Fedex C.C.

[cheri1122]

I had planned to stay off the Open Forum until Aug 1 but cases like this get my blood boiling.

Aval650, my EO mail box is filled to overflowing and inbound messages are rejected. Diane and I invite you to contact us by normal e-mail (follow the e-mail link on this page). If you wish, we will donate to OOIDA a membership in your name, thereby making you a member. You will only need to contact them to give them your particulars. We don't need your personal information, only your name so we can designate the membership.

I would dearly love to write an article about bad fleet owners but these stories always turn out the same. If the victim fights back, the fleet owners cave to pressure before public court documents go on record, so when someone like me wants to write a story that includes names, contract provisions, claims, counter-claims, etc., there are no solid facts to state; only he-said, she-said stuff that exposes a writer to lible charges or suits if published. Often, the driver caves too and the "settlement" worked out by the fleet owner includes a gag order that keeps the victim from saying anything more.

If I had affidavits (statements made under oath) and court findings in hand, I could write things up loud and clear without fear of retaliation from the fleet owner in question. There is no prohibition against telling the truth and having public-record, court documents in hand would provide all the power I would need to push back against any threat of a lible suit.

EO may not be willing to publish such a story, even if it was documented as described above, but I have other outlets and would proceed.

I hate to see bad fleet owners take advantage of drivers over and over again, but they do so again and again because drivers do not fight back to the point where the fleet owner can be exposed. That is often because they lack the skills, the means, the will or all three.

Newbies listen up! There are fleet owners out there who intend to screw you from the moment you answer their ad. They are smooth talkers and highly skilled in their craft. They will get you off to a good start to get the cash flow going and then spring the trap, sometimes waiting to do so until you are far from home and less able to fight back.

There are others who have good hearts but are terrible business people, and when their mistakes catch up with them, the financial pressures push them over the ethical edge and motivate them to put their interests ahead of the well-intended promises they once made to their drivers.

I have also seen it happen where money corrupts fleet owners who never saw it coming. One way or another, they find their way into the fleet owner business and, with good intentions, do the best they know how to do. But as the money starts to flow, it gets to them and changes them. Actually, they did not change a bit. It's just that they had never had so much money flow through their hands before and had never had such an opportunity to take an ethical stand and do the right thing. They fail the test and start keeping the money for themselves that legally and morally belongs to the drivers who earned it.

It is not a conscious decision but small temptations are given into and rationalized. Thus begins the downward slide.

Honest drivers sometimes fail to see these bad fleet owners coming because they do not recognize the behavior. It is so far away from how they would think to treat someone else that they get blindsided as the negative situation develops.

This is one of the most helpful and best written posts I've seen in a very long time, and I think it should be a sticky.

 

[Streakn1]

How much longer will carriers such as mentioned in this thread continue to turn a blind eye towards questionable fleet owners? Especially when they receive calls from the drivers of said fleet owners reporting the ongoing unethical and dishonest actions being repeatedly committed against one driver after another that unwittingly falls prey to these snakes BS ( such as the ones we once drove for in the peanut state, you know who you are B I * C H!)? One would think the carrier(s) would immediately disassociate themselves and their product name from these heathens. Especially after enough complaints by so many drivers!

Oh, I know the answer. Maybe its less costly for said carrier(s) to replace an exceptional driver(s) who's only mistake was to pick a dishonest conniving fleet owner, than to replace the fleet owner. That might cost the shareholders mucho $$$ and lost revenue for a short period of time. Economics 101 in today's business world. Translated, make us money with your trucks, and we don't care how you do it as long as you don't screw us! Or, maybe nowadays the dishonest fleet owners out number the few good and honest ones left in this industry. So if you're in the business to move freight, you take what you can get!

If I was a fleet owner, I would worry about whom I screwed. There are people in this world that when it comes to messing with their $$$, you're liable to end up getting messed up really bad yourself (or dead). Have ya thought of that or you just think it could never happen to you? I for one love living!

Went down this very road once ourselves. That's why we drive our own truck and not some snake's now!!! Dishonest fleet owners get my blood boiling!

PS: The carrier gave us our snakes name and number as a potential fleet owner to drive for when we were looking for a truck! Muchos Gracias for the recommendation folks!!!

 

[Crazynuff]

It's not a matter of "sticking it" to anyone. As an employee, I would not pay to transport your truck, buy your fuel, fund your repairs, pay your tolls, hell, I would pay nothing! I work for you, I am not indebted to fund your operation.

Employee ? Not likely . Odds are these owners have all drivers self employed contractors and send them 1099's .

