Lots of interesting news today

RatLabGuy said:
The "free market" in this case, or at least what I was referring to, and what @skyhighZJ pointed out, is that companies are free to pay drivers whatever they want, and thus take advantage of there being people who are willing to work for shit pay and have their own very low standards, thus catering to imported unskilled labor bc the properly trained folks that are worth more won't work for that same shit pay. Thats not the part of the industry that is regulated. Should it be?
Click to expand...
The companies are free to get cheap people through a test at a CDL training program that the company sponsors or owns so that they can employ foreigners who will work for damn near nothing for a chance to be in the US, thereby increasing their bottom line. Hell with the long term reputation of the company or the safety of the public. I bet ya a nickel these CDL farms don’t teach these guys English, and they don’t have years of experience navigating American roads or driving bigass trucks. But Government allows it, company does it, Americans go unemployed, people get injured or killed, @ghost uncles company goes out of business because he tries to do things the right way instead of cheating the system, etc.
 
jeepinmatt said:
The companies are free to get cheap people through a test at a CDL training program that the company sponsors or owns so that they can employ foreigners who will work for damn near nothing for a chance to be in the US, thereby increasing their bottom line. Hell with the long term reputation of the company or the safety of the public. I bet ya a nickel these CDL farms don’t teach these guys English, and they don’t have years of experience navigating American roads or driving bigass trucks. But Government allows it, company does it, Americans go unemployed, people get injured or killed, @ghost uncles company goes out of business because he tries to do things the right way instead of cheating the system, etc.
Click to expand...
yes. Freedom to compete is costly and dangerous.
 
jeepinmatt said:
The companies are free to get cheap people through a test at a CDL training program that the company sponsors or owns so that they can employ foreigners who will work for damn near nothing for a chance to be in the US, thereby increasing their bottom line. Hell with the long term reputation of the company or the safety of the public. I bet ya a nickel these CDL farms don’t teach these guys English, and they don’t have years of experience navigating American roads or driving bigass trucks. But Government allows it, company does it, Americans go unemployed, people get injured or killed, @ghost uncles company goes out of business because he tries to do things the right way instead of cheating the system, etc.
Click to expand...
The WVa trooper that helped Clay when his clutch let go 1/2 mile before Princeton exit on 77 said a majority of truck drivers on that route speak no English at all. Said when they had a closure and signs for miles that trucks had to exit, they had to chase down dozens of drivers that couldn't read English. All had California or New York drivers license
 
Has anyone seen what company that driver drove for? I think it's White Hawk. Not 100% on that. SAFER Web - Company Snapshot WHITE HAWK CARRIERS INC Shows they have 8 units and 12 drivers. No surprise there. I am surprised they are as old as they are. There is dash cam video of the accident dude looks like he just whipped a u turn across all lanes of traffic. There needs to be a deep dive into this company and him and how he received that CDL. Most large companies have some sort of training program. Smaller companies like our are locked into only hiring experienced drivers. Our's is 2 years experience. So we cannot hire driver right out of school. that is an insurance mandate I've been told. So many questions on this whole thing.
 
skyhighZJ said:
To add to the crapshow he was arrested in 2018 for illegally entering the country via Mexico and marked for deportation but was somehow allowed to remain in the US. In 2019 he drove an 18 wheeler over a bridge in Arkansas causing it to collapse into a river due to an overweight situation. Still, allowed to drive then the whole Florida thing happened. WTF??!!
Click to expand...
No I read an article where the trucking company that did do that said it was a different guy with the same name. That is misinformation from what I had seen.

Edit to add article. Who is Harjinder Singh? Truck driver accused of killing 3 in Florida

Unconfirmed reports online linked Singh to a 2019 crash in Arkansas that destroyed a historic bridge, but officials at California-based US Citylink Corporation confirmed to Newsweek Monday he wasn't involved in the earlier accident.

"This Harjinder Singh is completely different person," US Citylink operations manager Sumi Chawla wrote in an email. "Whatever is posted on social media is not the right information. They are just trying to put these together for no reason."
 
