Be careful before changing jobs

Ridgeline · Dec 4, 2016

SteveScott said: ↑

Yep, I'm always looking. Eventually I'd like to do local and be home at night. They tend to pay better than OTR, but they all want 1-2 years minimum experience which is why I'm waiting. I did apply to DOT foods and I guess either my lack of experience or the fact that I live a little too far from their terminal excluded me from consideration. Kind of shocked me since they offered me a pre-hire when I was still in driving school and now I don't qualify.
Click to expand...

Apply anyways. The only thing it will cost you is some time.

Deaconblues62 · Dec 4, 2016

SteveScott said: ↑

I'm a California based driver who has been behind the wheel a little less than a year. I started out with Gordon Trucking and was enjoying it until Heartland fully took them over and my miles dropped drastically along with my pay. So last August I started looking for something with a bit more stable pay, and thought I had found it. I found a job posting for a small manufacturing company in the Central Valley that paid a salary of $45,000 a year with full medical/dental/vision. They only have 2 trucks and I would be one of two drivers hauling to and from a warehouse of theirs. Before they hired me, I was told that my job would be to get loaded in California, drive to western Texas, get unloaded and dead head back to California.The pay wasn't outstanding, but as good as my average new driver pay had been with Gordon, and because I didn't have over a year driving, probably the best I could hope for even with a perfect driving record. My rig is a nice new KW T680 with all the bells & whistles including a fridge and TV/DVR.

After nearly 4 months with the company, here is how things aren't always as great as they seem at first.

First off, getting loaded in California really meant that I load my own truck with a forklift. Yes I could operate a fork, but I'm not certified and it took some trial and error before I got the hang of it. Neither of the trucks have electronic logs, so everything is on paper and I'm told not to start my log until "after" I finish loading, which sometimes is 2-3 hours after I arrive at work. The drive to TX is 1,300 miles and takes two full days, even with no govenor doing 75 MPH+. I'm also expected to unload with a forklift. Rather than now heading back to California as I was told, I'm doing one of two things. Either I head to a plant in TX and take a full load back, or I get loaded with product and head north to make several deliveries. With a pallet jack (manual not electric), I have to deliver a few 2,000 pound pallets by wheeling them to the rear of the trailer where the customer picks them with their forklift. No loading docks. Then I have to grab another load from there and only then do I head back to California.

So my 4 day a week job is really a 6 day a week job, and if I logged myself on duty while I load/unload I'm really hitting 70 hours in 5 days and would need to reset before getting back, which I don't like and they really don't like. Every single day I'm driving a couple hours before dawn until a couple hours after dark, loading/unloading in between, deliving to customers and surpassing my actual 14 hour limit, just not on the logs. I'm now a driver, forklift operator and lumper, but only getting paid for being a driver.

On top of all that, they do offer a great benefits package but at a very high cost. They pay 75% of the employee cost but none of the dependent cost, so my share is $1,200 per month or $300 out of each of my already small paychecks.

At this point I'm leaning toward just sticking it out for a couple more months until I reach the one year mark of driving experience then look for another job. These guys are taking full advantage of their exemption from overtime pay and I'm the idiot working 80+ hours a week and getting paid for 40. They have guys in their California manufacturing plant making $10 an hour (minimum wage here) stacking product on pallets and getting paid overtime, so they often make as much as I do and sometimes more while getting to be home every night.

What I've learned from this experience is this. I asked all of the right questions before quitting my previous job, but their terms changed once I started working there. Get what your perspective job promises IN WRITING, and if they don't follow through then you have a leg to stand on when complaining and should things get nasty or legal. I asked all about the benefits before working there and was told they would get back to me, but never did (my fault for not getting a clear answer). The cost of benefits can have a HUGE impact on your paycheck, so find out EXACTLY how much it will cost BEFORE you quit your previous job to start the new job.

Drive safe out there.
Click to expand...

WOW, talk about a 2 for 1 deal, but at least you have the common sense too see it happening to you. (impressive)
Don't let the flipping of the scripts get you down, we all are submissive to that one whenever we sign an application for "AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT" and other documents that clearly state that the company has the right to change or alter any company policies or regulations at anytime without notice, YES, read all the documents you are asked to sign, We all sign them believing we have to in order to get the job.
I know what you're thinking because you're a smart guy; "COERCION" right? Illegal as a $3 dollar bill right?
Here's how they get around COERCION LAWS; they just simply change the policy, in other words everything they said to you from day 1 or in Orientation becomes "moot" 5 seconds after they said it.
So we all ask ourselves; how do they get away with this, the simple answer is; because we all signed and agreed to it.