 

[cheri1122]

Carriers don't get involved with owner vs driver disputes for good reason: they are not conflict resolution experts - it's not part of their knowledge base. And really, why should it be? We are all adults, presumably capable of looking out for ourselves, and dealing with the consequences of mistakes. Unless the carrier specifically recommended that owner, they are not responsible for what you say the owner did wrong. Even if they did refer you to the owner, it's still your responsibility to choose carefully, as you will pay for it when you don't.
Do what you can to minimize the damage, pursue it in court if feasible, warn other potential victims if possible, and move on, lesson learned.

 

[teamjdw]

Maybe the carriers could adopt a policy that say's if we get x amount of driver complaints for theses problems, your contract will be terminated. No questions asked.I know it'll never happen,but they could say, hmmm, maybe, just maybe we have a problem here.

 

[zorry]

The most amazing thing I've learned since entering expediting 18 months ago is the crap some of these owners get away with and how they can do it repeatedly. I went to work for an owner in June, drove his truck 6 miles and quite within 24 hours. Luckily I hadn't signed his contract yet. I hooked up with another owner and MAY be with one of the BEST owners Fedex has. Time will tell. And it was just DUMB LUCK. It's a shame we can't devise a scorecard for owners. Answers would be True/False,Yes/No or on a scale of 1-10.?'s like would you want your daughter driving for this owner ? There would have to be a section to size up the driver...how long you been expediting,how many owners have you been with, etc. Maybe some of you smarter than me and more computer savy can figure out a scoring system. It's sorely needed.

 

[scottm4211]

Its no more amazing than how much crap some drivers allow by not standing up for themselves.

Posted with my Droid EO Forum App

 

[fortwayne]

That's what perks me. We have owners like this all the time and they repeat the same patterns and screw over drivers.
Here's a bigger problem.
Drivers do it to owners all the time too.
Excessive dead heading.
Beating the engine.
Tearing up clutches.
Etc.
If drivers would check with past drivers of an owner and if owners would check with driver's previous owners this would solve a huge part of the problem.
But we all act like we can't work together just because we compete against each other.
Do your homework and communicate!

Posted with my Droid EO Forum App

 

[lugnut1]

The original post is a plant.
It is obvious Phil needed a way to say, “I’m back.”

 

[MissKat]

Lugnut. Thats funny right there.

Posted with my Droid EO Forum App

 

[BillChaffey]

Speaking of A Team. Expedite Now magazine. Volume #6 Issue #2. "How to find a good Fleet owner"

 

[pjjjjj]

..... But we all act like we can't work together just because we compete against each other.
Do your homework and communicate!

I agree.. altho it isn't only the competitive factor that causes many issues to never be discussed openly, there is too much tight-lipped-ness on certain things. Newbies really have to do their homework and learn to become experts at reading-between-the-lines.

 

[MissKat]

My posts always have hidden meanings. Lol. I'm watching for the owners to post an ad any day here for new fish. So, keep your eye out for the teams wanted, Amsterdam or Ballston spa ny. Maybe those of us that think they have done this enough can respond to their ad and offer them guidance as many posters do here every day on a variety of topics, just sayin. There are at least four of us eo members that worked for these arrogant people.

Posted with my Droid EO Forum App

 

[Slacktide]

The original post is a plant.
It is obvious Phil needed a way to say, “I’m back.”

Lugnut. Thats funny right there.

Personaly I don't see the humor. While I understand there is good humored ribbing that goes around in here, I don't think that is where these comments are coming from.

I think that Phil could not have decided to end his E.O. sebatical on a better thread. He is truely the only one that has stepped up to offer anything more than mere advice and personal experience and recomendations. Whether you care for Phil or not he has offered more than anyone else. I find it rather tasteless that someone would take a cheap shot at him in this thread when he has done nothing but offer help to a fellow driver in need.

 

[lugnut1]

Personaly I don't see the humor. While I understand there is good humored ribbing that goes around in here, I don't think that is where these comments are coming from.

I think that Phil could not have decided to end his E.O. sebatical on a better thread. He is truely the only one that has stepped up to offer anything more than mere advice and personal experience and recomendations. Whether you care for Phil or not he has offered more than anyone else. I find it rather tasteless that someone would take a cheap shot at him in this thread when he has done nothing but offer help to a fellow driver in need.

You are certain the original post was not a plant? Where is your proof that it is not plant?
You speculate, as I’m I. The idea I have made a cheap shot bears fruit only if can prove the original post was not a plant.
Enjoy your speculating. It is tasteless since you know me not.

 

[Slacktide]

You are certain the original post was not a plant? Where is your proof that it is not plant?
You speculate, as I’m I. The idea I have made a cheap shot bears fruit only if can prove the original post was not a plant.
Enjoy your speculating. It is tasteless since you know me not.

Planted post or not doesn't matter. Even IF it was planted it has spawned a conversation that can and will prove useful to many a newbie. It will give them things to think about when finding an owner to drive for. Your post added NOTHING to the topic at hand other than to satisfy your need to entertain yourself at someone elses expence. As for proving the OP was a plant for Phil to return to the forums I will leave that to the powers that be that have the IP addresses. I'm sure they will jump right on it...

