Mandatory Training for Truckers

[my5cents]

So, you are the CEO of "The Truth Corporation". One of your company trucks is being driven by an employee when the driver disobeys a law.

That employee, unknown to you tends to disobey laws. In this case they illegally and dangerously pass another vehicle. On learning of the incident, you take disciplinary action and fire the driver.

So you'd be OK if your company was assessed a large fine on top of your employee being charged, and you firing the individual ?

[Saviour]

So, you are the CEO of "The Truth Corporation". One of your company trucks is being driven by an employee when the driver disobeys a law.

That employee, unknown to you tends to disobey laws. In this case they illegally and dangerously pass another vehicle. On learning of the incident, you take disciplinary action and fire the driver.

So you'd be OK if your company was assessed a large fine on top of your employee being charged, and you firing the individual ?

Yes, because it'll put more pressure on the employer to make sure that their employees are operating machinery in a safe manner and get rid of those who disregard operating machinery in a safe manner in a more timely manner.

- Employee drives a truck in an unsafe manner, employer gets fined.
- Employer tells the driver to smarten up.
- Employee does it again, employer terminates employment as they are a liability to them.
- Employee is off the road.

Its a win for everyone.

[my5cents]

Yes, because it'll put more pressure on the employer to make sure that their employees are operating machinery in a safe manner and get rid of those who disregard operating machinery in a safe manner in a more timely manner.

- Employee drives a truck in an unsafe manner, employer gets fined.
- Employer tells the driver to smarten up.
- Employee does it again, employer terminates employment as they are a liability to them.
- Employee is off the road.

Its a win for everyone.

"- Employee drives a truck in an unsafe manner, employer gets fined."
• Does the driving have to be caught by police ?
• Do the police notify the employer, who then must take action ?

"- Employer tells the driver to smarten up.
- Employee does it again, employer terminates employment as they are a liability to them."
• "Employee does it again". How is the employer to know this happened again is it predicated on the police apprehending the employee and telling the employer ?

Where would this law come from ? A new law ?

How do you suggest the employer monitor all their driver ? Yes, there is monitoring equipment GPS etc with electronic monitoring of large trucks but what about the tens of thousands of other vehicles driven by employees ? For some large companies this would involve a whole new large and costly department.

Company vehicles supplying services (Telus, Shaw, Municipal vehicles, etc etc), taxis, local delivery vehicles, cross country shipping companies.....

The charge against the employer would be what ? "Being the employer of a violator", "Not monitoring the activities of an employee, while operating a company vehicle" or "ignoring employee driving infractions" ???

What about driver owned vehicles, who contract to delivery companies ??? Do the companies (maybe more than one) get fined for hiring them on contract ?

Should be an interesting prosecution.

IMO this is not workable.

[Saviour]

• Does the driving have to be caught by police ?

The offence must be investigated and sanctioned by the authorities, whether that be by a peace officer, technology such as a red light/speed camera, etc., or any other legal means of issuing a traffic offence.

• Do the police notify the employer, who then must take action ?

The company gets a fine issued, that is their notification. How they take action is up to the employer.

How is the employer to know this happened again is it predicated on the police apprehending the employee and telling the employer ?

By getting another fine.

Where would this law come from ?

Law makers.

A new law ?

Yes.

How do you suggest the employer monitor all their driver ?

Monitoring is a completely different discussion, the method I've discussed pertains to documented offences.

IMO this is not workable.

Works just fine in other parts of the world.

[Saviour]

When your getting paid by the mile or flat rate every minute of delay is cutting into your pay. Time is money. Say for example you get paid $300 to take a trailer to Vancouver from kelowna and bring another trailer back. It takes 10 hours without heavy traffic so $30 hr. If there is heavy traffic or a delay that adds 3 hours, you still get paid the same, you still have to do the trip the next day no matter how tired you are or how long it took the previous day. And now your getting closer to 25hr.
Lose the per mile pay and flat rate pay. Go to hourly plus overtime and presto...no more lost time or $$$. Less pressure. Less chance of dispatchers making trips too long because of the additional overtime expenses to the company.

A lot of things in the industry need to change in this Country and I agree, the pay scale is one of those.

[my5cents]

Works just fine in other parts of the world.

In which jurisdictions does this work "just fine" ?

Also one of the problems I pointed out was the contract trucker, who works for various companies. How is his employers fined ?

It would appear if I'm Joe Blow working for ABC Trucking and get a serious ticket, I get fired by ABC Trucking and ABC Trucking get a fine as well. If I'm Joe Blow driving my own truck, I just get a ticket and since it's my truck, I don't get fired. Are you saying that Joe Blow, driving his own truck get two fines for the same offense ?

Doesn't seem fair, does it.

[Saviour]

In which jurisdictions does this work "just fine" ?

Various countries in Asia and Europe.

Also one of the problems I pointed out was the contract trucker, who works for various companies. How is his employers fined ?

Thats something we'll have to figure out, but at least there is a starting point.

Doesn't seem fair, does it.

Safety on public roads and getting dangerous drivers off said roads is more important then to worry about what's fair or not.

[my5cents]

Silly concept. Contrary to Canadian laws.

[Saviour]

Silly concept. Contrary to Canadian laws.

Same thing people said about seatbelt laws, drinking and driving laws, commercial vehicle inspections and of course the scary ELD's.

Laws change or new ones are implemented when needed, if one think thats "silly", doesn't matter.

[CountryAtHeart]

So, you are the CEO of "The Truth Corporation". One of your company trucks is being driven by an employee when the driver disobeys a law.

That employee, unknown to you tends to disobey laws. In this case they illegally and dangerously pass another vehicle. On learning of the incident, you take disciplinary action and fire the driver.

So you'd be OK if your company was assessed a large fine on top of your employee being charged, and you firing the individual ?

I think if the the company was issued a fine, but they had terminated the driver due to the dangerous driving, they should be able to have the fine dismissed after showing the termination papers.

[Saviour]

I think if the the company was issued a fine, but they had terminated the driver due to the dangerous driving, they should be able to have the fine dismissed after showing the termination papers.

That might be a solution worth looking into.

[Bsuds]

I think if the the company was issued a fine, but they had terminated the driver due to the dangerous driving, they should be able to have the fine dismissed after showing the termination papers.

Maybe a fine reduction, but the company still has some responsibility for their employees actions.

[Saviour]

Maybe a fine reduction, but the company still has some responsibility for their employees actions.

This could be another good solution.

There could even be a strike program, where every employee infraction gets a strike, and after a pre-determined number of strikes, some sort of disciplinary action against the company is taken.

[CountryAtHeart]

I think if the the company was issued a fine, but they had terminated the driver due to the dangerous driving, they should be able to have the fine dismissed after showing the termination papers.

Maybe a fine reduction, but the company still has some responsibility for their employees actions.

I don’t like going after the company unless it’s proven that they knew they were putting a dangerous driver in their trucks. Previous tickets or multiple citizens complaints. Unless they have staff monitoring in truck cameras every minute they are driving it’s impossible for the boss to know a driver’s habits.
I know that isn’t how society typically works these days. Personal responsibility only accounts for so much, then they look to who has more money/power.

[the truth]

the scum left the country safe bet it was not his first offence