Another large carrier has shut down without warning, leaving hundreds of drivers stranded nationwide. Some truckers are reportedly waiting on paychecks for three weeks of work. According to the company though, lenders will have to be paid back before drivers see a single cent.
Minnesota-based carrier LME closed their doors abruptly on July 11th, giving their employees no warning. Some drivers received text messages from managers in the afternoon. They were the lucky ones.
“It’s shellshock. You’re blindsided,” said Ed Burns, a 13-year LME veteran, according to the Beloit Daily News.
Before shutting down, LME had 30 terminals across the United States. They also had over 600 employees, including over 400 truck drivers. That means they are subject to the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act – a federal regulation which requires companies that employ over 100 people to give workers at least a 60-day notice of a mass layoff. According to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, no such notice was given.
A post on the company website says that LME must “first satisfy the obligations of our senior secured lenders, as required under our lending agreement.” So, those drivers missing paychecks will likely have a hard time getting any money from the carrier.
This isn’t the first time that the owners of LME have been in trouble over a mass-layoff of employees. In 2016, Lakeville Motor Express closed its doors, laying off its workers days before Thanksgiving and closing up shop just before a paycheck for two weeks of work was supposed to be sent out. Reports surfaced of equipment, contracts, and clients moving from Lakeville Motor Express over to LME, a company under the same ownership.
The carrier was accused of wage theft and fraud, and was sued by the Minnesota Department of Labor. Fallout over that closure eventually led to the National Labor Relations Board ordering LME to pay their former drivers $1.25 million in back wages.
In a statement on their website, LME said their closure was “primarily due to challenges inherent in the trucking industry.”
“I feel sick to my stomach. How am I going to make my rent?” Trucker Tom Mason asked according to Transport Topics. Mason claims that LME owes him close to $3,000 for work done over the past three weeks.
“My brother, who is a dockworker, is owed about $2,400,” said Mason. “LME should have learned their lesson after they pulled this… two years ago.”
Source: freightwaves, freigthwaves, ttnews, ttnews, beloitdailynews, wowt, postbulletin, truckersreport, truckersreport
Big sexy says
The DOT and the suits at FMCSA should be absolutely ashamed of themselves. As far as im concerned they shouldn’t be called Americans. Not to mention other people from other countries that invaded our way of life and get grants for new trucks from the government then 10/99 and don’t pay their taxes, which means they can take cheaper freight, which causes the freight pay to go down over time. After 22 years this is my last year driving.
John says
Holy crap! This is true! I talked to a Nigerian man that owns two trucks and JUST got to America. I just thought he was rich.
We’re and we’ve been destroyed within.
Kenneth Smith says
This may not be as clear of a question to you, but what is the level of your highest education?
MrYowler says
Does that seriously matter, Kenneth? Do you seriously think that the Nigerian man is holding an advanced degree in economics or logistics?
It’s not impossible, but let’s be honest… it isn’t very likely, either. There are a lot of countries with better educational outcomes than the US, but Nigeria isn’t generally one of them.
David McKay says
If the government would buy me two trucks with tax payers money like they do for them and they don’t half to pay any taxes for five years i could be in business to take care of my family to
Aheinousanus says
Let’s ssy the Nigerian does hold some advanced degree. Is it from Nigeria? Worthless.
Additionally, average IQ in Nigeria is 84 (quite high for Sub-Saharan Africa).
Coincidentally, that is the IQ level that is perfect for criminal activity and corruption.
Smart enough to figure out how to run scams.
Marian Cook says
Exactly
Edward Lester says
BS/MA in Psychology with an undergraduate minor in Sociology and Biology. Post graduate work done in Scientific Programming. But I’m not from India so I can’t get a job in computer related work. The industry wants men from Calcutta, it’s a stereotype that is false but hurts Americans every day. So for now I’m just jamming gears, 21 years ago I was a Systems engineer at Boeing but got “laid off”. The next year they filled out positions with recent college grads(they were cheaper). Notice the quality they get with cheaper labor (737 Max issues)?
Craig says
You’re invited to clarify the point of your comment so it is clear to everyone.
Danny K says
Who cares about Degree or education, were talking about an owner operator trying to make a living by driving a truck… The only Higher Education Degree that might work is accounting. If a driver has at least little experience in Accounting he can add up all numbers at end of year and get the Heck out of dodge, and into a new career. 🙂
Edgard alfaro says
Iam doing this trucking business for 35 years iam never seen situation like this in the road years back you meet must of the Driver a 100% american now days 98 % of the drivers are for other country like polish mexican and the worst is they dont know the business they haul very cheap freight and companies they take the advantage of the situation
Alan says
This has got nothing to do with people from foreign countries. It’s all about what type of person you are. I have been an owner operator for nearly a decade with one truck and one trailer and working for one company all that time. Not a big company tho, arround 20 or so trucks. I never got a cheap load and never going to. I covered a lot of empty miles deadheading towards a better paying loads. I have a lot of friends that also own their equipment and I know they get loads for bad prices and so do a lot of companies and brokers take advantage of those types of people. Brockers get good amounts of money from their customers but pay us owners and companies scraps when the market is down. But it’s up to us to accept that or not. And if enough people say no to that type of cheap freight thay will ha the e to raise the prices.
