DRIVER BEWARE! Falcon Transport - Youngstown, OH

Discussion in 'Report A BAD Trucking Company Here' started by homefronterangel, Aug 20, 2007.

  1. homefronterangel

    homefronterangel Bobtail Member

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    May 8, 2007
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    Like other forum members I came to this site to get insight into various companies my fiancee was considering after CDL school. After careful consideration we chose Falcon Transport because we could not find any negative comments about them anywhere. Let me tell you this was a huge mistake! Before I begin relaying our experience with Falcon I want to make sure you know we are reasonable people with reasonable expectations. We don't expect to get something for nothing, we understand the trucking industry (he's a 3rd generation trucker), and we are thorough in understanding the deals we are making.

    During training everything went fairly smooth. We did notice a lack of communication between the orientation department and the training department (they asked for his birth certificate 5 times after it was supplied to them) but we figured that was a minor glitch. His recruiter also neglected to mention that he would be made to sign an agreement stating that if he did not stay with the company for 6 months that they would take $200 out of his last check for training expenses. He completed his training including their advanced safety skills with a 3.8 out of 4 which made all his trainers and his recruiter happy because they got bonuses for his exemplorary preformance.

    Now here is where the real "fun" begins. He was told to call his DM Monday at 8AM to get his truck assignment. Boy were we excited! We had him ready to go Sunday night in preparation of his Monday morning departure. When we called his DM at the appointed time he was told to call back in an hour because he was trying to locate trucks for everyone. We called back as instructed and were told to call back again in an hour. This went on until Monday afternoon at which time he was told he had to be to the yard in 30 minutes to catch a ride with another driver to his truck. Unfortunately we live at least an hour from the yard (a fact they were well aware of) so we busted butt to get him there as quick as possible. This also meant that he would spend his first week on the road without any of the items needed to make his stripped down truck comfortable and affordable since there would not be room in the other driver's rig for these items. When arriving at the yard where his truck was suppose to be no one at that terminal was aware he or the other newbies were coming to get their trucks. After getting this resolved he got his truck and trailer which both had damage that needed to be repaired.

    He finally received his first run Tuesday afternoon and headed to his pick up. Much to our chagrin he had been given the wrong address and directions for this pick up and was stuck for several hours behind other trucks trying to get out of where he had been directed to and get to the proper location. Not a good way to start a relationship.

    In an effort to shorten this post (I know I have been a bit long winded) I won't detail every issue we have had with Falcon Transport as I could write an epic sized novel on this. During our 2 month tenure with this company we have run into the following issues on a consistent basis...
    ~ Wrong directions, addresses, and contact information for pick ups and deliveries. One of the night "dispatchers" told us this is a regular course of business for them.
    ~ Being forced to fudge log books to make deliveries on time. They are currently under investigation by DOT for log book violations. He finally put his foot down refusing to do this. He was given "hot" loads that were due to be delivered in 5 hours when the pick up location was 5 hours from where he was at.
    ~ Deadheading (this is not paid) for several hours (sometimes as much as 8+ hours) to pick ups.
    ~ Pay for loads differs from what was quoted when the load was accepted.
    ~ Equipment is bad or is missing. They do not fully supply each terminal with tarps, straps, chains, trailers, etc. This MUST be picked up at their West Middlesex, PA location which doesn't do you alot of good when you are picking up a load in say Arkansas and do not have enough securements to handle the load.
    ~ There is no real night dispatch despite what they say. Night dispatchers are glorfied receptionists that only handle emergencies and they can not assign you a load.
    ~ Breakdown assistance does not exsist in real terms. When you call them for a breakdown they pretty much tell you to figure it out yourself.
    ~ DM's and TM's simply could not care less about you. When you drive for them you are on your own, do not expect any help from them. You can expect to wait for hours on end to get your next load despite calling in advance to give them your ETA.
    ~ If you drive flatbed for them expect to make between 18 to 20 cpm. The recruiter will obviously tell you different, but this is what you can realistically expect to make. We have yet to make more than $500/week due to the above BS.
    ~ DM's and night dispatch will threaten to charge you $1.32/mile, put negatives on your DAC report, and report the truck as stolen if you deadhead their truck back to the nearest terminal to quit and come home instead of abandoning the truck. This makes no sense to me since they deadhead you all over creation anyway.
    ~ Everything you learn in their training is crap and is a complete waste of time. When you actually get on the road with them as a first seat driver they will tell you just that.

    Needless to say he is quitting Falcon, he is not the first from his class to do so. Other friends from his class have also had these same issues and are looking into other companies to drive for. As I write this post he is on his way home and will be driving for an O/O which will hopefully go better. It is my sincere wish that anyone considering Falcon will take what was posted here to heart and not get caught up in this mess as we did. Good luck out there and stay safe!
    :angel7:
     
    Drac1985 and Hammer 2 Thank this.
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  3. Semperfi_One

    Semperfi_One Bobtail Member

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    Apr 29, 2007
    Indianapolis, Indiana
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    Hey there, thanks for the heads up on Falcon. I had good reports from my class graduated from here in Indy, but now wonder. I think the industry as all the same. It seems crisis management comes with the terrirory and no one knows how to work by "thinking and planning ahead" which would mean a considerable amount of thought and planning. So be it, that is exactly what should be done. Logistics is name of the game in trucking, and I see very little of this happening. We cannot as a few change things that have been going on for years. But, if we keep trying then maybe someone will wake up and see where things could really go better if they try. Great post, and I think this will help many drivers coming on in the business, I am one of them but have found a home, and hope to continue with my company I chose. Good luck, and stay safe during your transition of changing companys. Let us know where you go and how it goes...
    semper Fi,
    Bob
     
  4. kaplanangel

    kaplanangel Bobtail Member

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    Aug 20, 2007
    slidell louisiana
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    My hubby worked for Falcon for awhile,they are one screwed up company.....
     
