DoubleYellow's Covenant Thrival Guide

**Rocks** · 06.10.2012

Originally Posted by austinmike

Help me out here. Why did you take another 34 hr. reset after driving just 541 miles? I'm confused.

Ok... After my first reset, I still had to run so many miles to deliver the load and then run some more miles to next shipper (which was 541 miles total). But because that was a Sat. and my p/up was scheduled for Monday, I had enough time to take another reset....

I didn't have to reset, but I like to start the week with my full 70 instead of recycling hrs later. By the way, all my deliveries are drop and hook with no appointment, which I really like.... I get preplans days in advance and most of "my" shippers don't work on weekends. So, I run as hard as I can during the week and don't waste any time with stops other than fuel and 10 hr break.... and I can reset almost every weekend.

Hope I could clarify that for you.

**Rocks** · 06.10.2012

Originally Posted by double yellow

So much for holding out for July to go Solo... Codriver just had preventable #4 in 5 months -- somehow dragging the trailer about 3' over a guardrail on a sharp left turn onto an on ramp, taking out about 10' of guardrail, a trailer tire's sidewall, and a yet-to-be-determined trailer air supply source. He's attempting to call it in to breakdown as a run of the mill flat tire, but I'm hoping it'll be way too obvious when the mechanic gets here. If not, I'm just going to have to draw the line and turn him in myself because its obvious he'll just keep doing stupid stuff.

Recap of his accidents:

#1 After driving 2 miles into a clearly residential suburb, he came to a dead end cul-de-sac and drove over someone's lawn while attempting to turn around.

#2 leaving a receiver, he attempted to route himself through the automotive parking lot and negotiate a sharp right turn that would give a F350 trouble (semi has no business there). He would up wedged between a hedge (taking out a sprinkler system) and a now-leaning stop sign. Had to take out the hedge to extricate the truck & trailer. Apparently the receiver never followed through with the claim so this may not be on his record despite having called irc...

#3 backed into a parked truck while attempting to back into an ordinary truck stop parking spot

#4 off-tracked trailer over a gaurdrail. Worse, he didn't stop until halfway down the onramp when the brakes locked up from an air leak...

Obvious question: wtf am I still doing on the truck with him? To that, I have no good answer. I guess your standards go to hell when 5 of your 6 codrivers have stupid accidents like the above...

WTF have you been doing in the truck with this person for all this time??? Putting your life in danger like that???

Like I wrote a few comments ago, if it were me, I would have gone back to Chatt after his first incident and looked for another partner. I wouldn't care how many partners I had or anything else. But I would not put my life in danger like that. NO WAY!

After all these incidents and Covenant is still keeping this unsafe driver?

Hey Covenant, you told me you were invested in changing the company's negative image, improving safety and blah, blah, blah.

Yes, I agree with everybody here, contact upper management. If it were me, I would take this to Safety's attention and upper management. If this driver continues driving, he may cause a lot more damage and "God forbids" even harm or kill himself and others....

I know a former Covenant trainer who had a very unsafe student who did very unsafe things in the truck but trainer never fired him, and graduated him instead. 2 weeks after graduation, unsafe driver had a rollover and almost killed himself and his co-driver.

Please, get out of this truck with this driver.... Please, be safe!

**double yellow** · 06.11.2012

Some good news today: Previous codriver (the one without accidents) will probably be rejoining Covenant in the next month as his girlfriend's last round of chemo is in 2 weeks. He'll have to go throuh orientation again and will want hometime a little more often than Id prefer, but we got along great and ran well.

Also got a call from Andy Varzant this morning assuring me that the safety reviews from incidents 2, 3, & 4 have not yet happened. It seems we always manage to hit terminals during nights/weekends so we haven't had to go through the full workup to get a gate pass. He also assured me that if I did want to go solo and stay out 6+ weeks that arrangements could be made, though he reminded me the pay would suffer. With only 9 month's tenure, I'm making the equivalent of 42cpm right now (and that'll bump to 44 or 46 after the July 4th team raise for drivers with 6-24months). As a solo driver I would be making only 26cpm (not sure if that includes hazmat, but either way a huge paycut compared to teaming).

Over the weekend I looked at pay packages from Conway, Gordon, Schneider, & Swift and while they all match or beat Covenant's solo wage, they would all be a drastic pay cut compared to teaming at Covenant. So I'm back on the team survey board (but I'll be much more selective this round). If I can't find a good match, I'll solo until my buddy is ready to come back from leave.

**transportHER** · 06.11.2012

Originally Posted by double yellow

Some good news today: Previous codriver (the one without accidents) will probably be rejoining Covenant in the next month as his girlfriend's last round of chemo is in 2 weeks. He'll have to go throuh orientation again and will want hometime a little more often than Id prefer, but we got along great and ran well.

