Contracts

[Ange5670]

What are some things that you would suggest a newbie look for in a contract?... Just as a driver.. not with leasing or signing on as a O/O. As I would assume it would be a major difference between the two.

Let's say I find an O/O or company that I really like and after talking to them everything sounds great.... bla-bla-bla… next step is a contract. What am I looking for? What if the say they don't do contracts?

 

[LDB]

What if the say they don't do contracts?

In that case you RUN as fast as you can.

For answers to your other questions keep working your way back in the general and newbies forums as it has been discussed at great length.

 

[Ange5670]

Gotcha .. No contract = run

I've been looking around and I see a bunch of posts on getting a contract.. but not really what to look for in one.. Maybe I just haven't found the right thread yet...

 

[cheri1122]

A contract is a way to protect both the owner and the driver from unwelcome (and usually unhappy) surprises, by spelling out the rights and responsibilities of both parties, and usually, the penalty for not following through on same.
As the driver, you'll want to know what you are required to pay for (fuel, worker's comp insurance, insurance deductible in case of a claim, etc). You'll also want to know when you get paid, whether the owner has expectations at to hometime, deadheading, minor repairs, and other variables. All of these needn't be spelled out in a contract, but those that are , will keep everyone 'on the same page', which is a GOOD thing, yes?
There is no 'standard contract', as each owner is an individual, and no two are identical.
I would not want to drive for an owner who isn't willing to put it in writing, or who doesn't make every item clear. Some will suggest you have a contract checked by an attorney of your own, but I wouldn't think that necessary, provided you read & understand it all.

 

[arkjarhead]

I would also want to know what do I do if I decide to quit. All of Cheri's points are good, but I would want to know the procedure. The last owner I drove for wanted a certifed letter of resignation mailed to him with a month notice. When I quit he let me out of that clause because I was having problems with a family illness and my presence was needed at home. He told me the truck was paid for, all his trucks had drivers in them, and he enjoyed having me work for him. He also said I could take off for a month or even 6 weeks if I needed to and keep the truck with me. I couldn't do him like that though. I thought about it, but he was to good to me. There were alot of times after that I wish I would have taken his offer. When you find a good owner stick with them until you are ready to get out of the business or get your own ride. At least that's what I think about it. I'll quit rambling off subject.

 

[Ange5670]

Thanks Cheri..

Is there anything that some of you may have missed at first.. signed on and then down the road thought oh wow this should have been in the contract or if only this or that was in the contract it would have saved a lot of headaches and time? Maybe that's what my question should have been in the first place....

 

[ATeam]

What are some things that you would suggest a newbie look for in a contract?

An honorable person behind it.

 

[greg334]

What is missed here is not what is in the contract but also how it was written and by whom. I would suggest that anyone willing to sign you on will let you have a copy of it before hand and allow you to take it to a lawyer to explain it to you.

Also what I have done with the few drivers I had was to go through the thing step by step to make sure there are no misunderstandings.