Question for anyone who can answer.

I went through the same thing. I had four trucks and six drivers one time, and two trucks two other times. It is no wonder that this country is in the shape it is in. People will come begging for work, promise you the moon, and then blame you when they have to work.

I have had friends, neighbours, unknowns, and anything in between working for me. I have been lied to, stolen from, had drivers drive from Pa. to home in NC because they messed around and would have to wait until Monday to reload. Then the dummy turned around and went back to Pa.

I have had drivers get into fuel pumps on Ryder leased trucks when they signed papers with Ryder that any tampering was immediate termination.

I had one driver get out west and I could not find him for over two weeks. He was running broker freight for himself using my truck.

I had a team that no matter how much advance they got, they always ran out of money by Phoenix, and were always days late on loads, which caused them to miss return loads. Yet it was my fault when they didn't get home for the weekend. I paid well, and had my drivers home every week if they didn't screw up and miss loads.

I have seen most everything first hand. I have heard how things are never their fault, and what a great driver they are. These experiences are why I believe the big companies are scumbags to work for, but I also know the caliber of person they have to work with so many times. Some people have to be lead by the ears, and will never make a real truck driver.

When I can pull basicially the same loads as my drivers, and I have a very low tolerance for company bs, and I can manage, but the drivers are always having troubles, then something is wrong. All the drivers I hired had years of driving experience. A small operator usually just can't win.

My experiences also make me read between the lines very carefully when these so called stellar drivers claim in their post they were fired for absloutely no reason.

In closing. An individual is in trouble when he gets more trucks than he can drive himself. Two trucks mean three times the cash layout, and only 1/3 more income, which equals 1/2 less profit in the end.

 

Of course, a way around this is for the company to hire me/Mgassel - even if it's for the express purpose of retrieving said truck.

 

Im sorry to hear that so many people have a hard time finding good help. I do understand tho. I was self employed in the construction field for almost 20 yrs.. Im sure this is too little,to late to help but... not all of us are like those you tried to hire. I have alwas treated any company vehicle I was fortunate enough to dive at least as good as my own. Why? Simple, I wanted to get another one! This could be because I was fully aware of how much of a benefit it was to have. It is hard to find good help, but it is possible!

 

I have had good help. The last two people I had were as good as you could expect any employee to be. This was office help and local delivery.

The trouble comes in when an individual tries to find good OTR drivers.

In most cases a good OTR driver will be working for a good company, so the individuals are left with the culls.

 

As an ex-employer, I can't argue. It doesn't matter what the nature of your business is, there's always a bunch of chaff with the wheat.
Sadly, sometimes it's not because the employee isn't trying - it's because he (or she) isn't capable. That can be incredibly frustrating.

Of course, that's nothing compared to the employee who's actively out to damage the company... what a can of worms!

 

I'm curious,

As an owner/employer, couldn't you put something in contract that specifies a certain penalty fee for lost time/lost revenue if they hold onto the truck?

I mean... time is money right?

 

I have been thinking about this, What would happen if you called the driver, reminded him of the terms of his contract and that he does not return the truck back to your yard within a certain time limit, you will have him arrested for stealing the truck. Try to get him back here where you can get him, recover the truck and give him his last check minus any deductions that may be due? Maybe check with law enforcement here in CO and also where the truck is at. It sounds like he is not very smart, it shouldn't be too hard to trick him.

 

You can legally put anything you wish in a contractual agreement. But that doesn't mean it's enforceable! I mean lawyers will argue over the definition of the word "is".

You must also remember that economics plays a big part of what you can do as well. Is it worth an exorbadent amount of money to an attorney when you enforce something in a contractual agreement and the other party takes it to his/her attorney? Who would be the winner? Probably neither party.

 

You have no case. Once he wasn't paid withing 24-hours pursuant to a federal law the driver may assume he/she won't be paid and legally hold the truck until paid. It's called a mechanics lein

 

I guess that would be the case since he was already told he was fired? I have 2 trucks and was thinking of putting the other one on the road next summer. Maybe I would be better off to just keep it for a spare!