I need help with this Covenant Trans. thing

Most aren't totally rotten, actually. Some are even pretty good. These are companies that you never see advertising for help all over the place, so you may not know they exist. They're out there, and plenty of guys drive for these companies.

I know in Salt Lake, I can find plenty of 'em by looking in the Q-West phone book. A lot of these places have waiting lists and/or hire guys with several years' experience. Sounds like they're #### good, actually. They don't beg for help because they don't need to. Two examples of such companies: Savage (heavy haul) and Sinclair (tanker). I THINK I've seen both of these advertise for drivers in the Salt Lake Tribune, but it would have been only once or twice in 8 years. Last time I checked with Savage, they wanted 3 years. Compare that to England. England probably has its own office in the Salt Lake Tribune classfied-ad department. I've often wondered if the Tribune gives companies like England discount rates on advertising or a ten-year help-wanted-ad plan.

 

Can't anyone see the real reason they wont hire her back???
if they hire her knowing she was on antidepressants and has a wreck or go's postal... I can see the headlines now.. They don't know her state of mind . as for her takeing meds and driving ther are some meds you cant take and drive they are on the dot list , but i will tell you this having been takeing strong painkillers for my degenerative disc syndrom for years even though your name is on the bottle and your dr percribed them you can still get an oui , and if a cop sees the bottle you can bet you'll have to pee in the bottle or give blood, almost no difference from a beer..

 

Tip, you are absolutely right. My hiring standards are some of the toughest I have ever heard(i.e. 5 years experience with no more than 1 ticket in last 5 years, no at fault accidents last 5 and no more than 2 jobs last 5 years.) but yet I have no problems finding a qualified driver whenever I do have an opening. In the eight years or so that I have been running this company since taking over for my retiring father, I have never had to formally advertise. I either just go to a waiting list or put the word out to my current drivers that we have a seat open.

The point is; you all are correct, if a company were to treat drivers well and pay them well, there would be no turnover issues. My drivers are very well paid, drive two year old or newer KW's, get a full benefit package(at no cost to them), and even enjoy some really cool "extras". My reward for shelling out such a high pay package; 1.) a turnover of about 8%(1 driver)per year, and 2.) I have what I consider the best fleet of drivers money can buy(and my insurance company sees it that way too).

As for the $5k grant from the govt. that you are discussing; I can say that I have been approached on two occassions by officials from the state of Tn regarding getting involved in a welfare to work program. I don't know the details of the financial incentives because I turned them down flat before they could get into it. I will say that it had to be more than just a "tax-break" because Tn doesn't have a state income tax.

 

Eskimo, I'll keep you in mind, as your company sounds like a great company to work for. I'd hire on today with only a company that has the kind of turnover yours has. I'm done with the high-turnover outfits. I gave those up years ago, actually.

So Tenessee wanted you to climb on board the turnover machine? No surprise. Many companies have figured out how to make money on the turnover racket and suckle from the welfare-to-work sugar titty. They buy or lease 125 rigs when they really need 100 and play the game. All they have to do is whine about a driver shortage that doesn't exist, treat some of their drivers badly in order to get them to vacate their trucks, and keep students coming to their overpriced schools. It's a genuine fleece job.

 

I'm not a lawyer but here are the rules from the fmsca website:


391.41(b)(7)
A person is physically qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle if that person:
Has no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of a rheumatic, arthritic, orthopedic, muscular, neuromuscular or vascular disease which interferes with the ability to control and operate a commercial motor vehicle.
Certain diseases are known to have acute episodes of transient muscle weakness, poor muscular coordination (ataxia), abnormal sensations (paresthesia), decreased muscle tone (hypotonia), visual disturbances and pain which may be suddenly incapacitating. With each recurring episode, these symptoms may become more pronounced and remain for longer periods of time. Other diseases have more insidious onsets and display symptoms of muscle wasting (atrophy), swelling and paresthesia which may not suddenly incapacitate a person but may restrict his/her movements and eventually interfere with the ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. In many instances these diseases are degenerative in nature or may result in deterioration of the involved area.
Once the individual has been diagnosed as having a rheumatic, arthritic, orthopedic, muscular, neuromuscular or vascular disease, then he/she has an established history of that disease. The physician, when examining an individual, should consider the following:
(1) The nature and severity of the individual's condition (such as sensory loss or loss of strength;
(2) The degree of limitation present (such as range of motion;
(3) The likelihood of progressive limitation (not always present initially but manifest itself over time;
(4) The likelihood of sudden incapacitation.
If severe functional impairment exists, the driver does not qualify. In cases where more frequent monitoring is required, a certificate for a shorter period of time may be issued.

 

Contact the Tennesee department of transportation and report everything that was said. Also contact the Tennesee department of labor and industry. They are tired of Covenant and you will get results.

 

Thats crazy cause my trainer was on mor meds than a lil bit and one even made him sleepy and would try to drink a energy drink to offset it. hey i guess what they dont know...
When I worked for them they did own star but it is its own co. with no ties som kind of way but things my have changed. I left after 8 months they actually asked me to train after 6 wtf!

 

You need to read the DOT rules concerning "drugs". It PLAINLY tells you that, "you CANNOT drive a cmv while taking ANYKIND of mind-altering drug", and anti-depressants are in this class! It does'nt matter how many "letters" you get from your DR, this is a DOT rule. So, you will have to stop taking the drug, or stop your crying.

 

Actually, I knew a number of drivers I worked with driving School Bus that were on anti-depressants (openly) and had no driving restrictions or ban put on them driving a CMV.

 

I have seen alot of drivers that need to be on some type of meds. Keep looking for a better company that you and your husband will be happy with.