Gray's Transportation

First off, I'm new to posting here, been reading here for a month or so now as a lurker. To anyone out there thinking even remotely of going with Gray's Transportation, let me take a moment to explain what happened in the past few months with my husband, in hopes others don't make the same mistake he did. Maybe I can save someone, and their family, some serious hardship and headache.

My husband has been driving for 10 years total. He had a serious life altering injury that caused him to leave trucking for a year. When he decided to go back, because of the lack of 'recent' experience, the only company that would give him the time of day was Gray's Transportation, based out of Waterloo, IA. He was so excited to be hitting the road again. His wife of 18 years, I was so happy to see the enjoyment in him again. However, within a matter of weeks, our world turned completely upside down.

He left for his orientation in early November this year, nervous, but eager. Typical set up, three days of info crammed into 2 days time. Then he's thrown into a truck and sent off. The first week went OK, with only a few 'hiccups'. Second week, the issues began. Let me tell you, these were not 'little' issues either.

His miles just weren't there. Of course, he understands as the new driver he wasn't going to get the 'peach' miles, but they were giving him barely 1000 weekly, at the $0.31 cpm (btw, he was told at orientation it was $0.34 cpm), and was often sent to pick up Tyson loads that didn't even exist yet! On his third week, sent on another Tyson load, he was forced to wait over 12 hours, with no sit pay, no detention pay...nothing. Still, he didn't complain too much.

Then, came week 4. Which, by the way, was the coldest in recorded history, with temps at -22 and a windchill of upwards of -33. His assigned truck breaks down, so they throw him in a different one. This one has well over 1M miles, NO APU, and the mirrors are literally zip tied on. Still, he pushes on. Hours up, he heads for home for his 36. He pulls in to stop near our home and the truck dies, can't be restarted. He sends a QualCom, no response. He calls, no answer. The temp dips to nearly -28. He sends his break down location in to maintenance and calls me for a pick up to come home (less than a mile away). Shortly after we're home (keep in mind this is his scheduled home time) dispatch calls him on his cell phone and proceeds to scream at him for 'abandoning' his equipment, and that he should sit there until maintenance can get to him. He asks how long that would be and they tell him anywhere from 8-12 hours. In a truck that won't start, with no APU, and temps well below DEADLY. He tells them he's at home, less than a mile away, the truck is secure (not that it would start to be taken anyway), and it's not safe for him to sit there, but that he's happy to meet maintenance there when they arrive. The chick screams some more and says 'that won't be necessary, we'll send someone to pick up the truck'. The following day was 'pay day' and his check was incredibly shorted. He calls payroll and after an hour long debate with them, he decided it best to leave them. My husband has NEVER left a job IN HIS LIFE.

At this point, he was still owed a bit over $700 for the 2 weeks of miles he'd driven and not yet received payment for. Yes, that's correct. Two weeks of miles totaled just slightly over $700. Pay day came and went with no check, which by this point we somewhat expected, as we had both been reading here and online about Gray's. The following week, he DID receive a check. Totaling (and I've got the stub to prove it) $21, out of the $764 he was owed, they took nearly every cent of it, writing it off as some lame excuses. Now we are struggling to try and live on such a tiny amount while he rushes to find a new job. We've had to sell things just to make it, and weren't able to even give our 2 kids any kind of Christmas, let alone the oldest's who's birthday is now just a few days away.

He's on a frantic search, but doing his homework first now. Although we're in a pinch, he's not going to be duped again. Leaving Gray's actually HURT him. He's the type to hold a job for ages. In our 18 years of marriage, I believe he's had 3 jobs, with one of those being a seasonal 'favor' for someone more than a job, and done while working the other. He's looking into maybe teaming with someone in need of a Co-driver, while also applying to places like Roehl and Conway.

If anyone here either needs a co-driver, or has ANY advice at this point, he's open to just about ANYTHING. He would post here himself, but he's not much of a talker, lol So I thought as his devoted wife, I'd step up and try and help him. We only wish we'd have found you guys sooner, and known enough to have avoided all this mess in the first place...

 

We're in southern WI at the moment, but will be moving to IL in the next few months. He's driven EVERYWHERE I'm fairly certain, with exception of Canada (doesn't currently have a passport, but could get one). Do you think our location would be close enough to get him in? If so, might you be able to share contact information? And, thank you so much!

 

He's not too overly worried if he can't get home every 5 days, he gets it. Do you happen to have a name or number he can contact?

 

Thank you so much! I got your PM, but until I reach 7 posts I can't reply! LOL Anywho, he's seen some good things (nothing personal, but after his Gray's experience he digs now!) and will be contacting Marc later today. I am going to post to reach the 7 so he can reply to your PM as well. Quick question...noon meeting...what time zone? (So I know a deadline! LOL)

 

My husband's working on the application process with F&S currently, and has his eyes and ears open for anything else as well. What kind of update are you seeking mainly? (New here! lol)