Sean says
I agree. The trucking industry has screwing drivers for years. More people should just quit and do something else.
MT Pockets says
Exactly. Like me. I saw the writing on the wall after 2 million miles & bailed out of the truck last Oct & got into real estate. No more trucking bs & everything that goes with it. Driving for a living anymore sucks. Face the music. Didnt used to be that way in the 80s & 90s. Now u have more idiots on the roads, millions of them, no clue, no common sense, no license, no insurance, speak no English, no idea how they got their CDL, & their driving with a phone in their face. Regardless, if anything happens, because u drive a truck ur guilty b4 proven innocent. For a grand a week? Are u kidding me? Nah, im not bilingual & no desire 2 learn. Trucking sucks in 2019 & beyond.
2 end this manifesto on a high nite, I closed on a house today, I was just the middleman who put a buyer & seller together, have maybe a dozen hours total into the deal & grossed $6775.00. That’s A LOT more than Id make all month driving a damn truck dealing with all the bs that goes with it. And I have 2 more deals pending that should close in the next 30 days for another $11,750 in commissions. Best decision I ever made was getting out of the truck once I saw the writing on the wall. Either wake up & make a change or put up & deal with it. Those are your choices. I made mine & damn happy I did. The best days in trucking are long gone in the rear view mirror.
Angelina says
Wow trucking must of really really treated you badly
Trucker Mike says
Smart move! It is getting harder and harder to make a buck driving a truck.
Staci says
*Like*
Sorry, there wasn’t a button.
~Stranded Arrow Driver
Matt Brown says
But you are here reading trucking article 😂😂
It seems like you are not happy with “real estate” and keep thinking about trucking.
Matt Brown says
I come to America and I learned the language then I learned how to work hard. I’m living the American dream now.
Being born in America is a privilege not a right to successful life.
You have to work extra hard to be successful just like everyone else.
Andrew Burns says
Trucker should just do a strike & shut there trucks down for a week & see what it will do to the country I feel for all you drivers it is not as easy as people think god bless & you all be safe
Paula says
You say if enough of use would say no to cheap freight the prices will raise. The problem is there are getting to be too many drivers coming in on green cards with little to no expenses who will drive cheap. And because of the ATA pushing the ‘driver shortage’ agenda they are importing more drivers every day. Soon we will be a minority and they will control the market.
Kevin Staneland says
This is exactly what has already happened in Canada. 60% of the trucking industry is now East Indian and the wages have become stagnant over the last couple decades. They keep claiming theirs a driver shortage but the fact is it’s a way to keep the pay scale low. Their is no respect and our roads are becoming a more dangerous place to be. I’ve notice the truck stops are being bought up by “new Canadians” as well.
Katerys says
Thank you for your comment Alan. All about people hearts not countries for sure! Its scary when people talk about countries and skin color…
Robby says
I’m so scared
Doc says
Sissy
William says
That is happening in Canada too. The “new Canadians ” shouldn’t be driving as soon as they get here! That’s what caused the Humboldt tragedy! That’s not racist, that’s fact!
Cris says
I’ve been driving 20+ years in Europe in harsh conditions. Moved to Canada and first thing noticed this last winter: only Pure 100% White Canadian drivers drives with rear lights covered in snow and not bothered to clean them in the fuel stops. I am white but that doesn’t make me better. Stop crying like little girls about foreigners taking your jobs. I am disgusted with your cowardness. Fight with your companies and government for your money. I am not working a day without minimum $300. I see Canadians driving for 200 with no worries ( bitching in the lounge room only). Trucking used to be 2nd tough job after cowboys. Now… ??? Shame on you Americans and Canadians for not being able to keep it well paid.
Yes there are loads of foreigners with little expenses and taking poor paid jobs, with little experience and so on… but that is not your concern. You don’t have to work for May Trucking or Swift… If you are a good driver (which I doubt about those ones crying in here..) you can have a well paid job.
Joe Barilari says
Wholeheartedly agree, this MIRRORS the experience of thousands.
7 trucks and we NEVER take cheap freight, 10 years in, not going anywhere.
Panty waste truckers go home
Martin E Neltner says
Awesome response
Martin E Neltner says
Thanks Alan for helping us to understand how to be a smart business person. Who you lie in bed is your choice. I am 69 and have changed jobs four times in 3 years because I did not like the company. Now I have found a home and I am living the American dream. Keep searching people, there are awesome opportunities out there. “Failure, Failure, FAILURE, success” quote about Abe Lincoln
Robby says
Blah blah blah
Clarence Walker says
Failure is not always failure. Failure can bring success if you broaden your research and keep searching until you find the best spot for you.
Wvtravlr says
“Americans generally do the right thing..after they’ve tried everything else”.
Winston Churchill .
Robby says
It has everything to do with people from other countries
Ryan Jones says
Yep
Karl says
Your a douche bag, plain and simple…They just wanted to complain about all this. Oh but not you, douche.
Shane Wilson says
True enough, it’s always been hard as an owner operator comes down what kind of person they are everytime. Just complaining about things and not doing anything about it isn’t going to fix a dam thing.
