are there any decent owners out there?

[candykane29]

You know I've read the post on here for quite some time and just never joined the forum. I find these forums helpful in the trucking business without a doubt. But there is one thing I find that re-occurs over and over in these threads and that is owners that whine about past drivers.

Let me say first from experience that I drove sprinter for awhile and the trucking lifestyle on the road was just not for me. But now my husband drives and supports myself and our 2 kids. I have yet to see him leave an owner that didn't talk ##### and it get back to us and most of what was said was nothing but lies. Lies told to justify them screwing him out of his last wages.

Now I imagine your saying to yourself ok she said most so some of it must have been true. Well I'm sure some of it was there is always a thread of truth in most lies. And if they made it all up it wouldn't be believable at all and after all they want people to believe them or they would shut their mouths and take the ending of the business relationship like an adult.

My husbands last owner couldn't hardly even pay him in the end and that is why my husband had to quit him. But instead of just accepting his apologies for having to leave and letting us move on and him move on, he tried to slander his reputation in the trucking business and of course once again he didn't pay him all of his due pay.

I just don't understand people. Is there no such thing as a good person. You know they say there is an honor among thieves, and when it comes to the trucking business I'm almost to the point I think I must have to be an owner that lies and cheats people in order to get any loyality or make any money in the long run.

Is there anyone out there who can prove this theory wrong because right now I would love to hear from them.

 

[davekc]

It is disappointing to hear your story. As with anything, there is both good and bad owners as well as drivers.
There is almost a news media concept as to why you hear more bad than good. Many are quick to point out the bad in owners, why the decent ones are seldom mentioned. Several recent posts where drivers were having problems, it turned out the same owner was involved in most of the complaints. There are owners out there that operate on the greed factor, and that can't be ignored.
This also applies to drivers as well.
It is unfortunate, but a reality.

As to background checks, it is just using the law of averages and minumizing the risks. It doesn't mean that if someone filed bancruptcy I personally would exclude them. But it does open the door for some investigation. It could have been a divorce or medical reasons. If a reason can't be found, then irresponsibility has to be considered as a possibility. Many owners invest $100,000 or more on a truck, they want the most qualified individual they can find. The fact remains that some drivers, destroy, abuse, and abandon vehicles. Many times it is the driver, the owner, or miscommunication between the two. Alot of times as well, it is new owners that lack business and management skills.
The latter being more common among one truck owners.


The other issue is to take your time to search for the right owner.
You want to make sure you both have the same expectations.
Always demand a contract. Make sure you understand it.
Check the owners references. Former and current drivers.
If leased to a carrier, what do they say about the owner.
Make sure you receive a copy of each settlement that is carrier generated. Not one the owner does on the home computer.
Just like a marriage, if there are secrets between you, bad things usually happen.
The prospective driver has to take the time and research to find the right owner.


Davekc
owner
20 years

 

[raceman]

Nope No I better not


Raceman
OTR O/O

 

[Tennesseahawk]

You are so right about alot of people in general. Not all are greedy, with no sense of decency or compation. In purchasing a vehicle, I paid over $20,000 into it, including repairs. I ended up with nothing at the end. Now, we're fighting to get our last settlement and escrow, cause the guy put claim to it.

But I know there are good owners and honest sellers out there too. When things were slow in December, I paid the guy who drove my truck, even though I took a loss. That's the only way to do it, in my opinion. Not just because word gets back about how you treat the drivers, but because some people can't sleep at night if they screw over someone they pay.

Unfortunately, I don't own a truck. So I can't put your husband in one. But I may have a lead. Send a message to Broompilot. He runs with a good company where single drivers are the bread and butter. Broom may have an idea or two that will help your hubby out.

 

[Falconlady13]

When we decided to leave regular trucking for expediting,I contacted Roberts Express(FedEx CC)and the lady in recruiting handpicked 5 O/O's for us to contact.After many phone calls and face-to-face meetings we decided on the owner that we stayed with for 4 1/2 years.She treated us with respect,and expected us to handle our runs without her having to babysit us.
I have met many fine owners and some that I wouldn't have run for at all.
We heard many complaints from both sides,the O/O and the drivers.
We started out in a old run down truck and worked our way up to a brand new condo with all the extras.We didn't bother her with the petty stuff...headlight out..we replaced it.We kept her informed on what was going on and lived up to our agreement of 5/6 weeks out and 1 week at home.So yes,there are some wonderful O/O out there and some really bad ones but it takes searching for them and you can't get in a rush,take your time and meet with them and then ask for a contract that you both can agree on..talk to the drivers that they already have working for them.Best of luck to you on your search.

