JB Hunt - Lowell, Ar.

Reply to trucking101:

While you may consider using the internet to disseminate ideas and information "griping" and infer it is a waste of time, I do not. Possibly, the CB is your personal choice for disseminating information to your fellow drivers. It is not mine. I find CB talk today to be often boring, childish, filthy, bigotted, derogatory towards women and a vocal venue for male "testosterone warriors" intent on fighting each other at the next available exit or truckstop.

Regarding your views that "all in the corporate world is brought on by thyself", I consider this to be simplistic thinking and, moreover, certainly not the case for most of today's professional drivers. In my case, I used the JB Hunt chain-of-command to report illegal wrondoings by my superiors. The JB Hunt Driver's Manual and other human resources company documents JB Hunt uses tells JB Hunt employees to identify and report abuses, discrimination and illegal behaviors. I was simply following established JB Hunt company policy regarding reporting to my superiors about the illegal directives of my fleet manager. My "pay-back" for trying to work within and improve the JB Hunt corporate system was adverse employment retaliation and eventual discriminatory employment termination. I consider JB Hunt's corporate action, "base outmoded thinking", "very unwise" and "illegally motivated".

Regarding your assertion that Arkansas is an "at will" employment state, you are quite correct. An "at will" employee can be fired for any "legitimate" reason or non-reason (ex: bad-hair-day). However, an employer cannot fire an employee wrongfully in violation of state or federal labor law(s) (i.e. for discriminatory purposes). Therefore, according to the whistleblower protections afforded me by the Surface Transportation Assistance Act, I cannot be fired or discriminated against for reporting the illegal activities of my fleet manager who directed that I drive a commercial motor vehicle in violation of local, state and federal laws.

Last, I have NEVER called my boss and "cussed" him/her because "something is [was] screwed up". I simply notify them of the problem(s), recommend a solution and let them decide how to proceed from there. That's their job, they manage, I drive. Also, I have always attempted to be a "professional" driver and strove keep a "civil tone" in my voice when speaking to my superiors. I highly recommend this course of action to all "professional" drivers. Hasty words sometimes cannot be taken back, even though they were said in the "heat of anger" or frustration.

 

The fact of the matter is, that quitting with notice will not benefit you in terms of obtaining future employment, because the trucking industry doesn't actually track it, as is in other professions. If at some point and time, that you were seeking to return to work for JB Hunt, it may be of some benefit.

I have given notice on most of my terminations, and in all but one case, it was received well, and I was not treated badly for terminating. In the one case where it was not received well, I simply terminated on the spot.

One thing that drivers do have to be careful of, is a new trend in the industry to report to other companies a category coined, "Terminated while under dispatch". Who first began this, I don't know. The thing is, it's rather damaging in the eyes of some companies. They'll decline a driver's application based on a driver quitting while he is under a load, or after he was dispatched to haul a load that he did not pick up.

When you quit a job, and you have any reason whatsoever to feel that the company you are leaving may enter negative information in a report, or is known to do this, such as is the case with JB Hunt, you need to take steps to protect yourself.

Photograph your truck, and the condition it was turned in. You were made to sign receipts for items that you received, such as for padlocks, load locks, etc.. If and when you turn these items back in, request a signature that they did receive them back from you. Be sure to turn in all logs right up to the moment you quit. Leave them nothing to hold against you.

Prepare a small letter, stating that you are of the belief that you have satisfied all requirements for terminating your employment on satisfactory terms, and request a signature from a carrier official. It makes no matter who they are. ANYONE that works for the carrier is enough to stop COLD any attempt to trash your record, if you have this as evidence. Unless in their employment policy manual, there is a designated person declared for this purpose, ANYONE can certify this for you.

If at any moment and time, you feel that your termination is NOT on good terms, simply pick up the phone to the local law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction to where you are, on a NON-EMERGENCY line, and request an officer. When he arrives, state the problem, and the fact that because they have become hostile, you want a witness to the condition of the equipment you are turning in, and that you are at least trying to terminate on civil terms. And whatever you do, be the nice guy...no matter how bad it is.

 

We encourage this type of griping. It has it's purpose. It informs others of what people are experiencing on the job, and more importantly, what they are experiencing when working for certain employers.

You see, we are of the opinion that it's not just up to the employee to conform to the requirements of the employer. Some things are just a little over the top. Sometimes, it really needs to be a two way street.

I WANT to know about the companies that are requesting or actually forcing drivers to violate the laws that we are supposed to honor.

I WANT to know about the companies that are promising certain working conditions, pay, benefits, and other aspects, and then are defaulting on those promises.

I WANT to know about the companies that are trashing a former employee's record, in any manner, and will prevent a driver from moving on with his life.

Yes...most drivers are aware that they work "at will". That's not really the point that this man has issue with. The fact that they are preventing him from seeking employment elsewhere is something that NEEDS to be out there. Who in their right mind wants that kind of thing brought upon themself, if they can avoid it?

