Dan Rather Reports Episode 2″ Trucker Talk”

I have said many times that there exists good trucking companies and CDL schools within the United States.  There are also many success stories by both company drivers and owner operators.   When you have large numbers such as nearly four million active truck drivers and about eight million CDL holders, you are going to have success stories.  These successes, however, can and do not automatically strike out the fact that many scams and abuses exist within this industry.   Abusive programs that are specifically designed for the driver to fail.

If the truck driver is the company’s greatest asset, as which they are always advertising, then why are the “handful” of trucking companies and CDL schools which operate in these abusive manners, allowed to continue?   If maintaining the integrity and upholding a positive image for the industry is a primary goal, would bringing a stop to these abusive systems against our drivers not be upholding integrity and improving the industry’s image?

For the past several years, we have been working to expose such scams and abuses being imposed on many of our nation’s drivers.  Suddenly, we are hearing from a few industry leaders that they have been “saying these things for years.” Where?  Where have these things been specifically fought against and more importantly, if so, why do these abuses continue?   Specific scams and abuses such as:

• The abuse of CDL students and new drivers as a means of cheap labor.

• The starving out of veteran drivers by those companies who continually maintain the rotation of newer, less paid drivers into their system.
  
• The driver shortage and driver retention problem that have been purposefully created by the companies themselves.
• The Owner Operator Lease Purchase Program that is used by those companies as a means to a driver’s failure.
• The truck drivers DAC Report which has become nothing more than a retaliation tool by companies against drivers.

I recognize that issues such as the lease programs have seen support by way of utilizing The Truth in Leasing Law for drivers, but where has it ever been exposed before that the leasing program, in many cases, is nothing more than a scam and abuse used against drivers?  Where?    It’s not difficult to find information on how to get a copy of your DAC Report . . . but where has it ever been mentioned that the DAC Report is a tool often used to ruin truck drivers careers?  Where?   Before we publicly exposed these scams and abuses . . . where were these issues being raised?   Furthermore, if so, why after “so many years” do they continue?

Talk is cheap.  Let’s see action . . . action such as bringing it to the public as in the Dan Rather Reports . . . action away from just cheap talk and action that can and will eventually bring change to rid the trucking industry of these scams and abuses that have been going on for years against our men and women drivers in trucking.  Finally coming together, as drivers and industry leaders alike, for the sole purpose of raising the standards of the trucking industry.

Allen Smith

© 2009 – 2010, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.

: abuse, abuses, CDL schools, dac report, Dan Rather, dan rather reports, driver retention, driver shortage, drivers, good trucking companies, media, owner operator lease purchase, Scams, truck drivers, trucking

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“The most odious of all oppressions are those which mask as justice.”

That statement was once made by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson.   It’s a statement that I often recall when I hear or read about a so-called “victory” within our American judicial system.  Granted, the system is not perfect, but it’s the best on the planet as far as “man” goes.   Without a doubt it continues to rid America of criminals that prey on the weak and vulnerable.  Like most things however, there are flaws.  Criminals, most often seem to have more rights than the victims.   Also, when it comes to our judicial system, many times nothing is more truer than the old saying, “It’s not what you know, but who you know.”

Those who have the courage to stand up and speak out about workplace harassment within the trucking industry and are not willing to sell themselves out to businesses or organizations, are making a difference within the industry.  A difference that has some big players in the trucking game growing nervous.   That is what the truth does . . . it can make a lot of people nervous.   It can also strengthen a person’s courage to come forward and fight for what is right.

More and more, student, inexperienced and female drivers are coming to the front lines and exercising their rights as employees.  Female drivers who have experienced harassment, abuse and even rape by male driver trainers, are going to court and fighting back.  It’s about time.  Some have won . . . and some have lost, but they fought back.  This is the ultimate sign that things are changing and they will continue to change as long as there are those who will speak out against these secrets of the trucking industry and other industries as well.   Not to be bought out . . . not to be frightened by threats . . . but to move forward with truth which holds the key in bringing about real change for the better, to an industry that has its share of corruption, lies and abuse.

There will be those workplace harassment cases that will be thrown out due to some trivial oversight, but not because the cases were not warrant.  An attorney missed something . . . the statute of limitations were missed . . . or somebody “knew” somebody in high places.   All to often, sadly enough, there will be those true victims that will run right into the brick wall of American injustice.   The accused will claim “victory,”  but I would like to know where exactly is the justice?

