Is my company trying to swindle me?

You might as well move on and count this as a learing experience. You have not been shafted near as bad as lots of lease operators have. As far as the 1099, you accepted it. I have worked for a 1099 operator before, and have in the distant past employed operators on a 1099. Yes, you have lost some money, your pride is hurt, and you think you have been done wrong. This is the way of the world. You made the decision to work for this guy withought checking him out. Get over it and move on. To dwell on it will just keep you in a turmoil. Chalk it up as a bad decision on your part and move ahead. You don't have a chance of collecting any money or anything else.

Things happen, and you happened to make a bad decision to work for this guy. Most all drivers have made a bad decision on who to work for at some time if they have been in this business long enough. Suck it up and move on. You don't have much of a chance of getting anything out of this except some valueable experience.

Take this for what it is worth. This world isn't fair as far as most of us see it. It's how we handle the unfairness that counts. Learn from this. You can't buy ant any price the lesson you just learned.

 

Southern Cal huh? What is the name of the company?

 

I worked for a 1099 company once that made me sign a contract saying I was renting the truck, paying for my own fuel, had my own choice of loads, etc. Nearly got blown over on I-15 in Rancho Cucamonga heading to the yard in the wind. The next day I was supposed go empty to pick up a load....same winds... I refused. Got fired. Filed unemployment. Unemployment interviewer told me to pound sand because I was an independent contractor. I pushed the issue and ended up speaking with a supervisor who sent me out a list of questions to try determining whether I was really an independent contractor or in fact, an employee. They included questions like who provides the truck (they do) who determines the route driven (they do) do I have to wear uniforms (no) do I have the ability to turn down work without punishment (obviously not, that's why I'm here) Who provides/finds/books the loads (they do) and several other questions I don't really remember offhand. Anyway, after a lot of fighting, and going back and forth, and even some phone calls, I got a letter of award for unemployment. I won. They had to pay back state payroll taxes, were fined, and still had to pay me unemployment. To this day, I still see their trucks running around. I am curious to know if they are still trying that 1099 garbage or not.

To answer your question though, No. They are not trying to screw YOU. This sounds like a place that will take advantage of anything they can. I may or may not have stayed put as long as you have, but when it comes time to fight for a tcheck to buy 50 gallons of fuel, I'm out.

 

I used to hear the words 'Quick and Dirty' describing anything done quickly to get the job done.

This carrier sounds like they only know how to work Quick & Dirty!

Run fast & far & NOW!