Me complaining

[Ravage]

The sillyness at my work is so intense I just have to vent a bit.Last saturday I was on my way to a job in the company truck when I had a bad encounter with a large curb.I was perfectly fine but the truck suffered major damage to the front undercarriage.When I call my boss to tell him that the truck is so messed up it only turns left he actualy asked if I thought I could get to the job only turning left?I told him the truck wasn't going anywhere (at least with me in it) and then he said he couldn't send anyone to get me because everyone was busy working (but he wouldn't mind rousting them at home?) He did eventualy send another rig that I could finish the job with and had mine towed.This morning I see my truck in the parking lot and go to inspect the work ,it was missing a bolt for the anti-sway bar.He tells me to find another one and stick it in there.I insist that after a $2000 repair the service center realy needs to take care of it and I dont want any association with future problems with the truck from a shoddy repair.After much phone tag the guy at the shop tells me to drive it to the nearest dealer and have them fix it and he will cover it.When I find a local service shop ,that guys all bent out of shape about the first place sending me out with this truck but says if I hurry over he can fix it.So I hop in the truck and start heading that way but I didn't even make it out of the parking lot.The front end felt very unstable and I was getting way too much feedback from the left wheel.Our trucks are jacked up in the air and we have darkrooms on the back ,I can't get rid of the image of what would happen if I threw a shoe while on the freeway.So I tell the boss ,either have it towed or find someone braver/dumber than me to get it to the shop ,but he's still acting funny about it.I shouldn't have to convince him that a vehicle is "unsafe enough" to be dangerouse.He even suggested I head to my job tomorow (about a 3 hour drive) and "find somewhere to get it fixed on the way back".Arrg 

that was my rant.if you read it all ,I commend you  thanks for listening   

[Tropicalcats]

This is always a good place to vent..

Sounds like your boss is looking at the problem with blinders on and only sees that he has a schedule to complete. Very irresponsible on his part to toss aside the safety of an employee not to mention getting ripped for the repair that was not done properly. I wonder what his supervisors would think of his decision making skills.Those lack of skills could cost somebody their life and a huge lawsuit for the company.

[Ravage]

No doubt.Most of my co-workers charge blindly into such matters either for carelessness or fear of losing their job.Had one guy drive a truck across the state with a C-clamp and duct tape holding the brake calipers together.I personaly would be dissapointed in an employee if I was in charge and found him being that careless.I am rather conservitive in such matters ,murphy's law.Hope for the best ,prepair for the worst.

[ChallengerHK]

I'd think that he'd at least be mindful of potential lawsuits from third parties. I guess it takes all kinds. At least that's what they tell me. I can't help but feel that there are some kinds we can do without.

Why do the trucks have darkrooms?

[4Cruizn]

Driving an unsafe vehicle is dangerous for you and other drivers too.  I think you made the right decision!  

[Oldschool]

Hate to hear of your problems.  There was a similar situation around here about 4 years ago regarding a garbage hauling service.  One of the drivers complained and nothing was done.  He eventually had an accident and hit someone.  (He reported bad brakes on the truck).  The owner patched the brakes up and put it back on the road.  The driver then put his follow up complaint about the half done maintenance IN WRITING to the owner.  The driver was assigned another truck.  The original truck was reassigned to another driver who promptly went out and hit someone due to bad brakes.  The first driver was relieved of any responsibility due to the WRITTEN complaint.  MORAL:  In order to CYA, written documentation goes WAY farther than verbal.  Write it up and turn it in.  P.S.  Keep a copy of the letter for your records.           ...Oldschool

[MEK-Dangerfield]

Scott,
   
  This is crazy!!!  Rather than pay a few $$$ to have it fixed right, they would risk your life and possibly other innocent by-standers???  Do me a favor. Don't drive this truck on the Pa. turnpike next weekend while some of us are heading to Carlisle.     

Feel free to vent anytime. 


  Mike

[blueberry]

Reminds me of what happened to my nephew recently.  He was moving from Vancouver, BC to Victoria, BC - a trip of perhaps 60 miles and a two hour ferry ride.  He picked up the truck from an international rental company and about 20 minutes later it broke down and wouldn't move.  He finally convinced the rental company that he couldn't wait for them to tow it to a repair shop and have it fixed.  They told him to go to a different location and they would give him another truck. 

After a half hour drive he got to the new place and they said that the truck he was promised was not working properly and they wouldn't let him rent it.  He asked about the other trucks on the lot and the rental guy said they were not allowed out of the city because they were not safe enough to drive on the highway!  My nephew asked if they rented them out for local moves and the guy said "Oh yeah, just not out of the city."  My nephew said "You mean that you rent trucks that are not safe to drive?"  The rental guy said "That's right."

He did find him another truck to rent though, but it was at a different location.  Yup, it was back at the place where he had rented the first truck!  Final result was that the time was so long from when he was supposed to get the truck that his friends who were going to help him had left and he mised the last ferry to Victoria!

Amazing that the rental company would rent out a vehicle which they admit is unsafe to drive and admit it in an office in front of a bunch of people waiting to rent trucks from them!

My nephew is taking the company to court to get back his rental money and to have the company pay for an overnight stay in a motel.

[Ravage]

Why do the trucks have darkrooms?

Mobile industrial xray.(yes ,these responsible people controll radioactive material too  ) Thanks for the support ,sad these stories are so common though