My question involves labor and employment law for the state of: Illinois
I am a truck driver mandated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Admin. The Law states I can not drive more than 11 hours or be on duty for more than 14 hours a day. For my company it is S O P that drivers have to exceed the 14 hour rule several times a week. I started complaining to my supervisors that I refused to do this. When it was convienant for them they would accomodate me. On Saturdays they do not have relief drivers. I refused to make the deliveries I had left when my hours were up. The dispatcher refused to do anything My supervisor did not answer the Nextel. So I returned to the dock an went home at 14.25 hours of service for the day. On Monday I was told I was being terminated for poor performance no misconduct. I Talked to one local lawyer and they said there was no case, It would never make it through the courts. Why would'nt the public policy exception to refusing to break the law be a doable case? I filed a complaint with the Department of Transportation on 04/30/2008 and was fired on 05/05/2008. Does the company have to be aware of the complaint to fall under whistleblower protection?

