a guy I work with used to be a trucker and is now retired from that. he tells a lot of stories of his trucking days. two of the worst ones I think are not the carriers trying to scam the drivers but the people you run across while driving. the first story is going to be real short so I don't screw it up. he tells it like he pulled in to a truck stop to get fuel. he fills up and then goes inside to pay. while in line one of the cashiers tells another worker to go change the fuel price sign up a nickel or whatever the price went up to. the cashier then tells my friend that he is now has to pay that new price. he refuses and the cashier calls the police. the police show up and both sides of the story are told. the police officer agrees with my friend that he doesn't have to pay the new price because he already fueled up at the old price. the second story he tells is he was going down the road and onto a scale. he gets on the scale and is told to come inside. he goes inside and the person working the scale tells him he is overweight on his axles. he yells that that's bullshit. a state trooper upstairs overhears and comes down. the scale worker tells the trooper that he is overweight and the trooper agrees. my friend then takes the trooper out to his truck and opens the trailer. inside are only 12 empty pallets stacked in one pile at the front of the truck. the trooper goes back inside and yells at the scale worker to shut the scales down now.
people all over really need to realize that truckers are not the dumbest people they think they are. in fact truckers are the smartest people on the road. you cant just stop 80,000lbs on a dime.
Are you kidding me ? That`s the best you`ve heard ? *"How about the company gets you to their shipping yard for a bogus interview then tell you,* *"We`ll give you a trial run"* , then sends you from that city to another, while *fully loaded* and telling you to -call them- after arriving at the destination only to be told you didn`t *get the job."*. BUT they got a *free transport run from YOU !*
This is so true. That's why any carrier I drive for, I save at least $5,000 which will cover airfare, hotel cost, cab fare, food etc......Won't catch me slipping. I always tell new drivers, dont blow your money out here. Save enough airfare for a same day trip from Alaska to Miami, and most expensive hotel for 7 days. That should be enough in case of emergency. To justify: airline ticket purchased same day last minute from Alaska to Florida is about $2000. A hotel $150 a night for 7 days is $1050. Now we have $3050. Cab fare and food about $300 a week. $3350. About $3400 needs to be put aside in case these carriers want to be shady. Once you get that built up, add a $100 a week to the savings. Now you have established emergency funds.
I work for a small carrier, started out with them just as they were getting set up and it's the way to go. When I say small company I mean less then 30 trucks. It's more of a family atmosphere.
I worked for Celadon Canada years ago, and was informed it was time to take my tractor in to the Indianapolis terminal to swap it out for a brand new truck to bring back to Canada. So, I finish up my load, bobtail to the terminal, hand in my truck, and there is no new truck to take back to Canada. After 2 days of waiting (sleeping in my cleaned out empty tractor using my coat as a pillow) I'm told I'll have to find a ride with a driver back to Canada. Problem is no driver will take me. I don't blame them. Who wants a stranger in your truck?Long story short, another 3 days pass, I haven't had a shower, or been paid anything. I get a ride home.Didn't get a penny for 5 days sleeping in a cold truck (they took the keys so I couldn't even run the engine).It's an industry of crooks and thieves.
I have heard from a few, almost a dozen prime lease operators that they had a few payments left to own their truck and them dispatch starved them of loads and they ended up breaking the payment contract and losing their truck and jobs. I have heard similar things about other companies as well.
A similar thing's happened here in Nevada with a couple of the Gold Mines and the homes they "sell" (rent). They hire an experienced Coal Miner from,say Pennsylvania,have him move his family out here,and s soon as they arrive the Mine's rep offers 'em a house they can move right into-nothing down,the payment comes right outta the miner's bank account each month,2 days after payday-no worries. The guy learns the gold mining business, works his ass off for maybe 9-1/2-9-3/4 years,and he's planning to retire,he figures he can still cover the house payment no problem,from his retirement,but before he gets his 10 years in, they can him for some ridiculous little violation. No retirement,no income,nothing. The guy tries to get work at another mine,but it'll be at least 2 months before he gets a paycheck-THEN he discovers,in the fine print in his Mortgage,it states that if he breaks employment from the mine,whether by his choice or theirs,the full balance of his Mortgage is due and payable within thirty days. It's not a hopeless situation,but damned near. MAYBE he can get another job,re-finance the house and get set up with a different employer in 3 weeks to keep his payment schedule on track,and MAYBE he can convince the mine to let him just pay off the home from the mine via a re-finance,but not bloody likely.
If someone has been a lease driver for long enough to only have a few payments left, and they haven't banked enough to cover things like this, then something is wrong. Why go though all that hassle of being in business only to come out in the end even with where you started. It makes no sense.
And hard working truckers and trucking companies just scratch there head and wonder how a driver can just abandon there truck in the middle of no were , no keys, no notice, Reap what you sow,
When I tried OTR trucking with arrow trucking back in 1999 when I first got my CDL they promised a $300.00 sign on bonus for inexperienced drivers. When we started orientation we found out that the cost of the "free" bus ride to orientation was coming out of our sign on bonus.
I had this very thing happen to me with CR England, that is exactly how they have done it for years, they brought me from Salem Oregon to Salt Lake City and then gave me some excuse that my DL had not been valid for 150consecutive days, but in reality had be valid for for then a year and a half.
jb hunt used to do this in the 90's nothing new, i been a driver since way back, i am retired now, i used to made 2.50 a miles owner op, i see the wages now and you couldnt get me outta bed for what they pay now, over regulated industry and ridiculous low wages, if people think they are making a good living driving now , your wages are half of what they were paying back in the 70's and 80's and even in the 90's .
Thinking about it, though... The guys who got stranded in that situation were probably the luckiest. Can you imagine working for an outfit that treats people like that?
It's an amazing feeling when you turn down a job offer or just don't get it and find out soon after you dodged a massive bullet. Remember Circuit City? Probably not any less dirty. They got theirs weeks after I walked away.
No, don't take a name. Ask them to send email giving ALL details. If they would t, run, run, run. My current employer Hub Group didn't send just one email. They were as detailed as possible and left nothing to chance. ANY reputable company will do the same, ALWAYS.
TMC will get you a rental, house you in there hotel and feed you two meals a day. If you fail out you'll get a bus home, if you fail the drug test you're walking.
What a great story, I got one for you as well. When I finished my training with SWIFT I ended up in Phoenix AZ at their headquarters. The swift management was so greedy they didn't want to pay for bus ticket to the East Coast where I live! The granddaughter of the owner was working in the office and she decided to put me on the truck going east. She convinced some so called mentor owner operator with new student to give me a ride to Pennsylvania terminal in Jonestown PA. So, there was 3 of us in the truck going east. As we got to Oklahoma the owner figured out that it could be illegal to have 2 drivers in the truck and got upset with Swift that they tricked him into taking a passenger on board. Basically, for his insurance it's as if he picked up a hitchhiker, which he realized as he was cursing that Swift owners granddaughter. He dropped me off in Oklahoma at Swift terminal where the scumbag in charge of it refused to get me neither bus ticket nor taxi cab to the bus terminal. I called taxi,got myself bus ticket in Oklahoma city to Philadelphia PA and this way got back home. These greedy swift mfs should've dropped me at least close to home terminal after the training was over,but nooooooooooooooo at first they got me stranded in Phoenix ,then in Oklahoma......it took me a lot of time before I got back home and I paid for their incompetence and greed. To Swift Transportation from Phoenix AZ will always be the worst company that ever existed in the US!!! Let me quickly mention that after training they paid me sometimes $100 a week!!! They also lobbied for ELDS, haven't they?! As OOIDA says in their magazine.
