Can't Recommend Millis Transfer Anymore

Discussion in 'Report A BAD Trucking Company Here' started by Nashville, Mar 10, 2023.

  1. Nashville

    Nashville Light Load Member

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    I've spent the past 8 months with Millis Transfer driving OTR. I had high hopes to at least finish out my 1 year obligation with the company and honestly wanted to stay long enough to be able to train another student myself after I got my 2 years experience. That really wasn't the outcome...

    I ran whatever load needed and not once did I reject a load, no infractions, I didn't have any accidents or even a scratch put on a truck or trailer. Never overslept, was never late for a delivery. I was not lazy and would even take local loads to be delivered when other dispatchers were in a bind.

    Pros-
    Cdl training program - Was top notch for me and I found I received great value from it. (When I went through the school last year the cost was $2500 if you didn't stay a year, it has/will soon turn to $7,500 this year)

    My Trainer and instructor were awesome, couldn't have asked for a better duo in the end.

    Dispatch got me home 1-2 days earlier than my requested home time 100% of the time

    Received a 2022 T680 after my first truck assigned to me didn't last a week (Driver windshield arm flew off going through torrential downpour in NY going through winding concrete barrier, Truck stalled in the middle of the night and wouldn't restart)

    3 weeks total of vacation your first year.

    I gained a lot of knowledge in the industry and look forward to my next endeavor

    Cons-
    A lot of promises but not much follow through

    Weekly Pay Protection - " It's stated if you are available for dispatch 5/7 days a week you have a weekly pay protection that pays $1200 . Even when you're within all their parameters they may or may not stay true to their word. If you ask about it you're unlikely to get a response from dispatch or payroll at all.

    A $200 cash advance was taken out of my first check. Never received a cash advance on my efs like I was told? Orientation pay? Nope I didn't receive that either.

    It's no longer a company that is family run, you are in fact just a number and treated as such. Most of my interactions (Black River Falls) aside from the shop and other drivers generally I was talked down to, and treated often with just disrespect for no reason. I was really excited when I was told I got one of the best dispatchers and has been around forever and will run you hard. I was excited and pumped! That was quickly overshadowed with what seemed to be a man that was counting his days to retirement. "If you don't like his attitude get a new dispatcher" was basically his motto. Out of the 2 classes before me and the 2 after me I'm the only driver that was still with the company.

    Transparency; Yeah.... there really isn't much there . I asked everyone from multiple dispatchers, to payroll, to hr for a break down of all pay because week after week it wasn't adding up ( Detention, layover, city delivery, mileage fuel, safety bonus's, breakdown pay, etc) because often what they tell you is different from what actually happens. I was told that doesn't exist, and sounded like a red flag for me so I inquired to payroll. I was given the same answer. I asked if we could speak over the phone and go over it and I could write it down. That wasn't an option apparently. My first 2 months I was at least 90% compliant (well-over the percentage needed to receive it) with their fuel solutions. Asked why I wasn't receiving my fuel bonus and no one would give me a straight answer or even look into it. Never once received that said bonus. I figured with being a rookie; communication was a big priority. When you do ask questions it's often met with no response or a condescending one at that.

    Per diem - It should not cost you money to be a part of the program, Your saving the company money and ultimately that's double dipping and taking advantage of the driver ( .37 cpm as a new driver with per diem 44 cpm straight pay) If you choose straight pay you do not receive paid vacation.

    Most drivers are not currently hitting 2500 miles avg weekly, and certainly not on a week to week basis. (yes there are some outliers)

    My last week with the Millis was my final straw, my last load was cancelled. I wasn't told until I arrived at the receiver that my load "didn't exist". I was left sitting for about 4 hours before I was told to find a safe haven from my dispatcher and we would figure out if they were going to take it or I was going to return the load to the shipper. Long story short after a lot of back and forth of go ahead and deliver the load, wait don't, go ahead and deliver wait don't. I finally received word at about 11 am Monday morning to return the load to the shipper with final confirmation. (Technically I should be receiving detention and was even told I would be until they had a decision) So I head back to the shipper and drop the trailer about 4 hours later. All Qualcomm macros sent, as well as signed paperwork with time stamps. I finally hit my 2k mileage bonus. It may have been a rough week but we hit it, only to receive my paycheck stub without that whole trip on it. Nope not detention for when they were deciding, not one mile! Well sorry, they gave me $10 for the first delay in the trip. After speaking to dispatch he shows it wasn't dropped off till Tuesday afternoon ( Pay period ends Monday at midnight). That simply wasn't the case. There is GPS proof, there is Qualcomm message proof, there is paperwork from the shipper as proof. Yet I was continually told nope you delivered the next day. I ran to the doctor and returned back to the yard. Was told to have my truck serviced, which I was then told to go to the dealer as there were further issues. At this point I was running a mid grade fever and asked if I could take it to the dealer closer to my home location as then they wouldn't have to pay for a hotel for me and I could at least be a little bit more comfortable. Nope, was told to go to the kenworth dealer and just sleep in the truck and I would receive breakdown pay. 3 days doing this run around just to; you guessed it! never receive a dime of that so called breakdown pay. I went home after the dealer, cleaned out my truck and returned it to the yard along with my keys and a resignation letter. Not one person at Millis even responded to me, which I shouldn't be surprised at this point.