Forgive me for what I am about to type, but your post just smacks of someone who is not a trucker of any form, and your interests lie elsewhere, and to have adopted the name of "Trucking 101", I personally feel you have alot to learn, before you begin to dispense criticism.

Therefore, and God forgive me, but enough is enough.... please..:####: and :thebirdman:

 

I'd take TT's advice on your big "clean-'er-out" day. Take pics of the truck, get a mechanic to sign off on a form that you're leaving it in good condition, and get someone inside to sign off on a form stating you're quitting under good terms and everyone who matters KNOWS you're quitting. This is an awesome action to take to help protect yourself against this new "trick" TT's talking about. Get multiple copies of these forms as well, and be sure you have a witness. Preferably an objective party--someone who isn't "interested" in your situation.

 

. . .

 

gotta love enron.

 

What do you want? A cookie? My previous answer stands. You have a lot to learn. You obviously do not understand what we are doing, and why we are doing it. I doubt that you've taken the time to read through the forums before you responded with the above.

Your claim to fame is only impressing yourself. I could certainly counter your resume with my own, but why bother? Read the site. My qualifications are well established.

Now I'm not savvy enough to figure out what prompted you to INITIALLY respond in such a rude fashion, and at this point, I couldn't care less. What makes you think that you are different from any other person out here, who is trying to make a living within this industry? We are all doing it for the benefit of our wallets.

This is the second time that you have posted that statement, and even after Burrows8365 SPECIFICALLY pointed out to you that he has done no such thing, you ignorantly repeat it. I don't know where you would have found that anyone else has expressed on this site that they have done this either. So why offer criticism of an occurance that hasn't been expressed by anyone?

You're assuming more into things, than there exists in evidence. Why would you deliberately do this? You're embarassing yourself.

Do you think you have a lock on how to do business? Hardly. I happen to think we have a fine group of people that are smart, intelligent, and they also, for the most part, have something in their midst that you haven't developed. It's called manners.

Some of us, myself included, before I developed the ability to make wiser decisions, have been screwed over by trucking companies. Through the exchange of information, opinions, ideas, and experiences, people learn of the pitfalls that exist out here, and more specifically, the companies that have manholes a thousand feet deep, just waiting for the next victim to fall into one of them.

When I read a post like yours, the cogs begin to turn in my head. What company are you currently associated with, and in what capacity? You're no driver. Are you another JB Hunt plant? This is getting hilarious. We're now up to half a dozen who have tried this approach. Your IP address is very interesting, and guess what? It's been used before.

This is proof that you haven't read the site. You're incapable of civil conversation, and your attack on me is evidence of both of those facts.

But since you have asked a question, it deserves a response.

What I am Sir, is a professional driver. I operate each and every day out there on the roads with concern and respect for the public. I drive legally and honor all the rules and regulations....period. I have amassed a very fine work record, and have established a record of nothing but the highest work ethics allowed by law. I cannot recall the last time that I had disagreement with a customer. These days, I don't wait to load or unload. When I bump a dock, the stuff practically unloads itself, or I drop it and hook to another trailer and keep moving.

I learned early in life how to use indoor plumbing for the purposes of relieving myself and to bathe, how to change my clothes on a daily basis, and I wouldn't be caught dead in an undershirt in public.

In my former life, this is where I would normally insert a witty remark that would totally insult you in the same manner that you attempted in my direction, but that's not what I am about these days.

However, I will say this much. You're totally pathetic. :smt079:smt065:thebirdman:

 

Come on, 101. Surely you're joshing in your post. You DO drive for a living? I'm going to assume that is the case.

This "griping" , as some call it, is great. Keep it up.

If I were going to work for any trucking company, I would want to know all there is to know about said outfit. These gripes provide me with some of that info.

And why shouldn't I demand that information? Trucking companies will be able to find out all sorts of information on ME, thanks to my DAC, my MVR, and the (convenient for companies) ten-year work history I am forced to give. The gripes serve to level my playing field. The gripes help me decide if a company is worth the risk of even applying to, let alone going to work for.

Considering I've worked for some of the worst trucking companies that have ever existed, I can fully identify with these "gripes". And not only do I appreciate the gripes, I myself will use this great weapon to help others level their playing fields when dealing with trucking companies.

Yeah, you bet I'll be "griping". If you don't like what I have to say, don't read my posts. No one is holding a gun to your head forcing you to. And your #####ing about my griping won't stop me from doing that, so give it up now. Like it or not, at least some people are going to hear what I have to say about trucking. And what I have to say usually isn't very "pretty".

 

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Unfortunately for you Trucking 101, your full response was automatically emailed to me the second you posted it, before you decided to edit all of of your posts, so I did get to see it.

Chalk another one up for my sniffer.

On a personal note Trucking 101, I guess that you can dish it out, but apparently you can't take it. I was also a whole lot nicer to you, than you were to me. No one asked you to step in here, and begin your attack. So don't be offended if the door slaps you on your on the way out. You asked for it.

Oh...and by the way, I sleep like a baby. Can you say the same thing?