Hello. We are trying to take this story of abandonment public but I need to speak with more drivers. Please contact me if you are willing. All drivers will remain anonymous. THanks!
I heard that recently when I called a major carrier. Immediately I thought what if something goes wrong then what. I am so glad you post these videos that you they help truckers like me understand the ugly side of the business. I drive a straight truck. I recently got hired on to run expedite loads. Now watch this. I was asked to drive to MS and pick up the truck, then take it back home for a couple of days and then on to orientation in NC. Now I did so and the company paid me for every mile as if I were under a load. They also paid for my gas since my wife and I made the journey. That's all good, so far I am impressed. At the end of this 2 day orientation I was told that I could not leave until the drug test results came back. That's right I drove 600 plus miles in their truck and then they drug tested me. I was shocked. Of course I passed the test I had no worry of that but still WOW. Now this truck I am in was someone else's at one time, It had not straps, the maintenance was not up to date and there was a hole in the trailer. Of course I took care of all that stuff on my own time. Mind you they paid for the repairs etc... but I did not get paid for any of that. I was a fool but in my mind I was taking care of the truck I am now driving. So again thank you for your videos.
A big company with burnt orange trucks in Dubuque pulled a fast one on me. My recruiter told me one week classroom, two weeks with my trainer and then I would be done training. Mind you...I've been driving truck since 98. When we were done with classroom and they were handing out phone numbers for our in cab trainers they dropped the bomb.. Then and first then did they mention we had to do 45000 miles of team training after the two weeks with in cab trainer. Hell...I signed up for dedicated solo lol... WTF. I looked around the room and everyone else was hearing this shit for the first time as well. We all shook our heads and quit.
That's why I'm developing a strategic plan to get out of trucking by the end of this year to be honest after 18 years I'm sick of it and I'm going to change my profession.
Us Xpress does this at orientation. I was in a no fault accident a week before Christmas on a Saturday morning. They paid for a motel Saturday and Sunday. Then said we have to investigate the accident which will take 30-60 days good luck to you. Took me a week to find somebody to come get me cause I was 900 miles from home. I ended up taking them to court and 5 years later got a little money out of them. All they're worried about is you making them money and if you're not, you're a piece of garbage to them. BEWARE
Yes. Celadon did that too. I think all applicants should be checked out fully and hired before bringing them to orientation. I heard of a recruit who was brought to orientation at my company and the recruiting department asked him if he had quit his job back home. When the recruit told them he hadn't, they had him call his job and quit while they listened. The next day the recruit was told they were not going to hire him. So he didn't have the trucking job and no job to go home to.
This almost happened to me in Tulsa, but I told them if they were not goin to hire me to pay my way back to WV. The company (hint: in blue) tried like hell to cheese me out of them not paying for my way back, but I didn't back down because at that point there was nothing to lose. Im older now and trust no company because of lies like this and other unfulfilled promises. Remember, your number one, protect yourself first.
US Xpress does this. Anyway I worked for a carrier that asked me with my own money to come to there terminal without upfront money. So I drove out there they hired me and less than 2 months later I quit. They also held your first check for 3 weeks. In the end I think they gave me like $100 for 20 hours of driving in my personal car to go to orientation then charged me $150 to quit called a truck cleaning fee. The truck was spotless when I turned it in. This company required 2 yrs experience when I started now I see there ads saying only 3 months needed.
Best bet is find out where orientation is and if using the bus check to see how much the ticket home is. Then put that money aside as a emergency so you are not stranded. Or just use your own car to get there. I went out of my way to help a guy get home that was not hired at a company.
i took a guy close to home who this happened to. guy got shafted by the company who brought him.. in all the phone interviews and on the app. he told them he got caught with pot when he was 18 but not in trouble with law since (guy was 30'ish) company told him oh its fine you been clean since we overlook, he got there day 2 let go cause the drug charge. lucky for him he was just going next state over.
Mr Charles I experienced the same thing with US EXPRESS more than a decade ago, was bused to orientation in Ohio, stayed in a barracks style building on their property with the other male drivers. 3rd day of orientation, I was called out of class and told they had found a felony weapons charge on my record, I explained to them that their findings were erroneous, but it made no difference. I was stuck in Ohio with no way home, fortunately I was able to make it to the bus station where family had pre payed a ticket for me and I was finally able to get home. Less than 3 days after arriving back home, I received a call from US EXPRESS, they said they had made a mistake in the back ground check, that I had a clean record, (which I already knew) and asked me if I would come back. I won't go into what that very short conversation consisted of, needless to say I never went back. Screw mega-carriers. I had no idea anyone else had experienced this until all these years later watching this video on UA-cam. There are a few other people on here talking about being abandoned by US Express other than yourself. Just wow
Bruce MacDonald I was just talking to a driver buddy about this. I have enough money to rent a car from Washington or Maine back home to Texas, anywhere else is gonna be cheaper. (I don't trust bus drivers and I have too much stuff to fly)
And remember for an awful company to exist it has to be run by awful people:( A lot of awful people hide behind the words company and corporation etc. Would be nice if the curtain was pulled back to expose the individuals directly responsible for the dirt in these companies.
US Express will do you that way. They got me to a terminal in Ohio and when I balked at being sent out as a student after 14 years of driving experience they said well you can go home. What they didn't know was I drove there and they said you can either go with a trainer or good luck getting home. I will never work for the big carriers as you are just a number and you always will do as they say or be left in yhe cold.
You didn't know that before orientation? I did. If you didn't have 1 yr out of 2 your experience didn't matter. You must of had a long break. They also did not count local driving. You would be surprised how many local dudes I had to retrain as a trainer. They for most part sucked because they were usually know it all students. A friend of mine more resent went through USX orientation & got sent home because he refused to lease a truck.
Werner -i told them that I wasn't happy and leaving so they wanted their trk at their Dallas terminal.Fair enough.I would pay for my own bus ticket.Again fair enough.They told me they wouldn't take me to the bus station.I was to be thrown out with all my stuff and left in the "big D".So I drove the trk to the San antonio drop yard of theirs,where someone could pick me up. They charged me 300$ for a trk recovery out of their own drop yard.Thats thuggery.They mugged me.
Werner did this to a few people I know. Bus them to the Allentown bus depot, then the "Company" van was nowhere to be found. Then they got "Scalped", by the "No Name" taxi companies to get a ride to the terminal, just to find out a couple of days later, they "Didn't make the cut", and now have to fend for themselves to get home. I lose more respect for these giant trucking companies, more & more every day.
