GFS

Wow... after working there since fall of last year, all I can say is wow...

-No time off
-You *have to come in* when called in on your scheduled days off
-this means working 6 days/week unloading manually by yourself anywhere from 10,000-20,000lbs every day in 8 hours + 1 hr drive time + 1hr pre/post/trip meaning 10hr shifts up to 14 if things get really screwed.
-if you call in sick, you *need* a doctor's note since being worn out, fatigued, or sore are not valid excuses for not wanting to come in to be completely alert awake and aware to drive a big truck and be a safe employee
-the trucks are NEVER packed properly meaning skids are built backwards, product is never grouped together for relevant stops and it's a nightmare to unload
-they do not give enough time to complete the day's run in the scheduled time: 4 minutes drive time allotted to get from one underground dock downtown to another dock 3 blocks away? In whose dreams?
-they do not give any break time to sh-- pi-- eat or fill out paperwork - this has to be done while driving... or...
-"if you don't like it, leave" is their attitude. They are completely unreasonable.
-usage of foreign labourers allows them to use people like slaves - if their foreign workers on work permits complain, they ship them back home. Citizens and those with education are taken more seriously when they complain about the unreasonable working conditions, but the wages for their expectations are still pathetic.
-If you get hurt or injured trying to make their ludicrous delivery times they get mad at you. It's a constant system of abuse and exploitation. They are one small step below getting sued for how ridiculous their employee treatment is. Prison feels like one small step away from being a gfs service rep. Remember this to all you noobs out there looking for a job. They are a stepping stone. Don't ever stay there.... don't EVER stay!

So... F--- GFS.

 

I am still young, and it looks to me like the "golden age" of trucking is completely dead, and has been for well over a decade... From what I can see, the modern trucking industry is run in this manner, across all companies:

We need our sh-- and we need it NOW. I don't care how much fuel costs, you're paying for it. We're paying you nothing, we're running you as long as we can and we don't care if you are never home and can't have a social life. Just be glad you're not in prison. If you don't like it, good luck collecting EI or finding a new job, because everyone has the same attitude these days.

Work people as hard as they can, pay them as little as they can, and constantly raise the expectations to become more and more robot-like until all of humanity either completely suppresses every emotion they naturally have or rebel in a global all-out war for abuse of human rights.

I don't know about you guys, but I was born to LIVE, not to exist and work. I wanted to see what life is like on the other side and thought maybe it would be okay, but I've worked long enough and hard enough in my short stint as a driver to realise the coolest part about trucking is the truck; everything else sucks. The only route I can see that would be enjoyable is running across the Rockies doing day trips - one trip there today, one trip back tomorrow. It's a fixed challenging route and there's no room for any other kind of BS since there's no intermediate stops and the route has enough hazards and challenges as it is... it really is a driver's route, not a robot zombie run. But... I think I'm going to excuse myself from the industry and attempt to find something safe, sane, and well-paying, before it's too late!! Good luck everyone and thanks for the forum, I learned a lot of very good info here. For being just 'truck drivers', many of you seem very insightful and intellectual. I just hope that in the very near future they will finally start to release hybrid technology and energy recycling in semi-trucks to cut down on fuel costs. It's getting ridiculous!