Things I do not like about ATS

That's about the 3rd time in the 6 months I've been here that I've heard that.

I can add to the list of things I don't like: the attention a large company draws from the DOT.

I've NEVER in the last 13 years of avoiding big companies (and working at rather small ones) had this problem, where I had to operate at this level of paranoia. It truly sucks.

 

My settlement this week is $182. I can honestly say I do not like this program at this point. I have been home for 36 hours since Labor Day in September. I can honestly say I have tried my hardest to keep a positive attitude, and put my best foot forward coming to work here.

This week I was part of the Washington crane move, I got empty yesterday, and have been fighting with my FM to get one more load in this week to make a decent check, and am meeting nothing but resistance. I just got an empty weight, and YES I can load those cheap lumber loads that the percentage guys are going to let sit, and they would in fact enable me to make a decent paycheck to take home this week.

The load I brought out here does not cover the truck bills, and if I don't get another one in this week, I will surely go behind in the lease. Once again they have dropped the ball.

If that happens, I will leave Anderson, let them kill my reserve and maintenance accounts, and simply cut my losses. I'm spending way too much time out here to not profit.

 

Well did you get the lumber load or are you letting it pass?
On mileage what would it pay you?
I am not trying to be a smart ##### Just asking basic questions.

You say they dropped the ball, correct?
How many trucks where on that crane move?
what number where you on the board?
Please explain to a slower learner like me how if there is no freight how is it their fault?

 

I'll play. There is always freight. Look around when you are empty, there are other companies with loads. How do they get loads, if there are no loads? One problem is planners wait until you deliver to look for a load, why not look for a load, a preload, when dispatched? After a short they know who is reliable and who is not. Reward those of who get the job done.

Change the pay system. It is not good enough to get a bonus when drivers have a load, take their pay when a driver doesn't get a load. Make them stay at work over the weekend while their drivers are sitting. Hire planners to work weekends and nights. hire better salesmen.

 

The crane move. Heh.

I showed up EARLY Tuesday morning. #2 in line. #1 showed up Monday. I couldn't make Monday, as I got held up Sunday in Montana after hitting a deer Saturday night. That's become a pretty famous story by now actually...anyway...

I was #2 in line, right up until the part where the customer decided they were going to start taking what pieces they needed rather than what showed up in line.

I ended up 8th or 9th empty.

It quickly became obvious that guys at the way back of the line put empty calls in early, as 2 of the 3 loads out of nearby Moro, OR were dispatched on guys that got empty behind me. I neglected to get truck numbers, and I'm not really a rat anyway, but boy ain't that just classy...I figure those guys will get thiers eventually.

I was offered a load Tuesday after I got empty out of Kettle Falls, WA for the following Monday in Pella, IA. Based on what ATS said in the offer for delivery, I passed on it. Now, in retrospect (hindsight being 20/20) I probably should have realized that I could have accepted this load, and that Pella IA would have had normal receiving hours, and just delivered it Friday. I should have used my common sense.

But what if...for some reason...I couldn't have delivered it, and gotten stuck on it until Monday? I would have skrrood myself.

So, I pushed for other lumber loads out of OR into Cali for the last half of the week. There were 8 on the board all week.

I was told they were 48000 pounds, so they didn't think I could load them.

Iimmediately got an empty weight. My truck, this stepdeck, half tanks of fuel on a CAT scale, I was 32000 on the button. I told them I could load 48000.

I never did get offered a load of lumber out of Oregon into Cali for the last half of the week.

But it just so happens that several of us ended up taking loads of humvees out of Tacoma destined for PA, that we're able to drop in the Gary yard by Sunday to scan in for pay this week. So, it'll turn out to be a pretty good week, but now I'm under a crunch for next week, and probably again will have a very slim check, if any.

It seems to me, they held us all up for those military loads at the end of the week. It just looks like they did it on purpose to me. They knew what was coming at the end of the week, and they held some of us to get the stuff they want moved.

I've come to learn that ATS does very little as randomly as some believe. The people running this place didn't get it to where it is by being foolish.

So, yes. There was freight. Just not he freight they wanted us to move.

Just seems to me...

 

Sinister, I've been reading your posts, and others I will be starting as L/O after turkey day, I know this is a bad time to start with winter coming, I live near Gary, and will also try to stay in south-south/east this winter, if your sitting want to be warm! things are bad/slow for HH that's why got out may 08, but I cant wait/ sit any longer these companies now days think you forget everything and start you out like a newbie if you sit over 2 years with out doing what you have done for 20 plus yrs, anyways I have not seen how long you have been at ATS, so I'm really looking for truthful answers, I have been doing HH work for over 20 years and ATS has ALWAYS HAD THE CHEAPEST RATES AROUND but has always had freight!! So my questions are with things bad, what do you think you will gross this year, how many miles to do that, and not knowing how many other co you or any (other guys who have posted lately) you have worked for to compare but as a whole are you proud to say you pull for ATS, and is your family WIFEY happy. Sorry it so long of a post, I just trying to convince myself to go back to work. Pease

 

My last settlement says that since the end of May, I've grossed 75,340.43, on 58702 miles.

However. Currently my odomoeter shows 305098, and when I picked the truck up it had 232900.

305100 - 232900 = 72200 miles actually driven.

72200 - 58702 = 13498 difference between miles driven and paid miles.

Not sure why there's such a gap. OD routes maybe? That's all I can think of.

I don't bobtail alot, I know which way to go to get places, so I don't pile on a lot of extra miles.

So, figure in another 6 months I have left on the lease, at what I've pulled in so far, I'm looking at between 140,000 and 150,000 gross.

Not too bad I guess after all is said and done. For sme people. I think I can do better elsewhere, and get home a lot more, and I'm already contacting companies near home to try to put together a plan for the end of my lease.

Will you be coming into heavy haul at ATS, or are they making you start on one of the lower rungs? I spent over a year hauling blades for another company, and because I've never been behind a high pole, I'm pretty far from hauling them for these guys.

 

Why is it they say they have a hiring freeze, but here a person states he's coming over to start??

He also states that ATS has the lowest rates, but he wants to come work for us??

 

Sinister,& 69 Thanks for ur comments I've been reading your posts on Sunday I think everyone of them, LoL and still not sure and will continue looking but time is closing in.
And now ur comments on when lease is up you will be gone, I can tell your both professional drivers and reading your posts I think it shows that you guys get down to business so I truly value your thoughts, I'm not a threat too you trying for your freight I'm a professional HH business man.
I'm coming to ats knowing about cheap rates because I like many others want to do wind, my wife of 33 yrs is a certified OK escort so we make a good team, this is all we have done together for last 8 years minus my short spell home, Ats has low rates have always had, but I know they do have the work so I guess having more load offers allows you more choices to find the better load of the day and the opportunity for us to work as a team again. With this much time off credit is not looking good and savings are gone, so L/O is the better opportunity for now.
Sinister I see you was to be class 2 then ATS changed the game on you and put at class 3 this concerns me I was also promised class 2 by taking the test, although I do have it confirmed by my prior companies that I've hauled up to 16'2 tall and 22' wide class 2 was the best they would offer at this time. You have been with ats for 6mo now have you been up graded yet?
I was told you only need to pull 5 od loads in each class to make the move.

Anyways thanks you for your time & input your pay sounds like what you should be making 150k-200K a year in HH but with their L/O lease, fees and road expenses how much do you feel will be take home pay?
I have more questions but don't want to be a pain.
Again Thanks Brian

" you cant send a duck to eagles school"