RIO GRANDE VALLEY, Texas — A truck driver in Texas says that he was fired for listing Jesus as his co-driver on log sheets that he is required to complete.

According to reports, all truck drivers across the United States must keep a logbook, and one of the sections asks for the name of the co-driver.

Ramiro Olivarez decided to write in Jesus in the section since he rides by himself, but believes that God is always with him.

“The graph on there is strictly Ramiro Olivarez. And Jesus is my co-driver, and that’s my belief. That he’s with me,” he told KRGV-TV.

But he said that he was fired from On Point Services, LLC. in Falfurrias for this practice. Olivarez was submitted with a letter of termination that accused him of “submitting incomplete documentation and falsifying legal documents.” It also stated that writing Jesus in as his co-driver was a violation of both federal and Texas law.

While the company isn’t making specific comment about the matter at this time, a representative from the Department of Public Safety told KRGV-TV that sometimes drivers falsify their logbooks so that they can drive further than allowed. The publication “The Trucker” also states that it reached out to the federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), and was informed that writing Jesus’ name in the section would be “considered falsification of a logbook.”

But Olivarez says that he did not lie in the documents, and that he sees nothing wrong with writing Jesus’ name in the section.

“Jesus is my co-driver, and I have no shame in that,” he stated.

Olivarez said that he also received no warning that there was a problem with his practice, and that if he had been approached about the matter, he would have stopped.

Reaction to the matter has been mixed.

“I side with the employer on this one. Jesus is not here in human flesh at this time. The legal meaning of co-driver is obviously a human person,” one commenter wrote. “The driver was being cute, but there are a lot of Mexicans and others who have ‘Jesus’ (pronounced hey-soos) as their first name and it throws people off.”

“He was showing his love for the Lord. This is no different than answering ‘Jesus’ to the question ‘Who is your best friend?'” another stated. “If the company didn’t like it, they should have said something to him after the first time.”

“I applaud the man’s faith and willingness to stand for Christ. If he wanted to paint that on his truck I’d gladly give him a honk and a wave,” a third commented. “But I can see the point of the company. That said, a warning, fine or suspension and instructions to strictly follow the rules regarding entry into his legal driving log should have been done first before terminating him. Prayers that he is able to appeal this, and somehow get back to work soon.”

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