As an addendum to this paying for things at this carrier: Today I sent my dispatcher, whom I've taken to referring publicly to as 'John Kerry' since in nearly every conversation I'm reminded that he's had 35 years on the road (but nothing's really changed out here in that time) [awfully reminicent after a while of hearing about Kerry's thrice Purple Heart award on a daily basis], a message indicating my ETA and projected available hours after delivery on 6/15. I receive a reply indicating that I would "be charged for excess mesg 9.00 for last (message) $.05/char." I suggested prompting operations for a preplan since running that early in the morning would result in an early afternoon shut down on the 14 hour rule and we could better utilize the time available rather than waiting for everyone to come in at 7:30 and start business around 8:00, losing four hours (28.5% of a 14 hour day).
Admittedly the message I sent was a bit absent minded and I could have abbreviated a few things better but at least I didn't describe in detail for my dispatcher every minute detail of my "dinner at Red Lobster consisting of lobster tails, $X.95, blah blah blah blah blah" as did one of our drivers. I can see insisting on brevity in Qualcomm messages (it is an expense easily abused) and I'll do my part in the future to remember to keep that brevity. But is it reasonable to charge a driver $9.00 for communicating his available hours and suggesting making use of them? He made sure to tell me that I'm being passed over for miles that I could easily run and possibly repower so underutilization is going on in this instant. Read from that what you will but in a numerical analysis of the hours of service there's no other way to look at the situation.
The thing that galls me about the whole issue (aside from this being an on-going thing at Chizek Transport) is a man with 45 drivers on his board had the time to count individual characters on the screen, total it up and the respond with a message in kind letting me know I'd be paying the bill for my message. God, what ever happened to common sense?
By the way, I counted the characters in his response: he owes Chizek Transport $2.80 for excessive messaging on Qualcomm.
Chizek Transport, Inc. - Newton, Wi.
Discussion in 'Report A BAD Trucking Company Here' started by DigiTrucker, Jun 9, 2006.
Page 2 of 6
-
-
Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.
-
No sir I am not afraid to own my mistakes (thus pointing out in a previous post that I did perhaps get a bit verbose and should have abbreviated message content). -
we have Qualcomm as well. but, we have (?)macro's? that way, we send a message that closely follows what we need to say. as for "free forming" a letter or response to the company, sometimes this is done to describe something a macro isn't set up for. but, we also have nextel's as well. and most of us people have cell phones. so, again, your boss is an ###. do as you wish, but i'd clean out that truck if i were in your shoes/boots/sneakers/sandles.
i hope things turn out well for you, but as your company "signed" for everything, your responsibility ends..........period......... -
I've tried sticking it out for loyalty to a couple of friends who work here but this stuff is getting asinine. With today's revelation that I'm being passed over mileage-wise I'm re-entering the hunt for more gainful employment.
And so another carrier will deal with the loss of a driver... On goes the cycle and up goes the turnover ratio... -
my husband work for a co. Who claims it was the best way to become an owner operator! It was all okay until the co he worked for was leased out to to a no count company like Wiltrans out of springfield Mo. don't pay unless you have a contract that says u have to pay for those repairs.
-
-
-
Most Labor Departments will not address the issues of unauthorized deductions taken from paychecks. They are considered civil matters, and they will not intervene, especially in the case where the employee is located in a state different from the employer.
Without question, the Federal and State laws regarding this issue will be a basis for going after an employer in court, but that is where it most employees of a Motor Carrier engaged in Interstate Commerce usually must go to have disputes addressed.
I further remind you that employees of those employers engaged in Interstate Commerce are not subject to the laws of the FLSA. -
Turbo, You may want to look into that. The Fair Labor Standards Act covers a number of legal guidelines pertaining to employment both as a Federal employee and a private sector employee. FLSA encompases at its core the Wage and Hours Provisions determining the legal length of a work week and what minimum wages must be paid (of course as amended). The FLSA also spells out which groups of employees are considered exempt and nonexempt. FLSA exempt employees, if I'm not mistaken, include transportation workers (truckers, railroad, etc) as well as radio station employees, specifically on-air talent (I've worked in both fields). Essentially everything else about FLSA stands but we are not included in the Wage and Hours Provisions--there's no minimum wage nor is there a set work week as far as FLSA is concerned for us which will earn us "overtime" pay.
If I'm wrong, please let me know... But it seems like this was my understanding some years ago when I read the FLSA cover to cover. -
If I'm reading your post correctly, you are under the impression that I stated that we were not exempt from the provisions, and I think if you will read what I wrote, we are NOT subject to the provisions of the FLSA, thus employees of those engaged in Interstate Commerce, are exempt from the provisions of the FLSA.
We are saying the same thing, unless I am missing something here...
Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.
Page 2 of 6