 

[greg334]

Well first I think that many on EO has an issue when somethings are brought up in the open as if it was gospel of expediting or something like that. I still amazed at the amount of secrets people think they have to hold in order to make money in this business.

Second Phil is a special case, he has an in-house lawyer who can actually help us but it doesn't work that way. SO we are left with speculation, assumptions and our own individual paths to find answers.

For some reason when someone announces they are going away like he has a few times, it is actually very funny. Yes I think it maybe a plant but still a good conversation starter (hint ... mods).

 

[Streakn1]

Maybe the carriers could adopt a policy that say's if we get x amount of driver complaints for theses problems, your contract will be terminated. No questions asked.I know it'll never happen,but they could say, hmmm, maybe, just maybe we have a problem here.

My point exactly! Cheri1122 makes good points such as "we are all adults presumably capable of taking care of ourselves, and dealing with the consequences of mistakes." Also "Unless the carrier specifically recommended that owner, they are not responsible" and last but not least "move on, lesson learned."

So true Cheri! In our case we definately dealt with our mistake of being sucked in by one of these less than honest fleet owners by suing them in court for what was owed us. Along with their name and number, the carrier provided us contact info for two other fleet owners at the same time. They happened to be the most convincing liars of the three. No one's fault but our own for choosing them. Yes, we moved on and learned our lesson, that being count on no one for your success, especially those that cannot provide you the financial success that we have made for ourselves as contractors with our own truck. No more of these dishonest fleet owners stealing $$ from us (and their other drivers) that they are not entitled to.

As a business owner myself, I still believe as teamjdw stated above, maybe the carrier(s) need to adopt a policy and take some responsibility. After all, almost eight years later our dishonest fleet owner still has their fleet leased to the same carrier, yet continues to screw drivers to this day, based on what past drivers have shared with us. IMO not only does that reflect badly on the fleet owner but also the carrier. Clearly with as many complaints as the carrier has received by now, they should realize this is a questionable fleet owner that needs investigating. Or are they just blind and stupid.

One would be challenged to find a past driver of these crooks that was not wrongfully screwed out of their hard earned $$$!

 

[lugnut1]

Planted post or not doesn't matter. Even IF it was planted it has spawned a conversation that can and will prove useful to many a newbie. It will give them things to think about when finding an owner to drive for. Your post added NOTHING to the topic at hand other than to satisfy your need to entertain yourself at someone elses expence. As for proving the OP was a plant for Phil to return to the forums I will leave that to the powers that be that have the IP addresses. I'm sure they will jump right on it...

EO is a for-profit website and many, including Phil, desire to have the banner impressions continue collecting profits from those who advertise here. You and I and all the many other posters are fulfilling that need as we all contribute to the websites profit, regardless of what we say. Get it?
============================================
Does the below quote agree with you? You may disagree but that may be because your tide is slack for a reason.
Ahh… The cheap shot!

“The biggest shortcomings for EO centers squarely on their lack of testes to publish what they believe or know about bad fleet owners, bad companies, or bad drivers. EO flinches continuously at their chance to become the Wiki Leaks of expediting, they stumble with fear at each new post where someone or some company has been portrayed as being a cheat, liar, thief or just an idiot to anyone, usually a driver. EO, and to a degree even Phil has failed many readers/drivers of this forum when they have had ample time and opportunity to address the bad companies, bad drivers, bad contracts and bad fleet owners.”

 

[cheri1122]

EO is a for-profit website and many, including Phil, desire to have the banner impressions continue collecting profits from those who advertise here. You and I and all the many other posters are fulfilling that need as we all contribute to the websites profit, regardless of what we say. Get it?

Lugnut: you are wrong. Absolutely, unquestionably, irrefutably WRONG. Both in stating your speculation of the reason for Phil's post as a fact [something you can't possibly know] and in your contention that anyone here cares about impressing the advertisers, except possibly you.
============================================
Does the below quote agree with you? You may disagree but that may be because your tide is slack for a reason.
Ahh… The cheap shot!

Something you have a history of taking without provocation, and if you think no one noticed, again: you're wrong.
BTW: when citing a quote, it is expected that credit is given to the actual author of the words.

“The biggest shortcomings for EO centers squarely on their lack of testes to publish what they believe or know about bad fleet owners, bad companies, or bad drivers. EO flinches continuously at their chance to become the Wiki Leaks of expediting, they stumble with fear at each new post where someone or some company has been portrayed as being a cheat, liar, thief or just an idiot to anyone, usually a driver. EO, and to a degree even Phil has failed many readers/drivers of this forum when they have had ample time and opportunity to address the bad companies, bad drivers, bad contracts and bad fleet owners.”