Air-Ride, Inc, - Swanton, Ohio

Discussion in 'Report A BAD Trucking Company Here' started by pro1driver, Oct 4, 2006.

  1. pro1driver

    pro1driver Heavy Load Member

    939
    47
    Mar 30, 2006
    North East, USA
    0
    ok, i WAS a driver with them till this tuesday (oct 3rd, 2006) when i showed up for work at my usual time of 3:30 am. my "stupidvisor" told me "you're not running today, go home, and call the main office in the morning". i asked what this was all about, he said, "i don't know", (but of course he did).

    i have been dissatisfied with the hauling contract they have with DHL, not with Air-Ride in of itself, although, no one there (at Air-Ride) ever gives you the truth, or the whole story when you ask for it.

    so, i had been looking for another job, i even posted here saying that i applied to Werner as a driver trainer, and Werner took over some of the runs we lost because DHL saw a way to save up to $9 million dollars a year by cutting our runs, for a "cheaper carrier".

    now mind you, i got accepted at Werner, but told them i didn't want to leave Air-Ride til they lost more runs (which has happened) and i wanted to do my current run with Werner as a driver-trainer, they said, cool, no problem, as soon as Air-Ride loses those runs, you're on with us.

    now, still never satisfied with just one job prospect, i applied to Ryder Logistics, about 3 weeks ago, and here is the reason(s) why i did so.

    on a friday, i left New England for my normal run to Allentown, PA. they(DHL) got me out late friday morning, around 7:00 am.........which actually is my "cut-out time", but very often, they (DHL) get me out earlier.

    now, need i remind you that i have to travel down I-95 through the fine state of connecticut, all through the most horrendous rush hour traffic that there ever can be. it normally takes 1.75 to 2.0 hours to drive through connecticut, when there is "light traffic"............ that morning, it took me a whopping 3.5 hours..............

    when i arrived at Allentown, my "relay trailer" from Erie, Pa, had already arrived, but as usual, the DHL people down there had to reload that trailer. they got me out at 2:00 pm, my normal "cut-out time" is 1:45 pm, but they very often get me out earlier as well, but not everyday.

    now, here we go again with the fine state of connecticut, and the now "stand still rush hour traffic"............

    it took me 4 hours this time to go through there. i was now worried about my "overall" time of driving, and on duty, which we all know, is 14 hours max.

    i called dispatch, and told them, "legally, i'm supposed to pull this truck over and take a 10 hour break, as per DOT regulations. dispatch said "try your best", please.

    now, i also called my "stupidvisor" and told him my hours situation. he went on to say how some drivers "work their logs", which i blatenly told him, i've been driving 18 years, i know "working the logs" and i won't do that, but i'll try my best to get the load there, but by the skin of my teeth. he went on to say, "i gotta get you off that run as its too much for you", to which i said, B....S...., i've been doing this run for the past several months.

    i got the load there with just under 30 minutes to spare under the 14 hour rule, but i was "hammering" all the way, when traffic conditions allowed.

    my now "former stupidvisor" has even himself given the company his "notice" that he's leaving, the company hired a new supervisor, but when he found out its a 24/7 job for what they are paying, he didn't show up. so, that "stupidvisor" is still there.

    he reminds me of the actor Edward G. Robinson in that movie "Little Cesar". you old timers will know that movie.

    when i was working inside the DHL building, before even being hired, he would say, "i'm trying to get rid of my Boston driver, and my stand-by driver, i can't stand either one of them anymore".

    i accepted that job at Ryder, its a yardman/shuttle driver job, and believe it or not, this was supposed to be my last week anyhow.
    the job at Ryder pays about $100.00 less per week, but everytime i pull a "loaded trailer" on a shuttle, its $25.00 extra, so the potential to earn up and above my last job is there.

    there are also paid holidays, uniforms, workboot allowance, and an 8.5 hour day, with time and a half after 8 hours. (half hour lunch break).

    the job at Air-Ride didn't originally pay holidays so this year, here's how it goes, you work 1 full year, you get $50.00. then every year, you get $10.00 till you reach $150.00. i didn't earn under $150.00 per daay, i earned more. the vacation pay sucks, you get a flat $500. for pay, we all earned over $500 per week. and, you have to work there past 5 years to get 2 weeks vacation.

