Marten Orientation 12-21-2009

Discussion in 'Marten' started by hlaird, Dec 16, 2009.

  1. hlaird

    hlaird Light Load Member

    175
    10
    Nov 16, 2007
    Memphis, TN
    0
    I'm set up for Marten Midwest Regional. I have one year of experience driving. I go to a 3-day orientation in Indianapolis on 12/20/2009. I've been hearing mixed reports for what miles are. Some people are saying they use all their hours, others are saying they're getting under 1500 miles and doing big layovers. Any new opinions?

    Here's what they've told me so far:

    Regional rate of pay:

    0 – 150 miles 20% of revenue
    151 – 300 miles .40 per mile
    301 – 500 miles .38 per mile
    > - 500 miles .36 per mile

    All reefer, some HazMat.
    Detention Pay about 12$ an hour after 2 hours.
    Layover $25 for first 24 hours and $50 each day after.
    I can take my truck home.
    I'll be home once a week for minimum 34 hours.
    They pay for my bus ticket and lodging to the hotel but I have to reimburse them if I leave within 6 months.
    Trucks governed at 65mph.
    All trucks have APUs.
    I'll get a 2006 or newer truck.
    Forced per diem but the rate per mile is already reflected in above cpm.

    They said I need a TWIC to "work ports." Is this something new because I haven't been hearing about this until recently. I've only been out of the truck for 7 months. They said I pay for it any they'll pay me back unless I quit in 6 months I think.
     
    Baack Thanks this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Hanadarko

    Hanadarko Independent Owner/Operator

    2,962
    927
    Oct 1, 2009
    Midwest
    0
    The TWIC is $135 unless you have a recent HazMat and then it's reduced to $105. It requires a background check and fingerprinting. Turn around time for me was about 2 weeks this past August 2009. Not bad. They say longer but even my passport was under 3 weeks.

    http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/layers/twic/index.shtm

    I think to enter some ports in NJ you also need a "SEA" card, but details on that are hard to find much less figure out.

    To obtain a TWIC, an individual must provide biographic and biometric information such as fingerprints, sit for a digital photograph and successfully pass a security threat assessment conducted by TSA.

    Start the application for the TWIC online and then visit the nearest center for the application and payment/finger printing.
     
    Baack Thanks this.
  4. High Seas

    High Seas Light Load Member

    94
    54
    Dec 15, 2009
    Middle, GA
    0
    My experience with Marten is 18 months old, and Atlanta regional. Per Diem was not forced on me , it was an option. It wasn't unusual to spend 4-8 hours to get loaded, generally with a frozen load of 2500-3000 pieces, then drive from 150-400 miles and then sit 4-8 hours to unload. Then pick up a 150 mile that delivered the next day. But in Marten's defense they showed me a list of the regional drivers that were getting 10,000 to 14,000 miles per month, these drivers were working 7 days a week.
    The truck I was given to drive was ID# 6207 It did indeed have a APU. This was in 9/08 in GA . The APU failed to even cool the cab to 90 degrees. This truck had a mattress that had the coil springs coming through the mattress, I wrote this up for eight weeks , they put a new mattress in the day I quit when I was cleaning out the cab This truck had 2 new Michelins tires on the front when they gave it to me, you couldn't hold this truck on the road, you were totally worn out after 4 hours of driving, I wrote this truck up every week about this problem for a month. After 30 days the tires were completely worn down to the steel on the edges, then then put 2 new tires back on and told me a mechanic had replaced the tie rod ends before I was assigned to the truck and didn't know the toe had to be set. A week later the clutch needed to be replaced, I was told on Friday the truck would be ready for dispatch on Sunday at 4:00 Pm I sat home a week waiting for the clutch to be replaced. They had empty trucks on the yard but they were holding them for the next batch of recruits! At this point and after 8 weeks I left. I might add I didn't collect any down time for this. Don't assume you will always get detention pay.
    I have only been to 2 terminals ATL and INDY. Good Luck even finding a parking place at either if your there after 5:00 PM any night of the week. also even locating an empty trailer was a chore in ATL , sometimes driving 40 miles and going to 2 or 3 different shippers to locate one. All for free. Make sure you buy a lock and lock your load lock to your truck, until I did mine would always disappear at the terminal. Every time you park even to eat they want you to put your steering column lock on which gets to be a pain and most don't do it
    Every one has different experiences and many more drivers than not praised this outfit and were very happy. This wasn't a good deal for myself.
    Good Luck, I consider this an entry level job, with jobs being limited this may be a good find. My orientation group was 12-15 in ATL with most going for the long haul , I was the only regional driver there. They were flying drivers to Portland and CA to get trucks and loaded up a minivan with 5 or 6 drivers and all their gear for a ride to Mondovi just to get a truck.
    They do scan bills at truckstops and Marten pays for this so there is really no excuse for the driver not to get the bills in and be paid. Also they will pay for an online college degree if your interested in that. They have a scholarship for your kids to go to college also but every one I heard complains it's the Mondovi folks who win that every year, I don't know that to be true.
    Yes they will definitely bill you for all expenses if you don't stay the required time. They called and sent me a bill, I fax them a statement of what they owed me which was more than I owed them and neither of us collected. If you don't pay my understanding is you won't be considered for rehire
     
