rip-off john christner

Discussion in 'Report A BAD Trucking Company Here' started by highasakite, Jun 12, 2009.

  1. Trudger

    Trudger Light Load Member

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    My facts are just that, facts. What the focus of the problem I had with JCT is on the driver manager I was assigned. I had a young guy with no sense of right or wrong, only focusing on HIS profitability with his bonuses. As an independent contractor, I had the ability (supposedly), to determine when I would run, where I would fuel and what time I would be take off, as a business owner. However, we butted heads constantly as he would "demand" that I do something and would not listen to anything. He had his trucks planned according to his bonus goals. If you didn't follow HIS plans, you would be CUT on getting decent miles to cover your truck expenses, therefore making you go in the "hole." The last straw was when I had put in that I was taking time off for a family commitment, and yes, I even gave a courtesy two week notice. What happened is that my driver manager "forgot" about my time off I was taking and scheduled a load for me to pick up. When I told him no and reminded him of my time off he got irritated and said I wasn't being a team player (for his pocketbook.) He informed me there wasn't any other JCT truck in the area and that according to my "contract," I had to pick up. I still refused and headed for home (the load was going in the opposite direction and I even said I would pick up and take to another driver for relay if I could make it work, he said there would be no trucks on that route to relay it to.) So, I went home, spent my weekend off and went back out first thing Monday, or so I thought. He had me sit until around Tuesday afternoon before getting me a load to drop off at JCT. I had made the choice to make sure I got a different driver manager when I went to JCT. So, I arrived at JCT finally (from Oregon) and dropped off the load and put the truck in the shop for PM. After the majority of the day passed, my truck was still not ready and I was told to go over and talk with (I forgot his name now) the guy in the office to the left when you enter the main building. He told me they were terminating my contract for breaching it. I asked how I breached it and was upset about this as I had the plan of paying off the truck or upgrading at a later date. I loved working with JCT and was happy, other than the issues with my driver manager. I explained everything that happened and they still stuck with the termination of the contract. In the JCT contract, they have a small clause that states something similar that "do to the nature of JCT's business it may be required for a contractor to pick up a load even if they are on "time off" if there is not another JCT truck "available" to pick up that load." That is why they say I "breached" the contract. I said it wasn't right as a independent contractor to be TOLD you will do this no matter what or you will be terminated. That is the way you treat an EMPLOYEE! So yes, JCT drivers are glorified employees that pay for most of JCT's expenses running those loads. I even asked for arbitration, which we are "supposed" to be afforded in the contract, but was flat out REFUSED this right. Be careful, you do what they want or else. All in all, I can sum my bad experience as having a POOR driver manager. To John Christner himself, I say shame on you, I did try and talk with you, but you gave me the bs line of you have to trust your managers, "that's what I pay them for." SHAME JCT.
     
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  3. bigdad7

    bigdad7 Road Train Member

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    That is also my bigger issue with jct is like they say in orientation its not forced dispatch but if you turn down a load you go to the bottom of the list and sit......i want way more controll then that
     
  4. Steel Tiger

    Steel Tiger Road Train Member

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    Orlando, FL
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    If that's what happened to you, then that sucks. But you did have other options before you went home. All the driver managers report to one person, and he in turn reports to one of the vice presidents. You should have gone up the ladder before you went home to cover your butt. Not sure who your dm was but there's no way that would have flown if that happened to me. There may have been other circumstances that attributed to the termination of your contact, I obviously don't know. But being a truck driver for 9 years (according to your profile), you should know to always, always, always cover your butt.

    I'm just sayin' :)
     
  5. Trudger

    Trudger Light Load Member

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    Jun 26, 2011
    Beaverton, Oregon
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    Yes, that's exactly what happened to me, and I took it as high as it would go, Mr. Christner himself. Yes, 9 years experience, mostly as OTR and I have taken part in 3 L/P plans. The first with CR England (that was my learning move), the next with May Trucking Co, where I leraned that deadheading on your own dime even gets your contract terminated, and lastly with JCT. I thought I had learned what I needed to succeed in a L/P at that time, and as far as running my "business," I had. What I didn't expect was the poor DM I got (Jeremy I believe was his name). I also didn't expect to have the "forced" dispatch for that load on my time off. Live and learn.
     
  6. Florida Playboy

    Florida Playboy Road Train Member

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    So are you going to try a fourth a flease plan or just be a company driver?
     