Aaron Cone same thing here. A buddy of mine was quitting. His truck was due for trade in. They promised him if he took ot to Memphis, they'd get him back home. Well, he did them a favor, pulled a load from Ca and t called in Memphis. And there he sat. With little to no money. He called me, there was a dispatch snafu that when they tried to fix when i was already rolling to the terminal (can't read Qualcomm when the truck us in motion). I played stupid, but stowed him away. In a few days, i dropped him off in Olathe, Ks and his brother picked him up at the truckstop. But if i wasn't there and played the system, he'd been stuck there. He was just a young kid, in his first trucking job....he had no clue on how dirty truckibg companies could be. He called his dispatcher, and she claimed that she never guaranteed a trip back.....typical
Sheldon Gullah You should be looking for another carrier to haul for. If they did that to prospective drivers then they will screw you any way they can as many times as they can. Check your logs and other paperwork for anything they can fine you for and most importantly look over your pay as well. Companies that do that will short your pay check in the hopes you wont notice.
Scary, right! I couldn't believe it when I first heard it. That people could do that to other unsuspecting people. First I was appalled and then I got mad! Dave
Smart trking your a 100 percent right on every thing I started out back In the seventies working for airfreaght. Thank God for unions That's what s needed now .I did 28 years .
this is clear proof the truck driver shortage is a farce. if there were truly a shortage, companies would not dare treat anyone this way. furthermore, no good company will even have to advertise to get drivers, imo.
Here's one for you. O&S Trucking out of Springfield, Mo? employee stock purchase? a few of the office people one day sold all their stock, a week later the company filed bankruptcy, majority lost all their investments. Wasn't this why Martha Stewart went to prison?
US EXPRESS did something like that to me I lived in Calif they said they needed me to fly too Oklahoma and they would reimburse me when I got there no job no reimbursement and had to get myself home
shneider did the same to me pennssyvania, the last winter, and then offer to me, to stay for 21 days for orientation, but i didn t get hire , i wasted my time and money.
Had it happen to me in the early 90's, I got stuck in Spokane WA. Luckily I was with a bunch of other drivers we hitched a ride to local Petro and found rides. I still cuss those guys....
Van Pak in Springfield, Mass. did that to me years ago. Thank God I was prepared for their bs. Rented a car to go back home. I later found out by former drivers how dirty this company really was. I can't say I dodged the bullet, but I was only grazed. Oh well....live and learn.
Hello. We are going to the press with this issue to expose these companies. We and the trucking publication have spoken to several drivers and would like to speak with a few more. Would you kindly contact me at catherine@smart-trucking.com to discuss as soon as possible? You would remain anonymous. Thanks so much!!!
I will not work for a trucking company that is not within a 20 mile, 30 at the most, driving distance from my house. PERIOD!! They know you are stuck w/o a paddle when several states away from home. Not as easy to quit when your only ride is their big truck. I have almost quit too many trucking companies that promised only lies only to realize I have no ride back home. Always leave YOURSELF a way out!! Not necessarily the meaning they had in mind.
Wow! The industry sure has changed for the worse. When I was a noobie in 2005, I got my CDL from a private driving school in Charlotte NC. I applied and was hired by CR England. They bussed me to Spartanburg SC for a driving test and drug screen. After passing both, they bought me an airline ticket and I flew commercial jet to Salt Lake City UT to meet my mentor and begin OTR training for 6 weeks. After which I received my first company truck and officially began my driving career. I praise God that I didn’t experience any of the horror stories I’ve been reading about. I’m sorry you had to go through that and I hope and pray that you’re better off now.
I've seen them do that. And I also seen them bus people over from across the country saying they got a job for a company truck and then at the last moment tell them all the spots for the company is taken so they will have to sign up for a lease-to-purchase program or find your way back home.
This is old news this exact same thing happened to me with a company called tri state in Joplin. Bussed me from California to start work in 93 just to say oops no positions available. And left me stranded
Werner wanted me reimburse them when they failed to get me a trainer after i had find a ride home from indy dang near 20 years ago. Victory Express (bought buy U S Express) made me pay for my own way back to indiana from Ohio before the Werner incident. That right me very early on don't believe the recruiters. Things will change the moment you get off the bus from what they ever told you on the phone.
As a veteran driver I’ve always hauled locally but have many times thought of driving OTR. I’m so glad I saw this video because I almost took a job with a large carrier that offered the “bus ride”, thanks for doing these vids
While not quite the same, I had a similar experience. I signed on with a major carrier (despite the red flags such as being scheduled for orientation before my application was actually approved and not being able to ever get ahold of the recruiter to ask questions) and was told they'd try to get me a trainer on the account I'd be assigned to (which was running 5 days a week and being home weekends). So I'm expecting to basically be home in a week (Or at least be put in a motel while my trainer goes home for the weekend). Then they assign me to an over-the-road trainer (I use the term VERY loosely) and I realize even with a reduced training requirement because of prior experience it was probably going to be a month before I'd get home and none of my training would actually be on the account I'd be assigned to run. But I needed a job so I figured I'd try to stick it out. Two days with the "trainer" and I felt like I was about to loose my mind and genuinely feared for my safety with some of the things this guy was telling me to do so I reluctantly quit. Then I had to figure out how to make the 12 hour trip back home with no money. Fortunately my parents were able to loan me/deposit money in my bank for a rental car and, since it was late by the time I got the rental, my brother was able to arrange to get a hotel room for me along the way.
I am going to school to get my class one and I live in Canada,I came across your videos and I am so glad I did. I have already passed my air course and my learners but I will be seeing my teacher from the air course tonight and I will be definitely telling him about your videos. I am so HAPPY that I found you ,you have answered so many questions for me and opened my eyes to my new career that I believe you are a God send to a new trucker and an experienced trucker for that matter. I have watched about 15 of your videos so far and I plan on watching all of them might even watch some over again :) .I still have all my classes to do and watching these videos like chaining up I believe will help my learning in class to calm me down because i am my own worst critic and I tend to over think everything because I want to get it right the first time. I hope you get to read this I didn't know which video to put this on . Please don't stop uploading videos for the future of safe trucking. Thank you.
Can you please do a show on lumpers and the in' s and outs of that? Seems like a day one scam since the beginning of trucking. I appreciate your channel and your knowledge.
Knight in Turlock Ca is like this too...I drove there, first word in orientation was "If you abandon your truck, you'll be charged $1500 for the tow"...I knew the second day as a somewhat novice but good driver that I was DOOMED...I decided to say "Adios"...there was this poor gal from near my area, same situation, nothing to get home I drove 60 extra miles to get her back...I'm done with the majors...
I really enjoy your videos. I greatly respect the fact that you take the time to go in depth about the topic that you're discussing but no so much so that it becomes boring. I'm hoping to get my class a cdl in the next couple of years and watching your videos definitely helps me to know what I should expect to encounter between dealing with recruiters all the way to horrible traffic/road conditions and staying safe while making a respectable living. Keep up the great work and stay safe out there.
Before you sign up with a carrier as a driver you should ask questions relating to transportation, lodging, pay for orientation or training, food, help in case you needed help in case of emergency. And many many other things. You must be prepared to ask questions even write them down. Have some extra money in case if they reject you.
I've worked for many carriers, but E.W. Wylie from my own experience has been a blessing and the best by far. Generous bonuses offered depending on experience and a great company for those looking to get into flatbed without open deck experience. 2020 and 2021 Pete 579's. They just built a state of the art terminal in Fargo. They are growing steady but still small enough to treat you like part of the team.
