After I first started driving I went to work for a company called Jordan Carriers(flatbed) in Natchez, Ms. I had long thought this as the worse company a person could work for. It turns out they were a far distant 2nd (Palmateer Brothers in Kansas City , KS was #1) but first things first.
It seems to me that a site like this is needed because this company has grown ever larger and I have heard horror stories from several other drivers as to the way they were treated, not paid, pay for unknown or totally unwarranted things deducted from their pay, and other things.
I hired on and also talked my nephew to go to work for them. The first few weeks were ok but my pay ended up being less than the amount agreed upon and we had problems there. They wanted EVERY load tarpped, with no extra pay, even if it was rusted steel in the rain.
I arrived to pick up a preloaded trailer with steel on it near Dallas. Two tires on the left rear axle was in REALLY bad shape so I called dispatch. At first I was informed to run with it. I told dispatch the tires were REALLY bad and was again told to go with it. I called the shop and was told I needed to do what I was told. I had serious problems with this, and told them, so I was told I could bring it by the shop on the way. First, the tires were in bad shape and one had a gash in it. Second, I was around Dallas, going just South of Atlanta, and Natchez was a detour South and for free. I called Safety and was again told that I was given a solution that they(safety) could not understand what the problem was. By this time I was pretty angry, marked it up and made notations on my PTI, called the shop, and took off. I got to Natchez to find that the shop was closed and could not get in touch with anyone. I was VERY angry by this time(after waiting and calling it was after 12am.) so I filed out my log book and PTI, and again made notations, and left. I was within a few miles of my delivery when one of the tires blew out and the other went with it. The dispatch called road service, I called the shop and safety, they put two tires on the trailer, and told me to bring back the old tires. I was loaded heavy, the tires were in bad shape, and when they blew, there was nothing but chucks left. I gathered a lot of this and put it in a plastic bag(told the shop this), marked it with my truck and trailer # and dropped it back off in front of the shop(late at night again) on my way to OK City.
Later I talked with my wife and she told me they deducted $200.00 from my pay. I called the boss and he told me that the shop told him I had curbbed the tires. Of course after a VERY serious discussion he gave my wife a Com-check # for the money.
When I unloaded in Ok. I was told to pick up a load of rolled roofing. They were loading me two stacks high and I called dispatch and was told this is done all the time. I informed them that the load did not seem tight and I didnt have any V-boards. I was told to put the tarps over the load, strap it, and it would be ok. I used 3 lumber tarps, 12 4" straps, and 4 2" straps. I made it to the Interstate ramp amd the load tilted real far to the left. I drove the truck up onto the left ramp shoulder(sharp uphill incline), tossed 4 chains over the load(real hairy), binded them down, and eased the truck straight onto the shoulder. I called dispatch and safety. the safety manager told me to take the load back to the shipper. I told him I couldnt because it was dangerous. He yelled at me, informed me that I could not have secured it correctly, told me again to take it back to the shipper. I told him I would quit first. They called a company, equipment,another trailer, a wrecker, and a report that the shrink wrap was not on right, and the load should not have been double stacked, and I did quit. I found out the next day my Nephew quit two days earlier for serious company saftey violations, wanting him to run team miles, lost trip packs, and serious pay problems.
I hope all drivers understand that "YOU" are responsible for the safety of your load, and your truck. If it is NOT safe, DO NOT run with it, period.