Hello everyone.
A sad and unhappy camper here today.
I began work as a long haul truck transport driver with a company who said at the time they did not care if I was trans, just as long as I could drive a transport truck.
I was fresh out of truck driving school from an 8 week course where I graduated with a 94% average. Passed my road test the first time with a 96% grade and got my licence for 18 wheel transport trucks and commercial buses.
I applied to a good carrier who took me on and passed their comprehensive hour and a half interview, road test, class room work, written exams. I then did 4 weeks long haul with a partner and a week on city runs with a partner. Passed their written exams again and a tough road test with their driver training supervisor then got the keys to my own tractor unit! Finally out on my own with a "shadow" driver in another truck for 2 days in case I had troubles then really on my own.
I have driven over southern Ontario, the eastern and mid west USA and even to Nashville and down as far south as Chattanooga! I would say about 15-20000 miles? (Have not added it up but it's a lot!)
Everything was peachy until 13 July when I took off a trailer clearance light at a customer's yard. No damage to their property and just the light on my trailer. Later that day, an ambulance hits my side mirror knocking it out of alignment while I am stopped to make a turn. He was turning left, I was going right and it was an off ramp and he had no emergency lights on. I reported that to my company too.
In Nashville, I was backing into a customer's dock and my tractor unit knocked the street sign down. I saw by the tire marks I wasn't the first to do that either!
Anyway, got that situation straightened out and back to Canada and see the nice people in the safety department. Total damage was something like $25.00 or less. They agreed I was not guilty with the mirror being hit but guilty of the 2 others which I won't argue with.
I get a one day suspension with no pay, lost my next run so really it's 4/5 days no pay, lost my safety bonus for the previous 3 months which was almost ready to be collected.
I come back after a run, get called in and told that there is a possibility I may lose my job so I do end up begging, something I was determined not to do. I took steps to improve the situation which impressed them and get a call later on after spending almost $250.00 on additional lessons that they were letting me go after all!
They claim I am now a high risk driver and that was it for me. My 3 month probation ends on Monday, after that it's severance pay etc, right now nothing, just basic pay.
I find out from someone who knows things, I was terminated because I was trans. He pointed out how eager they were to get me on the payroll, just "happened" to leave answers to questions laying around for all to see and other things.
They had another TG lady there last year and let her go just before her time was up too. This way, if another TG woman comes in and really does not make the grade, she can't scream discrimination as they have hired TG women before. I was told if I had not have had those minor incidents, they would have invented something to use against me.
Now in conversation with a person from another carrier, being classed as a high risk by one's carrier is not good as that's the reason they are officially using, might actually be a stumbling block to getting another job. Carrier's do not want to risk a big law suit so getting a job might be harder for me now.
My source says he will categorically deny the conversation ever took place and will say I was using the discrimination card to try to get re-hired.
If I was judged to b a high risk, how is it then I was allowed to get so far along before getting the chop?
Now I'm back out looking for another job. I was working since I was 18 and never once was I ever fired from a job until now.
Life sucks doesn't it?
Love,
Clare
