My View of PTL as a trucker's wife

Discussion in 'PTL' started by 1truckerwife, Nov 21, 2010.

  1. 1truckerwife

    1truckerwife Bobtail Member

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    Nov 21, 2010
    Orlando Florida
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    PTL did get my husband home, only it was not always for the days he asked, usually he was a day late. Sometimes, he would ask for several days ahead of what he really needed off, so he got home in time for scheduled events such as birthdays, holidays, doctor appointments.
    What I hated about PTL is that they almost always hung my husband up for a full weekend without having another load for him. So, they can't get ya home, but they can hang you up for a full 2-3 days or more just about every weekend, then get ya out late Monday and ruin most your week with short runs and little money for all your time.
    Most of all, there is a lead dispatcher (I guess that is what she is) named Stephanie. Stephanie MONITIORS all the idle time. My husband was hung up, waiting for a load and it was freezing in the truck. He was told not to idle the truck or he could be fired. That's great if you turn the truck off to get fuel, lunch, take a break/shower or such.. but get real.. you can't be stuck several days with it below 20 degrees outside and not idle. This Stephanie lady told him "I'll be glad to get you fired, and I am going to do everything in my power to see you do" because he idled the truck to keep warm. I was there with him and heard that one!
    My husband had informed his dispatcher a week before about needing time off and reminded him 2-3 days before, again. We had a huge family event going on and his dispatcher was aware. Well, my husband gets a load that will take him in the opposite direction, so he calls dispatch. His regular dispatcher is not there but Stephanie is. My husband tells Stephanie that he can't take the load because he has requested time off and her reply is "WHAT DO THINK THIS IS??? WE ARE RUNNING A TRUCKING BUSINESS NOT YOUR PERSONAL TRAVEL AGENCY" and this is after my husband had been out about 45 days just so he could save up the days to take off. I was furious! Stephanie is one of the Lead Supervisiors but what an attitude! My husband made it home 2 days later than he asked for. I told my husband he better report her or I would because I had enough of sitting all weekend and short 200-300 mile runs and finding a hard time paying bills! In the end, my husband changed dispatchers 3 times in less than 1 year and got fed up with short runs, sitting most every weekend and poor paychecks. My husband no longer works for PTL. It is sad because my husband has 10 years experience and is no slacker when it comes to wanting to drive all the miles a company will give him. The thing I feel is there is poor support for the drivers and unless you have a dispatcher that likes you or looks out for you .. well, you might find yourself with less than 600 miles per week, sitting over the weekends and not getting a load out until mid-day on Monday and short runs during the week, just to sit for another weekend. Oh, and I almost forgot.. there was another driver that quit who had the same first and last name.. every other month we were calling to get the insurance straight because I would go to get my prescriptions filled and be told there was no insurance! This went on for months.. call the insurance company to be told the insurance was cancelled by PTL, then call PTL and have to get the HR person to call the insurance company to reinstate and multiple calls and trips back and forth to get prescriptions filled. And that's about all I have to say about PTL.
     
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  3. KE5WDP

    KE5WDP Road Train Member

    1,587
    1,029
    Mar 11, 2010
    Caddo Lake, Texas
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    To make a long story short: PTL SUCKS
     
  4. psnel

    psnel Bobtail Member

    9
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    Feb 18, 2011
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    I know one thing PTL is backwards hicks .I worked with chuck my recruiter and wanted him to check everything out before I quit the driving job I was doing,he told me everything wad good,I went down there and 1 hr before we are done with orenitation I am pulled into the office accused of lying cause swift told them of some acceident I had. I was sent home and had to buy my own bus ticket with money I did not have. I worked for swift for almost 2 yrs and then they make up lies to tell other companies, nothing you can do cause the trucking companies will take the word of other companies,over one driver. There's nothing we can do,except.move on.
     
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  5. primetime1971

    primetime1971 Bobtail Member

    5
    1
    Aug 21, 2011
    canton,ga
    0
    you know when you say little money, these folks reading, might not really understand what that mean,,,,, about 20 to35 % of what you would make as a company driver, in a years time nearly anywhere else.
     
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