Con-way Truckload Not what I thougth it would be. Stay off there payroll

i had to read that bloody 5 times. as i kept losing track where i was.

the CEO wont meet with any drivers, they have driver trainers(recruiters i think you call them), maybe try talking to them, Tried informing you dispatchers boss (not the CEO) and lets them know, in a polite way.

 

As long as you are in the truckload segment of the industry, and working for a mega-carrier, nothing will change for you. Worse (or about the same) with most of them.

 

But their radio ads say it's like a big happy con-way family in that truck. From the discription on that ad I thought everyone working in the front office lined up every morning and gave all the drivers at the terminal in Joplin a hug before they were dispached!

 

Lie and Steal, Really? I doubt they need to steal from you, not sure they even lie, but that is open to interpretation.
Miles, yeah that one, always need more, but if in a crack, there are lines of communication that can help bring them up. With the introduction of E-logs, that doesnt help things, Drivers have a role to play in that as well as Planners, CSR's, Sales and Customers, all being addressed.
Rules and Policies are in place to maintain the highest standards as possible. Its a slippery slope, having trucks to pay for, have to have drivers, hiring standards are far lower than they were 15-20 years ago.
The only thing separates companies these days is service, so yes, there are rules and policies to follow, and most are service driven.
The support folks, office, shop etc, aren't truck drivers, yep they work 5-6 days a week, go home at night, its the profession they picked, can't fault them for that, as driving was the profession we picked.
Want to go home every night and all that stuff, work local, don't go OTR.
The money they take out of your check is a security deposit for equipment, you quit, you get it back, provided you turn it in. That seems pretty simple and fair, otherwise 30 dollar locks, brooms, straps all that stuff would be walking off the lot.
Insurance, It is pretty much the standard thing, there are different plans with different coverages and deductibles, nobody is giving it away.
Dental, again, pretty much a standard deal. Almost everybody has waiting periods.
48 hours for layover, Sure I'd like more, who wouldn't, but there isn't a countdown clock trying to screw you out of it. 10 miles doesnt break layover.
20 dollar cartage pay, everybody agrees that should be increased, especially with e-logs counting down your time. The only way to accomplish that is to sound off to the right people, this forum isnt going to get it down for yah.
Time off policy is pretty easy, they do not promise any days except for Xmas. You hilite, and they have 8 days to get you home, or they pay you home. There are some areas such as Montana for example where that doesn't apply, but looks like Tx does.
As far as the CEO, yeah he doesn't go wandering around to find truck drivers to talk to, but I promise, if he is in town, and you want to go knock on his door, he will talk to you.
There is a chain of command, and bosses of Fleet Managers, in fact everybody has a boss you can talk to.
There is a Retention Manager in Drivers Services building that is available to talk to, that is what he does.
Live calls to Dispatch and Road Service have always been a sticky point.
I challenge you, ask to sit with your fleet manager for a day, You will get a whole different view point of why they are slammed on the phones.
They have at least 70 truck drivers on there fleets.
Oh yeah, if they are talking down to you, call a boss, many of those calls are recorded for training.

When you move on to Swift or JB or wherever, stay in touch.
Ask is they reimburse for your showers, or parking.
Ask if they route you, or allow the driver the freedom to route themselves.
You can fuel at just about any Pilot/Flying J without having to ask permission.
If you pick up and delv on time, your not hassled.
Advances are quite liberal, .10 a mile,on Comdata and you get a company ATM card. Some outfits you have to beg for a advance.
PAyroll is always on time, and I personally have never missed a red cent that I was owed.

The cafeteria has some great French Toast!

 

Companies that do not pay hub miles are shorting their drivers on pay. Companies that do not pay their drivers for EVERY dock they bump are ripping off their drivers. Companies that expect drivers to "give away" their time at loading docks are ripping off their drivers.

Do you really think the LTL side of Conway treats their drivers the same as the truckload side??? Guess again.

From the sounds of it the OP expected a better environment based on the company name. Its a good thing we do have this forum available so other drivers can be forewarned about BS practices.