Helzer says
I agree with you brother I’m from another country and i have my own truck and trailer for over 25 years and I don’t need to hauling cheap freight and never seeing so bad like now thanks God that I don’t have Payment on my truck I just don’t take cheap loads
Craig says
But if you get a market like Canada that foolishly paves the way to a 60% SWAsian trucking market you suddenly have more than 1/2 the truckers willing to implode the market because they think a cheap load is all the money in the world.
At least until the realities of the industry hit home and they close up in < 3 years. To be replaced by at least 2 more that also survive on cheap rates for a year or two (to large degree because of government incentives) and then go bust.
Check out what happened in the Vancouver Dock Strikes. Immigrant drivers and companies drove down the prices so generational truckers could no longer compete. Then when they owned all the transportation contracts they whined for the government to step in because new cheaper cargo rates could not be lived on and "people were taking advantage of them because they were new".
Ryan Jones says
Free Trucks on Grants for Immigrants and Americans have to work for every dime? Nothing to do with it? What dope are you smoking?
William Richardson says
Thank you..
JAC says
First of all I think that anyone in the government is anti-american
Bradley Thayer says
A men
R.J. says
What did the Trucking “Want Ad” have to say…..about getting the respect you deserve?????
Deryl D ware says
You are so right and these foreigners are 10 yrs tax free by the way… I just wish the fmcsa had to read these and listen to us drivers and put a bottom rate to our freight to stop this from happening to us and save us
Fozzy says
Liar….This is just a “white” lie made up by non-hackers
Martin E Neltner says
I think you are right Fozzy
Carl says
The problem is that the people at big box companies are the ones behind all of this. They want cheep labor and they will get it any way the can. We need to go back to regulations so authority is worth something many companies got shot in the face with deregulation they paid millions for the authorities that they owned and with a stroke of a pen it was valueless. Go figure . Done this 48 years. Burly Bear
Bradley Thayer says
This is true . I lived it with my step father . he/we still survived however it changed things …
Phillip Griffith says
Thx for that comment brother trucker..I cldnt have said it any better
Joe j says
Find owner take a bat to fukn head
bruce says
Pal, I am a redneck as is my wife and I proudly say that if a company did this to me (three weeks out on the road and you tell me you have no money to pay me and no bus ticket home) that load is not going to make it to neither the yard no the destination. Many of you call it stealing but I call it the pot calling the kettle black. They started it and walked away but that is not how it will end if that load has any value.
Albert Ferguson says
Consolidation of the U.S trucking industry means less trucks on the road which means the ability of the remaining companies to charge more money per load AND HAVE HIGHER CREDIT LINES AT THE BANKS! That is, “The man with the cheapest loans wins”. Welcome to the American trucking industry!
Scott Coyle, Sr. says
LME was a local LTL company so from what I understand no one is stranded just no job. Either way I did a bit of research on the topic which you can find on the forum.
From what I understand they tried to do a CF/Conway type thing but Roger didn’t do it how they did it and that’s why he was caught. From my understanding CF/CN ( Regional Non-Union )/Conway started the separate company but didn’t compete with CF contracts however eventually they spun off CF and then competed with CF and eventually turned into Conway where as Lakeville/LME just shifted equipment over to the new company.
Doug Smith says
Appreciate your research Scott…definitely puts a different perspective on this shutdown…
More people should be like you and not take things at face value !
Thanks again !
Windybag says
Local=250 mile driving distance.
Let’s not get the logistics wrong here, the company shutdown without notice with many drivers miles away from home and some if not all of those drivers live check to check because of the constant hiring process vs miles needed to get new hires going and leaving regular drivers hanging with minimal miles. I’m seeing alot of companies boasting about having averages of 2000 to 2400 average miles, figure that against the average company driver having 6 yrs or less experience at .40 to .46 before the new raises took effect. Drivers are lucky to have a $600 check. I was in manufacturing 30 years and I made that in my beginning years working a 40 week. I retired making a little into 6 figures. I’ve tried other career choices including transportation and have to say, unless you’re single and don’t want to have your own place or significant other and want to travel for business constantly, being a company driver is for you. I maxed out at .60 cpm/all miles and was ok with it because I was home weekends but 7 months later of course miles reduced and they started using the cameras to critique my driving-hell no. No CSA points, perfect driving record, 4 wheelers in big cities constantly making the camera record, I’m not letting anyone put anything questionable on my DAC so I was done. Good luck to incoming newbies with the attitudes everyone has today, they’ll be lucky to make it past 10 yrs in transportation today.
Kev says
Sell the parts off the trucks and trailers tires radiator turbos apu
Edward Fulke says
Definitely keep the equipment you were driving, and sell it
Douglas Kirk says
You can’t sell it without a title, moron. Anybody that would buy it would probably give you fake money
Steven says
Abandonedment title
Alan says
You can sale parts from it and get the money the owner owns you back and then leave it somewhere for them to collect.
Mary says
That is exactly what I would do.
Christopher Hemperley says
Put a lien on the title and keep it till u get paid u can do that
Deryle Anderson says
Yes you can it’s called a lien in lieu of wages go to a lawyer it’s real easy to do it allows you to keep the equipment until paid after so many days it’s yours like the equipment was abandoned.
The boss says
Most of the equipment is leased, Is owned by another company
Staci says
Lost Arrow (leased) trucks and trailers are assumed to have been sold in Mexico.