Deaconblues62 · Dec 4, 2016

SteveScott said: ↑

I'm a California based driver who has been behind the wheel a little less than a year. I started out with Gordon Trucking and was enjoying it until Heartland fully took them over and my miles dropped drastically along with my pay. So last August I started looking for something with a bit more stable pay, and thought I had found it. I found a job posting for a small manufacturing company in the Central Valley that paid a salary of $45,000 a year with full medical/dental/vision. They only have 2 trucks and I would be one of two drivers hauling to and from a warehouse of theirs. Before they hired me, I was told that my job would be to get loaded in California, drive to western Texas, get unloaded and dead head back to California.The pay wasn't outstanding, but as good as my average new driver pay had been with Gordon, and because I didn't have over a year driving, probably the best I could hope for even with a perfect driving record. My rig is a nice new KW T680 with all the bells & whistles including a fridge and TV/DVR.

After nearly 4 months with the company, here is how things aren't always as great as they seem at first.

First off, getting loaded in California really meant that I load my own truck with a forklift. Yes I could operate a fork, but I'm not certified and it took some trial and error before I got the hang of it. Neither of the trucks have electronic logs, so everything is on paper and I'm told not to start my log until "after" I finish loading, which sometimes is 2-3 hours after I arrive at work. The drive to TX is 1,300 miles and takes two full days, even with no govenor doing 75 MPH+. I'm also expected to unload with a forklift. Rather than now heading back to California as I was told, I'm doing one of two things. Either I head to a plant in TX and take a full load back, or I get loaded with product and head north to make several deliveries. With a pallet jack (manual not electric), I have to deliver a few 2,000 pound pallets by wheeling them to the rear of the trailer where the customer picks them with their forklift. No loading docks. Then I have to grab another load from there and only then do I head back to California.

So my 4 day a week job is really a 6 day a week job, and if I logged myself on duty while I load/unload I'm really hitting 70 hours in 5 days and would need to reset before getting back, which I don't like and they really don't like. Every single day I'm driving a couple hours before dawn until a couple hours after dark, loading/unloading in between, deliving to customers and surpassing my actual 14 hour limit, just not on the logs. I'm now a driver, forklift operator and lumper, but only getting paid for being a driver.

On top of all that, they do offer a great benefits package but at a very high cost. They pay 75% of the employee cost but none of the dependent cost, so my share is $1,200 per month or $300 out of each of my already small paychecks.

At this point I'm leaning toward just sticking it out for a couple more months until I reach the one year mark of driving experience then look for another job. These guys are taking full advantage of their exemption from overtime pay and I'm the idiot working 80+ hours a week and getting paid for 40. They have guys in their California manufacturing plant making $10 an hour (minimum wage here) stacking product on pallets and getting paid overtime, so they often make as much as I do and sometimes more while getting to be home every night.

What I've learned from this experience is this. I asked all of the right questions before quitting my previous job, but their terms changed once I started working there. Get what your perspective job promises IN WRITING, and if they don't follow through then you have a leg to stand on when complaining and should things get nasty or legal. I asked all about the benefits before working there and was told they would get back to me, but never did (my fault for not getting a clear answer). The cost of benefits can have a HUGE impact on your paycheck, so find out EXACTLY how much it will cost BEFORE you quit your previous job to start the new job.

Drive safe out there.
Click to expand...

I have my eye on two or three companies out there in California; "ROAD DOG TRUCKING", "LAZER-SPOT" and "AMAZON-FLEX", I just bought a new cargo van hopefully I can put it on with Amazon/Flex and stay away from Expedited.
I would also like to haul fuel for "LOVE'S/GEMINI TRANSPORT", I would only drive for LOVE"S b/c their fuel tankers and DEF drivers only do LOVE"S!!! (sweet).

Good Luck to you my friend, remember all we have as professional drivers is "LEVERAGE" meaning a Clean MVR and no CSA points, it's a shame that we still can end up homeless and sleeping in our cars eating peanut butter out of the jar with our fingers; B/C companies will always choose the cheapest drivers. Before I give up my "Leverage" as a Professional Driver and just become anybody's cheap "delivery boy"; I guess I'll be licking peanut butter from my fingers for a long time!!!

windsmith · Dec 4, 2016

SteveScott said: ↑

I'm told not to start my log until "after" I finish loading, which sometimes is 2-3 hours after I arrive at work.
Click to expand...