I'm no lawyer but it seem to me that must be illegal. I know a company flew me to Arizona years ago to look at land and it occurred to me that there might be strings attached to get a ride home.They were unpleasant when I didn't by land but they could hardly leave the non buyers there or the ones who did purchase land would surely find out. Would the guys who were picked to train not be aware of the dirty trick the company pulled? I know if I was one of those guys I'd think what a sleazeball company and take the first chance to screw them back.
How about when they have you report into a terminal a thousand miles from home. They then tell you for whatever reason, real or imagined, that you're fired. Get your crap out of our truck, and good luck getting home. If you more or less live on your truck, you may have several hundred pounds of personal property, maybe even a pet or two on the truck. Can't take the bus or fly home. What do you do? Another good one is when they fire a driver for a ticket before they get their day in court. Ticket is thrown out, the driver is still without a job.
Don't believe what the recruiters say 100%. Cover yourself with enough money to eat, and have a way out! I've seen guys cut loose from training and been stuck states away from home with $0. Sad.
Ns Bt swift and England are starter companies for the most part. They are not as bad as some of the others, good places to get your first year in if you can’t find a better smaller company.
When I worked for Heartland Express they did me dirty when I got food poisoning while out on the road. They were always trying to scam me out of money on my paychecks, and took my last check for "tires." I took their truck to a terminal other than the one I started out of. Got a ride home and decades later they still have me blacklisted. Oh well, there are much better companies to work for.
I have been in trucking 11 years. can't believe that you have never heard of this. Standard practise with CR England and Trans Am. Another is 'accommodation'. At CRE - because I'd been a trucker before and was just using them to get back into the industry - I slept in my minivan, I knew what to expect and was still hassled by their gun toting 'security' scum in the night. Here is my advice - believe nothing, take a vehicle, take lots of money. The minivan was an extremely wise decision, best thing I did. After a 4 day drive from Miami they wanted to refuse me because they wanted my tax 1040 from the year before. What the hell that had to do with them I have no idea but nothing was asked of me to bring it LUCKY I had taken it with me for some odd reason. My own reason not to please them. They sent one guy all the way back to NYC to get some paperwork. No bus fare. If you haven't come across this shit then you need to get out more. This is OLD news.
US express and heartland express are just 2 of the companies he's talking about that'll leave you out after you get to the terminal if they don't like the application.
I drive for Tyson Foods and I can honestly say that NONE of that bs goes on over here! Are they perfect... Is any company? However, they will bus you in and if for any reason you don't make the cut they ABSOLUTELY WILL get you back home.
You know, I tried to become an American when I was a teenager and they wouldn't take me. They actually told me I'd stand a better chance getting off a boat in New York City than driving over from Canada. Dave
Yep i have been in the trucking industry for over 33 years and i have seen that happen to many times that's why if I go for another trucking company I rent my own car and I take plenty of money so I can get back home if they don't accept me that's one thing I learned a long time ago these trucking companies you cannot believe a word they say and you have to turn around exactly like you said they're Liars every one of them
I completely skipped the whole OTR job and started immediately driving a solo dump truck and trained T&T and then hauling OS loads. I learned so much in the years I drove dump trucks and would NEVER go OTR knowing what I know now. I feel bad for those that do that job.
Hi - here's another one: Kelle's Transportation Service, Salt Lake City, UT, charges $25 insurance for every load a company driver hauls - they do not pay for orientation time; and a team couple was at same orientation as me and they got stuck in SLC with very little money to get home - think they lived in AZ. I didn't have enough cash to spare myself; but a number of drivers chipped in to help them out. I don't drive truck anymore; but I miss it because I really enjoyed the work - except for dishonest and onry dispatchers, shippers, receivers, and company owners. There were one or two who treated me fairly but I only remember one of their names ... thanks for the video.
That's common practice now for most trucking companies. Once you're eliminated, you're on your own. Happened to more than half the class at CR England. 40 in a classroom, 10 were left. 30 tried to figure out how to get home.
a guy I work with used to be a trucker and is now retired from that. he tells a lot of stories of his trucking days. two of the worst ones I think are not the carriers trying to scam the drivers but the people you run across while driving.
the first story is going to be real short so I don't screw it up. he tells it like he pulled in to a truck stop to get fuel. he fills up and then goes inside to pay. while in line one of the cashiers tells another worker to go change the fuel price sign up a nickel or whatever the price went up to. the cashier then tells my friend that he is now has to pay that new price. he refuses and the cashier calls the police. the police show up and both sides of the story are told. the police officer agrees with my friend that he doesn't have to pay the new price because he already fueled up at the old price.
the second story he tells is he was going down the road and onto a scale. he gets on the scale and is told to come inside. he goes inside and the person working the scale tells him he is overweight on his axles. he yells that that's bullshit. a state trooper upstairs overhears and comes down. the scale worker tells the trooper that he is overweight and the trooper agrees. my friend then takes the trooper out to his truck and opens the trailer. inside are only 12 empty pallets stacked in one pile at the front of the truck. the trooper goes back inside and yells at the scale worker to shut the scales down now.
Excellent stories, thank you! Dave
people all over really need to realize that truckers are not the dumbest people they think they are. in fact truckers are the smartest people on the road. you cant just stop 80,000lbs on a dime.
I think these carriers deserve to have their names posted here!
Are you kidding me ? That`s the best you`ve heard ?
*"How about the company gets you to their shipping yard for a bogus interview then tell you,* *"We`ll give you a trial run"* , then sends you from that city to another, while *fully loaded* and telling you to -call them- after arriving at the destination only to be told you didn`t *get the job."*. BUT they got a *free transport run from YOU !*
This is so true. That's why any carrier I drive for, I save at least $5,000 which will cover airfare, hotel cost, cab fare, food etc......Won't catch me slipping. I always tell new drivers, dont blow your money out here. Save enough airfare for a same day trip from Alaska to Miami, and most expensive hotel for 7 days. That should be enough in case of emergency. To justify: airline ticket purchased same day last minute from Alaska to Florida is about $2000. A hotel $150 a night for 7 days is $1050. Now we have $3050. Cab fare and food about $300 a week. $3350. About $3400 needs to be put aside in case these carriers want to be shady. Once you get that built up, add a $100 a week to the savings. Now you have established emergency funds.
Swift fooling people into thinking they are a serious trucking company is the nastiest trick of all.
Start listing these companies so truck drivers know ahead of time.
More like "Wall of Shame"
I work for a small carrier, started out with them just as they were getting set up and it's the way to go. When I say small company I mean less then 30 trucks. It's more of a family atmosphere.
Trucking recruiters are in a lot of ways like Attorneys, if their mouth is moving then they are most likely lying to you.
It's illegal. C.R. England tried this with me I recorded everything and D.O.T Forced them to get me a flight back to Benton Harbor from salt lake city
Good to know! Dave
We need to call these carriers out on this. We need to get their names out.
I worked for Celadon Canada years ago, and was informed it was time to take my tractor in to the Indianapolis terminal to swap it out for a brand new truck to bring back to Canada. So, I finish up my load, bobtail to the terminal, hand in my truck, and there is no new truck to take back to Canada. After 2 days of waiting (sleeping in my cleaned out empty tractor using my coat as a pillow) I'm told I'll have to find a ride with a driver back to Canada. Problem is no driver will take me. I don't blame them. Who wants a stranger in your truck?Long story short, another 3 days pass, I haven't had a shower, or been paid anything. I get a ride home.Didn't get a penny for 5 days sleeping in a cold truck (they took the keys so I couldn't even run the engine).It's an industry of crooks and thieves.
