Systems Transport

This goes back to my previous statement that the recruiters at Trans-Systems won't lie to you, but they will leave things out and twist things in such a way that you see the picture they are trying to portray. They're still better than many in this business IMO who will outright lie to your face and hope you don't have the money to leave when you find out at orientation.

Now i could be wrong, but I would bet that the .40cpm solo TWT drivers are pulling the 8 axle rigs around WA,OR and ID not getting #### for miles. Last i checked the TWT guys running the whole west coast with 5 axle rigs were making .31cpm as you said. The TWT drivers are normally pretty happy with their miles, but that's alot of west coast and CA running. I could never do it.

As to your predicament with the evil witch of the west I would just recommend you get off her fleet after your 3 months is up. I heard she is now a permanent dispatcher instead of her previous position of newbie dispatcher only after returning from dispatching at swift. Keep it factual and leave the emotions out and chances are things will work in your favor as much as they possibly can anyways. If you can't resolve an issue with her which is normally a waste of breath I would recommend talking with John Shraveloff (I can't spell his name right,but that's how you say it). As I understand it he is the direct manager of all the dispatchers for the Spokane based OTR FLeet. He is the man with the power to get things done in my experience. He unlike Bobbie normally has more time to resolve your issues as Bobbie is the head of the Subsidiary Systems transport as i understand it. I've changed dispatchers multiple times as a result of talking with him and sharing my factual results with him proving why said dispatcher was a poor fit for me. He is very skilled at dealing with people though so remember to keep it factual. He likes to soften you up with extreme kindness in the beginning typically and then when he see's an opening he comes in hard and fast that will throw you off your game if your not prepared. It's nothing against him. His job is to resolve issues like this daily and he has developed a solid tactic for doing so in a manner which normally leaves both sides happy. You just need to be ready for it and for the 100000th time KEEP IT FACTUAL.

Yes we all know the names for TWT. Be nice now guys lol. My condolences for your loss. Systems transport wasn't actually the Systems transport it is today (owned by Jim Williams) until 1978 when Systems Transport original owner died. I don't know if I would say Systems has gone down hill as much as i would say the trucking industry has gone downhill and Systems has worked to adapt to it. I could easily write a 10 page essay on that, but I'll leave it at that.

Here's the article http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/nov/16/driven-to-succeed/

I found it to be an interesting read.

 

****Final Statement****

The final check has been cashed. I'm going to display my opinion generally in this statement as we have discussed enough specifics in previous posts.

IMO Systems transport is in a time of cautious growth and like any co. attempting to grow they are experiencing growing pains. As the economy recovers their is pressure from the shippers to expand operations that Systems is obviously responding to. According to the previously mentioned article they actually lost money in 2008-2010 so it's reasonable for them to attempt to jump at the chance to profit when their is money to be had. The growing pains here are manifesting themselves as increased volume of company policy and increased enforcement of company policy. What does that mean for the pawns (Us drivers) in the game? I'll get there.

As they attempt to grow or even just maintain their fleet in an true bull market for drivers they have to take what they can get instead of what they may want. The CEO Jim Williams himself admits that in the aforementioned article. Trans-System has over 800 trucks that they need filled. Furthermore they do mostly skilled (niche freight as JW calls it) freight that an untrained steering wheel holder can rarely succeed at. Flatbed,Steps,blade/tower trailers and RGN's require significant training and knowledge to avoid load claims/shifts. Reefers require you to maintain a specific temperature dealing with perishable freight. Tankers require specific knowledge to avoid damaging your equipment or the customers and risk losing an contract. The driver pool they can hire from just got smaller. Many don't want to do the work associated with Flatbed or tanker and the driver pool just got smaller. Many don't want to stay out for weeks on end with TWT or Systems and the driver pool they can hire from just got smaller.

I and many EX Co-workers have all noticed the driver pool at Systems degrade massively over the last couple years as they struggle to not only maintain their fleet, but grow it to take advantage of the good times. When the company is forced to hire from a less than desirable pool they still have to ensure profitability. In order to do so you have to crank down with a one type fits all System. This means increased company policies and increased regulation of them. It comes down to micromanaging the drivers to the point that failure is minimized and even a complete fool can make the company money. In implementing this one size fits all System you have now made it impossible for the more experienced and capable drivers to operate at their peak level. This quickly frusturates the more senior drivers and leaves only the newbs who need this system of micromanaging. I know that is why I left and i think it was a major contributor to Rugerfan and Milktankers's leaving. Both men who i hold in high regard for their capability and demeanor.