    IF you've read this far the company is not what it was years ago, or even when I started. There were so many more red flags that occurred but I wanted to stick it out if for nothing else it's what I signed myself up for. Fact is I didn't want or feel I deserved any type of special treatment, just for them to follow through with what I signed on for and what they said they were going to provide. Over $2,703 is what the company has basically stolen from me at the end of the day

    Your experience may differ but I feel a lot of drivers would agree with these issues. Seems the heartland buyout/changes are starting to occur. Should you choose to work for the company I certainly hope your experience is better/different than mine.
     
    Last edited: Mar 11, 2023
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  3. bryan21384

    bryan21384 Road Train Member

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    Pretty detailed post there. I wonder if the effects have hit Smith Transport and CFI as well. I also can't help but wonder if some of these companies are just too big for their own good. A lot can be forgotten by a DM if he or she has like, 70 or more drivers on his or her board.
     
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  4. mjd4277

    mjd4277 Road Train Member

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    Wow.
    I think this is the first honest to goodness negative post (and HIGHLY DETAILED at that) I’ve ever read or heard of about Millis Transfer. Usually everyone is singing their praises! Was there a “changing of the guard” recently (new management) and/or policy changes?
     
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  5. Nashville

    Nashville Light Load Member

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    From a couple smith drivers I've spoken with are happy it opened up a $1800-1900 weekly guarantee running a dedicated/relief program.
    CFI, I've only spoken to one of their drivers and that was because while we have access to their yards, we don't get rfid cards to use the actual terminal unless your lucky enough to catch a CFI driver coming or going.

    I completely agree, but mistakes can be corrected no big deal. Life happens, but every time ( that happened a lot) you have to fight for money you've earned within their program and even when you're right, you're still wrong because that check just never shows o_O

    I just try to look at it with this point as I went through a lot of BS, I learned a hell of a lot of experience in my time there. As well as it could have been a lot worse. I've met some people there I'll talk to the rest of my life, and some more thankfully I won't have to anymore
     
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  6. Nashville

    Nashville Light Load Member

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    Mar 8, 2022
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    And that point right there is why I went to Millis. I did a lot of research into many different companies and they checked most of my boxes. I could go into a lot more detail, on a lot more. I'm gonna chalk it up to "that's trucking" and gaining valuable rookie experience. My intention to write this post was not to whine and that's why I left a lot out.

    I think a lot of those drivers singing their praise are too invested being able to retire in coming years, but I won't quote or speak for anyone else.

    There are more and more polices everyday. I can't speak for how Millis was before Heartland bought them, but I can tell you I really started noticing a lot of changes at the beginning of this year.
     
  7. Suspect Zero

    Suspect Zero Road Train Member

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    Millis was good before the buyout, I got my start there. Opie ran my ### off and the money was good. People was reachable by phone or you just walked into BRF and asked to see who you needed (at least I did).

    Sorry to hear it has become just another rotating door, it kinda makes me sad since I always feel a little attached to them since I started there.

    Thanks for posting this. I noticed the last couple years I see less and less Millis trucks on the road than I use to but figured it was just me, from what you posted it isn't me, they just aren't keeping drivers anymore.
     
  8. bad-luck

    bad-luck Road Train Member

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    Very well written. I don't blame you bone bit for leaving. Good luck with wherever you decide to go.
     
  9. slim shady

    slim shady Road Train Member

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    I used Millis to re aquire my cdl in 2010-11 I recall my cpm for straight pay being 42 cpm and that was before mileage bonuses.
    Final straw for me was a Millis Jr. Calling me on Saturday home time and demanding I drop everything and run a load. I was well into drinking that day. Didn't bother him at all him(snotty little brat,I'm thinking he was a David's son) still demanded I run that load. The little punk was talking down to me and showing no respect at all.That was my last day with Millis returned the truck to Richfield that monday
     
  10. Lonesome

    Lonesome Mr. Sarcasm

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    Another nice writeup! Good luck driver, wherever you land.
     
  11. mjd4277

    mjd4277 Road Train Member

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    Well that explains it,the minute Heartless Express acquired them it was basically the “Kiss of Death”!!
    A lot of ex-Interstate drivers can testify to that!
     
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