So if a truck driver finds him in such situation, he should know that he has the right to refuse to drive unsafe equipment. Moreover, in this point of view truck drivers are protected by The Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA).
Well, speaking of STAA, I must mention that the main reason why this act took place, is to enforce truck safety. So, trucking companies are not allowed to discipline, discharge, as well as to discriminate truck drivers. Instead, both the trucking companies and the truck drivers should pay enormous attention to safety.
Thereupon, each truck driver should file a safety complaint and refuse to operate with an unsafe vehicle. STAA is also focused on many other activities, such as are the DOT regulations, retaliation over running times, refusals to drive under bad weather.
Hence, when a truck driver is refusing to drive on a bad weather he shall have a valid explanation for that. Starting with the fact that the refusal shall be based on reasonable apprehension. In general, these reasonable apprehensions are interpreted by the Department of Labour-DOL. Not to forget, the truck driver should ask its employer to correct any existing problem.
2. The Right To File Official Complaints And Legal Suits
Almost all people that are engaged in the trucking industry are familiar with the fact that truck drivers have the right to file official complaints, as well as legal suits if they find themselves in any unwanted situation.
