The business world can sometimes be a viscous place, with everyone fighting to move up the corporate ladder. This pressure to perform well and get promoted can create a cutthroat environment. You have no doubt heard stories of mid-level managers who take credit for all of the good ideas that their employees come up with and throw them under the bus for any mistake that they make. You may have even witnessed this first hand.
It is tough to work in an environment where you feel like your boss doesn’t have your back. When you drive a truck for a corporate company, how do you know that they are going to have your back if something goes wrong? Like any good business, trucking companies exist to make a profit. The service that they provide is big business, bringing in nearly $604 billion in 2011.
Obviously, the more loads delivered and the more miles traveled, the more that company gets paid. Some companies try to go about accomplishing this in different ways, and not all of these methods protect the driver. Here are some signs that your corporate trucking company might not have your best interests in mind.
Maintenance
There are strict regulations for truck maintenance and inspections to help prevent accidents. Some trucking companies do not keep their trucks and equipment properly maintained, and fail to do regular inspections. They will not think twice about putting a driver in a truck with bad tires, leaking fuel tanks, and malfunctioning equipment. These companies are more worried about the bottom line than they are about the safety and well-being of their drivers.
Pay by the Mile
Some companies encourage their drivers to speed by paying by the mile and ignoring how long it takes to get from one place to another. The more loads delivered and the more miles traveled, the more money they make. However, this puts the driver in danger, and it is the driver who pays for speeding tickets.
Employee vs. Independent Contractor
If a truck driver is involved in an accident, the trucking company can often be found at fault if the driver is an employee of the company. To avoid this, companies may use drivers that are viewed independent contractors. If the driver drives his own truck, pays for his own gas and oil, has is own liability insurance, and is paid per route, then the driver is likely considered an independent contractor and the company can’t be held liable for an accident.
If you drive a truck for a corporate trucking company, it is important to know that they have your best interests in mind and they are not going to throw you under the bus in the event of accident. At the law offices of Bryan Caulfield, we have over 20 years of experience in trucking accident injuries, and in the event of a truck accident we can help. We will fight to make sure that as the driver, your employer does not hang you out to dry. If you are a driver in a trucking accident, contact us today to schedule a consultation.