NHTSA Complaint #10390328 — 2010 MACK CXU612

I AM A MECHANIC FOR A LARGE TRUCKING FIRM. I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THE 5TH WHEEL BOLTS ON OUR 2008, 2009, AND 2010 MACK TRUCKS FOR TWO YEARS NOW. THE COMPANY HAS YET TO IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM TO CORRECT THIS MATTER, INSTEAD CHOOSING TO THREATEN ME WITH DISCIPLINARY ACTION FOR POINTING OUT LOOSE BOLTS ON OUR ROAD TRACTORS. TODAY (03/15/2011) I PASSED A 2010 TRACTOR ON THE READY LINE. IT WAS UNIT #10289 WITH ONLY 76327 MILES ON IT. THE 5TH WHEEL PLATE HAD BEEN SHIFTING ON THE FRAME AND ALL OF THE FASTENING BOLTS WERE RUSTY. THE TWO BOLTS THAT I CHECKED TURNED EASILY BY HAND - RATTLING LOOSE. THE BOLTS WERE NOT HITTING ANY THING THAT MIGHT HAVE LOOSENED THEM, THEY HAD STRETCHED. THE SHOP FOREMAN ON DUTY WAS THE ONE WHO HAD TOLD ME THAT I WAS "OUT OF LINE" TO LOOK AT TRUCKS THAT I DID NOT HAVE A WORK ORDER ON, SO I DID NOT RISK TELLING HIM. THE HEAD OF OUR SAFETY DEPARTMENT AT THE GENERAL OFFICE HAD TOLD ME THAT "THE COMPANY IS HANDLING IT AND FOR ME TO LEAVE IT ALONE" SO I AM REPORTING IT TO THE ODI. THE 5TH WHEEL BOLTS ARE LOOSE. *TR