Marten Transport sneeks sleep study on Drivers at Orientation/Lies to Driver re: pay

They are not forcing anyone to do anything, they are offering drivers jobs if they meet their criteria and seem to have a program in place to make it happen.. if you don't want the job, then the driver refuses and is never employed and the big mean old company that was offering them employment. Dang mean old company!

 

While waiting at the customer to be loaded or unloaded, most drivers log that time in the sleeper berth. Basically, as soon as they show the sleeper berth in their logbook, they are on their “break.” Once 10 hours of break time has been reached, they are able to drive again. But as stated before, shippers and receivers can often take 4 hours or more to finish loading or unloading. So that 10 hour break normally reserved for sleeping, quickly turns into 6 hours. Add on another hour to find a parking spot, another 30 minutes to grab a shower, and maybe if there’s time, another 30 minutes to grab a meal. Where did that 10 hour break go? Four hours of sleep is sometimes all you get.

 

And they wonder why OBRD are coming on strong... Drivers love to work for their masters for free.. now the feds and common sense has started taking the ability for those who have destroyed all the good paying jobs (the bumper polishers who will work all day for free like suckers for their companies) and then log it all as "sleeper berth" then sing the blues because all their falsifying to get to their piecework (driving) has been all taken away because the drivers would rather get paid more pennies per mile than get paid for their time working.

I loved the last video from the company owners came out. They complain about the fact that they just don't know how they are going to stay in business with all these regulations when all the regulations do is work out all the falsifying done by the willing "victims". They have profited off the bumper polishing suckers for so long and BANKED on the suckers working for free for so long, that when the day comes where falsification stops becoming the NORM.. the have no idea how to make their money anymore! I find the irony and their cries of woe HILARIOUS!!! Poor CEOs are having their golden piggy bank threatened and they are talking more about getting out of the business that just doing the business the way it should have been done all along! The throat cutters and their willing little toadies are all upset that they have to follow the rules.. poor poor dears.. what will they ever do?

 

I could not of said it better myself Fozzy.

My question is will there be a portion of the regulation that prevent the companies retaliating on the driver when they are tired and want to go to sleep?

The OBRD does not indicate if the driver is in the sleeper birth or not. The real issue is the driver having to stay up all day with everything else that has nothing to do with driving the truck itself...then being expected to drive.

I will submit that the whole sleep apnea test for truckers is nothing more than another cash grab by the companies....just like the "fleece purchase" programs. The companies get a sweet tax write off and get into the drivers pocket at the same time. The sleep studies are also subsidized by the NTSB and the FMCSA among others. There was also a ton of grant money (free money) made available to these companies to conduct these tests, and get machines. This is another money maker for the companies...that is why the love having drivers come to orientation so they can chuck them in a sleep study LOL. So why do the drivers being charged!!

Lets break this down to a reality check. Drivers spend a lot of time doing other things that have absolutely nothing to do with the driving of the truck itself. Waiting to get loaded, unloaded, calling in for loads etc etc. Being awake when your body is use to sleeping at 3am. No real sleep schedule for your body to get healthy rest.

Now tell the company you cant pick up a load or deliver on time (or make a job site appointment) because you are tired, due to the reasons I stated above, and are going to get some sleep. You will be retaliated on or fired! This sounds like a double standard to me.

There are other things that can effect a drivers sleep. Being sick, having heartburn, a severe cold ....I can go on and on!!

 

Once again this is all pure %100 BS. Cutting and pasting one sided links does not prove anything. I can cut and paste links that show the opposite (Its not just worth it).

First off the Sleep Study is nothing more than a cash grab by many of there companies. The NTSB, FMCSA and the US have offered extreamly generous grants, funding and tax breaks for trucking companies that do the study, issue the CPAP machine and "treat" people that allegedly have sleep apnea.

How did I find this out you ask. I went to a certified polysomnography lab at a well established University Hospital that is top in this field. My sleep study was reviewed by the doctors (pulmonologist and a neurologist) that specialize in sleep disorders and are panel certified. The finding was as follows....I DO NOT HAVE SLEEP APNEA!! I have the tests! I have the doctors findings yet the companies insist I go to one of their (in the pocket) sleep studies....and make me pay for it!! WTF!!! That makes no sense at all. I contacted my doctors and they gave me the full run down on what is happening regarding these pre-employment tests! My doctor even offered to speak with them. The company would not have it! That makes absolutely no sense at all!! I am talking about I went to a renown University hospital and had the test conducted, and had it reviewed by 2 panel certified Doctors.....and the company wont accept it!! How many ways can I spell that they are trying to scam!!

The doctor advised me to keep a solid sleeping rhythm/pattern and dont try to be awake when I should be sleeping....or sleeping when I should be awake.

I find it interesting that the companies do not post this "sleep study" requirement on their web sites, especially the recruiting sites. They wait until you get to orientation and hit you with it...and the money they want to conduct the study and withhold money for the CPAP machine etc etc. The companies get the grant money and tax breaks....and money from the drivers!!

How man ways can I spell SCAM!!

 

If you think that the companies are behind this you are really sadly mistaken.. they'd allow blind, one legged baboons to drive these trucks..

 

That is why I am going to go get my own authority and become an O/O. I have about $140,000 saved up.

I already looked at a few new rigs.

Hopefully I can get things moving and be responsible for my own driving. I can promise you one thing. I will not lease on with a company that plays these sleep study games.

Trix are for kids

 

You think that will save you from this? Really? I've got some wonderful ocean front property in Oklahoma to sell you.

 

Well like I said. I already have my sleep study from a University Hospital in a controlled sleep lab. It was not is some hotel!!
The results were reviewed by board certified doctors that specialize in sleeping disorders.

I did contact the FMCSA and the DOT shortly after my test. According to them my sleep study should be accepted by the carriers and there is no reason for them to reject it!!

I am willing to comply with rules the NTSB, FMCSA or DOT put forth. I have no problem with it. The sleep study is not a regulation but it is "encouraged."

However, I will not and do not have to subject myself to the companies scam!

I feel bad for these drivers that get roped into this crap during orientation. I really do. The companies need to be up front on their polices regarding this (sleep study and the costs related) and post it on their website instead of blind siding drivers when they get to orientation!!

 

The sleep study marten does doesn't cost you a #### thing. Get your facts straight before you start spreading lies! If you dont agree with the policies companies have good luck being a O/O with terrible freight rates by some brokers and high costs of fuel. All I've seen you do is ##### bout policies which I find you can't obide by!