Pathfinder Truck Lines-brutal truth

Well, had coffee and a chat with a wife whose hubby at one point was an owner operator for Pathfinder. In four months he brought home 15000 dollars. There is a phrase in the contract that is deceptive, given that they take money off you for a "holdback". When you read the contract you think that this phrase refers to holding the "holdback" for sixty days if you quit-the reality is that they not only keep the "holdback" for sixty days, they keep ALL of your last pay check too. They are currently advertsising for owner operators on Craigslist in Vancouver. I don't know enough about computers to be able to post a "Pathfinder Truck Lines-O/O Beware" notice on Craigslist. Anyone out there with computer skills, knowing their way around Craigslist, feel free to post the warning. May save some guys some grief. I can see why they have such a bad rep.

 

Don't know how many years her hubby had been in trucking. Mine has been in for many many years. And most places had kept the monthly withdrawal for holdback, for sixty days, but you got some of your last cheque. First time I have heard of a company keeping everything from the last cheque as well as the holdback. Oh, well, at any rate, I don't think the revenue for 4 months work was really great-that would average out to about 3700 bucks a month for 4 months. Seems to me it would be a waste of time working for a company for that low a rate-and if they kept all of your last paycheck too, that does not leave anyone money enough to leave and go elsewhere. Sort of a form of entrapment, isn't it-you can't afford to stay yet you can't leave because every cent is locked up.

 

Totally agree with poster regarding contracts. Read carefully and query any money related items-ask for itemization of money that will be held back in the event of quitting or termination. By the way, sure heard some stories about Bison at a Super Bowl party last week. Those dudes are real sneaky.

 

Glad you like them so much-you sound like you still work for the company Still good to have any money issues regarding holdbacks etc. mentioned in a contract itemized Hiring on with anyone is a crap shoot-with current rates not much point in anyone being an O/O.

 

Hi Wiggles. The reality of trucking just makes me want to puke-as the title says. The Canadian economy runs on the sweat of truckers-and rates just don't cut it, when a trucker has a family to support-as a driver or an O/O. Being a truckers wife for decades, I have also been a counsellor of sorts to other truckers wives-or wives whose husbands want to be truckers. My advice to them has been if your hubby tells you he wants to get into trucking, take him out, shoot him, and bury him deep. There is no joy or $ in trucking and what it can do to a family is not worth it. In North America, given that the economy needs truckers, and the pay rates, another name for a trucker is Road Slave. I also do career talks to young people, and tell them flat out, never, ever, go into trucking.