 

[Drluvv]

I agree with what Davekc said, there are both good and bad drivers and owners in this business. I have had both owners and co drivers that have pissed me off to the point that I can't take one side over the other.
When it comes to owners there is a greed factor involved and that is to blame for most of their problems with drivers. I used to hear about how drivers were treated like dirt and tricked into putting their own money into fixing an owners truck and then never getting paid back but never belived it. The second owner I drove for didn't have any money saved up for break downs and I found this out the hard way. I was doing my daily pre trip when I noticed the universal joint at the rear axle was cracked. I drove the truck to the garage in the truckstop and was told that it was gonna cost $500 to fix it. I called the owner with the news only to find out that he was broke and that he'd pay me back if I could fork over the dough. to make a long story short he paid me back in full but only after I got real serious with him. Another owner I drove for who kept a death grip on his Com card ended up using all of the money that I've earned over two weeks but not taken out of the Comcheck account on getting another one of his trucks fixed. The last owner I drove for was a good guy and never robbed me for his own gain but has hired a bunch of idiots in hopes I'd train them to be as good a driver like myself.
There are a lot of bad drivers out there that give owners problems if not headaches or brain tumors. I've encountered several bad co drivers which pushed me to my limits and cost me money from lost revenue because they didn't know how to drive or take loads that went to New York. The last owner I worked for was a good guy and I can't really say anything bad about him except that he wanted a "team" on his truck and was willing to hire any jacka$$ that answered his call. In the six months that I worked for this owner he put me with three knuckle heads that had no business being in a truck. When I first went to work for this owner he already had a driver on his truck, but that guy didn't know how to drive over the road or anything about the Q-com or how how FECC did the paper work. So I was the experienced driver training the co driver. Four days out on the road the co driver had to return home because he had an interview for another job the next day. After he left I was driving solo pulling in $2000 to $2,500 per week and accepting ever load offered. The owner hires another guy which turned out to be everyones nightmare when they think of being teamed with someone they don't know and have never met before. Turns out this "new guy" didn't know how to drive a truck with a double clutch transmission, turn off the turn signal after every trun, read a map, understand the Qualcom, stop at weigh scales, do a log book, stop at the booth on either side Canada or the U.S., or take a shower. Thats right I had to tell this fool everyday to take a shower even though he knew that he was smelling. The stories I can tell you about this guy would make you throw up. After the third and last co driver that was deaf in one ear, had just gotten a divorce, was afraid of getting his hands dirty, and turned out to be gay I told the owner I've had enough decided to call it quits. That truck never made anymore money with a team on it with these co drivers than with me driving solo seeing as how they didn't want to take a lot of loads and how they kept wanting to go home after a week or two.
I can't help but feel that some owners are to blame for their own headaches do to greed of working a driver untile he/she quits and leaves the truck miles away, or from hiring a team or a driver out of pour desperation without first checking with their last employeers or in some cases credit checks. The same thing when it comes to drivers, if you get screwed out of money or quality home time, its because you didn't do your home work and jumped into an owners truck knowing nothing.
I've learned that if your going to be a driver for someone, the first time they ask you to take money out of your pocket to fix "their" truck run, leave their truck where it is and catch a bus or plane home. If they don't have the money for break downs then they don't have the money to pay you what you've earned since it could be in the hundreds or thousands. When your teamed with someone who's never driven over the road or is straight out of some trucking school, drop everything and just walk away. I found out that when driving as a team and DOT checks your log book and finds something wrong with your co drives logs you to can and will also recieve a ticket. It doesn't matter if your log book is correct, up to date and has all the t's crossed and i's dotted, your book doesn't match your co drivers and there for is considered a log book violation. I know this because Canadian DOT was going to give me the same $1500(yes that right I said $1,500) fine for my smelly co drivers log book not matching mine and some days not even being done.

