Tough times for truckers as firms try to cut costs

At least the Company in this story remains optimistic. And has expanded their operations.

Thats good news IMO

 

Well let me share some insight for this out fit !!! I have been with the company for a year . I run out of the Norfolk Terminal and we run nothing but intermodial. The company has been very shady the last couple months in my opinion ! First we "the drivers" had heard from other drivers down south that the company drivers are going to let go as of the 31st of mar.
So all 12 of the company drivers here in Norfolk all asked the manager what is up? No answer! Doesnt have a clue he says . well that same week we get a lil letter in our pay that states that if we are interested we could lease a older company truck for purchase and become a Owner Opp. So then we find out that the company is heading to go 100% Owner opp in the container industry! So I call down to get more info and talk to the Sr Vice president Richard Stroble .He conferms that they are cutting back and the last day for all company drivers is the 31st.
So then I went to my manager and asked him he still plays dumb ! my theory is that he is scared and doesnt want any of the company drivers to pack bags and leave all at once !

Well here it is the 27th and I have two options on the table for me currently. The company is not giving any severants package to anyone! They didnt want to give us our unused vaction .
Clifton Parker says he is a Christian man and has a Bible study devt. Every Monday at 8am at the Corp office in Col SC . Well Why have they not helped us find jobs if they care so much about the well being of the drivers ? Its all a scam!!
My thought on the outcome of this company making it as a 100% OO is going to fail in the container world !! They have to many Pre Madona's that refuse to go to the ports SO who is going to pull the Boxes out of the port ?
Well Im down off the soap box !
So lets say something good about the company her to close with.
Well they have insuance if you would like to call it that . 1500 ded for each person in your family mail in prescrip only "you pay full price then have to wait for months to get reimbursed" This is not insurance if you ask me !!
OkOkOk Well I was home every night and I worked weekends if I wanted to ! My Manager would pay me by the Hour if all I did was run from one port to the next doing the old port shuffle . As to pay they started me off at .40cpm and then the cut backs came along just as I was going to get my next raise and boom they hit us ! .36cpm is what Im at !
The manager here in Norfolk is ok if you are introble and need help our somthing of that nature in the middle of the night guess what wait till 0630 when everyone comes in !! The Manager doesnt keep his phone on at all after hours !
Well enough I warn the Owner Ops dont make the move yes we might have the freight to move but they screw up your pay everyweek and the lowball biding for freight has begun so they are wanting you to move the freight at .85-.90cpm at the current time and the fuel is going back up as summer is approaching again. Fuel surcharge isnt going up ! So what then ?
Well good luck G&P Oh did I mention that they had trucks forsale .
Here ya go
international day cab 980000 miles on it beat all up and they want 10k for it!
Volvo day cab auto 850000 miles on it and they want 12k for it !!lol

Oh the lease is a joke !!
Take care all
Thanks for letting me vent!
BigBrett

 

An update.

I know your story is from 2 1/2 years ago Brett. I do not doubt your tale.

But I went to work for G and P six months ago. They have been good to me.
The benefit package is very good. I just got a root canal, cost $1250 and my G and P dental plan paid $750 of that! Hell I was employed at a hospital for 14 years and I had ZERO dental insurance.

Also G and P has an eyeglass plan that will help pay for glasses.
My medical ins. is 200 bucks a month, on the private market last year I was paying three times that much for no eyeglass and no dental.

I am a team driver for G and P, I am making over 60K this year and just got a brand new truck.

I know 08 and 09 were tough years but G and P has been good to me.