I understand what the company did was wrong, but it was wrong of the driver to sell what wasn’t his to be sold. So it was the innocent leasing agency that took the brunt of that, not the employers.
2x wrong = wrong.
R.J. says
IF you’re going to take someone else’s equipment….better take the GPS unit off it, so it cant be tracked and hope it doesnt have a LOJack unit.
Allen Carter says
Go ahead & make my day
Alex c says
Trucking sucks
R.J. says
Get the Respect you deserve….
The boss says
It is what you make it.
Pete379 says
Used to be a career..now it’s just a job full of wheel holders
charli says
So much winning!! Smh
Craig says
Send her back, send her back!
Mark says
Another mouth breathing nitwit heard from.
Jd says
Pfff if u think overpopulation is a joke think Again we will keep taking them in and good jobs will keep fading away. Via technology then what ??….
John Hanks says
amen!
Josh says
For the drivers that were there the first time they did it, it’s a little bit on them, because why would you stay with the company?
On the bright side, a tractor and trailer are pretty good collateral.
Danny Ray says
Blame the victim
Mike Blanche says
The driver quoted up above said that “LME should have learned their lesson when they pulled this same trick two years ago.” Agreed. And if he kept working for them, he should have learned it, too.
The boss says
First time was a paperwork shuffle. The company changed their name.
Jack Hennessee says
Employees pay should always come before creditors. Creditors can sell the bones of the company but employees have no such recourse.
Jay says
That’s the way it needs to be. Politicians are to blame for making it the other way around
Mario Alberto Garza says
smaller Trucking companies are learning better ways to close down shop and avoid paying those owed but it’s there fault sometimes for only depending of business close by extend borders take other jobs don’t put one egg in hat
Lorie Jo says
4/2018
the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) informed the International Brotherhood of Teamsters that it had investigated and found cause for concern regarding allegations that Lakeville Motor Express and its affiliates had potentially engaged in bad faith and unfair labor practices.
“Specifically the board is pursuing the union’s allegations that LME and Lakeville Motor Express are alter egos and that LME engaged in anti-discrimination by abandoning the collective bargaining agreement with Local 120 by laying off its employees and relocating the work and resources to a nonunion facility,” said Tom Erickson, president of Teamsters Local 120 in Blaine, in a letter to members. “The case is in the beginning stages of litigation.”
Lorie Jo says
11/2018
Finish Line absorbed LME’s business after the company shuttered without warning Nov. 20, 2016 – three days before Thanksgiving – and refused to pay union members for the previous two weeks of work.
Finish Line and LME have ties that predate LME’s closing, including executives who worked for both companies. Local 120 alleges those executives gradually shifted work from LME to Finish Line until LME’s payroll dipped below 100 – the legal threshold at which companies must provide 60 days’ notice of plant closings under the WARN Act.
Lorie Jo says
Executives of all 3 of these companies knew exactly what they were doing.
You can be very sure none of them were denied a paycheck while they underhandedly screwed over 500+ employees.
With that said…
Last month, LME began paying a multi-million dollar settlement to workers from the affiliated Lakeville Motors Express, which also shut down suddenly over two years ago.
Just Me says
Lorie Jo, appreciate the details, the facts. Things are set up so the big shots walk away with the spoils and the people whose lives depend upon the job to live life, get screwed. Good reporting, thank you. We working people would be better off if we would learn the facts and not accept bold-faced lies told by those in power.
Craig says
If Minnesota would have just sent the Somalian back none of this wouldn’t happen
R.J. says
I was at a Road Ranger outside of St.Louis and saw three Mexicans climb out of a truck and start filling water jugs at the “Non Potable” water tap.
Our conversation, only one spoke English, revealed that they drive non-stop… West Coast to East Coast (East L.A.) and return. Over and over.
Would you like to live in a truck with two other guys…???
Thats the way companies are going to operate.
Kc says
This why a person cannot rely on Unions and Company’s to uphold any type of dignity or honor. We are all Americans until it comes down to money.
Frank says
If this outfit pulled this stunt in 2016, why in the world would anyone go to work for them now? That is insane. Don’t these drivers check out these companies before they take a job? Come on drivers, stop feeding outfits like this. This is not a reputable company. You drivers have got to remember, it is the drivers who make a company, not the people running it.
Shane says
After the first time, the government should have made them pay a bond to cover employees wages For future occurrences
Alvin Sample says
For the drivers that have been hurt by this I am donating to the St Christopher Fund for proper dispersal.
For the Drivers in the county/city that this company is registered. Call and/or stop by the state’s Attorneys’ office and light a fire under his/her seat to “make this right”!
America has ALWAYS been about slave wages, so do not blame the fellow drivers, no matter what area of God Almighty’s globe they came from.
If you share with your fellow drivers our best practices for prosperity for all, we will see an elevation of what’s left of OUR industry.
ChromeGetsYouHome says
Good of you to donate to the St. Christopher Fund! That said, who is blaming the drivers? The owners of LME are clearly snakes. Many company drivers and ICs, office personnel, sales people, mechanics, etc. make good incomes in this industry. Like other industries, there bad actors. I also know drivers who have really cost carriers, finance companies, shops, etc. a lot of money. Like in any industry, if you learn the trade, can show that you’re solid on safety and develop skills (HAZMAT, tanker, doubles, flatbed experience…), drivers can position to make a lot of money while not having to deal with shady companies.