  7. Child of God

    Child of God Light Load Member

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    Mar 18, 2013
    Coeburn VA
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    I'm going to make an observation here. Have any of you noticed that it's always the same people posting positive replies in the JCT treads and anyone outside that group of people who post anything negative about JCT, are demonized and treated as liars who " don't have a clue" or are making things up? I mean really. Everyone knows that JCT drivers earn money for referrals, do you folks really think that no one would see a pattern here? Its almost like JCT drivers are assigned certain topics and those are the ones they stay on, while the other JCT drivers keep to their own topics. Never do they encroach on the others territory, could it be a money thing?

    So if you think about it.
    ....it would stand to reason that all any of us will ever hear about JCT are half truths and happy reports of unicorns and fairy princes!

    So what's my problem? I'm not a JCT driver, Never drove for them and don't want to. They are just an example of a problem with all of this. That problem is that if this company is as good as it was made out to be then the people singing its praises on this forum would not dance around direct questions when asked, like they constantly do. They would not try to hide anything and one would not easily see a pattern of this develop on the forum.....and to be clear. JCT ( insert name here_______) and or Prime (________) are not the only trucking companies that receive the red carpet treatment here! look around for yourself.

    Now, I'm not saying that all drivers here are cheer leaders for JCT (or add another trucking company name here_________) but some of the people here will post till their fingers bleed in order to discount anything negative that is posted about JCT (__________). Then you have threads that will be cleaned, locked or removed altogether by the mods thereby maintaining a positive image of JCT (______________), Prime topics/posts for the most part are ran the same way. Again, its about the money that can be made off of the backs of hard working truckers -BY OTHER VAMPIRE TRUCKERS- who are looking for a better place. Only to find out that once there, the place that everyone spoke so highly of (_________), is hell on earth!

    Don't bother replying to this, I doubt it will stay up for more than a few hours. Just make sure you take everything your see and read from people here about trucking companies with a grain of salt. It's a shame that even on a forum supposedly for truckers by truckers, we are seen as nothing more that a money making tool.








    Now mods, your welcome to band be, block me or whatever me.....I have come to realize that this forum, while helpful in parts, is nothing more than a recruiting tool for some of the most notorious companies out there. one obvious example is the name calling and hateful comments that are allowed on most posts and topics on this forum ( as long as it does not go to far ) but let just a little of that get started on "certain" topics and the mods go nuts with THE CLEAN BUTTON! So that in itself should tell everyone what this forum is about,its not 100% driver focused!
     
  8. bigdad7

    bigdad7 Road Train Member

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    I an going to agree and disagree with you they pounced pretty hard on the pimp that got the new coronado for selling out fellow drivers but the fact that jct drivers are chearleaders i think is more a matter of ignorance .,.its hard once your in the middle of something like that to admit. Your getting screwed i think it might be more denial so instead of examining the real numbers for what they are you must work doubly hard to convince others that the emporer is the most well dressed man in the room ...,,,forget forced dispatched low mil contract e logs no real fuel discount or trucks that are far too expensive for a new o.o but because they sell a few small plusses hard it,s a good con in my opinion their orientation used too sell this hard and like the people drinking jim jones kool-aid you got to make sure it tastes good going down but results matter
     
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  9. Steel Tiger

    Steel Tiger Road Train Member

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    Jun 6, 2012
    Orlando, FL
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    First of all, I resent the statement of posting half truths and lies. As stated before, anyone that knows me, knows that what I have posted in 100% factual.
    Secondly, I have never danced around a question that was asked of me. Its always been honest, regardless of who it shines a bad light on.
    Thirdly, each and every word that I have posted on this forum and others are complete facts.
    Fourthly, I do not, nor have I ever done any of this for a recruiting/referral bonus. I don't recruit....not my thing. Never have received one in or out of this forum.

    If you take the time and read the previous posts, you will see that its not 100% JCT sis boom rah (post # 306). What I take issue with is the posting of inaccuracies and false statements. I try to correct them and make the information accurate so that any driver that is thinking about JCT is well informed with the FACTS!

    Another issue I have is that nobody ever wants to take responsibility for an opportunity not working out for them. If you read the "negative" posts in here, you will see that it is ALWAYS somebody else's fault. They only post half the story as it is impossible to get the full story from only one party. I guarantee you that if JCT did respond in any capacity and they were allowed by law, it would shed an entire new light on the individual's particular reason for not staying with the company. You never hear that they screwed up by being late with loads, falsifying log books, bad attitude, etc. Take responsibility.