    Air-Ride, pays a "salary" for the DHL runs, but you miss a day, you miss a day's pay, plus your $100 "performance bonus". excuse me, but i worked "salaried jobs" before, and you got your salary no matter whether or not you work every day, and you don't get any extra money if you work more than your hours, that's salary.

    ok, so i called the "main ofice" in Ohio, the manager there said, "we let you go because we had too many job reference checks on you (yeah 2, werner/ryder), and then you "threatend to pull over and not do your job (which i did do my job), so these are the reasons we're letting you go, you have no more a desire to work for us".

    isn't it funny, what, we can't "look around" for anything else, who hasn't done that before.

    anyhow, they only took away my right to say i'm leaving, they can't take my birthday away, and i will be getting my DAC report in about a month to rebutt anything i might have to.

    in the meantime, i'm using this whole week off (i start tuesday at Ryder) for home repairs, etc. my new hours will be from 3:00pm till about midnight.

    ah yes, sleep a normal time, eat a normal time, get things done daily, yeah, i'm gonna miss my former stupidvisor "little cesar" and the whole I-95 connecticut shuffle.


    i'm sorry this was so long, but i had to try and give you as much (if not the whole story) as possible. some of you may live near Swanton, Ohio, a suburb of Toledo, i was told. Air-Ride has "system drivers" that get paid about 40¢ per mile i believe, but the benefits/holidays/etc's are the same. so i would seriously caution anyone about this company for the time being.........


    one quick side note. there is another trucking company that hauls for DHL, when that supervisor heard i was let go, he called his boss. his boss (the owner) calls me, and said, "my supervisor told me about your situation, and that you talk straight, and don't take any crap, that's the kind of driver i want, when can you start?" (by the way, i applied to this company as well as Air-Ride, it just happened to be Air-Ride hired me first)

    i told him of the Ryder job, he said "shoot", but we will be working out a "part time job" for me with his company, doing what else, DHL freight............or even yardman duties............gotta love sweet revenge........'ey?
     
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  3. gagoon

    gagoon Bobtail Member

    29
    0
    Aug 8, 2006
    Dahlonega, Georgia
    0
    LOL,, Well I liked your story, and admire you for what you did. Mainly answering this only cause I used to live in Toledo (east Side near sun oil plant) moved to Georgia Feb 2005 cause of crappy work, and no money,, bosses with attitudes. A company hired me for GA.. Paid for my move, then after I had my motorcycle accident (not my fault, cager turned left in front of me) And I was off work, they let me go. So unemployment good,,, And then WIA training for driving truck.. Ok,, I like it so far. But I love GA.. No more #### snow to shovel...
    Take care Pro1 ,, enjoy reading you writings..
    Gagoon
     
  4. Brickman

    Brickman Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

    12,905
    12,201
    Sep 17, 2006
    WY
    0
    It is chicken crap to dump a driver over the fact that he is looking for another job.
     
  5. pro1driver

    pro1driver Heavy Load Member

    939
    47
    Mar 30, 2006
    North East, USA
    0
    yep, crap indeed. but like i said, they only took away my "right" to say i'm leaving.

    they and any other company can take whatever they want.

    but the one thing no one can ever take away from me, is my

    BIRTHDAY.........!!!!
     
  6. gagoon

    gagoon Bobtail Member

    29
    0
    Aug 8, 2006
    Dahlonega, Georgia
    0
    So when is your birthday?
     
  7. pro1driver

    pro1driver Heavy Load Member

    939
    47
    Mar 30, 2006
    North East, USA
    0

    hmmmmmmmm...........

    sometime "next year"..................

    then, i'll be (i think) 50.........????
     
  8. gagoon

    gagoon Bobtail Member

    29
    0
    Aug 8, 2006
    Dahlonega, Georgia
    0
    couple of ways of looking at a number,,
    1) how many years left before they pay you
    2) how many years you have left to pay
    3) how old your body is
    4) how old your mind is.. :

    :happy3:
     
  9. pro1driver

    pro1driver Heavy Load Member

    939
    47
    Mar 30, 2006
    North East, USA
    0
    just an update. i start sunday night (oct 7th) at or about midnight with that "other trucking company" that i applied to the same time i applied to Air-Ride. it'll be "part-time" only on sunday nights. it'll only be about 3 to 5 hours of working time each sunday. then, on monday, i go for orientation for Ryder, then start work there full time starting tuesday afternoon, till around midnight, 5 days per week.

    when i went back to the building for my paycheck, the security guards said that i wasn't allowed in the building no more.............and they said that i was the niceset guy they ever had met in their lives as i joke and have conversations as freely with them as anybody else, and they got to know my quite well.

    i said just the other day, "i shall return"..........and they were puzzled.........

    then i said, i'll be coming back to work for "franks company"........they pretty much joined me in laughing at my former supervisor............
     
  10. gagoon

    gagoon Bobtail Member

    29
    0
    Aug 8, 2006
    Dahlonega, Georgia
    0
    Congrats Pro1.. Wishin you the best..
    Safe travels and blue skies friend
    Gagoon
     
  11. soju

    soju Light Load Member

    97
    9
    Sep 19, 2006
    Lawrenceville Ga
    0
    Sounds like all companies.They know what the rules are,they just want to see if you`ll DO THE BEST YOU CAN.Been there ,done that.Good luck.:wave:
     
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