It's getting worse here - KLLM

Discussion in 'KLLM' started by BlackShirt, Jul 2, 2012.

  1. RoadToad69

    RoadToad69 Mistress of Mayhem

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    Sep 20, 2007
    BFE, TX
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    When you guys are ready to work for a company that treats it's drivers as the heart of their operation rather than like "expendable crew members"...just let me know. I left KLLM and went to work for a company that really takes care of its drivers. I really feel like I stepped out of the trucking ghetto and onto Fifth Avenue!
    I have great health insurance, a 401K that the company still matches a percentage of, top notch maintenance, professional and courteous dispatchers, top of the line communications...and communications equipment.

    Let me tell you a true story:
    I broke my wrist in April. I had recently picked up a team driver (also a former KLLM'er), was on the top bunk napping while waiting out some bad weather and icy roads, the alarm went off and I flat out forgot I was on the top bunk. I went to "hop" out of bed to turn off the alarm and plummeted 6 feet to the floor...breaking my wrist in the process.
    I had not even been seen in the ER before night dispatch called. The first words out of the dispatchers mouth was "How are you? Have they seen you yet? Is there anything you need?". The next call (again, before I was seen in the ER) was from the insurance company that handles my company's workers comp insurance. They were also very courteous and let me know that they would be handling all the costs and that they would have a rep out to see me in the morning.
    It turned out that I needed surgery to put in a plate to put my wrist back together. I was given the option by the orthopedist in the ER to have the surgery there or to have it done at a hospital at home. When I called the insurance company to check with them, I was told "That is completely up to you. You are in the driver's seat on this and we will back you up all the way."
    I had the surgery done there as I was concerned about leaving it in disarray while I found another ortho at home and scheduled surgery. I also had to stay in the hospital for several days as the bone had pierced through the skin and I required several days of antibiotics to prevent infection. My dispatcher and the company medical department called every day to see how I was doing and ask if there was anything I needed.
    When the time came for me to go home, they originally talked of sending me home via Greyhound...but when I voiced concern about a 10+ hour bus ride as I was doped to the hilt on painkillers and only had jeans to wear and one hand (making trips to the "facilities" problematic), they quickly and with no hesitation changed it to a flight. They arranged my transportation to the airport and would have arranged transportation from the airport to my house had I needed it.
    Through my company, I have AFLAC. I faxed all of the documentation to AFLAC a few days after I got home and, without question, they mailed me a check for $4200.

    Another true story:
    In March, my grandmother passed away. I was at my home terminal when I got an e-mail from my father that she was not doing well at all and that he was about to head down to see her. I took my laptop in to my dispatcher and told her "I gotta go...". With no hesitation, my dispatcher got me a load down there and I was able to see my grandmother before she passed away just two days later. I remained through the funeral...never a call from or hassle from my company...they just said to let them know when I was back on the truck and ready to go. I did, and had a load within the hour.

    The majority of what I handle is drop and hook...no sitting for endless hours in a line or on a dock waiting to be loaded or unloaded. Even the live loads/unloads I have had have all been quick and efficient.

    So, when you are ready to come work for a company that has fantastic benefits and treats its drivers like VALUED team members...where your time is used efficiently to your benefit as well as the company's, where your delivery times are more open (deliver any time on x day, deliver by or before x day), where the majority of the time you can drop as soon as you get there and be off on your next load, where you have top of the line equipment and tools, where people are held accountable for their sloppy pre-trip habits and rewarded for their good work....

    Hit me up...I can hook you up.

    RT
     
    Jarhed1964 Thanks this.
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  3. RoadToad69

    RoadToad69 Mistress of Mayhem

    273
    332
    Sep 20, 2007
    BFE, TX
    0
    There are those who remember me...I have not posted on here for a while (my new company kept me busier than a one armed paper hanger and then I broke my wrist so was one handed until recently).
    They'll tell you, I'm sure, that I am a straight shooter...I'll tell the good, the bad and the ugly. I'm a driver...not a recruiter so other than a potential recruiting bonus (which the company I work for still pays its drivers), I have no vested interest in misleading anyone. A recruiting bonus is not worth trashing my reputation over. I make enough money to do what I want already.

    RT
     
    123456 Thanks this.
  4. sdaniel

    sdaniel Road Train Member

    5,511
    4,416
    Sep 7, 2011
    Pelham N.C.
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    You don't look like a toad! But yes there are great jobs out here! Anyone in southeast to northeast I can offer a hand to. All you need is ask. Pm if I can help.
    Miss toad, hope you had a quick recovery! Best of luck to all!
     
  5. Bigdoggie

    Bigdoggie Light Load Member

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    Apr 2, 2012
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    That's great Road Toad! I feel the same, and am happy for you. KLLM has gone downhill drastically in recent months. The post about the lack of the lock on the trailer stems from just recently. They sent a BS nasty-gram across the qualcomm about a driver who picked up a load of pharmacy items. The driver was obviously followed to the truck stop I assume. Somebody cut the wonderfully strong plastic seal and stole some of the load. KLLM was warned that there could be a nation wide recall of some type of pharmacy product and so went on the nasty-gram. It was wonderfully enterntaining to read this, I laughed. Here we go again, another product of management or lack there of. Let's not instill this policy into drivers from the onset, but wait until something happens. Didn't matter if I was hauling lettuce out of Fresh Express, I always locked my trailer. You can bet the driver was fired over that too. Yep, I've got them up there with Swift, Werner etc. They're no better, big time revolving door turning there.