Don Morgan says
I am starting a New Job monday with a well known construction company in Houston Tx.
Over 8 years living in a truck always gone 2 to 3 months at a time.
Now truck stops not only price gouge Truckers. They are charging for parking spots.
The trucking companies have underpaid drivers for years.
As for my view. They just want Homeless people paid just enough to wash cloths and eat living in their trucks.
Pissbottle Pete says
People way smarter than us are working hard every day to ensure that the human driver will soon be a thing of the past.
Spyder says
My advice, go to courthouse and file a lean against company for wages and park truck out of site. Your covered legally and good luck getting your money regardless…….
ChromeGetsYouHome says
All that likely does is penalize the lenders who likely had nothing to do with this. The owners of LME are the ones who should be penalized. If anything, the owners of LME should have their personal belongings auctioned off to pay wages owed, etc. Unfortunately, that probably won’t cover what’s owed. Also, someone/some company doing the wrong thing doesn’t give you or me the right to do the wrong thing.
Gordon says
I just agree. Had the lender is done their due diligence they would’ve known what this company has done just months previous. By learning to this new entity under same owners they themselves created a situation where they could have lost. However due to laws and regulations they knew they get their money first. This is the problem
Gordon says
That should read DISAGREE. damn voice to text!
Mike says
I wish this would happen to me truck trailer and freight would be sold in texas to the first guy with 20 thousand cash take those rigs to san Antonio drivers they will buy them off you for cash
jim says
Yeah, boy – everyone can sure complain (and you have a right to do so) but then cuss the unions. Ever stop to think how the old teamsters would have handled the mess the trucking industry is in today? But, hey, “I don’t want no damn union tell me what to do.” Sad – and really “poorly educated.”
MrYowler says
The old unions are not today’s unions. When the union has any real influence at all, the executives twist the union reps until they act as little more than corporate shills. If they can’t just dump the union and leave everyone hanging, they use the union to subvert the rights of employees to negotiate individually. There are way too many union jobs where employees get less than $10/hr, and have to pay 100% of the cost of any benefits that may be available to them.
Unions used to be good for employees… now they’re just as corrupt as the corporations. It’s rare to find a good one – of either unions or corporations.
tazz says
I strongly believe that brokers are cutting more then they should… they are never looked upon and do what they want, FMCSA is too busy making stupid rules then paying attention to the real problem… the driver shortage agenda being pushed is really about more trucks and cheap freight then actual “drivers” … there are more twice drivers and trucks on the highways today, so cheap freight comes with more drivers competing to get that load… less loads more trucks means low pay simple as that… there is no driver shortage
Mohamed says
Amen
Steve says
As long as it’s easy to get ones authority, and people without the business knowledge to know to the penny how much per mile it costs them to operate, rates will continue to fall, and companies right behind them. I saw a documentary on farming, and the big corporations are taking over, forcing farmers to sell their products below costs, with has forced most family farms out of business. It looks like the same thing is happening here. I personally know 4 small companies here in TX that got out of the industry this year due to the low freight rates. At the frequency that we are seeing carriers shutter the doors, one would think it will eventually tighten capacity, thus raising rates again. I’ve been in the industry for decades and rates have swung back and forth ever since deregulation. They question is, How many of us can hold out until that happens?
Andrew H says
If I was one of their drivers, I’d file to settle the debt by transferring the truck title to me. Then go O/O, no truck payment, free and clear.
Doug Smith says
You should ALL do a little research as Scott Doyle did … refer to his reply above … LME was a local/ regional LTL company.
Puts a different perspective on this story
In my view. Still, I would be seeing a lawyer right away !
Mar says
Sounds like the days of Transcon/Pie. My Mom got a check about 10 years later for a couple hundred dollars. Nothing left after the lawyers got thru with it. Dad worked for CF but had retired before they suddenly “closed”. Same deal IMO but much larger scale.
Martin E Neltner says
So who owns the trucks? Wow this happen to me in another industry. It’s a shame you cannot as a group go after the ring leaders of this fraud. But maybe you can. As a group you should file thief charges against the principles of this 2nd time debunk company
Manuel Perez says
Everyone just needs to stop driving to let everyone know without trucks nothing moves make this country remember who moves this country just saying until something is done its gonna get worse this is why their bringing in self driving trucks but no one looks that far ahead
John Hanks says
I’ve been doing this since the early 90’s, and all you ever here is stop driving, and the country will comes to it’s knees. BALONEY! It’s always was, it is now, and it will always be just talk. Most of us have bills to pay, and children to raise. I for one would never stop work for anyone. Who will pay my bills? And stopping work could get you fired. Abandoning a truck does not look good on your file. Only Swift, Werner, or one of those companies would have you. I’ve been a company driver and make a decent pay, and have good benefits. If ten thousand truckers agreed to shut down, you can bet only about ten would actually do that. And those would be owner/ops. Everyone likes to talk like a tough trucker online, but in real life, they are hoping everyone else does what they promised.
sonny Pruitt says
If you’ve been working your whole life and cannot afford to take a week off without pay for fear of your children starving you’re a loser and just spoke volumes as to why no one should ever get into trucking.
