Watch out for these guys and their drivers

Discussion in 'Report A BAD Trucking Company Here' started by michaelbunt, Apr 7, 2017.

  1. michaelbunt

    michaelbunt Light Load Member

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    Apr 25, 2013
    Ragland, Al
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    I'm sorry sir you can't assume to know my financial situation, or what lead to it. I've been an o/o for seven years. I had thousands in the bank. My last truck ate those savings until I finally sold it. People can be negligent after the fact through there actions by not doing what they agreed to do both verbally and via email. I had a decent amount when the accident happened. However 2 months off work tends to eat that as well. Truck payments, weekly deductions, car payment, power bill, insurance. Etc.... they agreed to pay in a timely manner which they have not, I was even willing to settle for less. There actions put me in the financial bind I'm in and there is plenty of precedent for financial stress and damages awarded in these situations. So my lawyer thinks he can get me paid within 90 days.
     
    x1Heavy and pagan22 Thank this.
  2. miss elvee

    miss elvee Heavy Load Member

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    Dec 15, 2012
    Russellville, AR
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    Hey Mike!

    Sorry to hear things are still rough. Just some food for thought since you have to sue them... go to a business lookup online like Manta and check the carrier's revenue. This will give you a good idea how deep his pockets are. I am not a lawyer, but I'm generally not stupid either. So take what I'm about to say to your lawyer if you think it's possible in your state....

    In most states, the carrier will have to post a bond to declare themselves "self-insured". Check with your lawyer and see if you can place a lien on the bond. That may get their ICC pulled if the state flags the insurance requirement. No ICC basically means they can't run.

    Also... no Mr. Nice Guy. It cost what it costs. The only flexibility in a settlement you should accept should be in financial hardship. Truck costs, missed revenue, late fees on house payment, light bill etc are not negotiable. Make sure your layer knows that.

    You can dig out. I know it's hard right now, but you can do this. We lost 70k on our last truck due to catastrophic engine failure. We ate peanut butter for six months, but we bounced back. You can too. Every mi!e is a mile closer to done. We're pulling for you.

    Good luck,
    Miss E
     
    bamamac, x1Heavy, pagan22 and 2 others Thank this.
  3. tlalokay

    tlalokay Medium Load Member

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    Jun 3, 2014
    El Paso, TX
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    Just 2 months away from financial ruin does not sound like a good place to be at in general. Most financial advisors suggest having at least 2 months savings. After 7 years of being an O/O and all it takes is 2 months for you to be in dire straits sounds bleak. That requires no assumptions on my part whatsoever.

    I'm sorry if it seems like I'm kicking you when you're down. Maybe my comments are more a reflection of the current state of the industry than your personal situation, but I'm just being honest- your situation is exactly what many of us fear from the outside looking into the O/O sphere.

    I'm currently laid off for all practical purposes due to my small <10 truck company having financial problems due to constant repairs on late model Freightliners. Sure, with any entrepreneurial endeavor there is a certain amount of risk, however in trucking it seems outrageous.

    Again, I'm sorry for your situation and I really wish the best for you and your family.
     
    pagan22 Thanks this.
  4. Robert85006

    Robert85006 Medium Load Member

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    Aug 20, 2013
    Southwest USA
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    I've been an O//O a long time. This may turn into a very expensive lesson for any O/O. Part of being a successful O/O is risk management. Developing the skill of evaluating risk can be a lengthy process. One aspect of mitigating risk is never parking next to a large company's truck. If one of their "one year wonders" wrecks your truck, they could care less about his, or your, truck; they have THOUSANDS of tractors and tens of thousands of trailers, whereas we have only one.
    Sadly large companies use stall tactics as a business practice. If they can stall the legal process while responding to a claim or lawsuit, time is on THEIR side, not yours: Documents get lost, memories fade, facts get re-told and as time advances, facts can change and be forgotten. Once a company is large enough to self ensure, they have millions and millions of dollars to obscure facts. Keep pressing on them. Any company is only as strong as the judge's gavel.