    Another true story; I picked up a trailer at the Portage yard and it had a license plate out. Amazing the driver who dropped it off didn't note that. Hmm Anyhow, I called road breakdown to get authorization to get it fixed (that was a nice 40 to 50 minute wait being on hold); "Oh sure, take it to Lake Station". So, I did. 2.5 hrs later, they finally call my cell and tell me that I'm ready, come in and sign some paperwork. As I made my way into the shop, the knucklehead behind the desk had road breakdown on the phone only on the speaker phone so I could hear what was being said. They were slamming me for wanting the license plate light fixed....etc..."KLLM hires such stupid people"..."If you can walk and chew bubble gum you're hired"...etc...talking about me. All I could do to not pick that phone up and breath flames down that guys ear... Guess what, that license plate light out will get you pulled over, ticketed, go on your CSA score amongst other things. But, when KLLM hires people that are not CDL holders and have no idea what trucking is about, I guess you'll have smart a_s dickheads like that (just like the mathmatically challenged load planners and dispatchers). A shame, just a shame.

    Hope that wrist heals well and doesn't give you future problems. Wish you well and drive safe!
     
  6. Jons Niners

    Jons Niners Light Load Member

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    May 30, 2012
    Sierra Vista, Az
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    Well I am currently in school, I was looking at KLLM, and Werner and have not heard anything good about either on this forum so far....I live out West...May trucking will hire me but they do not have a pet ride along, I will graduate in 2 weeks from school, Does anyone know a good company in the south west for a student driver these days or are they all horrible?
     
  7. Bigdoggie

    Bigdoggie Light Load Member

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    Apr 2, 2012
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    Hey black shirt! So did you put your notice in or just clean er out and walk away? Just wondering. I've heard putting in a notice with the likes of companies like KLLM is the kiss of death, you get fired instantly (which is not a surprise). Either way, hope things work out for you; I think you'll find this new job that you've found to be night and day different. I know I have; if they're sending me to a new place, there is a detailed map and directions paper-clipped to the instructions. Never had that there @ KLLM. Just a bunch of rude people barking out silly questions over the phone..."so where you at right now?" The trucks have GPS on them, you can see that I'm moving but you still have to actually call me and ask stupid questions like "where you at"? Usually that happens when you;re right smack dab in the middle of NYC crossing the George Washington Bridge, that's when the phone starts to ring was my experience. That's why I turned the ringer off, got some questions; send em over the Qualcomm, I'll answer when I get stopped and have some time on my hands (which wasn't often). Don't blame you for leaving and wish you the best!
     
  8. Bigdoggie

    Bigdoggie Light Load Member

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    Apr 2, 2012
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    Hi road toad! If you jumped out of the bunk while driving for KLLM, broke your wrist; the first phone call you would receive should sound like this..."Will that load still deliver on time?" "What?...you can't crank the dolly legs down and un hook from that trailer?" "It will be on time, Right?" They have absolutely no regards to your condition what-so-ever. I got sent through multiple tornados and never had any type of warning from them; I trip planned the night before the best I could; no Dopplar radar system on my truck. Lucky if I had internet access. I was only miles away and stopped for the night when the tornado went through Harrisburg IL. On my way through Kentucky the next day, the sky was black and turned a weird green and then here comes the hail along with the incredible wind. Hundreds of vehicles pulled over on the side of the road, there was literally no place to pull over...just keep going (only @ 15 mph and hope you drive out of it I guess...what do you do?) CB is going nuts... The wind and sound of hail beating on the figerglass and trailer, honeslty I could not belive that it did not break the windows out. The pressure on my ears was similar to descending in an airplane way too quickly; this was not a normal event.

    Sounds like you know the deal, glad you found a greener pasture. I did too. Tells you something about "safety" there @ KLLM. Safety is non-existant. Just a couple of people sitting in chairs and robbing the payroll, sending out e-mails trying to justify their existance.

    I'm wise to it, you're wise to it; we're all wise to it. Someday, KLLM with get wise to it.

    Enjoy your new job and I hope you buy stock in the Smith system!! Works well for me.
     
  9. topnotchheavyhauler

    topnotchheavyhauler Bobtail Member

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    Jul 13, 2012
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    KLLM is a solid company. Great pay.
     
  10. Bigdoggie

    Bigdoggie Light Load Member

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    Apr 2, 2012
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    Everything said here is opinion anyhow. Everyone's experience and or story may be different. Interactions with different people produce different results and outcome. Glad you're happy top notch. 40 years trucking? You have to be close to retirement. Congrats again!
     
  11. Bigdoggie

    Bigdoggie Light Load Member

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    Apr 2, 2012
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    Well well well; I just happened to have a delivery in Davenport Iowa today. Crossing the Mississippi heading eastbound and looked over at Jumers casino on the RH side of the road. What do I mysteriously see parked at the casino?? A big old KLLM truck. Well well well. Whaaaat? I should have turned around and got his truck and trailer number and turned him in to the morality police down in Jackson.

    I had to laugh and thought about this thread. Wanted to just tell you; I think you're justified for quiting and cleaning out your pos. Enjoy your new job and drive safe.
     
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