Auto Truck Transport Corp. - Kenosha, Wi.

How do they pay?
is it by the mile or by the trip?

 

How long are you out for, how is the home time. I understand they put you up in Hotels and fly you back home?

 

I also work for Auto Truck Transport. I've been with them for about 3 1\2 yrs and, hopefully, will stay until I retire. One thing Redneck forgot to mention is the pension plan. Under our current contract 30 yrs. of service will get you about $6000\mo. It's also nice sleeping in a real bed and getting to shower every day. I average around 2000-2500 miles\wk and make more money than when I was running 4000\wk pulling a reefer. you also get to keep more of your money since all of your insurance is paid for by the co.

 

Unfortunately, all of the previous information posted about ATT sounds better in theory than in actual practice. I've been with them nearly 3 years and have gotten quite an eye full.

$6000 a month pension after 30 years? Just saw the 'workup' received by an 11 year employee: $667 a month if he retires tomorrow. The pension is 100% company contributions.

Pay? Top range according to many with substantial time invested is about $46-$50k a year. I believe it as my first full year was $42k, second year was $44k and will probably earn about $45-$46 k this year. Yes, there are several who will tell you they earn $60k a year and are home every weekend - don't believe a word of it.

Medical benefits? Decent. 100% company paid and you pay the traditional 20% deductible with a maximum yearly out of pocket figure of around $2500 as I recall although we've rarely used it. 50% deductible for eyeglasses and dental too ($1000 yearly benefit).

Stay in motels and fly to next assignment.

Get paid for delay/ breakdown/ detention time if you file the necessary paperwork in a timely manner.


Negatives:

Very high turnover in the 80- 140% range.

Some of the motels you are forced to stay at really 'suck'; an iffy proposition to get reimbursed for paying for a more suitable one on your own.

A very good chance you will be trained by an inexperienced person who may get you killed or injured (trainer-trainee just outside of Springfield, OH several weeks ago). Very high on-the-job injury rates too.

Must invest in some tools, suitcases and toolbox. Probably a minimum of $300 up front. Your first several checks will probably be pathetic too.

If you're perceived as not being 'gay friendly' or pro 'machinists truckhaulers' you will most likely experience problems with missing/ lost payroll, withheld expense reimbursements and 'forced dispatches' that don't pay much and no one else wants.

You don't get paid for your 'travel time' when traveling to your next assignment, which often takes a whole day. Several 'short' trips in a week and your paycheck looks pretty bad.

Climate of 'intimidation' as this is a 'diversified shop' meaning you keep your mouth shut and go along with the status quo no matter how ridiculous everything appears to be.

Shop Stewards have only just begun being 'selected' by the 'union membership' (?). They were 'company appointed' previously as their primary function was to protect the management and office staff from 'angry employees' and to 'eject same' from the property when necessary. Shop Stewards also act as 'Trainers' when necessary too. Funny thing is we seem to have the same shop stewards as before elections were implemented.


This can be a 'fun' job but don't let anyone tell you it's 'nirvana'. I only recommend it to 'gays' and those with another income to rely on - the ‘I love JB Hunt- Schneider- Swift' types will probably do well to. I've done things and gone places I've never done before but will quite likely move on shortly due to payroll 'malfunctions' and disingenuous management.

 

This is a job that requires a lot of self-motivation and a fair amount of mechanical ability. If you can't change the oil on your wifes' car or change a flat tire on your own pickup, you probably won't like this job. FWIW, this is how it works: You have 3 days orientation, then you spend 1-2 wks working in the shop learning how the trucks are decked. Once you have a handle on the basics of decking the trucks, you are assigned a trainer. If you have less than a yr. exp., they will assign you as "in-cab" where you actually ride with a trainer for a few weeks. If you have at least 1 yr. verifiable exp., you will take a separate load and basically run behind or with your trainer until he\she feels that you have a good enough grasp on undecking the trucks and basic co. operations to go on your own. Most trainers will encourage you to call them if you ever run into a problem. It is a very easy job but one that requires concentration and a bit of common sense. You HAVE to be able to anticipate the results of your actions. The guy that RH is reffering to got stupid and it had nothing at all to do with training or union affiliation. He had been with with the co. almost 2 yrs and had a very good safety record. The motel situation is pretty much up to you, as YOU ultimately decide where you want to stay. It is true that you don't stay in a 5 star motel every night. Most of our motels are: Holiday Inn, Best Western, Days Inn, Comfort Inn, Super 8, Motel 6, Red Roof, Best Value Inns, etc. We ALSO have a few Four Seasons, Radissons, Baymonts, etc. In addition, while we don't get paid for travel, we do keep all of our frequent flier miles\motel points. I used some of my motel points to get my wife a motel room in Lubbock, Tx for her nieces' wedding a couple of days ago. Some drivers use their air miles to fly their spouses to other states \provinces during their time off for mini-vacations. Road Hazard apparently has hard feelings towards Auto Truck and that is his perogative. as for me, I'm making more money than I've ever made and having a really good time doing it. BTW, I've been here almost 4 years and was trained by a driver with 10 yrs exp. If anyone needs actual proof, if you will send me an e-mail address, I will send you a scan of my last years' W-2.(Yes,I'm blocking out my SS#, etc...)I ran 89,000 mi. and earned $50,000 and only worked about 8 mo. If Road Hazard is making less than that, it's nobody's fault but his own. I would also like to know what his phobia is with gays and blacks. I tend to to judge people on how they treat me and not on how I think they should act. I've been with this co. for over 3 1\2 yrs and have never been sexually harassed by an "alternative sexual deviant" or been threatened by a "mean ole black man" Honestly, I don't know what his problem is. BTW, I'm not a lib, just a guy confused by stupidity.