JJ Stuart on Writing Wow! That's beyond messed up!
I have heard from a few, almost a dozen prime lease operators that they had a few payments left to own their truck and them dispatch starved them of loads and they ended up breaking the payment contract and losing their truck and jobs. I have heard similar things about other companies as well.
Evil Me thank you for the warning
Yep that happened to me twice,,,but I put new tires on it and had engine work done, LOL, thats why its the NEVER NEVER plan LOL
Never lease from the trucking company.
A similar thing's happened here in Nevada with a couple of the Gold Mines and the homes they "sell" (rent). They hire an experienced Coal Miner from,say Pennsylvania,have him move his family out here,and s soon as they arrive the Mine's rep offers 'em a house they can move right into-nothing down,the payment comes right outta the miner's bank account each month,2 days after payday-no worries. The guy learns the gold mining business, works his ass off for maybe 9-1/2-9-3/4 years,and he's planning to retire,he figures he can still cover the house payment no problem,from his retirement,but before he gets his 10 years in, they can him for some ridiculous little violation. No retirement,no income,nothing. The guy tries to get work at another mine,but it'll be at least 2 months before he gets a paycheck-THEN he discovers,in the fine print in his Mortgage,it states that if he breaks employment from the mine,whether by his choice or theirs,the full balance of his Mortgage is due and payable within thirty days. It's not a hopeless situation,but damned near. MAYBE he can get another job,re-finance the house and get set up with a different employer in 3 weeks to keep his payment schedule on track,and MAYBE he can convince the mine to let him just pay off the home from the mine via a re-finance,but not bloody likely.
If someone has been a lease driver for long enough to only have a few payments left, and they haven't banked enough to cover things like this, then something is wrong. Why go though all that hassle of being in business only to come out in the end even with where you started. It makes no sense.
And hard working truckers and trucking companies just scratch there head and wonder how a driver can just abandon there truck in the middle of no were , no keys, no notice, Reap what you sow,
10-4! Dave
When I tried OTR trucking with arrow trucking back in 1999 when I first got my CDL they promised a $300.00 sign on bonus for inexperienced drivers. When we started orientation we found out that the cost of the "free" bus ride to orientation was coming out of our sign on bonus.
Dirty tricks even back then. Dave
I had this very thing happen to me with CR England, that is exactly how they have done it for years, they brought me from Salem Oregon to Salt Lake City and then gave me some excuse that my DL had not been valid for 150consecutive days, but in reality had be valid for for then a year and a half.
jb hunt used to do this in the 90's nothing new, i been a driver since way back, i am retired now, i used to made 2.50 a miles owner op, i see the wages now and you couldnt get me outta bed for what they pay now, over regulated industry and ridiculous low wages, if people think they are making a good living driving now , your wages are half of what they were paying back in the 70's and 80's and even in the 90's .
Thinking about it, though... The guys who got stranded in that situation were probably the luckiest. Can you imagine working for an outfit that treats people like that?
Balanced Chaos True
Yea, my thought: You better not get hired by some POS like that.
Excellent point! Dave
Balanced Chaos awesome point those were the lucky guys.
It's an amazing feeling when you turn down a job offer or just don't get it and find out soon after you dodged a massive bullet. Remember Circuit City? Probably not any less dirty. They got theirs weeks after I walked away.
No, don't take a name. Ask them to send email giving ALL details. If they would t, run, run, run. My current employer Hub Group didn't send just one email. They were as detailed as possible and left nothing to chance. ANY reputable company will do the same, ALWAYS.
TMC will get you a rental, house you in there hotel and feed you two meals a day. If you fail out you'll get a bus home, if you fail the drug test you're walking.
What a great story, I got one for you as well. When I finished my training with SWIFT I ended up in Phoenix AZ at their headquarters. The swift management was so greedy they didn't want to pay for bus ticket to the East Coast where I live! The granddaughter of the owner was working in the office and she decided to put me on the truck going east. She convinced some so called mentor owner operator with new student to give me a ride to Pennsylvania terminal in Jonestown PA. So, there was 3 of us in the truck going east. As we got to Oklahoma the owner figured out that it could be illegal to have 2 drivers in the truck and got upset with Swift that they tricked him into taking a passenger on board. Basically, for his insurance it's as if he picked up a hitchhiker, which he realized as he was cursing that Swift owners granddaughter. He dropped me off in Oklahoma at Swift terminal where the scumbag in charge of it refused to get me neither bus ticket nor taxi cab to the bus terminal. I called taxi,got myself bus ticket in Oklahoma city to Philadelphia PA and this way got back home. These greedy swift mfs should've dropped me at least close to home terminal after the training was over,but nooooooooooooooo at first they got me stranded in Phoenix ,then in Oklahoma......it took me a lot of time before I got back home and I paid for their incompetence and greed. To Swift Transportation from Phoenix AZ will always be the worst company that ever existed in the US!!! Let me quickly mention that after training they paid me sometimes $100 a week!!! They also lobbied for ELDS, haven't they?! As OOIDA says in their magazine.
Unbelievable, yet I do believe it! Dave
AR AD what is ELDS? A black ball tattle tale system?
Hello. We are trying to take this story of abandonment public but I need to speak with more drivers. Please contact me if you are willing. All drivers will remain anonymous. THanks!
You referring to Swift over at 75th Ave near buckeye??
Either way I'm glad I didn't join that one in Arizona because I almost did
I heard that recently when I called a major carrier. Immediately I thought what if something goes wrong then what. I am so glad you post these videos that you they help truckers like me understand the ugly side of the business. I drive a straight truck. I recently got hired on to run expedite loads. Now watch this. I was asked to drive to MS and pick up the truck, then take it back home for a couple of days and then on to orientation in NC. Now I did so and the company paid me for every mile as if I were under a load. They also paid for my gas since my wife and I made the journey. That's all good, so far I am impressed. At the end of this 2 day orientation I was told that I could not leave until the drug test results came back. That's right I drove 600 plus miles in their truck and then they drug tested me. I was shocked. Of course I passed the test I had no worry of that but still WOW. Now this truck I am in was someone else's at one time, It had not straps, the maintenance was not up to date and there was a hole in the trailer. Of course I took care of all that stuff on my own time. Mind you they paid for the repairs etc... but I did not get paid for any of that. I was a fool but in my mind I was taking care of the truck I am now driving. So again thank you for your videos.
A big company with burnt orange trucks in Dubuque pulled a fast one on me. My recruiter told me one week classroom, two weeks with my trainer and then I would be done training. Mind you...I've been driving truck since 98. When we were done with classroom and they were handing out phone numbers for our in cab trainers they dropped the bomb.. Then and first then did they mention we had to do 45000 miles of team training after the two weeks with in cab trainer. Hell...I signed up for dedicated solo lol... WTF. I looked around the room and everyone else was hearing this shit for the first time as well. We all shook our heads and quit.
Sli ck Good for you, right on!
As a former trucker, I'm glad that I was truckin when Jimmy Hoffa had formed the Teamsters.
