Ok...here's another BAD company to driver for....WAYLON TRANSPORT (part of ATS)

Weh-elll......

I posted on here not too long ago about looking to get on with Waylon Transport, out of Devon, AB.....so, I got on with them, and right from the get-go, it was not going to work...

Strike 1: There was lots of work to be had, don't get me wrong- however, I started in mid-December, and I STILL HAVEN'T BEEN PAID.
Strike 2: There was no fall arrest gear provided- after I specifically asked for it, because of the nature of the loads (flat deck work that needed tarping).
Strike 3: Sending me to the US (no offense to my southern brothers- had a FANTASTIC time down there, thanks to y'all!!!!), and having ME pay for the border crossing on the way down....having ME pay for parts for the truck (for which I was supposed to be reimbursed for, and haven't...yet *crossed fingers*), and having ME do the brokerage for the load on the way back....
Strike 4: During the attempt to get the bill of sale, so I could get US Customs (who were very helpful with this, by the way) to clear the load, as I was walking back to my truck, I was stopped by the border patrol, and searched AT GUN POINT (now, mind you, it is a truck crossing...and pedestrian traffic is suspicious- can't really blame them for doing their job....really, not a huge issue, just the straw that sealed the deal, as it were....)
Strike 5: Was disciplined at the office when I got back (from what was supposed to be a 10 day rounder that turned into a 17 day rounder), for being late getting to the client (the backhaul that I got stuck at customs for).
Strike 6: Having me pick up a load of pipe (remember, no fall arrest gear?), then having to strap and tarp (no biggie there), and during this- SLIPPING ON THE PIPE- and sliding off the trailer from 13' in the air, narrowly missing a pipe pin on the way down.....landed on my feet (luckily), and crumpled to the ground......got back up, and out of spite, finished tarping and strapping the load properly.
Strike 7: After getting back from loading the pipe, parking the truck in the yard, and handing in my keys.......got a call this morning from the ops manager accusing me of stealing the VHF radio (I'm a ham radio op here in Alberta- WTF do I need a puny VHF radio for when I have dual purpose radios here???), and threatened to take the cost of the radio from my final (sic) paycheque.......can't be the final one, if I haven't received a single one yet!!!



So, not a good fit, that's for sure......don't think that I have had it with flatdecking (going to another company that is MUCH more reputable!)..just ha it with little "mom and pop" companies- never did have a good experience with them......and that, folks, is just my opinion on that, let's be clear....


Ok...now the rant is over.....let's hear it....



Pete.

 

Oh, and the "good truck" that they gave me broke down the second day that I had it- and wanted ME to pay for the repairs....the batteries (all of them) fried because the previous driver had installed a second inverter piggy-backed on the company installed inverter....he'd cross-wired it, and the unit grounded out....fried the battery pack, the inverters (both of them), most of the electrical systems in the truck, the alternator...and the ###### radio......


You try driving through Utah without tunes......fit to be tied, was I......


Ugh...

 

Quick update- started with the new company this morning...they called Waylon for a reference (and noooooo surprise to ANYONE....), and got a horrible reference......was fast-tracked into training this morning......YAY! (Apparently Waylon's reputation doesn't count for much with our HR dept..)


Still no pay, but hey, that's what CRA and my lawyer is for.....


And yea, ralph....I know that Waylon is now owned by ATS out of St Cloud....thanks, tho....

 

Gotta clear one thing up- NOT ALL SMALL COMPANIES ARE BAD- not even Waylon.....I'm just relating what happened to me.....

And, not all mega carriers are bad, either.......truckerX is going to have a different view on the two than truckerY, and both of those will be different than mine.....I can't speak for anyone else's experience, but I can relate mine........and it don't look good for Waylon, that's for sure (and I'm not the only driver who's had a bad experience, I found out this morning, btw)....


And I will NEVER work for a small (less than 50 trucks) company (mom and pop's notwithstanding) again......


Like I said before....just my 1.59 cents worth.....(exchange rate for my southern bretheren!!! LOL!!!)

 

ralph: and some people are like that- and it works for them, and more power to them......just not my thing...

 

New News:

Recovered 2000.00 from Waylon- and they stiffed me 276.00 illegally for a ticket that I got in Texas....now I have to get Canada Labour involved. Sucks to be them...


Yar.