COVENANT -- From a wife's perspective

Well said CornCob.

Geez. I don't post for a day or so and y'all just go wild.

TimTruck made some interesting comments and I appreciate that some of you came to my defense. Rather than just let it go, I'll take the time to maybe clear up a few things.

I don't think that Covenant is the greatest thing since sliced bread (correct metaphor). I personally think that the company definitely takes advantage of the people that they hire knowing they can't get work elsewhere. I also think that some of their trainers leave a lot to be desired as far as technique. However, I do know that when Redcoat needed to come off the road, they made it happen. And when he was ready to climb back into the truck, they made that happen too. And when he needed to be in Memphis for his green card interview, he was there. And when he was ready to get a partner, it happened. Not exactly the way we envisioned, but it happened nonetheless.

So even though this company has issues and pays their drivers peanuts, I cannot in good faith say that they haven't ever helped us or done right by us.

I also don't complain that Redcoat never gets home. I understand that OTR driving requires many days out on the road. REDCOAT is the one who constantly complains that he never gets home. Redcoat is a master complainer and he has a very low tolerance for the ridiculous. Therefore, he complains about Covenant a lot because he finds so many of their policies and rules to be ridiculous.

And it's not that I really WANT anything (except maybe steady income). I am merely posting my observations about Covenant from a spouse's point of view. I am not experiencing Covenant like Redcoat is. His opinion of the company is different from mine because he is experiencing first hand the effects of their various policies. I experience them through his rantings on the phone.

Most everybody who have followed this thread from the beginning already know why Redcoat went to work for this "joke of a company." And I think the issue of teaming has already been addressed.

And the payroll issue is a non-issue. I handle all of our finances as per Redcoat's wishes. The questions we asked the payroll people were questions that Redcoat had, not me. But we were standing there together when he asked so that's how I knew the answers. I also knew that I saw questions about the same things in this forum so that's why I posted what we were told. Covenant does require the driver to authorize the company in writing that it is OK for them to discuss payroll with the spouse (just like MGassel said) and Redcoat did so.

I also went ahead and posted Redcoats earnings and miles in this thread because (1. Redcoat didn't care and (2. so that any drivers contemplating on going with Covenant would know exactly how much another trainee had earned. Maybe it will help them decide what is best for their own situation.

TimTruck seems to think there is some kind of trust issue between Redcoat and I. Actually, Redcoat trusts me to take care of all kinds of matters for him mainly because of communication difficulties. Redcoat sometimes has trouble getting people to understand him because of his English accent. He will also use different terms for things and that confuses people. He will say 'Has the post arrived?' instead of 'mail'. He calls a gas station a 'garage' (emphasis on the first syllable) and a flashlight is a 'torch.' Instead of making his dinner, he makes his 'tea.' And no, he doesn't actually drink any tea. Instead of saying, 'Call me later,' he'll say 'Ring me later.' Instead of pieces of things, they are all 'bits.' So most of the time when he's trying to discuss something on the phone with someone, he more often than not ends up handing the phone to me saying, "You tell them." So it's not really ME that is wanting the answers but it ends up being ME finding them out for him.

Now for Rocks. I am so grateful to this woman for all her contributions to this thread. She is like the lead scout for us because she is just far enough ahead of Redcoat to give us advance notice of what to expect. She also knows a lot of people at the company and that is always a good thing. Redcoat tends to keep to himself and only deals with people when he has to. He doesn't care about their names or what they do. I, on the other hand, like meet and get to know the admin types because these are the folks who can help you when you need it. I want them to know me personally so I am not just a number to them. Rocks described her six-month teaming experience as 'excruciating.' I am certain that Redcoat would totally agree with her. I admire her for sticking it out for a year. I know Redcoat is counting the days when he can leave for someplace else but I also know that realistically, he's going to have to hang in there for a year also unless he can get REALLY lucky.

MCR has lists his reasons why he hates Covenant. I'm sure Redcoat has his own private list too. TimTruck alluded to the kind of experience Redcoat will get. I have to agree with him on this one but with no prior work history before Covenant, Redcoat is just going to have to grind it out to get that year in so he can go somewhere decent.

When I talked to Redcoat last night, they were settling in for the night at a rest stop somewhere in Connecticut. They were supposed to deliver their load in Mass. by 10 this morning and after that they didn't know.

That's all my news so far. Stay tuned for tomorrow's episode of "The Needy and the Porked."

 

Just a quick update before I call it a night. Redcoat is stuck in Mass. They dropped off their load this morning and saw at least four other Covenant trucks at the Pilot near Springfield. Doesn't look too promising on getting out of there this weekend.

Redcoat was telling me about the $5 ice cream cones and $4.50 slices of pizza at the place where they are. Hopefully he'll get out of there soon before he goes broke just trying to eat....