Marten Transport, the good and bad

Discussion in 'Marten' started by cbread, Jun 4, 2009.

  1. skibum_63

    skibum_63 Road Train Member

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    Oct 12, 2007
    somewhere, USA
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    Just got the latest and greatest Dac report from Hirerite.com,

    And to my amazement, Marten told the truth. Even said i'm eligable for rehire.(not that i'm not going back) And even listed the one acciedant i had in 2010 where i hit a fixed object.
    And i was expecting the worse, considering i hear/ read the horror stories that for employers will write 'lies' about a driver on thier Dacs.
     
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  3. STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

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    Longview, TX
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    Any Marten drivers running out of Dallas? I would be wanting to run "OTR" if there is such a thing with Marten. I prefer to stay out 4 to 6 weeks so long as mileage avg. runs above 2600 mile-per-week. Is this a pipe dream running Marten out of Texas?

    Anyone running OTR or South Central Fleet out of TX, what is your avg length of haul? Where do you spend the bulk of your time? Please specify your fleet.

    Any amount of drop/hook?

    I'm aware of the rail situation ... I get that, but what does that leave in the way of consistent freight for Marten drivers who want to work out of the central US/TX?

    Does having a TWIC/hazmat help provide more load options (miles) at Marten?

    Thanks
     
    Last edited: Oct 7, 2011
  4. skibum_63

    skibum_63 Road Train Member

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    they are slowly doing away with otr, and what otr drivers they have get stuck in a regioanl for weeks ata time doing 200-300-400 over niters. All on a sliding pay scale. the more miles you run the less per miles you get. then throw mandatory perdiem at .03 per mile taking out for ad min fees.

    Alot of drivers sitting weekends, cause according to Tim Norlan the head cheeerleader/ recruite via the dave nemo show last time he was on, there isn't much frieght moving on weekends now.. Hmm my company must have abetter insights, cause i have yet to si any weeekends unles i have been home.

    Honestly you want to look elsewhere.
     
  5. STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

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    Longview, TX
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    skibum_63 - What you are saying could probably be said of 9 of 10 major carriers in 2011, on a given week. The question is what you describe typical? ... for all drivers? ... 2 out of 4 weeks? more often?

    What also needs to be clarified by those who have "mostly negative" comments about a carrier is what was the desired home-time of that particular driver? Expecting and/or desiring to be home 3 out of 4 weekends put a serios kink in the planning algorithm that will force the software (or planner or DM) to keep a driver from straying too far from "home".

    If most of the Marten drivers want to "run" and don't care about home-time and it's like you say with all drivers, then I suspect there are a lot of miserable drivers there and frankly I don't see how they have any trucks running. I just want to get as accurate profile as I can before I cross them off the list. Because there don't seem to be ANY carriers who have the type of freight we all enjoyed back in the 80's and 90's and into the mid 2000's, but I refuse to serve as a "night-time line haul or shuttle driver" for anyone for the bulk of the time.

    Also, I'll ask again. Do they have do a lot of drop/hook?
     
  6. 1laidbacktrucker

    1laidbacktrucker Medium Load Member

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    CHATTANOOGA TN
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    Have you look at j.b. Carriers out of greeley co, they maybe what you looking for driver.
     
  7. rachi

    rachi Road Train Member

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    I ran otr with marten for a few years, and now Im on the western regional fleet. The first couple years were pretty good for miles, and then toward the end was getting anywhere between 1,500 - 2,400 . I would go home every 15 days for 3 days off. Nobody running otr at marten goes home every week, but some of the regional do. About 35-40 percent of the loads I get are drop n' hook. I did alot of overnite hot loads on otr.
     
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  8. YellowstoneJim

    YellowstoneJim Bobtail Member

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    Oct 14, 2011
    Gardiner, MT
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    My experience with Marten was sitting through their orientation and saying to myself "Gordon did that a whole lot better". They flew me to Indy to pickup a truck where I fell on the ice and broke my collar bone. I took that as a sign and never went back.
     
  9. skibum_63

    skibum_63 Road Train Member

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    Good thing you didn't go back. They would of screwed you every which way had you filed a wormamns comp claim.
    Once you file one, they try everything under the sun to get you to quit, or refuse to pay it. Then you get a hand wriiten note from randy, asking you if you know how much moeny you have cost the company.
     
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  10. harleymanjax

    harleymanjax Rookie Skateboarder

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    Thats JBS Carriers!.................dont confuse us with JB Hunt!.....................:biggrin_2559:
     
  11. CA_Medicine_Woman

    CA_Medicine_Woman Light Load Member

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    Oak Creek, WI
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    Okay, I trimmed down your post a bit, getting rid of the stuff that I wasn't going to address.

    I have zero doubt that everything happened the way you said it did, having seen it for myself many times over four and a half years with Marten. From what I read of your original post, you took total responsibility (with regards to the trailer accident). Most would have tried to blame someone else.

    Having said that, never EVER run illegal, no matter what. If a fleet manager (any company) tries to coerce you into doing that, take pictures of the Qualcomm messages for your records, but do not give in to the threats. You tried to do as instructed to avoid a service failure, and ended up getting one anyway, except now you've added log violations to the mix, which only comes back on you. Do not discuss anything of that nature by phone or in person, keep it to the Qualcomm, it will help you later on down the road.

    Night dispatch at Marten (at the time you were there as well as by the time I left) is grossly understaffed, and the day fleet managers often forget to forward their phones before they go home (hence why you got voice mail). Some are trainees themselves. However, I never once had anyone on the night shift tell me, whether in person, by phone, or over the Qualcomm, to run illegal until I got the fleet manager that was the reason behind my decision to quit. I'm not saying it never happens, as I'm sure it does. I'm saying I only had one instance in the 4.5 years at Marten of that happening.

    You own the trailer door accident, and I know you already know this. I always carry a couple of short bungie cords, or metal cloths hangers (preferred) to rig something up to secure the door.

    As I've tried to warn many about, Marten will terminate you for ANY at-fault accident during the first year of employment. That applies to rehires as well, I believe. You could be coming into Marten with a 3 million mile safety award and a spotless employment record, and then put a minor scratch on your bumper, and they will fire you for it during the first 12 months. Even the most minor accident will use up your points during that period.

    It could have been worse, they could have fired you at the Ontario terminal. They did offer to help with getting you home, which is more than most companies were doing at that time (hardly any will now). I know spending a week on the Tuberculosis Express (Greyhound) isn't ideal, but it definitely beats trying to hitch a ride, or having to beg for help from family and friends at home.

    Good luck, and be safe out among 'em!
     
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