Anyone Else????

blackwood666 · Jan 30, 2008

Recently I signed onto a carrier from Toledo Ohio, and then came the events:
They claimed no sign-on fee's, yet i noticed the hefty payroll deducts, qualcomm etc. etc., then once I got the 2 day intense training I was ready to roll!
However I didnt roll for 6 full days then when I called a supervisor the company sent me 1000 mile total calling it a favor! WOW 70 cents a mile less all the deductions!
Thanks Very Little!
Then I returned to sit in a state with plenty of frieght and finally I got a load 300 miles and the week is almost over again, when i call dispatch they always say its slow, yet i see plenty of frieght leaving my state,"I am not dumb and stay in touch with many drivers" and hear of them leaving my state with frieght.
A big company all the rules, the DOT training, Qualcomm, etc. and then the claim they don't do much NLM, and work in the Alliance boards and have many in-house accounts.
WHERE???
So three weeks no check yet to see the deducts and less than 1200.00 wow that can't even pay 1/4 of my bills!!!
I made 85,000 Gross In A Ford Van "Shorty" last year!
With all the deducts "I guess I am no longer an owner operator but an employee."
B.S.
Perhaps I will leave soon!
Similar Stories???????????????

JohnO · Jan 30, 2008

For many carriers this is a slow time of the year plus sitting waiting for loads is part of the expediting experience.

Deductions from settlements can be trip pak, qualcomm, unladen insurance, prep**** physical insurance, workmans compensation insurance and others depending on carrier.

All these deductions including verbiage of lease were explained during my orientation along with a host of other worth while information.

Personally I wouldn’t sit 6 days waiting for a load. Developing a working relationship with agents/dispatchers may help to eliminate future long waits.

I don’t see where jumping ship this early would be beneficial?

By the way are you still driving a van?

blackwood666 · Feb 4, 2008

yes, however I drive a 2002 e-350 doesnt qualify for Landstar

greg334 · Feb 4, 2008

blackwood666 said:
yes, however I drive a 2002 e-350 doesnt qualify for Landstar

I am wondering why it doesn't qualify?

OntarioVanMan · Feb 5, 2008

For one thing it more then 5 years old....they won't budge on that.

greg334 · Feb 5, 2008

OntarioVanMan said:
For one thing it more then 5 years old....they won't budge on that.

Oh really?

Nope don't buy it.

and I have a very good reason why I say that.

OntarioVanMan · Feb 5, 2008

Ok ..let me put it another way...the policy is "no older then 5 years" BUT policys can change on a whim......and you prolly know someone that got on with them.

fastrod · Feb 5, 2008

Blackwood you have to understand that the company gets a cut of all the deductions from your paycheck. It is just another way for them to make money off of you.

greg334 · Feb 5, 2008

OntarioVanMan said:
Ok ..let me put it another way...the policy is "no older then 5 years" BUT policys can change on a whim......and you prolly know someone that got on with them.

OVM policies have exceptions..... and yes I know a few who are signed on with them and have trucks close to 10 years old.

LDB · Feb 5, 2008

Perhaps they signed on before the trucks were past the 5 year mark and just like FX have kept them up so they continue to pass inspection and are kept in the fleet.

Falligator · Feb 5, 2008

<<<I have a 2007 Ford E350 Extended Cargo van and Landstar told me that they were only hiring team drivers for cargo vans when I called, so I went back with panther.

OntarioVanMan · Feb 5, 2008

Falligator said:
<<<I have a 2007 Ford E350 Extended Cargo van and Landstar told me that they were only hiring team drivers for cargo vans when I called, so I went back with panther.

Seems to be a trend...more and more carriers are doing swaps and xdocks for single drivers in a van or Sprinter...depending on the time of week and not being able to build "rest breaks" into runs...could explain alot why its so slow for single vans also.

Example: Its a Monday and your #1 with a team behind you...Its a direct drive 800 mile load and 2 skids ...theres no xdock or theres no place along the route to arrange a xcross dock...or theres no money in the run to allow for xdock fee. The team will get the run over you.

To add we've also been the victim the other way...

We were #1 and single vans were coming in and out...called dispatch...was told they were 150-200 mile runs..they didn't want to use a team on a short run. Tada.

fastrod · Feb 5, 2008

This is the nice thing about being independent. It does not matter how long or short the run is, 100 miles or 1000 miles, if the shipper and I agree on price I take the runs. I have done a lot of 800 mile direct drive runs with no problems.