Tillie, I'd like to know who, if anyone, governs the trucking companies. They hold the contracts over the truckers and what the truckers have to do, but they are never accountable for anything, and you can't seem to find a governing body that is supposed to control them. My husband has contracted to five companies. At each one he has been a victim of their stealing, withholding fuel surcharge, not giving a monthly statement of HIS escrow account, nor any interest. If you are signed off they fine you and take it from your escrow. You can't do anything, but maybe take them to small claims court, which they know you won't do. Can you give me hope that there is a governing body that can knock them in the head a few times and tell them to get with the program, or we will get you?

You have a few options. The first option is, before you sign on with a company and sign any contracts, seek the advice of a legal professional. Have him help you close any loopholes in the contracts. OOIDA is also a place to turn. If you keep them informed and stay on them they will get results. You can also go to the Department of Transportation and find out what steps you can take to protect yourself and others from this type of treatment. It is hard to dispute a contract you willingly signed. That is why reading the contracts very carefully is so very important. Also, detailed records on your part will help in fighting for any reimbursement you may be owed. Keep records of mileage, costs, conversations, etc. You have to protect yourself to a great extent. Good luck to you and remember, Goliath can be tamed.

Are there any family law attorneys in the Tampa, Florida, area who are experienced and specialized in revealing the income, true earnings, and assets of owner-operator truck drivers? An out-of-state case has already existed for years, but the trucker manipulates his income earnings and has cheated/mistreated his two babies for years. The lawyer may need a private investigator to uncover the years of lies.

I personally am not aware of any attorney in that area nor would I recommend someone I have not worked with. You can contact OOIDA and see if they can help you in this matter. They are an owner-operator association, but they help in all areas of trucking. At the very least they can recommend an attorney who is experienced in the trucking industry. You can also start a search for an attorney on your own using websites like lawyers.com. Interview the attorney as you would any prospective employee. They will be working for you and they must have the skills and experience needed for this situation. If there are hidden finances that were not reported on tax forms, you might want to try and enlist the help of the IRS.

As a parent, though, you can't let this situation become an obsession. Yes, child support should be paid, but money is not what the kids are going to remember as they get older. They are going to remember the time you spent interacting with them. Kids are wiser than we give them credit for. They know what is going on most of the time and they will remember who was there for them and who wasn't. Hugs are free. I'm not saying to drop this by any means. Just don't let it rule your life and take attention away from the kids you are working so hard to protect.

Where can I take or study for a Hazmat test?

There are several places online where you can find study guides and practice tests. Layover's newbie area offers a prep test. You can also find prep tests at these websites: http://www.cdltest.com/homepage.html and http://www.cristcdl.com/. You can find comprehensive Hazmat information at this site: http://www.hazmat101.com/. I want to offer one bit of advice on taking the test. Read each question slowly and completely. Good luck to you!