Tim says
sonny Pruitt , just what I was thinking. John Hanks is just a sheep, deep in debt, and working check to check.
sonny Pruitt says
If you’ve been working your whole life and cannot afford to take a week off without pay for fear of your children starving you’re a loser and just spoke volumes as to why no one should ever get into trucking.huhuhu you sound like Ernest on Ernest goes to jail waiting for the electric chair when they offered him a cigarette “smoking will kill ya” they’re about to kill you dumb az.”if you quit it looks bad on your record “so,what’s a good record going to get you? Another low paying job from a cut throat scab company in a cut throat industry? Brilliant!!
Peggy Lesley says
It happens as it happen to me I was in Mississippi had to deadhead from there to Lubbock Tx no warning no nothing never got paid and I was a o/o suck it up
Joey says
If they did this before it’s not surprising, they’ll just rename and open up again n screw everyone over again in 2/3 years
Steve Duggan says
Or you should have learned your lesson and not gone to work for a company who had a history of pulling such stunts. Your own fault for not planning for a rainy day and saving accordingly
John Hanks says
Well put Steve! Stupid is as stupid does.
Rick says
Have been out of trucking for almost 4 years now. I haven’t missed it a single day.
Michael B says
If they did the same thing two years ago, why would you keep working for them?
billbonu@yahoo.com says
ALMOST 3,000.00 for three weeks of work?I’m glad I know how to do more than drive a truck and got out years ago. Three weeks of work, plus per diem would be about 9,000.00 for me. Each to his own though.
billbonu@yahoo.com says
Everyone needs to park their trucks.nationwide. without warning. We had a tropical depression threatening new Orleans last week and the grocery stores and gas stations were empty within hours, not days.wouldn’t take long to get everyone’s mind right. Couple days and they’ll be on their knees begging,they as in regulators,carriers,consumers etc.”but I gotta pay my rent”!!their not going to evict you in a few days stupid. And if you’re that far behind you’re fighting a losing battle anyway, why are you working at all?give up already!yeah,the run on consumables I just witnessed spoke volumes to the effect a nationwide shutdown would cause. But that’ll never happen so do what I did and get a REAL job or deal with your situation the best way you can and stop whining in vain on message boards,its gotten pretty old, yawn.
John Hanks says
This is everyones chance to talk like a big shot. It makes for great entertainment though…
MrYowler says
A few days only works if everyone does it. Everyone won’t do it. There are always some foreigners or newly-minted trainees, or Canadian/Mexican carriers, or something. Worst case, most of the freight shifts to aircraft or trains – they don’t need a lot of trucks to haul to the train depot of airport, It’ll cost the shippers a little more, for a little while, but they like that better than having long-term changes shoved down their throat.
Remember the Air Traffic Controller’s strike? It went on for ages, until they were all replaced out of military air traffic controllers. Do you think that they couldn’t just train a few hundred thousand Army soldiers to drive, and put them in those idle trucks, if they thought is was a national emergency?
You overestimate our importance and our power to effect change. It would never happen in a few days, and it isn’t likely to work at all. That’s why it never happens. Not enough of us are stupid enough to believe that, and it wouldn’t matter if we were.
billbonu@yahoo.com says
Park their truck on your property and tell them in writing to come get it, after a certain amount of time, I think 90 days here,different states may be different, its considered abandoned property and you can file for a title.I got a nice Harley Davidson and a boat like that. Just sayin.
sonny Pruitt says
Just shut up and drive. History has proven that You’re not going to do a thing about it and you know it.cut your losses,lick your wounds and go find another cut throat company to work for. If all you can do is drive a truck,those are your options.might as well run a route for Budweiser or something. At least you’ll be home and get your mediocre paycheck.Or work for some garbage company,live in a 40 square foot space,spend half your money on parking,scales,food etc.and hope you get your mediocre paycheck.”but they reimburse us”!if I owe you a hundred dollars, give it to you and borrow a hundred dollars from you two days later,I’m not reimbursing you. Wake up!! Smell the coffee! You people are in a serious bind and don’t even know it!the guy in the article is one paycheck away from homelessness? Wow!id get as far away from that industry as possible if I were him!that’s NOT gainful employment!
Barbwire says
Dart is a good example for every barely legal or illegal if they hire they get $5,000 from the government for the hiring and then get a kickback so much per mile if they mess up and they lose their job in the truck like this one said in broken English I don’t like this country anyway I just came over here for a while I go back to my country and drive truck there and in the end Dart doesn’t have to repay anybody anything even if it was a failed hire.
sonny Pruitt says
Dang ol thang man,run up and down man no dang ol check man shuttered doors.
woofbeast says
Most of the pain and suffering here is self inflicted. You cant control what others do but we can all control our own plans and decisions.
Don’t live paycheck to paycheck! Don’t live in debt! Always maintain an emergency fund!
Of course the company did wrong but how about the employees? the ones who are desperate or cant pay the rent are the ones who live irresponsibly and cant ever seem to see their own part in their own problems.