A friend in high places . . . Congress, Senate, Judge?  American justice can be bought and paid for … it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.

When victims lose the judicial battle, many times they still win.  They won by not backing down and facing the demon head on and saying, “You cannot allow this treatment of drivers to continue, or we will fight back.” They may not win the case every time, but their courage and determination speaks volumes to many others and can lead them to follow in their footsteps and not back down when faced with violations of their employment rights.   When a case is thrown out over some missed, minute detail, this is no victory for the accused.   The facts of the case were never heard . . . the victims never had the opportunity to provide testimony . . . the defendant has no victory at all . . . just another example of judicial injustice.

Workplace harassment, whether it be in trucking or any other business . . . is not going away . . . but those of us who cannot be “bought out” by trucking companies, businesses and organizations . . . are not going away either.

Allen Smith

© 2009, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.

: abuse, female drivers, harassment, harassment case, inexperienced, injustice, judicial, justice, male driver trainers, rape, student, trucking, trucking industry, workplace

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Truth About Trucking “LIVE” talk radio show, will be discussing the abuse of the truck driver DAC reporting system on Blog Talk Radio, Monday, July 13th, 2009 at 6:30 PM EST. Allen will be sharing some of the email he has received from those who have experienced this reporting abuse.

Help bring an end to these false reports against truck drivers . . . sign the petition. We are at 208 signatures . . . keep them coming! Join the show, Fight Back Against the DAC and call in to share your DAC experiences.

Listen to: Allen Smith on: on Blog Talk R

See you there,

Allen

© 2009, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.

: abuse, dac, false DAC, petition, report, trucking

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Trucking companies abuse the DAC reporting system which can end the career of professional truck drivers.  Please sign the petition to STOP False DAC Reporting.  We believe this abuse by many trucking companies and the DAC Services is in violation of The Fair Credit Reporting Act and employee rights.  Help end this DAC reporting abuse . . . sign the petition.

“Fight back against the DAC”

Allen Smith

Truth About Trucking, LLC

© 2009, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.

: abuse, career, dac, employee rights, petition, report, reporting, the fair credit reporting act, truck drivers, trucking, trucking companies

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Our petition to STOP False DAC Reporting has hit the 100+ signature mark.  We appreciate all the support we have received thus far, but we are needing many more in order to build the strength behind the proposal to be submitted to Congress.

Consider emailing all your friends, relatives, etc., and ask for their support for this very important issue.  We are receiving many emails daily from professional drivers, students just getting started in their driving careers … sharing their experiences concerning the abuse and false claims being placed on their DAC report by trucking companies.

DAC Services, Tulsa, Oklahoma – is now pulling more scams on drivers.  I have recently received several emails from drivers who have requested their (once per year) free copy of their DAC report, and they never received it.  When they called DAC Services, they were told that it was mailed and if they did not receive it, then it was not their fault, and if they wanted another one, they would have to pay the required $9.50

Let’s work to bring this abuse and these false claims to a stop.  Drivers keep America moving and these people just do not care.

We are off to a great start . . . keep the signatures coming!  Let all your friends know . . .

Thanks to all . . .

SIGN THE PETITION . . .

© 2009, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.

: abuse, dac, false, petition, report, reports, trucking, trucking companies

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Internet trucking talk radio show, Truth About Trucking “LIVE” continued their efforts in reporting the abuse and harassment that is taking place in some areas of the trucking industry.  Seldom reported, more and more are “speaking out” against this workplace abuse and the final result that is being worked towards is change.

With lawsuits being placed against some trucking companies and hundreds of complaints being filed by employees of trucking, people are finally fighting back for their employee rights.

Topics of the show included:  What you can do if ever faced with an abusive situation at your workplace and what steps you should take to protect your rights as an employee and to insure that the correct procedures are followed so action is taken against the abuser.

Although it can be a difficult subject matter to discuss, too many new student drivers, male and female, have been faced with abusive actions while training with some trucking companies and they need to understand that they have rights as employees under the law, and can fully act upon those laws to pursue action against the company, driver trainer or anyone else who violates their rights.

Learn more about your rights as an employee . . .

© 2009, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.

: abuse, employee, harassment, rights, trucking, trucking companies, workplace

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