According to WWMT Channel 3, a truck driver in Michigan was arrested over the weekend for reckless driving.
At approximately 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, drivers on Interstate 94 near Galesburg watched the truck move in and out of its lane. More than 15 of the motorists called 911 to report the reckless driving.
One of the motorists recorded the entire incident.
According to WWMT, when deputies pulled over the truck, the driver told authorities he was really tired but just trying to make his deadline.
The driver was arrested and taken to jail. He was later released on bond.
The case is being turned over to the Van Buren County prosecutor’s office.
Drivers, FMCSA prohibits you from driving if you’re fatigued or ill, and OSHA’s Surface Transportation Act protects you from retaliation from your employer if you decide not to drive because you’re too tired or too ill.
“No truck driver should be forced to drive while tired, sick or in violation of truck weight or hours-of-service requirements. OSHA will continue to defend America’s truck drivers against unscrupulous employers who unlawfully retaliate against drivers who assert their right to drive safely.”
Follow this link to the video.
Under the various whistleblower provisions enacted by Congress, employers are prohibited from retaliating against employees who raise various protected concerns or provide protected information to the employer or to the government. Employees who believe that they have been retaliated against for engaging in protected conduct may file a complaint with the secretary of labor for an investigation by OSHA’s Whistleblower Protection Program. Detailed information on employee whistleblower rights, including fact sheets, is available online at http://www.whistleblowers.gov.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.