MrYowler says
Truck driving isn’t that lucrative. A lot of drivers are displaced workers from other industries, and turn to truck driving out of desperation, not as a matter of choice. When the kids are hungry, the rent is due, and the car is broke down, you do what you have to – even if it involves debt, poor wages, and risk.
It’s easy to blame the victim, because they usually lack the wherewithal to defend themselves. It’s also a cheap shot, and karma will get you when you least expect it. Don’t go crying for help when your kid gets cancer and you need to borrow to pay for experimental treatment not covered by your insurance, to save them. You never know what life will throw at you, and most people don’t live paycheck-to-paycheck by choice, or because they spent all their money on hookers and beer. Some do, but not most – especially not working people.
JPW says
good point
Brian says
We need a trucking union, a fair rate for all, and and stop cutthroating ….shut up stupid…
Sara says
So now this all leads to the beginning of our trucking companies being shut down are we ready for driverless rigs yet?
George says
RED FLAG…🚩🚩🚩
YOUR COMPANIES FUEL CARD DOES NOT TURN ON OR ACTIVATE PUMPS.
ACTION…
RUN FOR ZEE HILLS
MrYowler says
Smartest man in the bunch. Just to add – keep your tanks full. You never know when that card is going to stop working…
Milton says
Most of you don’t seem to know how the government and foreigners thing works. Let me enlighten you. Let’s take my experience with Lockheed. I am a Vietnam veteran, after I ets’ed I went to work for Lockheed. Vietnam ended and a lot of Vietnamese came to the US. If you were around then, mid to late seventies, you may remember. A lot of them were given SBA loans and bought convenient stores. Some got jobs with companies like Lockheed. Lockheed as you know builds aircraft for the government and others. So since they have government contracts they have to give preforentail treatment. Now they hired these young Vietnamese and we’re paying them more than I was being paid, plus I had to train them to do my job, plus for the first 7 years they are here, they pay no taxes. Now you are seeing a lot of Nigerian and Syrian people being brought in, hence the trucks and you’ll find them in the sprinter vans with no markings on them. Welcome to American.
Marion D. Hunt says
I figured they hired them to replace you because Lockheed wants employees that can spell.
sonny Pruitt says
Should have done what I used to do,sell fuel on their card to owner operators for a dollar a gallon and tell the company ” this truck is drinking fuel and I don’t know why “.they would do it to you if they could, as evidenced by this article.
Sara says
Sooner or later Sonny the card gets declined until then can you cut me a deal?
sonny Pruitt says
I still get these updates from truckers report and bust a gut that people are still dumb enough to do this, I drove for a few years, mainly to get away from my wife because money has never been an issue for me,and would get a kick out of these companies and their tactics; still do. Note to self,people use recruiters to trick people into signing up for something they would never consider doing otherwise. Like voluntarily getting into a fox hole with bombs dropping around you because some powerful rich guy got mad at another powerful rich guy. If a company has recruiters THERES YOUR SIGN!DON’T DRINK THE COOL AID! Decent,reputable companies have a pool of potential candidates to pull from because people are always trying to get hired there and filling out applications to keep on file and review them when they need more employees, like the railroad companies and the post office etc.THEY DON’T NEED RECRUITERS. Duuhhh.people are looking for them,not the other way around. “You’re gonna have a new truck,5,000 miles a week and be home on Friday” and then you’re all upset when it doesn’t happen, hilarious!
Sara says
Certain there’s an automatic lean on all those trucks. Til the leasing companies and contractors get paid
sonny Pruitt says
They get a million dollar line of credit from freightliner or whoever to deliver a couple hundred trucks or whatever, for about half price because their buying so many at once,put 400,000 miles on them and sell them for what they paid for them and get new ones and basically don’t pay anything for the trucks,if they have any sense.
Mike says
Wow what a bunch of off topic ignorant comments on here. The layoffs from LME have nothing to do with foreigners coming to America and driving trucks. This company has jad very bad management and have been ripping off its drivers for years. It eas caused by the greed of the upper management and owner of the company period end of story.
sonny Pruitt says
Correct!the foreigners may be off topic,but they are worth mentioning.
John says
It’s the trucking industry. It’s heavily Republican so there’s going to be these conspiracy theories floating around about foreigners. Foreign workers aren’t stupid. They’re not going to work for shit wages either but good luck explaining that to the same people who believe in New World Order conspiracies.
Ron Wood says
Mike : I agree it’s ‘very bad management”, BUT ,the government can’t control “dishonesty” in any business. WHY? Simply because the government is as dishonest as they are, and doesn’t want to see to it people are treated fairly. Crooked people cover up for other crooked people…and around ,and around it goes, The innocent hard worker gets ground up in the process. Until the economy collapses, and everyone loses. Not going to be a pretty sight to be sure.
Exdriver says
Drivers didn’t move that product for nothing. I’m sure broker paid them. Sorry to hear the workers are taking the hit while owners have pocketed lots of money.. Can you put a lean against the owner by keeping the truck until you are paid.
Marion D. Hunt says
“They should have learned their lessons after this happened two years ago”.
Yes, and so should have their employees.
John Nazars says
The owners need to be criminally prosecuted at this point as this is the second time they’ve done this to drivers.
Marc Spetz says
Has anyone considered that maybe LME, NEMF and the likes were the cheap freight companies? With margins so tight that any minor variance put them into trouble?
