Transport America safety dept. eagan Internet, Minnesota

Driver you are wrong totaly about what u said. I know for a fact who you are and who ur trainer was. I saw u back and drive you had no buisness on the road I been out here less time then you and ur trainer but I but been in the business since I was kid. You couldnt back and you thought u knew more then anyone else when we meet. Why dont you stop blaming everyone else for your mistakes and blame your self. It no one else fault for what u did. Andmost company out here talk and take the words of there trainers. There is a reason why the company has chosen us to train new and experienced drivers. Thank you princess and if you knew why he call me that then you wouldnt have said nothing. And you know one final thing when you have friends who drive you look out for them let them know what they could be facing up the road did u ever think that why he was on the phone!

In response to further discussion, as a senior employee of the company, the first response was to the very first discussion thread and not toward the training experience described in following reports, hence why it was focused on some incorrect information such as benefits.  Reading all of the threads that have come up gave us more data to work with.  First, it is critical to have a great driver instructor force, and sometimes we miss the mark here.  We believe we have a pretty comprehensive process in selection and training, but it is not perfect.   We will continue to work with our safety team and look into this situation.  Second, we are currently re-evaluating our orientation to improve, eventhough this appears to have gotten pretty decent ratings.  The hard part about 1/1 trainers in the truck is the individuals that are doing the training, assessing people, training them. and not having a bad day when you are doing it, takes real professionals.  Our focus is safe, professional drivers and we have over 1850 in our driving force.  For the most part, they do an excellent job in safety, service, and respect.  As a company, we will continue to improve, and we will take this feedback along with feedback from other sources. 

It seems the rebuttal posted by transport america is more about how their benefits package works then the issuse raised.  The meatball trainer in question does not belong training.  He himself told me i was his second trainee and the 1st had complaints on him also that were probaly legitimate.   as a CDL holder for almost 8 yrs i STILL disagree and hope that this guy has been removed from trainer status and a CMV.  Having sat there watching him fall asleep with a cigarette lit in his hand, and get a pat on the back for trashing me....I feel sorry for anyone that attempts to "improve their career" with a compant such as this.  as a side note, a different carrier hired me based on my experience and respects my investment in my CDL and has me running SOLO with no need to have some moron they gave a trainer shirt to to hold my hand.  fact is fact...he was in violation of all the things he accused me of...plus sleep apnea.  wheres the FMCSA when its really needed?  thank your buddys for your job ... they obviously truly dont care about enforcing their ideas across the board, just randomly at whoever gets the target pinned on their back

TA's number one value is safety and we pride ourselves on having some of the safest drivers in the industry.  We take every incident and review for how we can prevent them.  Unfortunately this driver had an incident and did not like our emphasis on prevention. 

Freight has been difficult as all carriers are working hard to keep drivers moving and we will not take the tack of starving drivers out.  We work very hard to keep our drivers moving safely and productively.  Lastly, our drivers are elgibile for benefits the first of the month after 90 days of employment, there is not a year waiting period.  Our focus is to lead with excellence, deliver a great driver experience, and they inturn will take great care of our customers.

I have to agree with you that it seems you got stuck with a egotistical and bad trainer.  It is not always easy for any company to find the "perfect" pair to match up.  I do not work for Transport America, but I have over 10 years in the business and over 8 years training students and I can say that there are bad trainers as well as bad students.  

Ok since pictures and such did not post to my last posting I will write-out the letter I received from the field office of the FMCSA office in St. Paul, MN.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (St. Paul, MN)

May 04, 2010

My name and address

Dear Benn:

This is in reference to my March 18, 2010, letter sent to you because of information you provided concerning the safety complaince of Transport America, of Eagan, Minnesota.

The matter has been investigated and instances of noncompliance, as you alleged, were discovered.  We believe the action we have taken with the carrier, as a result of the investigation, will result in prompt corrective action by the carrier.

If you find that these or other violations of this agency's regulations continue, please advise us.

Thank you for your interest in motor carrier and highway safety.

Sincerely yours,

Daniel D., Division Administrator

cc:  Raymond S., Federal Program Manager

I had filed two on-line complaints with the FMCSA over:

1) Hazardous material shipping papers were not in compliance of DOT regulations.  (Note I picked up a load that was relayed in the Eagan, MN drop yard and saw that the shipping papers were not correct.  Hazardous materials were not highlighed, or on the top page of multiple bill of ladings, or the bill of ladings were tabbed to denote the hazardous material pages and flagged the issue to the safety department when I noticed such problem.

2) Multiple incidents of the tractor and trailers are unsafe and not road worthy to be on the road.  Examples were cracked and out-of-adjustment brakes, rubbing airlines, leaking wheel seals, lights missing and/or burnt out, flat or leaking tires and tandem locking pins unable to engage.  I had refused to operate such equipment till repairs were made since I was fearful that if I operated such equipment that I would endanger the general public and/or myself.

I have documented these issues both on the vehicle inspection report and digital photographs which I sent to my assigned dispatcher, safety department and main shop office personnel. 

My first day of orientation I placed the first trailer I was to use for a road test out of service due to a leaking wheel seal that was leaking into the brake pads (out-of-service issue).  Then during my employment I ran into more than my fair share of problems with the equipment.  Finally in mid-March I grew tired of the numerous mechanical issues and filed two on-line complaints spelling out the problems listed above.  The preventive maintenance schedule is only twice a year on all the equipment regardless of the type of unit.

The company was audited in mid-April 2010 and the company's lead dispatch announced that the company received no compliance issues but "came out smelling like a rose."

Which was hard to believe since I was providing the FMCSA investigators information on noncomplaince issues that I had complained about in real time.

I have attached the copy of the FMCSA investigation letter for current and potential employee's to know the truth about the action of noncompliance issues that I witnessed. 

So my claim of unsafe equipment and hazardous material proved to true and I can only hope that the carrier will now ensure that they provide safe, legal equipment to the drivers'.  Remember we as the drivers' need to hold our employer to the same standard that we are held to.  If the employer is offering unsafe freight and/or equipment then its our job to say no and stand up for our rights. 

If you are placed out-of-service or worst have an accident, do you really think the company is going to stand with you to defend or pay any legal issues to might occur? or do you think they will hang you to cover their butts?

Stand-up and make a stand drivers.  With CSA 2010 law coming out, we are being held to a much higher standard and we need to hold the fire to the "real problem" and quit taking the blame.  Put the blame where the blame belongs now and in the end enjoy the fruits of a safer environment, better living conditions and pay.

(Attached a few pictures to show what I am talking about.  These are just a few pictures of the numerous defects that I found on the vehicles I was dispatched to use.)

Sorry to hear your problems, I am a new driver with nearly a month under my belt and I will be leaving VERY shortly.  I have witnessed numerous "other" issues that concern me and I am not impressed with them.

Example:  numerous trailer defects, a truck satellite that did not work nearly half of the time, a bunk heater that want-to-work when it feels like it, hauling an improper documented hazardous material load (which I refused till the bills were proper), a dispatcher that has a short additude, etc.

These are a few issues that I have witnessed and have been part of.  I will be leaving soon so I will then post the "real details" for the rest of you to read and make an informed decision at that time.

Stand-by for the rest of the story (Paul Harvey).....