Thus your left with a Company that indirectly has shot itself in the foot by pushing all the senior drivers they need to reliably succeed out and leaving nothing but the far less capable drivers they took just to fill a couple seats. You follow down this path long enough and you get Swift,CRST,CR England etc... and that is where i see this path going ultimately. Especially when Jim Williams Croaks and his Greedy foolish sons take over the business.

Enough of my doom and gloom ramblings though.

I did and i still do highly recommend them for any driver starting out in the business. As long as the old man is alive and kicking this business will be a far more honest and profitable company than most you can access as a new driver with no experience. The new health insurance package is a very reasonable plan with reasonable rates. You can build a retirement and have a decent career here If you don't mind being micromanaged. Some people deal with it better and some worse. My buddy who I brought with me to Systems transport after we had both graduated Trucking School is a very good compliant company man, but he will be leaving just as soon as the opportunity presents itself due to the evolution Systems transport is undergoing.

Anyways, here the results of my time with them after training.

[TABLE]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl84, colspan: 3"]Overall Performance Evaluation 2014 YTD[/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl73, width: 92"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl75"]weekly avg gross pay[/TD]
[TD="class: xl70"] $ 1,103.95[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl74"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl74"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl76"]Avg paid miles per week[/TD]
[TD="class: xl63"]2653.93[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl76"]Pay per mile[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65"]$0.416[/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl76"]Calculated Gross income[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64"] $ 49,843.56[/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl76"]# of weeks paid[/TD]
[TD="class: xl63"]37.16[/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl77, colspan: 3"]Dispatched by Jan****10-01-13/1-06-14
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl82"]weekly avg gross pay[/TD]
[TD="class: xl75"]878.95[/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl82"]Avg paid miles per week[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, width: 112"]2392.92[/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl82"]Pay Per Mile[/TD]
[TD="class: xl76"]0.367[/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl82"]Calculated Gross Income[/TD]
[TD="class: xl76"]39684.59[/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl82"]# of weeks paid[/TD]
[TD="class: xl76"]13.27[/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl77, colspan: 3"]Dispatched by Er** 1-07-14/1-21-14
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl82"]Weekly avg gross pay[/TD]
[TD="class: xl75"] $1,204.55[/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl82"]Avg paid miles per week[/TD]
[TD="class: xl68"]2,696.89[/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl82"]Pay per mile[/TD]
[TD="class: xl69"]$0.45[/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl82"]Calculated Gross income[/TD]
[TD="class: xl76"] $54,385.46[/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl82"]# of weeks paid[/TD]
[TD="class: xl76"]2.57[/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl77, colspan: 3"]Dispatched by Sam***** 1-27-14/3-25-14
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl85"]Weekly avg gross pay[/TD]
[TD="class: xl69"]$933.61[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl85"]Avg paid miles per week[/TD]
[TD="class: xl68"]2,433.38[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl85"]Pay per mile[/TD]
[TD="class: xl71"]$0.384[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl85"]Calculated Gross income[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64"] $ 42,152.41[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl85"]# of weeks paid[/TD]
[TD="class: xl76"]8[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl84, colspan: 5"]Tob** Individual Performance Evaluation 3-26-14/11-12-14
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl80"]weekly avg gross pay[/TD]
[TD="class: xl70"] $ 1,122.42[/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl82"]Avg paid miles per week[/TD]
[TD="class: xl63"]2640.09[/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl82"]Pay per mile[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65"]$0.425[/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl82"]Calculated Gross income[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64"] $ 50,677.11[/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl82"]# of weeks paid[/TD]
[TD="class: xl63"]26.59[/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl72"][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

[TABLE]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl72, colspan: 3"]total % of miles unpaid[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67"]4.83%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD="class: xl70, colspan: 2"]total miles on route[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66"]103623.00[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD="class: xl69, colspan: 2"]total paid miles[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66"]98620.00[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD="class: xl69, colspan: 2"]total miles OOR[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65"]290[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD="class: xl69, colspan: 2"]total hub miles[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65"]103913[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD="class: xl69, colspan: 2"]Total miles unpaid[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65"]5003[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD="class: xl69, colspan: 2"]lost mileage pay[/TD]
[TD="class: xl68, align: right"]1625.98[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


That's All I got. Good luck guys

/****Final Statement****