New User. 30/ Female/ Moncton, NB.

I have worked for AYR Motor and McConnell as a company driver, and Day and Ross as an owner operator. Joe Keenan at AYR is a certified lunatic. I had booked my Christmas time off in early October, as they suggest you do, and got the little note that said my time off was approved in November. I was expecting to be off from December 20-January 2nd. I got home a day late (no big deal), and on Boxing Day I got a call from dispatch telling me my truck was ready to go and they had a load for me to Houston that had to leave that day. I reminded them that I was booked off until January 2nd, and the dispatcher said "We'll see about that" and transferred me to Joe. Joe, true to form, lost his mind and became very abusive over the phone. "You time off isn't in the system, so you go, or you're gone. Take your pick." I told him that the note I got had his signature on it and he called me a liar, and then said "When are you (expletive deleted) going to learn that work comes before family? Are you taking this load or not?" I said no, and he fired me. January 2nd came around and he called me and asked if I was done pitching my hissy fit and ready to work yet. I said sorry, you fired me, and I start work for another outfit tomorrow. Since then I periodically get calls from AYR asking me if I'd like to come back to work for them, since they "need more guys like you. Don't worry about Joe, he doesn't talk much to drivers anymore." I politely thank them for thinking of me, but decline.

On to McConnell. I guess I was one of the so-called favorites there, since my dispatcher and my wife have known each other since high school, and Larry McConnell's daughter and my niece are best friends. Got good runs, mostly no touch, no arguments about time off, until that dispatcher left and Larry went MIA for about 2 months. My new dispatcher made it her mission to drive off every driver that was on her predecessor's roster and succeeded. She's apparently no longer there. Since I no longer own a truck, I might consider going back there, but there would have to be some assurances.

Day and Ross... wow, where to even start. Getting blamed for late loads that were already late before you hooked to them? Yup, happened to me. Sitting for 3-4 days at a terminal waiting for a load when you still had plenty of hours to go while seeing trucks that came in after you get loads to where you wanted to go? Yup, happened to me and a lot of other folks. I was used to going out for 2 weeks at a time and three times in a row had to stretch it to over a month just to keep the wheels rolling, albeit in the wrong direction. I especially loved how you had to get approval to leave the Brampton or Montreal terminals just to go buy some groceries because your food in the truck had run out, and usually had to raise holy heck to get it. I eventually discovered that some dispatchers were shall we say "accepting gifts" from drivers in exchange for good runs, and the ones who were actually trying to do the right thing were being pushed around.

Mind you, all of this was a few years ago now, so things might have changed. MIGHT. The sad thing is, even though Woodstock and area is known as the trucking capital of Canada due to the sheer number of companies and drivers here per population, everyone knows everyone. All it takes is for one guy at one company to say "Don't touch this guy with a 10 foot pole" and you'll have a heckuva time finding decent work. That being said, there are also companies here whose bad references don't count for squat because everyone else hates them and they give EVERYONE who leaves a bad reference.

Maritime trucking has left a pretty bad taste in my mouth. I'm almost glad that I've been sitting at home on worker's comp for the last 8 months.

 

I will say my piece on Keltic Transport, I have been a driver for other companies not from the east coast. I worked for them for four years till this february. They are the same as the rest. WHEN IT COMES FOR THEM TO INCREASE YOUR PAY YOU WILL GET THE SAME SONG AND DANCE AS THE REST. It is simply a disgrace to Start a long haul driver for US at 33 cents. I got a small fraction more from experience and waited on a promise (Which i knew better). and i had no alternative but to quit. Equipment Great , People Smiling,( But you know what they say about smiling faces.) There is also a good degree of favourtism in this company. Dispatch does have its favourites, like all do. Company is only middle of the road. If new drivers are happy with them ,more power to you. As they gain experience they will realize. And as far as women in trucking i have no issue with that, Met many fine drivers on the road.

 

I agree, Maritime trucking has left the same taste in my mouth.