in my own and presented it to Swift. No good, I need to see their Dr.

Once you're an employee, you need to see the physician they select. The old phrase is "your paper isn't worth the powder to blow it up with." It's a way to avoid doctor shopping on the driver's part.

And if they are willing to get you re-examined, go for it. Protein in your urine (I just looked it up) can indicate some serious problems through to minor issues. Since you had one "hot" ("traces") and one not, check with your GP as you could be on the borderline for something. I believe it's in your best interest to double check just so you can stay healthy and drive trucks for a living.