 

[Lady Expediter]

That's what I keep saying lately about team drivers, I know that there are good ones out there....but where?

I have been driving cdl A since 1997 and O/O since 2000 - mostly I have had great drivers/teams, but lately - - -

I have had 3 teams in one of my trucks:

#1 team always wanted truck in the shop at least once a month.They ran good, but apparently like to attempt to spend my money as much as possible also. I am big on truck care/maintence, as it takes care of all of us, drivers and owners, but....

#2 team ran great one month, didn't the next,that was their MO, and even stopped sending in the companies paperwork for the last 12 trips....until they wanted to float around the company to other owners looking for drivers...then the company as soon as they recieved the BOL let them on with another owner...and I was not notified, and I never completely received the paperwork I needed from these drivers.

#3 turned down to many loads, kept bad percentage rates, to much time off, and had a incident within 3 weeks of starting with me and ended up costing me around $7000.00

UGH! I know this can be a win-win experince for both drivers and owners, etc....but both must be patient, look into each other well...

I know there are two sides to every situation...sometimes more. But I wonder what these 3 team drivers would say or rate me the owner as?

These drivers were always paid in full at every pu, reimbursed for tolls, etc. and had a fuel card for fuel which I the owner paid for. And I also drive, and I know what it is like to be OTR, and I vALUE drivers/owners and reconize and appreciate what is required.

My drivers I have always given a type written contract, I think it is best to be clear on both sides of what we are agreeing to be doing together as a working unit...

I do believe it would be good some how to have a list/information on drivers and owners but how accurate it could be I do not know.

Also to somehow market together for these job openings and drivers looking for positions, so we could ALL recieve quality & quanity of selective applicants.

EXAMPLE: if I place a classified ad (anywhere, newspaper/online,etc.) also add in ad: www.expeditersonline.com as we owners live all over USA and cost for 1 more line of advertising would not be so much this could be a win-win situation for everyone. Of course we would need to run this by experditersonline for their Okey dokey

Then we may increase our pool of proper driver/owner matches!

Okey, hope this helps.
God Bless You All,
Happy 4th,
Kelly

Lady Expediter

"Dreams and dedication are a powerful combination." William Longgood

 

[x06col]

There might be some decent owners out there if, you look around a while. I recently got in the look'in for a driver mode a little while back and got myself a real wake-up call. Put one cowboy in the truck for three weeks. He missed his appointment in Tx and brought the load back to In "because he didn't want to spend the weekend in Tx". And, that was the end of that. The next one was teaming with me (I chose not to turn anyone loose again without working with them) and we get a call from a customer to pick a 1900 mile run. After asking if he wanted to go to Colorado, he replied "let me check with my honey" finally after he contacted her and got approval the load had been covered. And that was the end of that.
I dunno maybe there aren't any good owners,or, drivers out there.
I still believe i'm not going to give up on humanity just yet. a little advice tho to someone whom wants to retire, start your driver hunt a lot sooner than you think you have to.

 

[davekc]

DrLuv wrote
I've learned that if your going to be a driver for someone, the first time they ask you to take money out of your pocket to fix "their" truck run, leave their truck where it is and catch a bus or plane home. If they don't have the money for break downs

I am alittle different on this. I have my drivers pay for items like a light bulb or a flat with a maximum of $100.00

If they need a headlight at 3:00 a.m, I don't need a phone call at that hour to ask if they need it. I reimburse weekly upon a copy of the receipt.
I need my beauty sleep. LOL:7
If I am trusting them to drive my truck, I better be able to truck their judgement on that kind of stuff.
Items above that ($100.00), they call me and fill me in.
It winds up being a couple of times a year per team.(emergency)
I am always available during regular business hours.
No right or wrong, just my approach.
No driver should be putting out money for any kind of repairs on a owners truck.


Davekc
owner
20 years

 

[KYoung]

As an O/O I find it hard to find someone with realistic expectations of expediting. Most people think they can drive for someone and make as much as an owner, they want dedicated routes, or they want to have local only and be home every night. This is a peculiar business with odd hours and unexpected deliveries ie calls at all hours of the day or night. It isn't steady and a driver may have to sit awhile before they get a load, or even relocate. Their are those drivers who after a bad week, let's say two loads, are ready to throw in the towel and quit. I tell people this is a business of averages, look at the bigger picture, monthly not weekly you may make $1,000 this week and $3,000 the next three. So I think an Owner owes it to the driver to make sure they know what to expect, not promise an elevator and then give them the shaft.

