May Trucking could be in trouble

Discussion in 'Motor Carrier Questions - The Inside Scoop' started by Mortar Man, Feb 23, 2011.

  1. Bigray

    Bigray Road Train Member

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    I never had a problem reading my statement, and it always arrived at the house on a mon. or tues. and now i think they offer paperless.

    Cali. labor laws may be a little different from other states, but IMO this suit has no merit, i think all OTR fleets pay dirvers in the same way.
     
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  3. joeycool

    joeycool Light Load Member

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    I can't say whether or not the suit has merit, but just because all OTR fleets pay drivers the same doesn't make it right. Yes, trucking is different from any other job out there, but the exemption from the fair wage act is ridiculous. This won't change anytime in the near future for many reasons, including;
    1) The ATA is a powerful lobbying group and has a lot of Republican friends in Washington.
    2) Organizing as an industry seems just about impossible. Too many truck drivers don't view trucking as a career. Truck drivers often start driving because they are unable to find decent employment in another industry, and when reality sets in, they wash out, keeping the turnover rate very high for the industry as a whole. I've met a lot of former drivers.
    3) Too many truckers don't see any problem with the current system. There are very few laws that protect us and give us rights, while at the same time we work in a very heavily gov't regulated industry.

    I enjoyed driving OTR and Regional for about 1.5 yrs myself, and might still be doing it if I were compensated more fairly. I believe the average OTR driver makes about $38,000 per yr, which is horrible when you consider the amount of hours worked, hours waiting to work, days and nights away from home, and having to live in the back of a truck. Instead, I opted for a local gig that pays by the hour, with overtime after 8, home almost every night (hotel if not). I make more doing this than the vast majority of OTR drivers make.
    I have alot of respect for OTR drivers. It's a tough job that deserves more than $38,000/yr. When trucking companies try to screw their drivers out of out of an already crappy paycheck, drivers need to get together and stand up for themselves. If there's any truth to the drivers' claims, I hope May gets hammered.
     
    Bucktrucker Thanks this.
  4. BIF MALIBU

    BIF MALIBU Heavy Load Member

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    May 21, 2010
    lake cushman wa
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    i always see trainees on here who dont approve of how the multi million dollar company runs its business.
    if they put as much effort into learning their trade as they do whining maybe they make it to solo driver and start a career.
    they are trying hard to get mexican trucks to take half the freight and shift a lot of liability south of the border and to "contractors".
    maybe the opportunities for an inexperienced driver to be issued new equipment and hit the road will go away.
    if you cant handle the stress of training and get qualified you should get out
     
  5. Bigray

    Bigray Road Train Member

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    with all the right to work states i find it perplexing ? too get a entry level driving job, then complain about the working conditions. get the experience and move on to a better position/company.
     
  6. joeycool

    joeycool Light Load Member

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    Working conditions? Like not getting paid for the work that they say they will pay you for? Making paycheck deductions for no apparent reason? Because that's what the suit is about. As far as the $50 per day for training, the trainees probably knew about that going into it, so I see your point there.
     
  7. ronin

    ronin Road Train Member

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    "If truck drivers want to withdraw funds from the Comdata account via an ATM machine, for example, truck drivers must pay a fee"

    I don't know many companies that don't charge a fee, for advances, or if you have all your money in Comdata, for most transactions.

    I still don't get, unless you're in the witness relocation program, why you'd use Comdata instead of direct deposit into a regular bank...
     
    joeycool Thanks this.
  8. Bigray

    Bigray Road Train Member

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    back when i started their was a 80.oo per day, if not under a load after the first 24 hrs./ they later changed that to the 50.oo p/d. i found this out via a fellow driver, i was upset to say the least. my continued work was my acceptance of this latest policy change.

    forunantly(sp) i never sat much with them.

    i did my time with them and moved on, i did'nt agree with decisions they made but i stayed in my own little world did my job best i could, in a R2W st. i did'nt see rockin the boat would benefit me.
     
  9. ronnieb67

    ronnieb67 Light Load Member

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    Benton City, Wa
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    Ah, just bring the good ol' "Thiefsteers" in and they will make it all better!:biggrin_2559:
     
  10. Y2K

    Y2K Road Train Member

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    May puts your paycheck on Comdata but you get one free transaction per week,you just use that transaction for a deposit into a bank account and there's no charge,simple as that.
     
  11. Y2K

    Y2K Road Train Member

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    Yacolt,WA
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    Told up front $350 a week while with a trainer,training time depends on how well you do.
     
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