Also got a call from Andy Varzant this morning assuring me that the safety reviews from incidents 2, 3, & 4 have not yet happened. It seems we always manage to hit terminals during nights/weekends so we haven't had to go through the full workup to get a gate pass. He also assured me that if I did want to go solo and stay out 6+ weeks that arrangements could be made, though he reminded me the pay would suffer. With only 9 month's tenure, I'm making the equivalent of 42cpm right now (and that'll bump to 44 or 46 after the July 4th team raise for drivers with 6-24months). As a solo driver I would be making only 26cpm (not sure if that includes hazmat, but either way a huge paycut compared to teaming).

Over the weekend I looked at pay packages from Conway, Gordon, Schneider, & Swift and while they all match or beat Covenant's solo wage, they would all be a drastic pay cut compared to teaming at Covenant. So I'm back on the team survey board (but I'll be much more selective this round). If I can't find a good match, I'll solo until my buddy is ready to come back from leave.

Awesome news double yellow! Ron and I were starting to worry you would leave us and we would sure miss learning from you. It is good to hear about your previous codriver. When you find a good team partner, hold on to them! I just happen to have brought one with me to Covenant. All in all...great news.

**double yellow** · 06.12.2012

So we were called into a terminal last night and codriver had his safety review today. He must have known in advance of me because he'd been packing... Anyway, he was let go (whew) and given a greyhound ticket home. I do feel bad for him personally, but I'm also so relieved that he is off the road.

I'm searching for temporary teammates (clean, safe, non-tobacco using hazmat drivers willing to run 7000+), but none of the surveymonkey 6 meet that so I'll have to call Chattanooga in the morning. In the meantime I'm waiting for my first official solo load

**Rocks** · 06.12.2012

Originally Posted by double yellow

So we were called into a terminal last night and codriver had his safety review today. He must have known in advance of me because he'd been packing... Anyway, he was let go (whew) and given a greyhound ticket home. I do feel bad for him personally, but I'm also so relieved that he is off the road.

I'm searching for temporary teammates (clean, safe, non-tobacco using hazmat drivers willing to run 7000+), but none of the surveymonkey 6 meet that so I'll have to call Chattanooga in the morning. In the meantime I'm waiting for my first official solo load

That is good news! Good for Covenant, "good" for your ex-co-driver and for you. All the best on your solo runs and good luck finding your next co-driver.

**Rocks** · 06.12.2012

Originally Posted by double yellow

... With only 9 month's tenure, I'm making the equivalent of 42cpm right now (and that'll bump to 44 or 46 after the July 4th team raise for drivers with 6-24months). As a solo driver I would be making only 26cpm (not sure if that includes hazmat, but either way a huge paycut compared to teaming)...

That got me really confused....

I don't have Covenant's old Payroll chart with me here but if I remember correctly, according to it, maximum a driver would make in the company would be 37cpm or a little more than that (if teaming, miles would split between drivers). About 4 yrs ago, during my 6th month teaming I was making about 26 (or so) cpm. Then, I went solo in the regular fleet and started making 27 (or so) cpm. Now, over 4 yrs at Covenant, I make 35cpm (dedicated accounts pay a little less than non-dedicated because - they say - miles are guaranteed). Anyway, I realize company has been giving some increase pay but 42 cpm???

Maybe I should call payroll...

**double yellow** · 06.12.2012

Originally Posted by Rocks

That got me really confused....

I don't have Covenant's old Payroll chart with me here but if I remember correctly, according to it, maximum a driver would make in the company would be 37cpm or a little more than that (if teaming, miles would split between drivers). About 4 yrs ago, during my 6th month teaming I was making about 26 (or so) cpm. Then, I went solo in the regular fleet and started making 27 (or so) cpm. Now, over 4 yrs at Covenant, I make 35cpm (dedicated accounts pay a little less than non-dedicated because - they say - miles are guaranteed). Anyway, I realize company has been giving some increase pay but 42 cpm???

Maybe I should call payroll...

Its actually 20 cents per truck mile plus a 1 cptm safety bonus every 3 months, but non team drivers often don't understand that solo pay is roughly equivalent team pay x 2 (so 21cpm for a team driver is about equal to 42cpm for a solo driver)

**transportHER** · 06.13.2012

Originally Posted by double yellow

So we were called into a terminal last night and codriver had his safety review today. He must have known in advance of me because he'd been packing... Anyway, he was let go (whew) and given a greyhound ticket home. I do feel bad for him personally, but I'm also so relieved that he is off the road.
I'm searching for temporary teammates (clean, safe, non-tobacco using hazmat drivers willing to run 7000+), but none of the surveymonkey 6 meet that so I'll have to call Chattanooga in the morning. In the meantime I'm waiting for my first official solo load

We are glad to hear. This is good news. We wish you well on your search. And on your solo ventures.

**double yellow** · 06.14.2012

...Halfway through my first solo load and loving it (cascadia stereo sounds pretty darn good when you dont have the sleeper speakers muted for a sleeping codriver). Felt a bit strange at first -- kept going over everything in my head thinking I forgot something (someone). Nice little run: 1200 miles with a 48 hour (deliver anytime) window. I should be done in a hair over 30 and hopefully back on the board 10hours later...