A locked thread entitled "Give Up" speaks of a situation where a driver believed his fleet owner owed him money. In an attempt to recover the money, the driver retained posession of the truck but did not drive it as originally intended. See: http://www.expeditersonline.com/dcforum/DCForumID1/5045.html
Expediter wannabees should know that no matter how bad a fleet owner may treat you, or how behind on your pay the fleet owner grows, or however terrible any of the fleet owner's other shortcomings (real or perceived) may be, it is ALWAYS against the driver's own best interests to abandon a fleet owner's truck, hold it hostage, or otherwise deny your fleet owner access to or the use of the truck.
Even if you are 100% in the right and the fleet owner is 100% in the wrong, and even if the facts are crystal clear about who is right and wrong, it is ALWAYS wrong to abandon, hold hostage or otherwise deny your fleet owner access to or use of the truck, even for a short period of time.
Doing so will stain your reputation in the expediting community and your driving record too (DAC) if your actions are reported, which they likely will be. In the long run, it will almost certainly hurt you more than it hurts the fleet owner.
In a driver/fleet owner relationship, the fleet owner is the OWNER. Whether a written contract exists or not, and no matter what it says, truck ownership gives the fleet owner rights and powers drivers do not have.
If you find yourself in a dispute with a fleet owner, there are numerous other ways to deal with it. Trying to use a truck that you do not own as a bargaining chip in a dispute simply will not work, because it is a chip you do not own.
There are good fleet owners out there that can point to numerous successful driver/fleet owner relationships. As the "Giving Up" thread shows, it is well worth the effort to find and work with the good ones.
Expediter wannabees should know that no matter how bad a fleet owner may treat you, or how behind on your pay the fleet owner grows, or however terrible any of the fleet owner's other shortcomings (real or perceived) may be, it is ALWAYS against the driver's own best interests to abandon a fleet owner's truck, hold it hostage, or otherwise deny your fleet owner access to or the use of the truck.
Even if you are 100% in the right and the fleet owner is 100% in the wrong, and even if the facts are crystal clear about who is right and wrong, it is ALWAYS wrong to abandon, hold hostage or otherwise deny your fleet owner access to or use of the truck, even for a short period of time.
Doing so will stain your reputation in the expediting community and your driving record too (DAC) if your actions are reported, which they likely will be. In the long run, it will almost certainly hurt you more than it hurts the fleet owner.
In a driver/fleet owner relationship, the fleet owner is the OWNER. Whether a written contract exists or not, and no matter what it says, truck ownership gives the fleet owner rights and powers drivers do not have.
If you find yourself in a dispute with a fleet owner, there are numerous other ways to deal with it. Trying to use a truck that you do not own as a bargaining chip in a dispute simply will not work, because it is a chip you do not own.
There are good fleet owners out there that can point to numerous successful driver/fleet owner relationships. As the "Giving Up" thread shows, it is well worth the effort to find and work with the good ones.