    If JCT is so ###### bad, why are people successful? Because the program works.
    Are they all liars? Maybe some are or they exaggerate a bit. I dunno.
    Do you know them or me personally? NO!!! At least not me. How dare you accuse me of something when you don't know squat about me or my business!!!

    The following is a statement that is of my own opinion and only mine, although many may agree. Truck drivers are biggest bunch of whiners and babies out there. They are so quick to ##### and moan about a crappy load, or a crappy settlement. Of course it happens. It happens all the time. That's the trucking industry folks. I've gotten plenty of crap runs and had low or negative settlements. The difference is that I simply don't let it affect my business. Each and every business in the WORLD has poor performances in any given time frame. That's called business. Its up, its down. The key is to say above it all for the long run. I've had 5200 mile months, but I didn't cry or whine about it. Sure I wasn't happy, but I MANAGE MY BUSINESS SO THAT WHEN BAD TIMES HIT, I CAN SURVIVE IT. Its called RUNNING A BUSINESS!

    Business involves people on both ends. People make mistakes on both ends. Its not perfect. But to cry wolf or jump ship because you hit a bump is simply the sign of a quitter. You can ask any one that says that they are successful at JCT and they will tell you that they have had bumps, sinkholes and outright craters to overcome. But they all overcame them to ensure that they were successful over time.
     
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  10. Treputt

    Treputt Medium Load Member

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    Mar 15, 2013
    Sacramento, CA
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    Ok, so I am a JCT driver, and have 2 questions for you.

    1 - I drive for JCT, and I enjoy my job. So sharing my positive work experience makes me a cheerleader?

    2 - How am I ignorant?

    It may be difficult for certain people to understand, but enjoying one's job and sharing one's positive experiences does not necessarily make them a recruiter. Don't like JCT? Great! Share the hows and whys of your JCT hatred. But don't lambast the drivers who enjoy working at JCT and are sharing their own personal stories.

    A recruitment bonus may be the motivation for some to recommend JCT, just as a drivers own personal failing at JCT provide their motivation to dissuade.
     
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  11. Steel Tiger

    Steel Tiger Road Train Member

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    Orlando, FL
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    I guarantee you that I'm not ignorant of any situation that involves the lease terms at JCT. I do know them pretty well, and if I don't I simply refer to my contract when needed. Its all there, and yes, I have read every word on every page so that I fully understand the agreement that was made. It's very straight forward and pretty simple to understand.

    Forced dispatch? What part of "JCT is a non-forced dispatch company" don't you understand? If you refuse a load, of course they try to convince you to do it. They need that load covered. But , they CANNOT make you do it.

    E-logs? What's wrong with E-logs? They are great. I used to do the 4000-5000k weeks. Now I can't. I actually make more profit by running legal. My profit/mile is a lot more running legal because I don't burn or waste the fuel trying to get as many miles as I can. Most importantly, I GET MY REST! In addition, there is no more stressing at scale houses. I know I'm perfectly legal on the driving side, and pretty confident that I'm legal on the truck side. We aren't targeted as often as the "good ole days."

    Trucks too expensive for new O/O? How much do you think a new truck costs? They have skyrocketed in the last few years due to the high costs of making them EPA legal. The DEF and DPF system is what has made the truck expensive, not company greed. By going thru JCT, or any company, to buy a truck, you actually save money because the company has the buying power to get them cheaper in bulk and pass that savings on to the driver. Do they pass all the savings down? I'm sure they don't. But again, I realize they are a business just like me in business to make money.

    Fuel discounts? Can't really argue much there. I know we could get more, but that's the way its set up. If you don't like that, then don't sign on to JCT. My fuel surcharge pays for most of my fuel anyway, so I don't complain about it.

    Low mil contract? Sorry, but I don't understand what that means. If you are referring to low miles, then yes. There are low mileage weeks. It happens. But with the variable lease contract, you don't get hit with a high truck payment like you do with a standard lease/loan. If you don't turn in any miles one week, your payment is $120.00 plus the miles x your truck rate, which would be 0 x truck rate, which equals..........wait for it...................ZERO! Try that with most other companies or a bank. They don't want to hear it. They want that same $$$ amount each and every week/month regardless if you didn't have the miles or not.
     
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