How seriously should drivers take it when commercial truck maintenance isn’t being taken care of properly? Very seriously.
As we learned from Illinois-based commercial truck driver Jill Grass, reporting commercial truck maintenance isn’t always welcomed. A trucking company won’t always like it if you report rig damage or request service. Her employer, Hartwig Transit, actually fired her for requesting an inspection and registration materials for her trailer. She had also reported two missing bolts and a damaged plate on a wheel hub. Although Jill was just doing her job—correctly—she received written warnings and eventually termination.
The Responsibility Of The Truck Driver
Commercial truck drivers, especially new ones who want to please their employers, must understand the great importance of reporting damage such as Jill Grass did. As responsible truckers, it’s absolutely critical to report any commercial truck maintenance damage or any need of repairs. If something on the truck isn’t working right or could become more damaged, there’s often a risk of a serious accident happening, or the damage becoming so bad it can’t be fixed properly.
Even The Smallest Damage Can Cause Problems
The sheer size and weight of a commercial truck can cause a devastating amount of destruction, and can quite easily hurt or kill someone. This is why every part of a commercial truck must be up to standard. Even small parts or things that seem unimportant can result in an accident if ignored. A cracked side mirror. Broken windshield wipers. Tires that are getting worn down. A properly-working heating and cooling system. These things may sound small, but each one being broken and not repaired have resulted in an accident.
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No fear of upsetting an employer should ever make a truck driver stop reporting damage and requesting inspections. Although Jill Grass was fired, she eventually won a lawsuit against her ex-employer and ended up with $43,000.00.
Drivers have a duty to keep their commercial trucks in proper operating condition. It’s common sense to keep themselves and others safe, as well as keeping the truck line safe from lawsuits and damage to their reputation.
Some of the most important FMCSA regulations are those that require inspection, repair, and maintenance of commercial trucks. Because trucks spend thousands of hours on the road carrying extremely heavy loads, the vehicles get a lot of wear and tear. Truckers must always check up on the truck and report it—no matter what. If a truck driver is working for a company that ignores these reports and requests, discourages them, or terminates an employee who is doing their job and reporting, that driver should not be working for them, and should even report them like Jill Glass did.
At L.A Truck Driving School, you can learn all of the rules that come with being a truck driver, as well as how to check your truck’s parts. We can help you earn your commercial driver’s license, and we will train you until you’re ready for the road. For any questions you may have, please contact us today!