ptl- paschall truck lines murray ky warning!!!

Golly!! I guess her next post would be to claim she was abducted by aliens, Definately went on a five year mission and never returned to earth!

 

After reading all the negatives about this company, we decided to give the owner-op deal a try, since PTL suited our particular requirements at the time.

Orientation was a major turn-off with all their "thou shalt not or else" rules (and cash fines); I was ready to leave and call it a mistake before the day was over. My husband (cooler head) said we should give them a chance to prove themselves, not listen to others or jump to conclusions.

Back at the motel - with a cooler head - I realized that all those penalty-laden rules were regarding actions that no truly professional driver would be guilty of in the first place. They had stressed that COMMUNICATION with your fleet manager, etc., was key to being at PTL.

Week one ended with no major problems; week two ended with money in the bank. By the end of our second month, we had evidence we were making better money than under our previous lease agreement elsewhere.

About our fleet manager/dispatcher - he's young, has never driven a truck ("Gasp," we said!) and is probably the very best driver advocate we've EVER had (my husband has 40+ years on the road and I have 14). He listens, treats us with respect and when we give our reasons (which we always try to do), accepts them without argument or condemnation.

When we've turned down loads, we've seen no evidence of retaliation. Almost always, the next load offered is better than what we've rejected.

Miles: When freight is running, we've had all the miles we've wanted and frequently have our next load preplan before we leave our consignee on the current load. That makes it easy to decide which truck stop/direction to travel when departing the customer. When freight stops moving, it doesn't matter where you are - you're going no where!!

Getting home: They promise home in 5 days from your request. Twice, they have been unable to get us there. Once we were 1 day late, once 2 days. Yesterday, our dispatcher repowered our load to get our truck home. Obviously, they can't always work that out because it takes other trucks/drivers (with their own agenda) to do so.

Equipment: We have met several company drivers at the terminals and on the road. Most of the ones we've met range from content to pleased to be at PTL. The company has taken delivery on a huge number of new Freightliners, with APU's (Tri-Pac) and they are a big hit with the drivers. Trailer condition has it's problems, lots of it is due to customer abuse. (watch those yard jockeys slam into the trailers, shoving or dragging them with the landing gear on the pavement. or forklift drivers who slam into the sides of the trailer as they race each other in and out of the trailers). Don't forget the "5-finger discount shoppers" who need a light or glad hand grommet, or even a landing gear handle...

In short, PTL has it's shortcomings - top management seems to be strictly a "closed-door, do-it-like-I-say" philosophy. I'm not used to that and I don't like it. BUT, the people we deal with daily are, for the most part, attentive and ready to do their part to help us do our job.

Bottom line: money is going to the bank on a regular basis (we don't take advances), and we have no problems figuring out our settlement sheets. That's why we're on the road, isn't it?

 

Husband did not make over $250 his last 3 checks (emphasis on last 3 checks). they do not let you idle (they say 40%) but it's lower. they DO not let you have a generator, so your freezing in winter, burning up in summer. You never get anyone on phone, if you do, they tell you to use Qualcomm. He told them a month ahead of time of an important court date, reminded them 2 weeks ahead of time, and they still did not get him home. On this same home time that they got him home late on, they called and asked him to do a load (while he was on his hometime). when he refused, they threatened to send someone to get the truck, and "give it to someone who wanted to work". this after he had been out for 5 weeks.
He quit and took truck to Murray, KY. You should see the boxes of belongings of other drivers who got fired or quit. They will NOT send your belongings to you what-so-ever. So there are boxes and boxes of driver's belongings. Do yourself and the ones you love a favor, and do not go to this place. you will be a number. Period> If you do not listen and go there, I'll see you on here later.

 

I'm more inclined to believe post #67 before I believe #68. And never expect a company to mail your things to you !! But Good Luck......

 

No wonder I get 2 or 3 postcards a week from these guys!