They know that most people willing to travel that far for a job wouldn't push their luck by asking too many questions.
That's why I'm developing a strategic plan to get out of trucking by the end of this year to be honest after 18 years I'm sick of it and I'm going to change my profession.
Us Xpress does this at orientation. I was in a no fault accident a week before Christmas on a Saturday morning. They paid for a motel Saturday and Sunday. Then said we have to investigate the accident which will take 30-60 days good luck to you. Took me a week to find somebody to come get me cause I was 900 miles from home. I ended up taking them to court and 5 years later got a little money out of them. All they're worried about is you making them money and if you're not, you're a piece of garbage to them. BEWARE
Yes. Celadon did that too. I think all applicants should be checked out fully and hired before bringing them to orientation. I heard of a recruit who was brought to orientation at my company and the recruiting department asked him if he had quit his job back home. When the recruit told them he hadn't, they had him call his job and quit while they listened. The next day the recruit was told they were not going to hire him. So he didn't have the trucking job and no job to go home to.
These companies need to be named to let potential drivers know....
Roehl and TransAm are both good for doing this at they terminals at Gary Indiana and Olathe Kansas
Riehl did same to me in Phoenix az.
This almost happened to me in Tulsa, but I told them if they were not goin to hire me to pay my way back to WV. The company (hint: in blue) tried like hell to cheese me out of them not paying for my way back, but I didn't back down because at that point there was nothing to lose. Im older now and trust no company because of lies like this and other unfulfilled promises. Remember, your number one, protect yourself first.
Robert Hamrick Melton. glad u didn't go there when given the chance
""your number one, protect yourself first"" - Best way to think because all companies think the same thing....
C.r. England did this to me in December 24 years ago when I started driving
US Xpress does this. Anyway I worked for a carrier that asked me with my own money to come to there terminal without upfront money. So I drove out there they hired me and less than 2 months later I quit. They also held your first check for 3 weeks. In the end I think they gave me like $100 for 20 hours of driving in my personal car to go to orientation then charged me $150 to quit called a truck cleaning fee. The truck was spotless when I turned it in. This company required 2 yrs experience when I started now I see there ads saying only 3 months needed.
Mr Charles "F" that company!!!
Good ol Useless Express, NOT!!
Best bet is find out where orientation is and if using the bus check to see how much the ticket home is. Then put that money aside as a emergency so you are not stranded. Or just use your own car to get there. I went out of my way to help a guy get home that was not hired at a company.
i took a guy close to home who this happened to. guy got shafted by the company who brought him.. in all the phone interviews and on the app. he told them he got caught with pot when he was 18 but not in trouble with law since (guy was 30'ish) company told him oh its fine you been clean since we overlook, he got there day 2 let go cause the drug charge. lucky for him he was just going next state over.
Mr Charles I experienced the same thing with US EXPRESS more than a decade ago, was bused to orientation in Ohio, stayed in a barracks style building on their property with the other male drivers. 3rd day of orientation, I was called out of class and told they had found a felony weapons charge on my record, I explained to them that their findings were erroneous, but it made no difference. I was stuck in Ohio with no way home, fortunately I was able to make it to the bus station where family had pre payed a ticket for me and I was finally able to get home. Less than 3 days after arriving back home, I received a call from US EXPRESS, they said they had made a mistake in the back ground check, that I had a clean record, (which I already knew) and asked me if I would come back. I won't go into what that very short conversation consisted of, needless to say I never went back. Screw mega-carriers. I had no idea anyone else had experienced this until all these years later watching this video on UA-cam. There are a few other people on here talking about being abandoned by US Express other than yourself. Just wow
Always have means and a plan to get yourself home from anywhere in the country.
Bruce MacDonald I was just talking to a driver buddy about this. I have enough money to rent a car from Washington or Maine back home to Texas, anywhere else is gonna be cheaper. (I don't trust bus drivers and I have too much stuff to fly)
And remember for an awful company to exist it has to be run by awful people:( A lot of awful people hide behind the words company and corporation etc. Would be nice if the curtain was pulled back to expose the individuals directly responsible for the dirt in these companies.
I ways wondered where all the payday loan and balloon mortgage guys ended up after the government shut them down.
BlindBatG34 you're probably close enough to the truth there. Only that kind of predatory scumbag would pull either of those rackets.
BlindBatG34 I think you got the right answer
I've seem truckers abandon company trucks sell there load locks cb spare tire and go to the airport🚔
US Express will do you that way. They got me to a terminal in Ohio and when I balked at being sent out as a student after 14 years of driving experience they said well you can go home. What they didn't know was I drove there and they said you can either go with a trainer or good luck getting home. I will never work for the big carriers as you are just a number and you always will do as they say or be left in yhe cold.
Ralph Rose. us express sucks been there
I hear you, US Express left me stranded in PA. Thankfully I had my phone and a friend who was going through and was able to hitch a ride with him.
You didn't know that before orientation? I did. If you didn't have 1 yr out of 2 your experience didn't matter. You must of had a long break. They also did not count local driving. You would be surprised how many local dudes I had to retrain as a trainer. They for most part sucked because they were usually know it all students.
A friend of mine more resent went through USX orientation & got sent home because he refused to lease a truck.
Werner -i told them that I wasn't happy and leaving so they wanted their trk at their Dallas terminal.Fair enough.I would pay for my own bus ticket.Again fair enough.They told me they wouldn't take me to the bus station.I was to be thrown out with all my stuff and left in the "big D".So I drove the trk to the San antonio drop yard of theirs,where someone could pick me up.
They charged me 300$ for a trk recovery out of their own drop yard.Thats thuggery.They mugged me.
Crooked bastards. Dave
Whenever ANY potential employer wants to put on a bus. . RUN!
Right! the last one to put me on a bus was the Draft Board in 1966.
I’m hoping I make what the recruiter said I’ll make or I’ll be gone
Agreed, if it's over 10 miles it's a rental car, if it's over 200 it's a plane! If it's over 2000 then it's a jet.
Iguana Pete Damn that’s funny! 🤣🤣
They should put Bounty posters on these trucking companies dead or alive for doing that to another human being
I agree whole heartedly! Dave
Why would anyone....go into trucking....after listening to this pro driver??
One would need to be an idiot!
Frank From Upstate NY- With almost 25 years of experience I say...amen brother.
Werner did this to a few people I know. Bus them to the Allentown bus depot, then the "Company" van was nowhere to be found. Then they got "Scalped", by the "No Name" taxi companies to get a ride to the terminal, just to find out a couple of days later, they "Didn't make the cut", and now have to fend for themselves to get home. I lose more respect for these giant trucking companies, more & more every day.
Aaron Cone I saw the same thing at the company I work for.. I just got lucky and made it
Aaron Cone same thing here. A buddy of mine was quitting. His truck was due for trade in. They promised him if he took ot to Memphis, they'd get him back home. Well, he did them a favor, pulled a load from Ca and t called in Memphis. And there he sat. With little to no money. He called me, there was a dispatch snafu that when they tried to fix when i was already rolling to the terminal (can't read Qualcomm when the truck us in motion). I played stupid, but stowed him away. In a few days, i dropped him off in Olathe, Ks and his brother picked him up at the truckstop. But if i wasn't there and played the system, he'd been stuck there. He was just a young kid, in his first trucking job....he had no clue on how dirty truckibg companies could be. He called his dispatcher, and she claimed that she never guaranteed a trip back.....typical
Sheldon Gullah You should be looking for another carrier to haul for. If they did that to prospective drivers then they will screw you any way they can as many times as they can. Check your logs and other paperwork for anything they can fine you for and most importantly look over your pay as well. Companies that do that will short your pay check in the hopes you wont notice.