  5. hlaird

    hlaird Light Load Member

    175
    10
    Nov 16, 2007
    Memphis, TN
    0
    Thanks for the info. I might go long haul to minimize the short loads and layover times.
     
  6. Capt._Chaos

    Capt._Chaos Light Load Member

    62
    72
    Feb 10, 2009
    San Antonio, Texas
    0
    I came to work for Marten in October '09 to do long-haul and I rarely get a load over 500- 600 miles.

    The layovers (dwell times between loads) are pretty bad.

    In Laredo it's often 4-6 days between loads and you can NOT bobtail out of the Laredo terminal or leave without a load assignment. They do have a company van but who wants to sit around at the terminal forever?

    Many of us have been stuck in the DFW area for 3-5 days between loads. You can also get stuck at the 'Forest Puke' (Forest Park, GA) terminal for over a weekend and that's the WORST shop to get maintenance & repairs done at. Irving, TX (DFW area) is no better.

    Marten does NOT seem to do good upkeep on their equipment either. I'm a former Diesel Mechanic and am very critical on how well the truck I drive is kept up. So far, after two trips to the company shops they have NOT been successful at repairing my truck's fuel gauge.

    I left Crete in February after 3 1/2 years and they were one of the better companies at maintaining their equipment although they had no freight and no APUs on the majority of their trucks.

    I'm stuck AGAIN in the Marten Laredo terminal and will likely be quitting when I can get back to Irving where my personal vehicle is parked and clean out the truck. As you can tell, I'm NOT happy with Marten.
     
  7. jtrnr1951

    jtrnr1951 Road Train Member

    After Crete and Marten, where next?? Any idea ??
     
  8. riddlemethis

    riddlemethis Light Load Member

    126
    44
    Jan 22, 2009
    0
    My DH is in the Laredo terminal tonight too. This is his first time to go to Laredo with Marten. He wasn't too happy about not being allowed out of the terminal.
     
  9. Capt._Chaos

    Capt._Chaos Light Load Member

    62
    72
    Feb 10, 2009
    San Antonio, Texas
    0
    I don't know yet but I'm researching a few. Con-way Truckload may be one.
     
  10. Capt._Chaos

    Capt._Chaos Light Load Member

    62
    72
    Feb 10, 2009
    San Antonio, Texas
    0
    He can use the company van if he needs to go get a meal or groceries.

    I carry a mountain bike with me in the truck and am planning to do a long ride tomorrow. They can't keep me from leaving the terminal on my own bike.
     
  11. hlaird

    hlaird Light Load Member

    175
    10
    Nov 16, 2007
    Memphis, TN
    0
    Well $%&*

    .......................................
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.