 

Don't have to believe me, go to drive there and find out. Plus, type in Paschall Truck lines and PTL. See what alot of other drivers are saying. My point was not that they should mail your things to you. It was that they go through THAT many drivers.

 

All the bottom feeder carriers go through that many drivers but too many never get the point .

 

LOL some of these posts just make one laugh...I have heard some things about this company but never this much! LOL

 

When I pick up presealed loads and it's a trailer drop, I drop the trailer off and pick up my next trailer. I don't care what's inside and my paperwork usually doesn't show what exactly is in there anyway...as long as I get paid for the load.

Nobody cares whats it the trailer! We just want our money!

 

Well dont know about that with PTL, I drive for them, But then again they dont know that I belong to a 1 % outlaw motorcycle Club.. They do suck thought, they lie, they dont give a f about you, miles are low, and home time 4 days for 1 month out.. Not for me, I gave them a 4 month chance and they failed..I have alot coming about this company to hopefully save others drivers from wasting their time with PTL.I got my money out them on way and another, just gotta know how to do it..They dont.

The truth is, that sum companies do transport drugs etc.. Its a fact it may be well hidden in merchandise.. I know.. But I wont go into that here..But odds are that most drivers for large companies have hauled something illegal without knowing it... To many alot of this is amusing,but there is organized crime involved with sum large trucking co's... Thats a fact !!

Bottom line with PTL..Pay .33 cpm.. West of the Miss. River it drops to .30 cpm Miles are low sum weeks 700, next week 1800, next week 3100 oh hell it mite work out...NOT.. next week 1560, next week 1900, next week 2300, next week, 2900, next week 650..and it goes on and on...If you go home expect ###### miles when you leave...Once your daytime fleet manager is gone for the day or weekend your screwed..Nite shift dont even know why they are there...I had just left home, they sent me to Topeka Ks. arived on Sat. morning gave load to top driver of the year...And sat there with no truck stop around until my fleet manager got back on Mon. morning...647 miles for that week..Now check this..I was out for 4 weeks and get 4 days off, now they dont wan to deahead you even 150 miles home,so they gave me a load out of Hou. Tx delivering after I have 2 days off.. Remember I am due 4 days off...Get the picture..And argue with them on qualcom YOU will sit for a day and a half..The town of Murray is small they are close knit community,kind of like children of corn type of people,they take care of their own...Drivers dont got there,they say they have 30 drivers waiting for a truck because the fire alot,NOT true alot of drivers quit after 3 weeks or a month...I tuffed it to give it a chance and mainly to get my money out of them,and I did...But not by miles

PTL - Drivers do not waste your time..I am not upset with this company and writing this in revenge..I am writing the truth..Trucks are not in good shape inside n out..Trucks run 62 MPH.Pay .33 cpm east of the Mississippi River,West of it is .30 cpm, and I mean it changes as soon as you cross that river...Home time is not good..Orientation,they treated me good, fed me well, but I waited for a truck for a weeks after orientation alont with 28 other drivers..They have a high turn over..Miles are not consistant, they are very low, then are good, but stay mostly on the low side..You can not idle your truck over 40 % How long is that? They cannot even tell you..But when you pass it,they will tell you to turn the truck off,hot or cold outside dont matter..If your lucky and get an APU unit w/your truck you cannot idle your truck motor over 3 % or they take your APU away..Meaning everytime you put that truck in nuetral turn it off...Benefits after one eyar for healt insurance,but can you afford it...One driver has been with them for 5 years..He took his vacation for 2 weeks you have to turn your truck in and after you come back they give you a different truck, and you have to pay your own way to where ever that truck is...So thats the truth about PTL...If you dont have a home I say go for it.. If you like to go by home for peaceful time off dont join them....I had a sinus infection and was off for 6 days, 4 off those 6 days were my days off, they came and picked up my truck..And one day before the doc released me to duty and they knew it..So i paid my own way to Houston and guess what? The new driver left my same truck there he quit...There you have it....

The dark things theory does seem far fetched...