    Remember: park next to other O/O. After 7 years you should be able to tell the difference between company truck and O/O.
     
    x1Heavy, Lonesome and pagan22 Thank this.
  5. superflow

    superflow Road Train Member

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    Jan 2, 2014
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    " l love it "
    Boxer briefs, no socks, no shoes, that must've been a sight to behold coming out of that tractor ((((wow) )))
    ....sorry Rob
    "Stay on them " and remember to add revenues you are not making at this time because of their failing response, you're probably loosin out on about 10k per week
    ....have your lawyer remind them of the expanses stacking up, which they will be held accountable to in this case .
    Our hearts go out to you & your family in this time of mental anguish & hardships on you & your loved ones because of this trucking companie's failure to respond in a timely matter.
    " we, the people " do hereby witness these atrocities
     
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  6. SCar72

    SCar72 Light Load Member

    Russ, the Owner of Continental Express has over 450 Trucks. Of which only around 350 are filled. He can not keep Drivers due to their Dispatching methods. Russ is very tight with his money, even though he owns a private Plane.

    Had one of his old time Drivers tell me of a story where he killed someone in an accident which he was not fault in. I was told Russ ended up settling out of Court for 50K. The Driver still drives for him.

    Last time I was on the yard, back in Feb this year, he had around 30-40 brand new Trucks sitting there for months. He will run the piss out of his older Trucks before swapping out.

    The last Truck I had was so bad it once broke down on me 19 miles from my Reciever. They left me sitting in a Truck with a blown Radiator for 7.5 hours in a Blizzard. They never, not once, called to check on me the Police did a few time though. LOL! It would have been a short Tow to a repair place, but the decided to leave me on the shoulder of a Exit/Merge Ramp instead with heavy traffic to save a few Bucks. In the end, the Police still had it Towed for Safety reasons.

    Long story short.... he is very CHEAP!

    P.S. His Lawyer is his Daughter. And a local Judge is a Family member too, same last name.
     
  7. michaelbunt

    michaelbunt Light Load Member

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    Apr 25, 2013
    Ragland, Al
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    My lawyer already found out all about them in discovery, there kinda playing ball with me now. As far as my finances go, I had 60000 dollars in the bank then I bought a Volvo, worst mistake I made, lost most of that money on that truck. Then I made a down payment with what I had left for this nice Pete that I'm driving now that I haven't had one issue with. Then continental express seen fit to drag my front end off in a truck stop. I don't care who you are I don't know many people in this economy that can afford two months off work like I had to endure. I have been slowly clawing my way back to solvency but it was close. Yes ideally you need money in the bank to cover down time but this was ridiculous. I don't have problems making my truck payments, but it was close for me and I need the money owed to me to make up for two months. I am switching to ATS heavy haul the 21st because I have a friend there making good money. I'll be pulling rgn, with the sign on bonus and higher paying loads I'll be fine. But I don't think anyone can assume someone else's finances the way some have done on this post with out knowing that person. A lot of us have to pay medical out of pocket, I have an endocrine system problem and tumors that I have to go every three mo the for an MRI and blood work and I have expensive meds I have to take everyday. I pay all out of pocket for. I have a wife and a three year old and she gives birth on the 15th to our new baby. I pay out of pocket for. So any of you smart ##### think you could afford two months out of work and have all the expenses I have please feel free to try to live in my shoes for a day. Other than that I was warning that this guy is an ### and stay away from his drivers bc if they hit you your gonna be dealing with what I have had to deal with.
     
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  8. passingthru69

    passingthru69 Road Train Member

    So your going straight to the heavy haul side of ATS with a regular tandem axle trk. Something not right here or I'm reading that post wrong
     
    Gunner75 Thanks this.
  9. 2 CHAINS

    2 CHAINS Light Load Member

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    Sep 8, 2018
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    Gottemeir is a joke he loves ripping off drivers. I live in same community
     
  10. 2 CHAINS

    2 CHAINS Light Load Member

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    Sep 8, 2018
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    Yrs ago he would give his drivers lumper money for a load anything over the amount he wanted to pay came out of the drivers pay. He is a snake
     
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