usa truck...job cuts

So since there are a couple of USA drivers reading this thread, can you answer a question for me. A friend recently left USA and he said other than the huge lack of communication, he was informed there is no longer layover pay, and maintenance layover has to be approved by dispatcher. Is this true?

 

That's right . The large carrier management is exempt from DOT law . FMCSA might hit a company with a billion dollar a year revenue with a $7,000 fine .

 

I find that hard to believe to some level.

 

Whose exempt? Management?

I stated that no one (in their right mind) will document a directive to operate outside the current HOS rules. Drivers say quite often, after they have been terminated or find themselves in hot water, "dispatch or my FM or Mr. Greenjeans told me to drive/operate illegal". Great, someone told you to do it so it must be o.k.....................WRONG!! First of all, prove that, please. Secondly, even if you can prove it, does that relieve a driver, who took the CDL exam and received a license, the responsibility to operate outside the FMCSA rules? NOPE. Get a knuckle head to document the directive to operate outside the rules, now you got something. Providing your not a knuckle head yourself and FOLLOW it!

The truck does not move without the ignition in the run position and a person putting it in motion. That person, the driver, is responsible for the safe operation of the truck, no one else. I'm sure that companies have folks that tell drivers to do this and that and if the driver does not comply there are "unspoken" consequences for defiance. But I would argue that those cases are minimal in comparison to the vast amount of cases where the driver took the risk, got caught and decided to cast the net of blame on anyone who could possibly give them the opportunity to get out of trouble.

We are talking about culpability here. The driver, no one else, has the final say as to whether or not the truck moves, especially if ANY CONDITION exists that would prevent the safe/legal operation of the vehicle.

As for the fines versus revenue, I have no idea, but for the sake of this conversation, the driver (and their family) pays a price of possible loss of future earnings for noncompliance. And it's hard to shake off those CSA points!

so why would any driver chose this when it can so easily be avoided?

 

If I'm held over, I've always been paid. Same for maintenance, it's up to the FM but there is no problem.

the communication thing....yeah, sometimes thats a problem, but its getting better

 

I remember West Memphis stopping me at the fuel pump, and demanding to change a tear in a trailer splashguard (mudflap), sure enough a couple hundred miles away in Mobile AL, no mudflap.

Lucky for me I had one on my catwalk, (Great Dane) and I coat hangered it on at Azco Nobel.

Used to carry 5 gallons of diesel on the catwalk too

 

I sure hope things have changed as you say. back in 2008 they were up to all the dirty tricks. so trucks would break down everyday then you are told to drive to shop. truck was on fire, got put out, shop says you can still drive to shop so do it or your gone, can not drive turbo is hanging off,just drive it now, sorry can not unsafe have it towed, fine then you will sit till you do what I said, fine then I sit. This was documented.

Trailer has blown a brake line I have no brakes on trailer 44,000 lbs rubber,unsafe to drive need service truck sent. No you drive take to trailer shop 30miles away you can make that. sorry but no way not going to take the chance unsafe. who do you think you are I am your boss do what I tell you and shut up drive. sorry but can`t. sat for 3 hours then state cop stopped called company 1hour trailer was towed to shop I got new load.

This was just two things I could list alot more. Some drivers had great fm`s some did not.
Please do not say that all the drivers are full of it fact is Usa was very bad for alot of drivers. Very small amount have good things to say about them
Note: my record is clean, DAC is clear, no failed loads, rehire says yes. I left did not get firred.
I will not go back got a great job home every night great money.

Good luck at usa hope it all keeps working for you.

 

I never said anyone was "full" of anything. My comments are not all inclusive to USIT.

 

Yep, they have been getting rid of the people who actually know how to run the company for over 2 years now.... Bringing in College educated egg heads who don't know their butt from a whole in the ground to run the show, and not paying them anything. lol. Guess their not as smart as they thought they were.
Celadon has picked up a lot more than 7% on the open market before buying that block of stock.
On top of that, a lot of the people who were fired or left USA went to work for Celadon, and took their USA shares they held with them. Including Drivers
That includes that Fella who ran Laredo until this new CEO took over at USA and tried to cut his percentage.
I can't remember his name for the life of me, but he told USA where to go, and took all of his business with him to CELADON.
Now for almost 3 years, USA has had a hard time begging a load out of Laredo.
Can you say BLACK BALLED!
Spartanburg should have never been opened in 07, now USA is stuck with a property they don't want, and can't sell.
USA has been loosing their contracts to the former experience they tossed out, and those egg heads don't know what hit them.
Not all of them went to Celadon, but the ones who can make a BIG impact on USA did.
Can you say PAYBACK!
The CEO of USA holds so much of his pay in stock options it ain't funny. And now that he is loosing so many of USA's former contracts to former employees, he don't know which way is up!
Its these former employees who have taken their contacts and contracts to Celadon and other companies, and they are the ones pushing and playing HARDBALL with this CEO.
He pushed out the people who built USA TRUCK, and now they are gonna push out Cliff Beckham and take as much as they can from him.
Celadon will buy USA, and there is nothing Mr. Beckham can do about it.

 

And your not gonna hear them complain! Not in Laredo! They have the best Freight Manager in the business working for them, and their Drivers are getting Big Miles!
He just won't work with USA TRUCK! lol.