How to leave a company

Even as a forklift jockey on an LTL dock, I gave notice one day, showed up the next and they said they didn't need my help anymore. I was going to hold up my end of the deal. TM said I was at risk for stealing freight. Fair enough, I left and picked up my last check the next week. Earlier this year the company shut down without any notice to any staff, so I think I got out better than those guys and gals.

 

Explain it to me as I don't get it. How does giving two weeks notice put your final check in jeopardy?

 

Because trucking companies have a nasty little habit of finding BS reasons to withhold a driver's last check. There are plenty of threads on here where drivers have not been paid their last check for a myriad of BS reasons.

The only way to prevent this from happening is to go on home time, wait until after payday, and then call your DM and quit. At that point, the driver has already been paid and there's nothing for the company to steal.

 

Minus the A/C, I am dealing with some of the same things you are right now and just gave my notice as well.

If it means anything to you, freight rates for van and reefer are terrible throughout the whole nation. Texas and Florida pretty much lost a double growing season with all the rain, which inadvertently affects rates and loads throughout the whole industry...and there's too many trucks and not enough freight in areas that are supposed to be busy (contrary to the driver shortage BS that big brother has been lying about for 30 something years)

My company is small (less than 50 trucks) and about 95% reefer, and lately our biggest outbound customer just can't get their act together with loading times. I have addressed some of these concerns and other concerns for the past 4 years with many of the loads, nothing changes ...the past 4 months leaving 2-4 hours late all the time and suffering for it on both ends...I've had enough. They won't "force" or try to make us run illegal any more, but have an attitude like its just expected out of us and I'm tired of it. Sure I can run legal and show up late, then suffer for at a the receiver when the make me sit all day and then have to pull another all nighter. Even the layover pay doesn't make up for the 1-2 wasted days that I could be at home accomplishing something.

I am going to work at one of the better "smaller" mega outfits. I am not saying I am looking forward to 65 MPH and elogs, it will be my first go round with them. A 90 MPH truck with chicken lights doesn't make me much money when I'm loading a C.Heap H.eavy Robinson load halfway across the country at a time when I am normally pulling in to the yard, dropping my trailer and going home for the week.

 

Number #1 Rule in Trucking .....Have another job lined up (Solid) before turning in truck. Once you give notice than that is the day that they will route you back to turn in truck, companies don't give a hoot about a 2 week notice.....you are a liability to them as soon as you give them your intentions.