If the van is not there u have to call the number they give u
Aaron Cone CR England, Swift do this all the time
As soon as you said "we'll pick you up in our bus..." I KNEW what was coming!
Scary, right! I couldn't believe it when I first heard it. That people could do that to other unsuspecting people. First I was appalled and then I got mad! Dave
A friend of mine worked for a major carrier and I could not believe how he was treated. Watch out for these bad companies.
Not different from companies that will put you off the truck at a truck stop, without warning.
Tell the recruiter that you will drive yourself and watch how fast they reject you.
Smart trking your a 100 percent right on every thing I started out back In the seventies working for airfreaght. Thank God for unions
That's what s needed now .I did 28 years .
this is clear proof the truck driver shortage is a farce. if there were truly a shortage, companies would not dare treat anyone this way. furthermore, no good company will even have to advertise to get drivers, imo.
Someone needs to post a list of all the companies that do this...
Here's one for you. O&S Trucking out of Springfield, Mo? employee stock purchase? a few of the office people one day sold all their stock, a week later the company filed bankruptcy, majority lost all their investments. Wasn't this why Martha Stewart went to prison?
Wow! Dave
C r England used to do this a lot I don't know if they still do but I have picked up many of truck drivers having to get home from CR England
Gee! One of the first things I’d ask & prepare for is “how do I get home if I’m not accepted?” Simple question.
I can't even respond to this video without swearing up a storm. Wow.
Balanced Chaos
I hear you
Me too
Balanced Chaos I hear you brother!🍻
Balanced Chaos Curses!
The first company I was with in 93 was a big company. I celebrated when they went out of business a few years ago.
Bill M builders transport ?
US EXPRESS did something like that to me I lived in Calif they said they needed me to fly too Oklahoma and they would reimburse me when I got there no job no reimbursement and had to get myself home
Man! I never hear anything good about those guys! Dave
@cartman4885 Hello, would you please contact me at catherine@smart-trucking.com regarding this incident? Thanks!
shneider did the same to me pennssyvania, the last winter, and then offer to me, to stay for 21 days for orientation, but i didn t get hire , i wasted my time and money.
Excellent advice, what an awful situation for potential truckers to find themselves in just to earn a crust.
Really! Exactly how I felt! Dave
Had it happen to me in the early 90's, I got stuck in Spokane WA. Luckily I was with a bunch of other drivers we hitched a ride to local Petro and found rides. I still cuss those guys....
You're right ,Dave, that's about as low as a carrier can get, I've seen a few, but this take the cake, Norm
Van Pak in Springfield, Mass. did that to me years ago. Thank God I was prepared for their bs. Rented a car to go back home. I later found out by former drivers how dirty this company really was. I can't say I dodged the bullet, but I was only grazed. Oh well....live and learn.
Hello. We are going to the press with this issue to expose these companies. We and the trucking publication have spoken to several drivers and would like to speak with a few more. Would you kindly contact me at catherine@smart-trucking.com to discuss as soon as possible? You would remain anonymous. Thanks so much!!!
I will not work for a trucking company that is not within a 20 mile, 30 at the most, driving distance from my house. PERIOD!! They know you are stuck w/o a paddle when several states away from home. Not as easy to quit when your only ride is their big truck. I have almost quit too many trucking companies that promised only lies only to realize I have no ride back home.
Always leave YOURSELF a way out!! Not necessarily the meaning they had in mind.
US Xpress in Chattanooga is well known for doing this. .
Brian Ford my only experience with undersexed express was delivering new Wabash national trailers to them back in the day.
Wow! The industry sure has changed for the worse. When I was a noobie in 2005, I got my CDL from a private driving school in Charlotte NC. I applied and was hired by CR England. They bussed me to Spartanburg SC for a driving test and drug screen. After passing both, they bought me an airline ticket and I flew commercial jet to Salt Lake City UT to meet my mentor and begin OTR training for 6 weeks. After which I received my first company truck and officially began my driving career. I praise God that I didn’t experience any of the horror stories I’ve been reading about. I’m sorry you had to go through that and I hope and pray that you’re better off now.
I've seen them do that. And I also seen them bus people over from across the country saying they got a job for a company truck and then at the last moment tell them all the spots for the company is taken so they will have to sign up for a lease-to-purchase program or find your way back home.
Crooked bastards! Who did that? Dave
Smart-Trucking.com. Trans Am Trucking
kool-Aid Man unbelievable but I believe it . Yea buy one of there junk trucks for double their value and start your down spiral from there
This is old news this exact same thing happened to me with a company called tri state in Joplin. Bussed me from California to start work in 93 just to say oops no positions available. And left me stranded
Werner wanted me reimburse them when they failed to get me a trainer after i had find a ride home from indy dang near 20 years ago. Victory Express (bought buy U S Express) made me pay for my own way back to indiana from Ohio before the Werner incident. That right me very early on don't believe the recruiters. Things will change the moment you get off the bus from what they ever told you on the phone.
Unbelievable, isn't it? Dave
As a veteran driver I’ve always hauled locally but have many times thought of driving OTR. I’m so glad I saw this video because I almost took a job with a large carrier that offered the “bus ride”, thanks for doing these vids
Our pleasure, thank you!
While not quite the same, I had a similar experience. I signed on with a major carrier (despite the red flags such as being scheduled for orientation before my application was actually approved and not being able to ever get ahold of the recruiter to ask questions) and was told they'd try to get me a trainer on the account I'd be assigned to (which was running 5 days a week and being home weekends). So I'm expecting to basically be home in a week (Or at least be put in a motel while my trainer goes home for the weekend). Then they assign me to an over-the-road trainer (I use the term VERY loosely) and I realize even with a reduced training requirement because of prior experience it was probably going to be a month before I'd get home and none of my training would actually be on the account I'd be assigned to run. But I needed a job so I figured I'd try to stick it out. Two days with the "trainer" and I felt like I was about to loose my mind and genuinely feared for my safety with some of the things this guy was telling me to do so I reluctantly quit. Then I had to figure out how to make the 12 hour trip back home with no money. Fortunately my parents were able to loan me/deposit money in my bank for a rental car and, since it was late by the time I got the rental, my brother was able to arrange to get a hotel room for me along the way.
Another nightmare story! Thanks for writing in! Dave
I am going to school to get my class one and I live in Canada,I came across your videos and I am so glad I did. I have already passed my air course and my learners but I will be seeing my teacher from the air course tonight and I will be definitely telling him about your videos. I am so HAPPY that I found you ,you have answered so many questions for me and opened my eyes to my new career that I believe you are a God send to a new trucker and an experienced trucker for that matter. I have watched about 15 of your videos so far and I plan on watching all of them might even watch some over again :) .I still have all my classes to do and watching these videos like chaining up I believe will help my learning in class to calm me down because i am my own worst critic and I tend to over think everything because I want to get it right the first time. I hope you get to read this I didn't know which video to put this on . Please don't stop uploading videos for the future of safe trucking.
