American Eagle Lines

OTR,

I looked at these guys last year, briefly. And came to the same conclusions you did. But having no experience with them, other than that. I didn't feel I knew enough about them to comment.

When someone gets vague with me. That's an immediate red flag. And from the comments you posted. I can certianly see why they were vague.

That's a disaster in the making.

 

As do most, unfortunately. Another thing (and this probably belongs somewhere else) is with all these companies turning back their trucks to slower speeds, I have not seen anything about increasing pay a few cents a mile to make up for the lost revenue the driver will face.

 

yea well my husband drives for them, a company driver, and it's not going so well, .28 cpm, no insurance, no miles, and nothing but b.s. everyday! I believe they hire high school kids for planners, no communication between drivers, dispatchers, planners and so on. Both driver managers in the san antonio office quit, whats that say about them? Their trucks are p.o.s., and too dangerous to be on the road. they still have 05's with over 500,000 mi. on them out there! but yet a kid comes in from ffe,to ael, and threatens to quit if he dont get a new truck, and they give him an 08. on the spot! we are told on a daily basis on the qc NOT to call unless it's an emergency. because they are so short staffed they cant talk to us, gives ya a warm and fuzzy feeling just knowing you can call in if you need to huh. they give you a 700 mi. run and a week to do it, then you may get a 1700 mi run and 2 days to do it! go figure. I have a years worth of this company, i hear they use to be a good one, untill ffe took over them. In 2 mo we are gone to a company who will pay us .40 cpm and average 3000 mi a week. plus medical ins. that we can afford to have. oh yea, to lease a truck from ael or ffe, they have nice volvos, $553.00 a weel, they pay you .93 a mi., you pay for fuel, ins. taxes, etc. by the end of the week, you owe them money, the truck is back on the yard by the end of the month, ready to lease to next victim. dont even think about leasing a truck with this co. we've been here at the lancaster yard for 2 days getting our p.o.s worked on, needed a fender bolted back on, 2 steer tires, and a front right shock. We got 2 used steers put on ha ha. and they found out our tierod was broken! Nice, after the 2nd day, they finally got it done. My husband drove it around the lot, pulled the hood open to double check everything, and lo and behold..... the shock wasnt even bolted on!!!! so of course he took it back over there, showed it to the man,
'Im sorry man" was all he could say. makes ya wonder if the tierod is bolted in good dont it.......

 

p.s.
we got a load assignment tonight, that was suppose to be picked up july 3rd, and delivered july 9th, this is a constant thing at ael. then they want to know why you cant get it there ontime lol

 

Sorry to hear your husband is having problem there but it is the only negative story I have heard out of some 20 AEL drivers I have spoken with at local truck stops.

Also, just to touch on one thing you spoke about, the o/o side. First of it is $0.93/mile plus fuel surcharge which this week at most comaponies I have heard is around $0.56/mile. Thus, you are paid $1,49. Then you comment that you "pay fuel, ins., taxes..." Why wouldn't you pay those? You are, at that point, a business owner and those are normal costs of doing business. Too many people look at the lease or o/o sid as being a higher paid company driver. When you lease a truck you are now in business and all the costs that the company paid for before now become yours. THAT is the reason they pay more per mile. AND, at least what I have been told by others is the $553.00 per week actually includes the truck payment, permits, insurance, and road taxes. I am not saying they have a good lease program. The BEST thing to do if one wants to become an o/o is put personal money down and buy a truck to lease on some place. You then have much more control over your business. I am just pointing these facts out about their lease program because I believe, in your frustration with your situation, you were putting out some things to try to discourage someon from going there but those things were not entirely truth.

As I have said many time, there is no one perfect company and no perfect drivers. It is obvious that AEL and your husband are not a good mix but others are quite happy there. Thanks for sharing your side and hopefully your husband will be happier at the new company and it will work.