Maybe this is a culling of the weak.
Bob says
I read some of comments above, some non educated people who dont know business blaming foreign people for low rate. Trucking business is not like illegal mexicans work for 5 dollars per hour when Americans work for 15 dollars per hour. Trucking business is different, if you haul a load for cheap it hurts you , your business and eventually you face bankruptcy. Market is down because goods from China is not coming to Usa, also goods from Usa not going to China.
Raymond Knabe says
If I was driving one of their trucks,I would have driven it home and told them when I was paid,they could have the truck
The Babino says
Just walk…pick a holiday weekend…CALL IN and say “I came down with a severer case of Driver Pocks or Deisel Flu”…Truck drivers have never taken a stand to anything: CDL licensing, Hours of service reduction, Physical Exams, Mexican trucks, 30 minute break, Woman & Undocumented Drivers…Pull all your 401k out before that walk away weekend or loan value max… Even Ronald Reagan couldn’t force you back over a holiday weekend… God bless
Billy Jack says
Charli it’s whining not winning. Bring on autonomous trucks. then we’re all on the couch watching the Price is Right…
Tracey says
I got hired on with LME for a new terminal that was scheduled to open on July 15th. I was sent to the Kansas City, Mo terminal for 2 week training. The Thursday this happened. I had left right at an hour before the call was made to shut the doors. I had no clue of what was going on until that next morning when i arrived for what I thought was my last day of training. I panicked. I was confused and at first thought I was dreaming this. I’m still owed 2 weeks pay, 900 in mileage pay. I have so much sympathy for those who lost so much more.
Toby D Jones says
Sounds good congrats..
Orland says
you all criticize immigrants but I tell you what, I worked for a Russian guy that was paying better than anybody in the country, I was taking home at least $2500 every week as a driver, can’t beat that, most Americans are working for big carriers making From $500 to $700 per week, that’s a low wage, I speak to a lot of California Mexicans and trust me they make more $$$$ than any of you, the immigrants are getting pay five times more money than you all, and they don’t get $$$$ from the government, that’s a lie, they work hard period.
Kevin says
No one here knows, for sure, why LME failed. Blaming foreign-born people is just a political agenda. Much like blaming Jews, Gypsies, and other minorities in Europe during the 1930’s for economic conditions then.
Mrs Cole says
We are a small company looking for a team or solo driver with 3 yrs experience. Thats a terrible and sad deal. They bit off more then they could chew….twice…. Or most likely Management/ Owner was was probably living the good life pocketing most of the money. I bet they have nice toys and go on expensive vacations. All at the cost of the drivers time, sacrifices and effort!! I’m an OTR driver… I know what it’s like out here on the road.
Jonathon Shipton says
This is the crap that will bring USA to knees and end the experiment that is the USA
People not government or corporations allow the average person to get screwed while corporations reap all the rewards.
Only when there is complete collapse will people respond.
You brought this on your selves
I feel for you and those going hungry because people are too much wussys to do anything but complain and guard there own . only 3% of population will not cut another throat for a bit of cash or security thinking it won’t happen to them when reality if all stood together it would change that’s why gov afraid of people they despite lieing about it know people hold the power not them.
Jeffrey Mejias Jr says
This is not the only company that’s did this. I’ve been robbed for about two weeks of work and never received. Was working for set logistics owner operated. Why ppl like us don’t get spoken of because it’s a smaller company. We all as drivers supposed to get treated equally. I still have the paperwork and bills of my proof of work as a subcontractor. I was also backed up on rent because of this. I went to lawyers and no help because maybe it was 2000 dollars and they couldn’t get a cut but still LME is not the only ones. Former workers I was working with didn’t receive checks either. The crazy thing is they file there taxes and we get stuck with payments by irs for wages we never got paid for. I’m sick of Un fit fraud employers.😪
Larry M. Fulkerson says
The drivers knew it happened once by the owners and kept on working for them. Some drivers never learn. That is why you ask who the owners are.
Aheinousanus says
The company is wrong. Payroll is always the #1 in line in case of bankruptcy.
I learned that the hard way when a client declared a bankruptcy. We had a contract employee working for them. They went under and did not pay our invoice but we still had to pay the payroll.
That is when we learned from the lawyers that payroll comes before creditors.
Forrest Gump says
Here is my take on this issue, if truck companies would lobby as hard against the freight brokers then maybe the idiot congress men and women in washington would actually pay attention after you promise them more money. Still if people would just do what is honest and true then there woulld be no room for the crooked forked tongue talking dimwits to be in trucking. Makes no sense for any company to treat its employees as horrible as they do and tell lies by the millisecond. I reckon you get what you pay for and if you’re only gona pay for non english speaking drivers who can’t read a road map or a road sign then you deserve to be put out of business. As for going into real estate to get rich I just have to say this wha goes up always comes down. thats just how gravity works. and that all I have to say about that!
JPW says
These people should go to jail, as well as the lenders. Something wrong in this country where a bank can lend a company money and be repaid before the workers.
Wvtravlr says
Why the heck would you still be working for a company that screwed you over the first time…
Oh I forgot…riding for the brand..instead of your wallet..
These companies don’t give a damn about you..you need to take care of yourself .