What to do when driver abandons truck

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by agfreight, Aug 9, 2012.

  1. keepntruckin

    keepntruckin Light Load Member

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    Tell me just what company would pay just to deadhead you back to the terminal so you can get out of the truck,, most, if not all may get you a couple loads that will bring you back, (this may also take a few days possibly a week).
    Most companies don't really care about your discomfort as long as their revenue isn't hurt, they will deliberately run you till they can comfortably (no loss of revenue) get you to a repair shop or back to the terminal unless you take an action that forces them to resolve the problem right away.
     
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  3. northernfreight

    northernfreight Bobtail Member

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    With 7 years in the business I would say that if he was under your W-2 then you could deduct it. But if was under your 10-99 then you can not do anything about it.
     
  4. Sunny1trucker

    Sunny1trucker Bobtail Member

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    I had hired a driver on contract basis to Run Nor-cal to So-cal on a set rate.He came to my yard and picked the truck.Truck was all clean but he told me he wants to get it washed.i told him to get wash done.Without my permission he takes truck 50miles to his house.2 days he kept saying he is cleaning the truck from inside whick was already cleaned by previous driver.Then a day before told him that will have a haul for him.Next day he says he is still not ready to go.I told him to bring the truck back to my yard but he doesent.Weekend went by and i thougt to give him a second chance.Gave him dispatch a day before by text..but he said he dint get it.Somehow requested shipper for time,he gets loaded and does the delivery.His phone wont work the whole day.Even next day wont work.Got him back haul.Goes to receiver for 12noon appt which the broker told me.receiver told appt was for 3pm.Dint call me to chk,just took the truck and went home.Stopped receiving my calls.i have tracker on truck so i could trace him where he was.Had to rush to him as truck was loaded with freight.Had to drive 80 miles to get truck from him.I knew where the truck was and called him,he took my call and told him to come out and give me my truck keys as he had truck with him.Trailer was dropped at truck stop.He took out th CB,Snow Chains,heavy duty Jumper,And all the tools from truck.He was very rude and it was a bad gheto place so i just left as the needed my truck back.Told him to returned all my tolls and stuff wort $500 more.He wont do it.i told him to retun my thing and take ur money,but he wont return.Now i got a letter from his lawyer.What should i do as this thing never happened to me b4.I have been drving for 8 yrs and never i have kept any drivers hard earned money.
     
  5. brsims

    brsims Road Train Member

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    Meadville, PA
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    Driver checks in at 0330. Check out is 1100. Less than ten hours. Solution is to offer a delayed or late check out to the driver. Driver gets a full ten hour break, DOT compliance is met, and the carrier isn't charged for the extra night.

    I used to work in hotels and catered to drivers every week. This is how I set it up, after many threats of violence and mayhem against my completely clueless manager.
     
  6. Jmans

    Jmans Light Load Member

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    Sep 3, 2013
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    He stole from you. Contact the police ASAP.
    Perhaps post your own thread for better answers.
    That attorney letter is fake.Whats he gonna sue you for? Not having good enough items to steal???Cmon man,
     
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  7. brsims

    brsims Road Train Member

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    Meadville, PA
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    I tried to keep some stuff available for my drivers when I worked front desk. Budget level hotel, we didn't offee much to begin with. But I always had plentt of fresh coffee and a selection of our breakfast "goodies" ready to go when they came down to the lobby.
     
  8. ZVar

    ZVar Road Train Member

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    Also, on the off chance it not, get your own lawyer to draft a rebuttal. If he still pushes take it to court.
    Next time pay real wages on a w-2, not a 1099 guy willing to work for .30 / mile.
     
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  9. TallJoe

    TallJoe Road Train Member

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    What letter? Are kidding? Unless you threatened the guy to beat the sh.t out of him.
     
  10. TripleSix

    TripleSix God of Roads

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    @Ridgeline may like to read this.

    Lawyer up and tell his lawyer that you will see them in court.
     
  11. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    First mistake, don't contract for specific work. Hire him for it.

    Second mistake, I would have told him too bad, it is ready to go.

    Right there it is a breech of contract, I would have gone down to get the truck with a bunch of others and the cops. I would have ended the relationship with him at this point.

    DON'T pay.

    get a lawyer, get the cops involved and have your lawyer tell his that he refused to do the work and the pay he was to be paid was for a completion of the job is going to pay for the things he stole. Have everything documented too.

    BUT a bit of advice;

    you need to get a lawyer you can work with and keep them on retainer. There is no excuse of what he did but there is no reason why you can't recover some losses from this mess because if he was actually under contract, he didn't abide by it and it is his fault.

    When you start out a driver in your truck, have them sign for all the equipment that is on or attached to the truck, don't just hand them the keys and say here do this. It doesn't matter who it is, employee or contractor, it is all the same, assets need to be accounted for. I wrote up a little thing about check lists and using them every time for things like new hires, fires and so on, it would behoove you to follow that advice.

    By the way also hire drivers, don't contract piece meal, if you want piece meal drivers, get a temp service to provide them, it is expensive but you still capture some revenue.
     
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