Thank you.
Thanks Dean! Good luck and drive safe! Dave
He is amazing, isn't he? Wish he would start a trucking company. I would go to work for him (If he'd have me, of course LOL) in a heartbeat!
Can you please do a show on lumpers and the in' s and outs of that? Seems like a day one scam since the beginning of trucking. I appreciate your channel and your knowledge.
Working on that video now Dave! Stay tuned! Dave
Knight in Turlock Ca is like this too...I drove there, first word in orientation was "If you abandon your truck, you'll be charged $1500 for the tow"...I knew the second day as a somewhat novice but good driver that I was DOOMED...I decided to say "Adios"...there was this poor gal from near my area, same situation, nothing to get home I drove 60 extra miles to get her back...I'm done with the majors...
If you want names to avoid, go to any truckstop and find one of the driver job ad book and that is a good list to AVOID
That's true! Dave
I really enjoy your videos. I greatly respect the fact that you take the time to go in depth about the topic that you're discussing but no so much so that it becomes boring. I'm hoping to get my class a cdl in the next couple of years and watching your videos definitely helps me to know what I should expect to encounter between dealing with recruiters all the way to horrible traffic/road conditions and staying safe while making a respectable living. Keep up the great work and stay safe out there.
Before you sign up with a carrier as a driver you should ask questions relating to transportation, lodging, pay for orientation or training, food, help in case you needed help in case of emergency. And many many other things. You must be prepared to ask questions even write them down. Have some extra money in case if they reject you.
Good advice! Dave
I've worked for many carriers, but E.W. Wylie from my own experience has been a blessing and the best by far. Generous bonuses offered depending on experience and a great company for those looking to get into flatbed without open deck experience. 2020 and 2021 Pete 579's. They just built a state of the art terminal in Fargo. They are growing steady but still small enough to treat you like part of the team.
Good to know, I'll spread the word, thanks!
I'm no lawyer but it seem to me that must be illegal. I know a company flew me to Arizona years ago to look at land and it occurred to me that there might be strings attached to get a ride home.They were unpleasant when I didn't by land but they could hardly leave the non buyers there or the ones who did purchase land would surely find out.
Would the guys who were picked to train not be aware of the dirty trick the company pulled? I know if I was one of those guys I'd think what a sleazeball company and take the first chance to screw them back.
I went through orientation in 2004,out of 175-200 drivers,75 made the cut to have a job with them.
How about when they have you report into a terminal a thousand miles from home. They then tell you for whatever reason, real or imagined, that you're fired. Get your crap out of our truck, and good luck getting home. If you more or less live on your truck, you may have several hundred pounds of personal property, maybe even a pet or two on the truck. Can't take the bus or fly home. What do you do?
Another good one is when they fire a driver for a ticket before they get their day in court. Ticket is thrown out, the driver is still without a job.
Latest company’s are using the “your drug test are inconclusive, we don’t know what the problem is” rather than you didn’t make the cut.
Always work for a company within reasonable driving distance from home. Trucking is dirty business folks.
Don't believe what the recruiters say 100%. Cover yourself with enough money to eat, and have a way out! I've seen guys cut loose from training and been stuck states away from home with $0. Sad.
Go to Crete carriers in Lincoln ne.its one of the few good companies out there.avoid cr England and swift.
Ns Bt swift and England are starter companies for the most part. They are not as bad as some of the others, good places to get your first year in if you can’t find a better smaller company.
When I worked for Heartland Express they did me dirty when I got food poisoning while out on the road. They were always trying to scam me out of money on my paychecks, and took my last check for "tires." I took their truck to a terminal other than the one I started out of. Got a ride home and decades later they still have me blacklisted. Oh well, there are much better companies to work for.
I have been in trucking 11 years. can't believe that you have never heard of this. Standard practise with CR England and Trans Am. Another is 'accommodation'. At CRE - because I'd been a trucker before and was just using them to get back into the industry - I slept in my minivan, I knew what to expect and was still hassled by their gun toting 'security' scum in the night.
Here is my advice - believe nothing, take a vehicle, take lots of money. The minivan was an extremely wise decision, best thing I did. After a 4 day drive from Miami they wanted to refuse me because they wanted my tax 1040 from the year before. What the hell that had to do with them I have no idea but nothing was asked of me to bring it LUCKY I had taken it with me for some odd reason. My own reason not to please them. They sent one guy all the way back to NYC to get some paperwork. No bus fare. If you haven't come across this shit then you need to get out more. This is OLD news.
No matter what job it is NEVER leave yourself at the mercy of the potential employer , EVER !
That's right! Dave
US express and heartland express are just 2 of the companies he's talking about that'll leave you out after you get to the terminal if they don't like the application.
That's what prime does they don't even want u to take your personal car
Jeremy Griggs I drove my 25 year old jetty to Utah
From NC glad I did
US Xpress and Covenant Tranport is known for this Big time..
Pam tired that I told them it was not written in the contract I'm still sitting here waiting to get picked up from home!!
And they wonder why a driver shortage? Duh!
Yep, happened to me. Company flew me to Winnipeg from Calgary and left me there.
I drive for Tyson Foods and I can honestly say that NONE of that bs goes on over here! Are they perfect... Is any company? However, they will bus you in and if for any reason you don't make the cut they ABSOLUTELY WILL get you back home.
Stephen Brown That's good to know, thanks for sharing. Alot of companies won't.
Excellent info you are conveying to the public. You are a great American.
You know, I tried to become an American when I was a teenager and they wouldn't take me. They actually told me I'd stand a better chance getting off a boat in New York City than driving over from Canada. Dave
I stand corrected. You do a very good impersonation of an American then.
I believe it. More and more I'm learning awful things about companies.
Auto Transport Intel. Do your research before signing on! This has been happening for over 15 years.
Finally I understand why many people call this job "Adventure".
Yep i have been in the trucking industry for over 33 years and i have seen that happen to many times that's why if I go for another trucking company I rent my own car and I take plenty of money so I can get back home if they don't accept me that's one thing I learned a long time ago these trucking companies you cannot believe a word they say and you have to turn around exactly like you said they're Liars every one of them
I completely skipped the whole OTR job and started immediately driving a solo dump truck and trained T&T and then hauling OS loads. I learned so much in the years I drove dump trucks and would NEVER go OTR knowing what I know now. I feel bad for those that do that job.
Hi - here's another one: Kelle's Transportation Service, Salt Lake City, UT, charges $25 insurance for every load a company driver hauls - they do not pay for orientation time; and a team couple was at same orientation as me and they got stuck in SLC with very little money to get home - think they lived in AZ. I didn't have enough cash to spare myself; but a number of drivers chipped in to help them out. I don't drive truck anymore; but I miss it because I really enjoyed the work - except for dishonest and onry dispatchers, shippers, receivers, and company owners. There were one or two who treated me fairly but I only remember one of their names ... thanks for the video.
That's common practice now for most trucking companies. Once you're eliminated, you're on your own. Happened to more than half the class at CR England. 40 in a classroom, 10 were left. 30 tried to figure out how to get home.
Jack Meoff That sucks for a person who is looking for a better life, which I was that person 27 years ago THANK GOD.