Indian River/North American Tank Lines

NOPE! Didn't get screwed.
NOPE! Didn't give them money up front.
It was a pay roll deduction that was like 2 cpm till the $500 was in the account then it stopped being deducted. Besides that 2cpm I didn't miss as I was run well enough and made bonuses and extra drop pay and hazard pay and extras that, no, 2 pennies a mile for a little while wasn't a biggie! And no they don't pay interest as it's way easier to have it sitting than get slammed all at once for paying for a screwup. Besides no one else pays interest for their "escrow" accounts even in the fleece side. And you lent the Gooberment money at no intrese and it's way more than a piddling chump change $500. If $500 bothers someone that much they need a job change!

I have NO problem driving someone elses equipment and they take a few dollars out to cover my screwups! If I don't screw up I get the money back. I screw up then I've paid for the screw up. I had other choices in this area for a job but leasing was not an option, less money per mile was not an option, we have 2 companies in the area one charges the heck out of you for a scratch and the other about the same but they actually pay more a mile than that slip seat Peterbilt company that pays .30cpm with NO raise ever! And the rest I wouldn't work for even if they held a gun to my head. I do not do team.

If drivers think that if they screw up and they don't have a financial obligation for their F-up then they care less what they do driving a "it's not my truck" truck! They drive with this attitude and we all suffer from it.

Some of us out here actually man up to our screw ups. Sorry if some think differently. I know you all have heard the "I don't care, it aint mine" talk on the CB or the dinner counter. These are the reasons there are escrows! The "I don't care group!"

And as always if you don't like a policy, don't let the door hit you as you leave. $500 really isn't that much to whine about as like I said they took it out when we were not in a slow down. I never had to worry about using that escrow until bad luck with a dip in the pavement, old style dock in NJ as in doors touching in the dock and a stipid accident that was MY faukt so I should pay part of the expence.

It's that simple. I had no problem with the escrow. At least I drove for the best company here in town untill they decided to go the fleece route. Even though I did screw up not listening to my doctors! It cost me $500 to help pay for that screwup and I lost my job which I would have lost in March 09 when they implemented their total fleece program and fired all the company drivers smart enough not to sign for a ripoff deal.

At least I helped pay for my mistake like a real man should. I might be down on O$S but I was always pad on time, given great bonuses, run like a scalded dog at times and gotten home more times than ever before in years of trucking! They took care of my trucks and trailers with out the usual shop crapola. If it needed fixing it got done! There will never be a company like they WERE until they did the fleece deal. So why would I not take responsibly of my mistakes? Good companies like they used to be are very few and far between! I'd do the same deal if I could ever get back on the road! I drive it like it's mine and yep I'll fix it if I have to when I screw up! Just like I did when I owned my own.

 

Hey BUD Again a rocket scientist reply!
Really hitting the snappy remark section aren't we...BUD...
The last post of mine wasnt directed at you but seeing that all you can come up with is this moronic statement of Drive for them BUD or now it's they're hiring, you need to head back to BK where you came from! My last statement was about ME getting screwed by agreeing to an escrow. Reread it and understand the whole post if it doesn't strain that brain of yours.

But if you drive so badly that they took yours out after only a whole 8 years of driving life time then yes BUD leave trucking. You SCREWED the pooch and did some damage correct? Then MAN up and pay for screwing up! Why would you think the company should pay because you blew it? HMMMM? Yeah BUD figure it out! If you aren't man enough to take care of your mistakes go buy your OWN truck and see who pays for those mistakes!

Who pays for the scratches and dings and dents on your car? You do! Unless you pay for a zero deductible. Try to read what is said and come up with something intelligent in a reply as "Bud drive for them" really is pretty lame!

