Truck drivers across the U.S. say they are increasingly pressured to operate equipment they believe is unsafe — from dilapidated trailers, to overloaded tankers and malfunctioning braking systems — and some say speaking up can cost them their jobs. Two former truck drivers interviewed by FreightWaves, who requested anonymity due to fear of retaliation, described what they say were repeated attempts by their former employers to push productivity over safety. Their experiences highlight both the risks drivers face on the road and the legal protections available when drivers refuse unsafe work. “This trailer is not safe to move” One former over-the-road truck driver said the Texas-based company he worked for repeatedly attempted to pressure him into hauling damaged or improperly repaired trailers, including equipment with brake defects, alignment problems and visible structural damage. “I told them flat-out, this trailer is not safe to move,” the driver said, describing an incident involving a trailer that had recently rolled over. “They kept trying to push me anyway.” In another exchange, the driver said he made clear he would not attach to unsafe equipment. “I told them, ‘This trailer is not safe to move. I am not going to hook up to this thing,’” he said. “They were trying to push me anyway.” He said dispatchers sometimes urged him to continue driving equipment that should have been taken out of service — even after licensed mechanics warned the carrier that the trailer could not legally return to the road. Ultimately, the driver refused.…