One word: Refuse.

Start your log when you start work. They CANNOT require you to do this. Use the HOS to your advantage. That's why it's there.

They're not paying you enough for you to agree to this.

Deaconblues62 · Dec 4, 2016

Have you read the Verdict about the WELLS FARGO BANK SCANDAL?
There's a chance Wells Fargo may get off Scott free, LOL, simply because of their? You guessed it; "TERMS & CONDITIONS" that all those customers who got taken advantage of signed and agreed too. One condition that hurt them was giving up their right to file a LAWSUIT in court but instead have any and all claims settled through ARBITRATION with Wells Fargo Attorney's. WOW, everything has it's Terms & Conditions.
When will the American People start having Terms & Conditions?

Deaconblues62 · Dec 4, 2016

windsmith said: ↑

One word: Refuse.

Start your log when you start work. They CANNOT require you to do this. Use the HOS to your advantage. That's why it's there.

They're not paying you enough for you to agree to this.
Click to expand...

He stated he's a new driver, he doesn't realize he's "FALSIFYING" his logs and it's a "FELONY", and his company will deny they ever told him to do it.
Steve he's right man, all that forklift unloading goes on line-4 on/duty not driving.
If you run out of hours they owe you "detention $pay$", of course they won't like it, that's money they charge that company anyway but they keep it for themselves.

windsmith · Dec 4, 2016

Deaconblues62 said: ↑

He stated he's a new driver, he doesn't realize he's "FALSIFYING" his logs and it's a "FELONY", and his company will deny they ever told him to do it.
Steve he's right man, all that forklift unloading goes on line-4 on/duty not driving.
If you run out of hours they owe you "detention $pay$", of course they won't like it, that's money they charge that company anyway but they keep it for themselves.
Click to expand...

He won't get extra pay, since he's paid a flat salary.

SteveScott · Dec 4, 2016

Deaconblues62 said: ↑

He stated he's a new driver, he doesn't realize he's "FALSIFYING" his logs and it's a "FELONY", and his company will deny they ever told him to do it.
Steve he's right man, all that forklift unloading goes on line-4 on/duty not driving.
If you run out of hours they owe you "detention $pay$", of course they won't like it, that's money they charge that company anyway but they keep it for themselves.
Click to expand...

They won't pay for detention. This is a small family run business and they're doing everything possible to make sure I do the most work for the least amount of money. I get a flat salary regardless of how much work I do or how many hours I take to do it. I will start using the HOS to my advantage though, and go on duty as soon as I arrive at work. When I'm unable to make a delivery to one of their clients because I'm out of hours, they'll either get the message or fire me and find some other newby to replace me.

SteveScott · Dec 4, 2016

Deaconblues62 said: ↑

WOW, talk about a 2 for 1 deal, but at least you have the common sense too see it happening to you. (impressive)
Don't let the flipping of the scripts get you down, we all are submissive to that one whenever we sign an application for "AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT" and other documents that clearly state that the company has the right to change or alter any company policies or regulations at anytime without notice, YES, read all the documents you are asked to sign, We all sign them believing we have to in order to get the job.
I know what you're thinking because you're a smart guy; "COERCION" right? Illegal as a $3 dollar bill right?
Here's how they get around COERCION LAWS; they just simply change the policy, in other words everything they said to you from day 1 or in Orientation becomes "moot" 5 seconds after they said it.
So we all ask ourselves; how do they get away with this, the simple answer is; because we all signed and agreed to it.
Click to expand...

Actually I never signed an agreement. I filled out a standard employment app, got a drug/background check and I was hired. It's not like the big carriers with endless forms to sign. I owned my own business for a very long time and read everything. All I had to go on was their word, and obviously that isn't worth much.

SteveScott · Dec 4, 2016

dca said: ↑

you might try companies that do local work for soda, beer, chips, and so on.
Click to expand...

Yep, I'm always on the lookout for local jobs, but at least in my area they all want minimum 1-2 years current experience and I wouldn't hit my first year until February. As soon as I pass that threashold I'll be actively applying for local work.

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