At some point, as an employer (and CDL holder myself), when you send your vetted, certified and legal driver out on the road, you are at the mercy of so many circumstances.
Unknown medical issues, other drivers, negligence, OTC drug interactions, etc.
The worst part of making deliveries is potentially putting your company's livelihood in the hands of a driver with your name and DOT numbers on the side.
We do out best to make sure our drivers have always been as clean and clear as possible. We've fired some on the spot for particular issues.
You can't play around
 
Jody Treadway said:
At some point, as an employer (and CDL holder myself), when you send your vetted, certified and legal driver out on the road, you are at the mercy of so many circumstances.
Unknown medical issues, other drivers, negligence, OTC drug interactions, etc.
The worst part of making deliveries is potentially putting your company's livelihood in the hands of a driver with your name and DOT numbers on the side.
We do out best to make sure our drivers have always been as clean and clear as possible. We've fired some on the spot for particular issues.
You can't play around
Click to expand...
That is us. We have a lot to loose. Others not so much. They just play the legal game.
 
Jody Treadway said:
At some point, as an employer (and CDL holder myself), when you send your vetted, certified and legal driver out on the road, you are at the mercy of so many circumstances.
Unknown medical issues, other drivers, negligence, OTC drug interactions, etc.
The worst part of making deliveries is potentially putting your company's livelihood in the hands of a driver with your name and DOT numbers on the side.
We do out best to make sure our drivers have always been as clean and clear as possible. We've fired some on the spot for particular issues.
You can't play around
Click to expand...


Your driver is kinda sketchy man.





But still cool as hell.
 
RatLabGuy said:
yes. Freedom to unfairly compete is costly and dangerous to the population at large.
Click to expand...
FIFY. Individuals and corporations being allowed to skirt rules create external costs for the rest of society. These costs should be captured and paid by said individuals and corporations.
 
JSJJ388 said:
Your driver is kinda sketchy man.





But still cool as hell.
Click to expand...
It's a requirement here

PXL_20250819_184643600.jpg
 
Last edited:
Something I was reminded of today during a set up with a broker. CA has some sort of certification for emissions I believe it is in order to operate in CA now. But yet they give out CDL's to anyone it appears. Crazy.
 
cdllife.com

USDOT says driver in Florida Turnpike crash failed English Language Proficiency assessment, other FMCSA findings released

On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced the launch of a major investigation into the driver and carrier involved in last
cdllife.com cdllife.com

“During FMCSA’s interview with the driver, investigators administered an English Language Proficiency (ELP) assessment in accordance with FMCSA guidance. The driver failed the assessment, providing correct responses to just 2 of 12 verbal questions and only accurately identifying 1 of 4 highway traffic signs,” said USDOT.

Other key findings released from the FMCSA investigation can be viewed below:

On July 15, 2023, Washington State issued the driver a regular full-term Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).
Asylum seekers or individuals without legal status are NOT eligible for this type of license.
On July 23, 2024, California issued the driver a limited-term/non-domiciled CDL.
FMCSA is investigating the issuance of this license to determine whether it was issued in accordance with Federal regulations.
On July 3, 2025, the New Mexico State Police conducted a roadside inspection of the driver and issued a speeding ticket, but there is no indication that an ELP assessment was administered.
New Mexico has not yet begun enforcing ELP as an out-of-service condition, despite the requirement being in effect since June 25, 2025.

USDOT states that “both Washington State and New Mexico violated FMCSA rules.”
 
Jody Treadway said:
Meanwhile I have 1 unused winch strap with a slit 8' up from the end and I get an out of service penalty.
Click to expand...
For some reason this reminds me of the "violation" we got at work from the last fire marshul n-spek-shun. We had 5 fire extinguishers "not mounted". I was like WTF, the building is barely a year old and passed code and everything should be good. Turns out those were EXTRA fire extinguishers we had sitting by the mill/lathe, and areas where guys were using MAPP gas regularly. We had the correct amount mounted to the walls the correct distance apart at the correct height, but the additional fire extinguishers were causing a non-compliance...I took them and stuck them in a back closet. Then we passed. :rolleyes: They literally made it LESS safe. But they were proud of themselves for finding the boogeyman. :shaking:
 
jeepinmatt said:
For some reason this reminds me of the "violation" we got at work from the last fire marshul n-spek-shun. We had 5 fire extinguishers "not mounted". I was like WTF, the building is barely a year old and passed code and everything should be good. Turns out those were EXTRA fire extinguishers we had sitting by the mill/lathe, and areas where guys were using MAPP gas regularly. We had the correct amount mounted to the walls the correct distance apart at the correct height, but the additional fire extinguishers were causing a non-compliance...I took them and stuck them in a back closet. Then we passed. :rolleyes: They literally made it LESS safe. But they were proud of themselves for finding the boogeyman. :shaking:
Click to expand...
We are the gooberment and were her to halp…..
 
Woo!

Screenshot_20250820_180304_Chrome.jpg
 
Back
Top