 

What happens if ur sittin still for your ten hour break genius ?[/QUOTE]


Doesn't matter. You can use windows. It is not a FEDERAL requirement yo imbicile. Look, your smart comments on this forum will not be tolerated by the other members. You sir, are just a crybaby that couldn't cut it in the real world of trucking. I'm sure everyone on here with some decency about them will agree that, by your vicious posts toward the employer and other members, you did not do your homework when choosing a job in this field. Even though I am upset because of the attitude you have, I still wish you well in your endeavors.

Your experience with Indian River might have been bad for you, but what you experienced is not uncommon. In fact, it is an industry wide thing. Before you decide to get back into trucking, take time to research each prospective company and you will see that the rules Indian River had are similar, if not the same, as most carriers out there.

One last thing. About you running out of fuel because there weren't enough Pilots for you. That is BUNK!! Get on the internet and look. They have hundreds of locations. YOU!! YOU!!! YOU!!! are ulitmately responsible for the safe operation of your truck. NOT the company. the company has a responsibility to provide a safe, compliant truck for you to drive. They provide fuel cards, i'm sure, for you to use. They cannot hold your hand and lead you to the fuel stop. Most newer trucks have a warning light that comes on when you reach 1/8 tank. That'll give you ample time to reach a fuel stop. I'm sure you passed atleast 2 pilots while running out of fuel. Do not bash us on this forum for providing useful information to you. We can't help you if you don't let us.

 

I would go to work for these guys in a heartbeat if I was looking for a company driving job. And here are my reasons.

1. They hold drivers responsiable for stupid stuff like running out of fuel
2. They run nice equipment.
3. They let me run and give me 600 miles a day. That means I am rolling and making money.
4. They want their equipment kept clean.
5. No pets. Good I don't have to worry about the last driver having an animal in the truck, just have to worry how bad the hygiene of the last driver was.
6. Insurance cost that is about the norm for insurance or at least what I pay. I don't expect some company to pay for my health insurance nor our government to pay it.
7. Attitudes of the terminal and shop managers. So who cares were not their to hold hands and sing Kum by ya, we are their to truck and make money.

The only complaint I see you might have had is the A/C one for two weeks but who knows after running out of fuel and complaing about this other little stuff you may have had the heater on and didn't know it. Did you check the fuse box?

 

I run for Indian River
there are the usual problems, as with other companies.

I run 600-700 miles a day if I want to hustle. At 70 mph, it is not too hard, and I log it as I do it. Completely legal.
About half the customers can take the load early if you want to run and get miles. If you unload early somewhere, the will get you moving somewhere else. I like that as opposed to sitting at the truck stop waiting for qualcomm to beep, like when I worked at Crete.

Also, most of the loads are open appointments, so there is not that "pressure" that you have to keep rolling. I have noticed it is easier to keep rolling when it is your choice instead of a dispatcher hounding you to do it. A certain feeling of freedom exisits. That wont work good for drivers who like to sit or stop at casinos. Again, freedom to choose.

The shop is the best shop I have experienced. I have never heard " we cant get to it till tomorrow". usually taken care of right away. And I do not feel like an enemy in my own terminal shop either. I have experienced the opposite at other places I have worked.

It is true about long load and unload times. You must adapt to that and plan on resting or eating or visiting with other drivers. Although 3 hours is about the norm. About 50 percent are 3-4 hours

Nice equipment with fridge and in dash GPS. high quality GPS by lowrance.
I can walk into operations manager's office and talk with him. Decent guy.
dispatch has no concept of hours of service, you must manage your own hours of service. They do not say anything to me about refusing loads due to hours . They always work with me. That does not happen at many companies.

Gettinghome can be tough. You have to keep reminding dispatchers to head you in that direction. They are over worked with too much stuff to do and it requires a lot of input from driver if you want to get into a certain area. It can be a good thing if you like to run in certain areas, they work with you to get you to those areas.

Dont get me wrong! I swear I am gonna quit at least twice a week ! I cant stand the way drivers are treated in this business !
I figure it is better than all my other driving jobs. I wanted to quit twice a day at my other driving jobs !
Isn't that an improvement !

drivenaway