greatwide ripoff!

I wonder what would happen if every year the companies had a "Take your dispatcher on the road week". I bet these dispatchers would have a better understanding of road life, and the drivers would enjoy the company of their dispatchers!

 

Being a former driver,or going out with a driver for a month,should be a job requirement for being a dispatcher/agent/broker.

 

Some carriers will try to make you buy workers comp from them, but you can buy from an independent agent. The carriers make money selling you insurance that is over priced. Workers comp is very confusing. In most states if you have proof that you have your own accident insurance that pays lost wages and medical bills you carrier cant force you to buy their workers comp. The tricky part is when you hire someone to drive your truck that is leased to a company ,but you can also buy a policy to cover that driver.
http://www.landlinemag.com/Archives/2004/Feb2004/columns/its_your_business.htm.

In the south it seems a lot of companies operate very shady, they force drives to buy insurance that is not required. I know of one company that got away with it for years their name was Star Freight out of charlotte NC. A lawsuit was settle recently and refunds where issued. This company was charging for tire fees,late fees drop and hook fees, and many more types of fees. A number of drivers filed complaints. Star Freight later sold out and the company ended.

The problem is KNOW ONE will protest these things or stand together.

 

Here is FEDEX policy for O/O workers comp
Do you offer a work accident insurance plan?

FedEx Custom Critical independent owner operators are required to have workers compensation or work accident insurance, depending on the regulations of the state in which they are based. Owner operators are responsible for providing their own workers compensation or work accident insurance. Those who choose to purchase work accident insurance from Protective Insurance Company may have the payments deducted directly from their settlement checks.

 

That allows you to buy insurance that is similar to workers comp from an insurance agent

 

In most cases you will get screwed buying insurance from the carrier.They will charge a fee from buying from them

 

Lee i don't think it has anything to do with where the carrier is located. They are all crooked. Yes I know you can buy your own workmans comp or the equivalent of that, but it is cheaper here even with the cost being 7.50 cents a week and the admin fee being 20.. Do I like it no but every agent I have talked to wants 300 a month for bobtail and physical damage and then 50 to 60 per week for work mans comp coverage. My main reply to your post was the bigfat thing.. I like you wouldn't buy another truck in this economy having said that he was told he learned he can't seem to let it go though.

But yes you are correct alot of times you can find better cheaper insurance I just cant in this case. Wish I could though.

 

It seems like this should not only be completely against any company policy.... (no need to discuss GW policy, I know how upheld it is) but shouldn't this be against some state regulations or something?

 

If you are a licensed Broker,from what I read on FMCSA it is.I guess if your just an agent for a Broker and GW doesn't care as long as they're getting their cut,it's fine.

 

Not true...our dispatch was 24/7 365 they worked 12 hour shifts. Yes, they got paid but not for everything. Dispatchers seen some of what was going on, but what could they say...anything they did say got squashed immediately.