If enough drivers take the time to convey their experiences about the inside details of these companies then the number of applications should dry up rather quickly and force the management to re-evaluate their policies.

 

You can easily take that initial, single paragraph rant, and say it about (any) (insert major trucking company here) company.

 

Yup all mega's are the same. But as long as drivers keep going there nothing will change.

 

I would agree with some of your points.
Cartage pay, intercity miles I would like to see better pay in those areas.
At Truckload your payed on practical miles, and if your fairly good at route planning you will typically be right on the money, sometimes over, and sometimes get paid for miles you have not driven.
I personally would not want Hub Miles. My Out of Route is less than 3% on paid miles, and most of that is my own doing, going out route to see my kids. I think the company average is closer to 8% or more.
If we were to be paid on Hub, the company would be forced to route us, which I like the freedom to plan my own route to get from point a to point b. Pay would be affected as well if Hub miles were paid.
It is only my opinion that Truckload (formerly CFI) does a very good job, not perfect, but far above the competition regarding pay, benefits, extra pay for detention, stop pay, reimbursables such as showers.
We don't have people looking over our shoulders all day, Its pretty simple, Pick up and delv on time, and if you can't communicate.
There is a pretty good thing going on at Truckload, as a matter of fact, if the whole Enterprise could work together rather than against, it would be a better deal for all.
Like I said, there is room for improvement, and now being a public company there is a different environment of being able to get things done, this is especially true when $ are involved.
If a person is going put things out there, they should be fairly factual, Its easy on the interweb just to toss things out, and for some reason others will take it as gospel.
Truckload might not be a good fit for all, and if not, well happy trails.
That is my Rant, and opinion.

 

This is the problem with yours (and many other drivers mindset). We have technology that can measure the EXACT distance from dock to dock while utilizing truck routes along the way. Companies such as Walmart pay their drivers based on the last 3 trips between point to point. Other carriers are willing to pay by the hub which is helpful in the event of a detour or routing to avoid flooded highways, or major snow storms that close the mountain passes out west.

When you work for a company then they SHOULD pay you for your time. The companies today seem to be in a race to the bottom when it comes to compensation and equipment. I say STOP working for these outfits and offer your services to a better company that values your hard work and is willing to pay you for it.

Not sure about this statement at all. Showers are free with the purchase of 50 gallons or more at any truck stop. Larger companies offer free showers at company terminals. Detention pay should start after 1 hour at a customer. How many hours do you give away per week waiting for loading or unloading? Do you get paid for every drop and hook? How about EVERY time you bump a dock? How about being paid the same amount for unloading a trailer that the company would pay a lumper??? Just to be fair, be sure you compare what Conway truckload pays on these accessorials to the LTL side of Conway. Many drivers simply are UNAWARE what the value of their work really equates to. In this case I guess ignorance really is bliss. Look around at unionized and private fleet pay and beneifts packages. This is the benchmark ALL carriers need to aspire to. Pay the drivers what they are worth and I believe we will have a higher caliber of driver as well as new recruits to the industry.

Another misperception common in todays trucking industry. Sorry if I bust your bubble on this 1 but its time to wake up; "We are all being tracked." Whether it be through the use of an OBC (Qualcomm, People Net, Mobile Max etc.) Ez pass toll records, Pre pass transponder, records, Fuel receipts and Toll receipts that can be cross matched to written logs. Newer companies have already made the switch to electronic logs which not only track your HOS but have gps tracking integrated into the system. Have a serious traffic accident? The prosecuting attorneys will demand your cell phone records. Many cities have built in traffic cameras that not only monitor flows of traffic but in some cases take pictures of speeding vehicles. Stop light cameras are popping up all over the country as well. Sorry, you and your vehicle are being tracked from the time you turn that key on whether you realize it or not. Get used to it and plan accordingly.

No argument there. This applies to practically EVERY company out there. There are 2 sides to every story though. I have seen it in my own company as well. Some thrive while others struggle. The important thing is that you are both offering your viewpoints and perspectives. That affords the rest of us the opportunity to open an anonymouse conversation that is recorded for others (including company officials) to see what is being said without fear of immediate retaliation from your boss.