Also an owner should have everything in writing, what the driver is responsible for and will pay for and, likewise, what the owners responsibilities are which should cover payment and reimbursements.

I like to use comcheck for payment, Landstar will load 50% of the truck pay onto the card, this covers almost all of the drivers pay, they get paid in advance not two weeks later. Plus, if I don't get home the driver is still paid, and no worries.

Thats my thoughts

 

[Drluvv]

What I ment to say was if your driving a truck for an owner and one of the headlights goes out, don't call the owner and ask him to send you the $10 or $20 dollars to fix it, jut do it yourself. But if something were to go wrong that costs in excese of $100 or $150 hell you've got to be crazy to pay for it yourself, unless you know the owner well and have been working for him/her a long time. I've driven for four owners over a two and a half year period and the first three screwed me like I was a bolt holding down a tarp covering their Covette Stingray in a hurricane. When an owner has a brand new BMW M3 but tells you he doesn't have the money to send you to get work done on his truck, thats just wrong. And then after a month you try to collect he makes you feel quilty because he had to take time off his job cause his kid was sick with the flu and he had to use the money he was going to pay you to pay his own bills, thats just crazy.

Don't get me wrong there are a bunch of good owners out there but most of them aren't looking for smart drivers who know the expediting business and know when an owner is full of s#@t. Like Kyoung said most owners tell new drivers new to the expediting business that they'll make a boat load of money on loads paying $1.50 to $5.00 a mile. I know because I was told crap like that. They don't warn new drivers about the down side of the business and how it can be a little stressful waiting for loads and running short ones just to make some money. Some even try to take advantage of new drivers by short changing them or not paying them at all and thats just wrong.

Sure there are bad drivers out there, but from what I've seen with the last owner I drove for, they don't screen these drivers right, they just pay for the physical, drug screen, and back ground check and if they pass then they are hired. Only to find out that their new driver has left after a few weeks and is driving for another owner or is sitting at home filling out another driving application.

I worked my tail off when I worked for my last owner, hell I even stayed out three whole months without complaining trying to make up lost revenue due to the first co driver quiting. After six months I had no other choice but to stop working for that owner because he just kept hiring co drivers that were idiots and would rather work for a few weeks, get a feel of the business and then quit.

 

[davekc]

DrLuvv wrote:
Don't get me wrong there are a bunch of good owners out there but most of them aren't looking for smart drivers who know the expediting business and know when an owner is full of s#@t. Like Kyoung said most owners tell new drivers new to the expediting business that they'll make a boat load of money on loads paying $1.50 to $5.00 a mile

I think that is true in many cases.
For me, I in general only hire seasoned teams. They come in already knowing the business. They might not know the carrier, but they have already adapted to the lifestyle.
For a new hire regardless of experience, I think it is helpful to show past and current statements from the carrier that provide proof of income. Again, making sure it is from the carrier, and not generated on the owners computer.
If the owner generated it, one can make it anything they want it to be. This way, everyone has realistic expectations.
If a owner for any reason can't show you a statement from the carrier, I think I would be looking for another owner.
If you stay and bad things happen, it is your own fault.

Davekc
owner
20 years

 

[x06col]

I kind of see the problem luv is aluding to, "sending idiots to drive with me". How many times do we see the recommendation that you drive for an owner before you take the big leap. That opens the door for pandora's box you know. Interestingly, I read that same advice given on this site by an advisor that only hires seasoned veterans. I dunno.

 

[davekc]

kind of see the problem luv is aluding to, "sending idiots to drive with me". How many times do we see the recommendation that you drive for an owner before you take the big leap. That opens the door for pandora's box you know. Interestingly, I read that same advice given on this site by an advisor that only hires seasoned veterans. I dunno

I certainly would fall into your catagory. I think that if someone is new, then they should start with a owner before taking that financial plunge.
I am one owner in a big pot.
I only hire seasoned teams because of the equipment that I run.
If I decided to run more fleet oriented trucks, then my opinion might be different. Then you could bring on new folks whether team or singles.
I am not set up for that, but many are.
I am not so sure I am sold on putting two people together that don't know each other either. If going down this path, I think it would be necessary to pay the lead driver a training fee.
Other senerios (putting unknowns together) don't seem to be successful for any length of time. I could be wrong on that, but haven't seen any?

