Marten Transportation SUCKS!!!!!

And the first thing i would of told road service, You do not run my log book. You will get the trailer when i can legaly drive. If you have a problem, then you need to call the safety dept. and tell them you told me to run when i don't have the hrs.
If your friend was smart, he should report that rd serv person to the Dir. Of Safety and The Director of Maintinace, he'll never again tell a driver to run with no hours.
I kind of have a idea who may of said it. There are a couple of clueless people in that dept. I try to avoid calling them, unless it's the day shift, and i get one of 3 people who knows what they are doing.

 

It's shame the FM has really no control any more.
Before all the changes, fm/ dispatchers would get thier drivers good miles each week. Then once Tim Kohl came over here, the miles dropped, and the fm/ dispatchers laot any power to give an answer on anything.
A few of the long time dispatchers and fm's 'suddenly were no longer employed Marten Transport. I lost two of them for that reason, a 3rd, because they had torn her fleet apart so bad, while out on medical leave, and wouldnt give part of her trucks back, once she returned. She left after two days of coming back.

 

These are the symptoms of a company reconstructing itself to serve its stock-holders and its customers exclusively, instead of serving its stock-holders, its customers and its employees.
I hate to be cynical, but a company does make more money when they're looking out for the interests of fewer people. It's just really sad that the dollar signs are attractive enough to compel management to gouge their workers for the money chase.

All that said, I've have almost more miles than I know what to do with the last couple of weeks, which has been nice. Doesn't change the fact that I remain disappointed with the way the machine is tooled.

 

As you know I'm looking for a job. I plan on giving two weeks notice to Marten, and treating them the way I wish they would treat me. I'm sitting at a Pilot right now, and was just talking to another driver who has been with them for 13 years. (back when they were a good company) We talked about a lot of Marten related things. I found out that the day I give 2 weeks notice, is the day they will fire me, and that they are spiteful about it. They will make you turn the truck in at another terminal other than your home terminal, and greyhound you home to where you have to ship the contents of your truck home. I found out that there are Marten Drivers on food stamps. I can't wait to have this nightmare behind me. Marten is the absolute worst company I have ever driven for. I'll make sure to qualcom my 2 weeks notice when I'm on home time, and pack real light the next two weeks.

I couldn't imagine treating a driver employed by me the way they do. They must despise us.

 

I don't know that they despise us so much as we're just the straw that breaks the camel's back. Things seem so backside backwards up in the office (whichever terminal the "office" happens to be) that to interface with drivers is just too much.

 

I wouldn't be surprise to hear about Marten drivers being on food stamps, i know one that is fighting for partial unemployment, cause she isn't getting the miles, yet others out of her terminal are getting good miles.

 

Heard from a couple of drivers who where sitting in the old break room at the old shop in Mondovi a few days ago, Tim Kohl ( the current presidentcame in, and made a comment, that a few near by heard, saying something to the effect, #### truck drivers, who needs them.

 

I'm getting the feeling he'll be finding out soon.

 

NOT TRUE!! I will be the first to admit that i did not enjoy my brief stint at Marten but... when i made the decision to quit and move on to greener pastures i was sitting in my living room two days after christmas i called and informed them that i would be quitting and asked if i could be routed to the Portland (Wilsonville) terminal (closest to home) they informed me that they already had me preplanned on a load going to L.A. and they would do their best to route me that way. Well before i even got the load loaded that was to go to L.A. they had swapped me out with a load and another driver that was going to Portland. The bottom line is if you handle your departure with a little professionalism you may be surprised what you get in return.

 

Just a little advise.. If your going to give ANY company notice, do it after you have had a chance to get through the house so you can clean out your truck and take with you only the things you dont mind carring with you on a bus. Its a good idea to save some emergency cash for a rental car for just such occassions. But if you cant, you cant!

I dont know about Marten as I have never driven for them. But I can tell you from my experience and listing to a lot of drivers this seems to be the new path of the larger companies! sad but true. The industry is changing in so many ways one could litterly write a book on the changes.

I will tell you one of the best Large companies I have ever driven for is Con-way truckload. I do not currently work for them only because I have a job that has me home every day. IMO they really go outta their way for driver comforts. ANY issues with their equipment are immediatly taken care of. No matter how small or large they will allow you to get things fixed. Again i do not work for them in anyway Im just passing on my experience.

I hope that my days of OTR are behind me. Its not that I dont like the job cause truely I love driving and miss OTR. What I hate is all the new rules, regs, trying to find a place to sleep at 10pm, no idaling, and so on.. The days when states cared if a driver stayed warm, or cool are far behind us. they will let a driver freeze to death but if you have a pet then by all means leave your truck on!!