Arnold Transportation Services (IPAM) Dedicated Account Amarillo TX

I'm new to this forum. This may very well be the only post I ever make. However I feel that this has to be done in order to warn you guys and gals about this specific dedicated account at International Paper in Amarillo. I came across this opening online back in February 2015. It seemed like a good local gig to keep me home each night. After talking with a recruiter I learned that the job would pay 14.25/hr with a guaranteed 50 hr work week and even more if you wanted. I thought well that's okay after 40 hrs it will be overtime and that will make up quite a bit of ground income wise since I knew that being young and active I could easily do 55-60 hrs each week hands down. I calculated 60 hr week is 1000.00 gross, 800.00 net, just off the hourly rate. Not great money but enough to live relatively comfortable in Amarillo. Problem though, you will not be paid overtime until after 60 hours. Recruiter left that out. In addition to that I was told there would be local runs available to Vernon, Lubbock, and Garden City which would be paid flat mileage to Vernon and Garden City and a flat short haul rate of 75.00 to deliver loads less than 150 miles. Problem was there simply were not enough or they are given to over the road driver while us locals were left high and dry for whatever reason. The Lubbock run fell into that category. You would then be paid the deadhead miles back to Amarillo from Lubbock. With my experience of 8 years and being at the top of Arnold's pay scale at .45 mile, the Bell Dairy load to Lubbock paid 124.00 for a 5 hour turn to drop&hook. Not bad for 5 hrs of work. Here's the catch though, you have to go off the clock once you take off with any load going outside of Amarillo. They will not double pay you. Again my recruiter conveniently left out that key detail as well. Think that's rough, oh it get better. Unfortunately there is a sniveling little weasel that is in charge of this little shenanigan named Doug K. Let me tell you this guy is truly unique in many aspects. He has such a foul attitude each and everyday.This man will belittle you and give you absolutely no respect whatsoever. He was unceremoniously removed from the dispatch office in Grand Prairie simply because nobody wanted work with him. Arnold's brilliant solution to this, hey let's send him up to Amarillo to run the IPAM account. Bad idea guys. They gave this man a little bit of authority and it has completely gone to his head. Arnold Transportation, you know who I am. My name is Patrick. I have no reason to hide because I'm simply pointing out all the facts. I posted my picture on here so you guys know exactly who this this. I worked my tail off for 6 months, I was on time, everyday without exception. I came in early, stayed late, I would show up on Saturdays when nobody else would whenever needed. I have a question for you higher ups over there in GP. How is it that you guys can get so many phone calls and complaints about Doug from every driver that has come through here, yet you do absolutely nothing about it and simply laugh and look the other way? I get it, he makes the company a ton of money and is a very profitable asset to the company at the expense of the ones who really did the work? I asked for a raise that I rightfully earned and simply got the, oh well it's in the contract that we can only pay you 14.25/ hr no matter how hard you work. Really? Is this your philosophy on how to retain good drivers? You cannot make an exception and take care of the two best work horses you have? Just doesn't make any sense to me at all? Do you honestly think or are you guys naive enough to think you could find someone else to replace me? When I put in my two week notice nobody called me to say hey Patrick, what's going on bud? What can we do to make things better? But now I see, as long as Doug is making you a fortune, at our expense, he can do no wrong right? Drivers are a dime a dozen right? You guys can ask anyone on that yard or anyone in that shipping office about my work ethic. I promise you they will tell you I was the best at what I did and that goes without saying. Also none of them can stand Doug either and we are all praying and hoping Doug will not be back once the new contract is signed. Marvin W, you are good man, I really enjoyed the two occasions when you came up here and covered for numbnuts while he was on vacation. Man bro you are his boss though. Why do you look the other way when we would call in and complain about this cat? It seemed like every time we did, he would immediately know about it and I have to ask the question to you. Did you just look the other way also like everyone else? This review is no reflection of the entire company. There are some good people that work here. Under the right circumstances from what I heard from some the regional drivers, miles are pretty decent. I just wanted to put this out there for the rest of you drivers that consider doing this specific dedicated account at International Paper.

 

Not at all. Perhaps you did not read everything I said. Had those local runs were available as promised , it would have helped tremendously to offset the lackluster hourly pay that your are stuck with shagging trailers all day in a sleeper cab.

 

It was not my intention to start up any controversy. Just giving others a heads up about this place and how the overtime pay works for us drivers. I honestly did not know a company was not required to pay us overtime after 40 hrs when we are on HOS, mind-boggling. I'm happy now where I am and a tough lesson learned.

 

Well it's official. Arnold has lost the contract to First Fleet. Not surprising to me. One man has himself to blame for being universally disliked by everyone at the plant. Rather than try and be anyone's friend or just have a pleasant attitude, you chose otherwise and they got rid of you. I hope to see all of you guys back next summer just as I promised. Good luck to you all.