Any current Covenant Drivers??

good info! i heard the same about the idle deal (without the over 25%) from a cov driver on the CB. my friends step-dad works for them and hates it. always broke down or waiting 2 days for a load.
USA Truck (where i am) starts at .28 for drivers fresh out of training and goes to .29, 30, 32, 36 in the first year.

 

I didn't mean to imply they done it at any other terminal. If that's the way I came across, my apologies.

It's the owner, who is in Chattanooga mostly that endorses them.

Not NO...But hell no !!!

You can only run 70 hrs. in 8 days as a solo. That leaves 94 hours.

Logging legal will require you to get no less than 60 hours rest inside those 70 ran. Which leaves another 34 to deal with.

You'll owe these SOB's your entire check each week during the summer months, as a solo driver.

There is NO COMPANY, including the one I work for now. Going to take part of my check, for idling the truck, while I sleep, in 75 degree plus weather. Under a load or not.

#$#! all of em, they can drive their own #### trucks.

 

I've been asked to join Covenant as a team or solo driver. If I chose either, it would be team. However, with this new "idle rule" I've heard about, they can't have my arse in a seat, no matter which, unless I am only riding along. To that end, I said I'd ride along to see what I thought and was informed that would be NO problem... AFTER they get MY driver license in THEIR possession... WHAT?

Yeah, they want me to allow them to insert MY d/l into a folder and be stored away while aboard their truck... as a prospective employee or passenger. The reason given was, "to ensure you won't actually drive the truck." Who are they kidding? As if I intend to drive their equipment atoll W/O being paid to do so... The only way that may happen is in an emergency!

Besides, if I wanted to drive the truck, what person believes that, since they have my license, I can't drive anyway? Ludicrous... A license never drove a truck or 4 wheeler... Drivers do that. Whether or NOT they have a license...

The problem is, if I give them my d/l, I'm no longer legal to drive ANY vehicle, even if I'm home... I'm not planning to go visit Chatanooga simply to reclaim my license so as to drive legally in my personal vehicle.

 

Danc, no worries. I was mostly trying to get across that it is not like that at all terminals (and to encourage anyone who wants to try Cov to look outside of Chatt if they are uncomfortable with that issue). Sorry if I came across as defensive or anything of the sort.

As a team driver, my main issue with this 'policy' is that if we are stopped long enough to need to idle (over 25%) or to use the IdleAire service, it's not because we are sleeping or on break, it's because they do not have a load for us or the load they have has us sitting for 24 hours. Forcing us to either pay them or 'suffer', doesn't ring right.

In addition, we found out last night they are getting the Gold rate (1.85 per hour), charging drivers 1 per hour, but if you go over 40 hours, it's 2 per hour. So if you end up sitting too long, you are not only saving the company the 4-5 per hour in fuel, but you are also going to be paying them. It seems a bit bogus to me, and if I were a solo driver I would have some issues (although, I believe all solo drivers should now have APUs installed, so it may not be much of an issue for them)

 

My senitments are very close here, as I suspect most others are.

I have a problem, knowing you'll sit if you have no load issued on Friday, for the weekend in most cases. If I'm home, no problem. Otherwise, it is indeed a problem. COV tells it's new drivers they are not to expect a load on weekends unless it was an unfinished run from the weekdays...

My friend who just started told me that last week. Also, the truck issued in this case is a "team truck" and has no APU, but the driver is solo.

Immediately upon reading the charges for idle aire it hit me, I don't pay $2.00 an hour to use IA personally, but the company wants me to pay them MORE than IA charges? That can't be legal, as it isn't COV property to sell. It belongs to IA.

Seems to me, we already have laws on the books nationwide, which protect an employee from being forced to work in overly harsh conditions for extended periods. Being inside the truck, maybe thousands of miles from home for days or weeks on end creates the concern of trying to sleep in either too hot or too cold conditions. That presents a clear health hazard and surely isn't legal. How can anyone expect a driver to sleep in those conditions for up to 10hrs and actually get restful sleep, needed by all to safely operate the equipment?

 

tichdaddy,
just came from covenant....No they want treat you fairly and will only support each other....I came home for my hometime afer being out for over a month well I'm still at home a month later....The guy I was teaming with decided he wanted to go solo after bringing me home. I never received my bags or clothes he want even bring them close to my house and now refuses to answer my calls...It came down this way he was suppose to put me back up on sun. he said he broke down..The dispatcher told me I would get $50.00 a day until he picked me up...1st lie because if your home for hometime you will not get paid jack......even if it's not your fault and truck breaks down your on your on...2nd you will be teaming for 6mos. or 80,000 miles......3rd per diem you will only make about .10 or.11 cents per mile....you piss them off then your a trouble maker or a whiner ....They try to proclaim being christains just wolves in sheeps clothing.....Try to think hard on this instead of making a bad mistake...They get money for you being hired so, after the nice friendly act will come. I don't give a flying flip about your butt rump attitude so, if you chose them get ready for it will smack you dead in the face.....If you have already gone to them best of luck to you....................

 

Covenant tells you if you idle more than 25% it's $5.00 hr. they say they only pay the 1st 40hrs then it's on you.....You have to pay for the prepass and ezpass also...

 

They said they will not be putting any more tripacs on the trucks for what reason unknown

 

They are nuts.

 

your right about that dacs. can be ruined quickly and the trucking companies know that...it's like black balling someone........