Davekc
owner
20 years

 

[wombat52]

well yes i really do think there is some very honest owners out here but understand the expedite industry is a very serious side to the trucking industry in general when a lot of general trucking is shutting down for the day the expedite industry is just starting getting that hot load of parts there overnight or asap and i myself do consider myself a very honest and trustworthy owner operator who holds nothing back from my co driver at all the only i ask in return is a fair days work for a fair days settlement and not someone who cannot remember routes or wants to go home every weekend & if i can stay out away from my family for weeks i do expect my co driver to do the same so the question is now put forward is it the owner operators or the co drivers we are putting on ?? we are the people who paid for for the expensive repairs and tires plus the fuel & hwy taxes and i get on here and read every day how bad us owners are well become a owner and see for yourself and the rising cost everyday of fuel out here
wombat

 

[wombat52]

>well yes i really do think there is some very honest owners
>out here but understand the expedite industry is a very
>serious side to the trucking industry in general when a lot
>of general trucking is shutting down for the day the
>expedite industry is just starting getting that hot load of
>parts there overnight or asap and i myself do consider
>myself a very honest and trustworthy owner operator who
>holds nothing back from my co driver at all the only i ask
>in return is a fair days work for a fair days settlement and
>not someone who cannot remember routes or wants to go home
>every weekend & if i can stay out away from my family for
>weeks i do expect my co driver to do the same so the
>question is now put forward is it the owner operators or the
>co drivers we are putting on ?? we are the people who paid
>for for the expensive repairs and tires plus the fuel & hwy
>taxes and i get on here and read every day how bad us owners
>are well become a owner and see for yourself and the rising
>cost everyday of fuel out here
>wombat

 

[Drluvv]

This forum topic cuts both ways and is equal right down the middle. I didn't start this topic but I'd like to thank everyone for contributing to it and stating that both owners and drivers are to blame and need to have a business sense, knowledge of the expediting industry, and how to save money while driving a truck. We've all talked from our personal experience and we've all been burned one way or another. It seems to me that bad owners produce bad drivers, and bad drivers make bad owners.LOL

 

[NEVERHOME247]

Are there any decent owners out there? Absolutely... I recently sold my truck and now drive for a group of owners. And all I can say is these people are wonderful. Being a owner operator for six years. I was a little skeptical at making this change. I now wish I would have done it sooner. I drive new equipment,there is sommeone there 24/7 if I have a problem,I always get paid on time. No problems with the owner I drive for. You got to check people out before you work for them. I checked these people out. And they checked me out just the same. It is a two way street. Alot of question need to be asked both ways. Be smart about who you drive for and who you let drive for you.

 

[ATeam]

Good and bad owners? Yes. Good and bad drivers? Yes. How to find them? Good question!

To get what you want out of the industry, focus first on what you can control; namely, your own performance and track record. If you can demonstrate with verifiable results that you are a driver or driving team that takes care of an owner's truck, drives safe, and produces average to above-average revenue you will be in an excellent position to find good owners. If you can provide good references and show good numbers, you will have every right to ask a potential owner to do the same.

By verifiable results, I mean carrier-provided numbers that you can make available to a prospective owner and good references - best from a previous owner you have driven for, but if such is not available, references from another credible source.

With an excellent track record of your own and by making it known via the "Driver Available" or "Team Available" section of the EO Free Classifieds, you can afford to be picky. Good owners will beat a path to the door of a good driver or team that is available. By interviewing a few ad respondents, you'll learn a lot and hopefully find someone you are comfortable with.

You may also want to evaluate your owner-selection technique. If your past actions has produced a string of liars and slanderers, your old technique is not working very well. Think about different ways to find owners and different questions to ask before signing on with one.

 

[derykman]

What would be a good string of questions to ask an owner?
Steven.....