MarK Martin's Trucking (J-Mar Trucking)

if i remember right back then they were getting % and i am not sure what it was but i know the drivers were happy and liked the company. And that freight back in the day paid good. Until the cut throats got a hold of it and ruined it like every thing else. I used to get like 3500 from Ar to LA with 3 or 4 stops and 2800 to 3500 back with produce to AR with any where from 3 to 6 picks.

 

And if your going to Quote me at least have the decency to do it right and get the quote correct.

 

While not exactly a word for word direct quote pretty much the same meaning wouldn't you think? Shiny fast trucks, lotsa chicken lights/chrome, and percentage pay... bout what I figured and I'm sure Mr Martin was always up front showing his drivers the contracts what the company made on every load.. that's how the companies that pay percentage normally do it

 

Well in your humble opinion any way. You have the right to say anything you want but i was always told know the facts for #### sure before you open your mouth and make a statement you can't back up and since he was dead before you ever drove a truck or could even open a door don't pass judgment until you have been there and done that. In the days when I am talking about the company's like Julian's were the ones every one wanted to work for because you were treated like a person and not a number. and you made good money and worked hard for it but you had the feeling you were part of something good and it was good. Just because you have lived in the things as they are now don't pass judgment on the past and the way they were back then.

 

J-Mar,Rising Fast,and JMI,used to be all tied together. JMI lived to screw drivers then,I worked for JMI in the late 80's while they and Rising Fast started going bankrupt. It's was a blast to live in INDY (at the time),and be in Colorado getting fuel at a truck stop and find out the cards no good. T/S manager told me to park the truck and bring the keys to him WTF. I tried to call dispatch,never an answer. Parked the truck,went to Fuel desk and they told me what happened. Fuel had to be paid before the truck can move,and they didn't care how I get home,not their problem,so I gave him (1) set of keys,and went to eat. After they forgot about me,I went to the truck,fired it up with my other keys,and hauled ##### home. Tried to cash my paycheck at the bank and the bank manager says there was a stop payment deal on my (3 week saved) check.
Took me over a month to get it cashed,anyway,always carry 2-3 sets of keys with you,and be careful about this remaining company.

 

Several companys used to run like that. Covenant transport,Chattanooga (80+mph),Bushe's beans, Knoxville(80+),State Water Heaters,Ashland City(80+),Carpet Transport by Altanta (90+),and several different "stick haulers" out of Tennessee and Missippippi.
I worked for Covenant in the late 80's when they had apx.40-50 trucks,and operated out of a mobile home. Believe it or not,on the back on the logbook page (pretrip),there was a check box that asked if tractor turned over 2100 rpm. If you DID NOT check it,they would turn it up. This was back in the old 350 Cummings days,when back woods truck stop shops put the 'ol stinger to the fuel pumps. I agree with the above post.

 

Add Monfort to that list. The saying used to be if Nebraska Highway patrol went over 80 mph they had to have strobe lights on, over 100 mph lights and siren, over 120 mph required a Monfort escort.

 

HAHAHA,I worked for Monfort,lasted about 4-5 months in the mid-1980's. Ran way too hard,my most famous (most illegal) run at any company I'd worked for,was when I woke up after getting loaded in Amarillo,drop/hooked in Greeley,Co,then ran non stop (cept for fuel/food - but no sleep) up to Boston. About 2400 miles in less than two days. Yeah,the trucks hauled chicken butt.
Anyway,when I got to Boston,I was so wired and shakey,I couldn't even sleep. Thats why back in the day,they named the left lane after us,it was called "the Monfort lane". If you saw one us us coming up on you,better move over,because we owned the hammer lane.

 

The "other" company that was trying to run with us was National Carriers,the "illegal fleet" instead of "elite fleet". At least they managed to stay in business.

 

Don't forget Day's Express out of Columbus Ind. Smith out of roaring Springs Pa ran like that untill they cut their trucks back way back when. Back then if you were in a hurry but didn't have the stones to run the front door, you usually didn't have to wait very long for a Monfort truck or National Carriers or Days Express to blow by you. Then just step on out and try to keep up. If you tried to run like that today the cops would have a cow.