  5. silentchujo

    silentchujo Bobtail Member

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    Aug 22, 2007
    pontiac,michigan
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    all that i have read about Falcon in here....its 100% true! i worked there and had the worst time. made me feel like i was driving my own jail cell. avoid this company at all cost. but if you do go....park truck on head and relax, its better that way.:biggrin_25526:
     
  6. skipshiftslipshift

    skipshiftslipshift Bobtail Member

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    Aug 19, 2007
    Defiance, OH
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    I worked at Falcon. They are not a well managed company. Many weeks I spent more time parked than driving. I would have stayed with them IF I could have made a decent paycheck. They had good perks like $30 bucks a day (cash non-taxable), when you were out on the weeked. They would also spring for 1 motel during the week and motels for Saturday and Sunday night. The health insurance was also dirt cheap.

    I can't see them being around too much longer, unless they do some significant downsizing. The # of tractors they run has been declining, but not as fast the amount of freight they haul.

    Falcon's safety rating is in the toilet. They driver bears the brunt of this buy continually being pulled "around back." A few months back a trainer and trainee BOTH fell asleep. They hit a bridge abuttment and the truck burst into flames! Luckily neither got killed.

    I met a few of the management people. None of them were very sharp. Appeared they traded in their cowboy boots for a cheap suit.

    The good things - no one really bothered you. You could route yourself regardless of what the trip routing stated. The equipment was well maintained. You could get home a lot. Darn, if only you could make some money:-(
     
  7. MACK E-6

    MACK E-6 Moderator Staff Member

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    Sep 19, 2005
    Baltimore, MD
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    For some guys, that last sentence would be enough in itself to make it a good deal.
     
  8. truckdriver402

    truckdriver402 Light Load Member

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    Oct 17, 2007
    Orwell, OH
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    I have a personal grudge against Falcon.

    In January 2007, there was a white-out up on I-90 in Erie, PA. There was a big pile up on I-90 W around the Harborcreek exit. As everyone was stopped, a coworker of mine got out to help other motorists.

    Some dumb*ss in a Falcon truck came flying up on the scene (in a white-out!) and slammed into the back of our trailer, pushing the truck forward, killing my coworker instantly. if it weren't for morons like this, many accidents could be avoided. I was headed eastbound and was going 20mph and couldn't see, so I know dang well the Falcon driver couldn't either.
     
  9. MACK E-6

    MACK E-6 Moderator Staff Member

    45,827
    200,208
    Sep 19, 2005
    Baltimore, MD
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    Hopefully that Falcon driver is doing time now for that.
     
  10. LaPurr

    LaPurr Light Load Member

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    Mar 30, 2007
    Brighton, CO
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    I also worked for Falcon for a short time. I called a recruiter, and signed on for a daycab dedicated route, home every night, off on weekends unless the plant was running. I knew that the company I was expected to pull for was on strike, and that falcon was just preparing for full run conditions when they came off. Which isnt a big deal, I asked what they were going to do with me in the interum. Their response was a local thing, where I would pick up a load/trailer locally, run out about 4-6 hours, swap trailers with another driver, and come back. Sounds like a good plan to me. So I went to their orientation class. The guys running the class are all ex-drivers of falcon, with a min of 20 years under their belt each. First day back from orientation, they called me to move some 15 trailers from a flood zone, and take them to the local drop yard. Cool, moved all the trailers, in a truck with a flakey clutch. Took 2 days in all to move them. Monday, they call me wanting to do some other things. I told them I couldnt, as both trucks they had assigned me were in the shop getting clutchs put in them, and other various work. Another week passes, and they call me wanting to run OTR for them, since one of the trucks (a daycab) is out of the shop, with a run going to PA. I reminded them that I signed up for a local route, and that I had been OTR already, and my wife and I both decided it was not beneficial for us to do that again. They responded that they didnt garentee that I would stay local, to which I replyed that I am staying local. My dispatcher understood my position, and said she would call me back the next day to see if the company was willing to put me on hold until the dedicated route came back to being in production. No calls, no nothing. Which was ok, I had found another local job, and it was paying well, and keeping me local.

    I recieve my first, and only, paycheck from Falcon, for doing those 2 days of work, moving in total 12 trailers, total of 16 hours of work. Paycheck total, after taxes, 34 dollars. They paid me roughly 2 dollars and hour, and 3 dollars per trailer, to move all that for them. What the hell??

    Im not sure if they are going to call me back after the strike ends, I would kinda enjoy a dedicated route again. But I am leary of this company and their trucks, and their practices that I had seen.

    The main thing I can say is that their trucks are coffins on wheels. No storage space, no moving space, not much of anything. Not sure how anyone would stay in those trucks day in and day out. All the drop yards that I had been to were a close cousin to cess pool.

    Final word, not sure if I want to say "stay away" or whatever. I really drive with them for enuf time to fulley understand how this company works. The recruiter I was dealing with, was the most freindly, and understanding person I had ever run across in the trucking industry. But she had only been with the company a short time. And even she was leary of what was going on. If you want to give this company a try, dont do it as a student, only if you have experience. At least then you are used to the trucking industrys ways. Then you can leave at will if you choose.
     
  11. Bullyboy

    Bullyboy Light Load Member

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    Aug 23, 2006
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    Go Flatbed. You'll be a lot happier.:biggrin_25525:


     
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