In this situaion, you would do...........

[DannyD]

Hiya folks,

I have a challenge here & would appreciate other people's ideas. Sometimes people on the outside can see things you don't. Especially when they've been thru similar experiences. I have an idea of what I'm going to do here, but am definately open to other ideas in case I'm missing something.

I currently work for EGL. I'm pretty happy w/ em & I'd be suprised if they weren't happy w/ me. I take most everything they offer & don't mind working late into the nite. Plus, hopefully they see me as being easy to work w/ & a disposition that's all in all pretty good.

My challenge is w/ a 2nd company I also work for. I doubt that I'm viewed the same there as I am w/ EGL. It comes down to a few things, & here's where I'd like some opinions.

For starters, EGL is my main company. With company #2, I simply want the occasional run from em in the right situation to maybe negate some dead miles. Like a run close to my home if I'm a ways out & EGL has nothing available.

So far, I've been offered 3 runs w/ this company. I've taken all 3, but all 3 have been more inconvenient than have helped me out. Run #1, a message was left on my cell phone. The way the message was worded, I was under the impression it was a pick up near Metro Airport after I was done w/ EGL & delivered close to my house the next morning. This had to do w/ there's 2 cities w/ similar names.I called back & said I'd take it, then found out it was a pick up at Metro Airport the next morning & not many miles. This run now became one that boned me bad, but since I said I'd do it, I took it.

Run #2 is one that I was hesitant to take in the first place. I live in Flint, MI. This run picked up in Sterling Heights & delivered to Metro Airport on a Saturday evening. That meant 75% of the miles were dead miles. When I was told the amount I'd make, I took it as one of those "borderline" runs that since I wanted to form a good relationship w/ the guy, I took it.

I found out right before I left my home that the place near Metro was closed & I'd have to deliver it on Sunday morning. Now I'm peeved. This was not what I agreed to do. This bit of new information is now going to add 100 more dead miles to my trip. It's also going to mess up my Saturday nite due to the fact that I now have to wake up early Sunday. I was told $50 would be added to the run, so I took it. Though this is still a run I would not have taken had I had accurate information given to me to make my decision. I just got my check for this run, & the extra $50 wasn't included. This means I took the whole hit for the place being closed & all it was for the company is an extra phone call or what have ya.

Run #3 is a run that while it paid ok, it was a run that added 400 miles to the end of my day. I was told it was a 10:15 pick up & my thinking is I'm going to go straight there & then back. This puts me back in my own bed at 5AM or so. No problem there as I work 2nd shift for EGL. As it turns out it's a pick up closer to midnite & doesn't deliver until 7AM. This means I'm 200 or so miles from my house at 7AM w/ only scatterd sleep in there. This now means I'm going to have to start later w/ EGL the next day & I'll miss a few runs because of it.

I realize expediting has all kinds of twists & turns. If I want a job that's totally smooth, I can do something else. It's one thing if there's a glitch at the place of pick up or delivery. Those things happen & all in all I hope I deal w/ em pretty well. It's a bit different when you make a decision based on certain information & that information isn't accurate.

So my question is, other than flat out quitting, how would you deal w/ this company? Also, how would you have handled run #2?

Thanx in advnance for any responses,
Danny

 

[raceman]

Well you most likely are not going to like my answers but here goes. I would not try and mix business with two companies if less than accurate info causes you this much of a headache. If EGL is not paying your bills then look for one company that will.

The other option if you really want or need to keep both carriers then go in armed with your information be calm and collected with confidence booming. Explain the issue see if they can make it better for you and if not thank them for the oppertunity but explain you can not operate that way.

Thats just me. Best of luck in what ever you do.

Raceman
OTR O/O

 

[DannyD]

Heya Race,

Your answer is fine & opinion appreciated. I could have maybe articulated it a lil better. EGL is fine, or will be once I have no Sprinter to pay for in addition to my Ford. My reason for having company #2 is to negate some dead miles. I live about 80 miles from Metro, so my hope was company #2 would either get me a run near there to start my day or a run from there to my home at the end of the day.

Again, I am open to any opinion from "Danny, here's what I'd do" to "Danny, you're a flippin idiot." I'm more interested in the WHY someone would do something I guess. I have an idea of what I'm going to do, but also want to get other opinions to get other ideas.

Thanx for your input,
Danny

 

[cheri1122]

Danny: first, I'd like to say congratulations (not the word I want, really, but it'll do) for trying to work your way out of a problem, instead of slide out of it. That says that EGL is lucky to have you, & if Co.2 doesn't see that, it's their loss.
What I would do, about the second run, is speak with whomever promised the extra money, & politely insist that you expect them to keep their word - as you do. After getting that straight, you might want to speak to someone about the nature of runs you are willing to do. If they can't or don't offer those, well - you move on, looking for another company, or way to accomplish your objectives. If they say that they will accomodate your needs, but offer runs that don't, you politely turn them down.
It's hard to offer advice without knowing whether or not you made your objectives clear from the beginning - if you did, then they aren't keeping their end up. If you didn't - it's time to do it, no?
Good luck - and don't forget your sig line, k? Cheri

 

[RichM]

Those of us that have been around with FEDEX for some years know that one of the most important pieces of information on a trip offer, "is the run confirmed". This means that someone on the delivery end said"yes we will be there at that time and will offload the freight". So when you show up and no one is there you can receive detention pay until they arrive.. This is a very important piece of information especially on a weekend trip.

 

[tec1959]

Danny i'd say that company 2 is just jerking you around on crappy loads or really don't know what their doing,I'd fine another company to work part time with and leave the second company behind.

 

[DannyD]

Heya Cheri, Rich, & Tec..

It seems like I'm on the right track w/ my thoughts then. What I intend to do is this. If I don't get paid the $50, I won't be there any longer. That much is clear. If I do get it, then this is what I had in mind.

Mainly, it's to write a detailed letter of what I'm willing to take & what I'm not. I've told the guy a few times verbally but I guess it's not getting thru to him. By detailed I mean times I'm willing to work (ie, nothing b4 10AM until as late as needed M-W-F & until 6PM Tu-Th). I'll mention how I expect these situations that change in the middle of the game to be dealt with. If I agree to take a run based on certain information, if the information changes I reserve the right to make another decision. This doesn't mean I won't wait an hour or 2 at a pick-up if freight is delayed, but if it's going to be into the next day or what have ya, then I'm not obligated for that run.

I haven't thought out what the letter will say completely, as I wanted to think it out a bit more. That's the gist of it though. If those terms aren't acceptable to em, working for EGL only (or some other company as Tec suggested) is fine.

Thanx for the input,
Danny

 

[late for dinner]

Danny, I worked for 2 different local carriers in Ohio in the past and what is happening to you was a common thing. Both gave a print out the day after that showed all runs compleated and the pay. If you didn't make a claim within a couple days you got paid what the sheet said, not what the dispatcher said. My commision correction request averaged over $100.00 per week, really!! I didn't think all this was a mistake on the part of the owners, it was theft plain and simple. I don't know who your #2 is but I'd think long and hard before I took another run for them.

 

[ibdriving]

I once applied to EGL and if I remember correctly they pay your insurance. I also know of a company who provided insurance and when an accident occured at the time the O/O was hauling for someone else the company paying the insurance refused the claim.
Point is just make sure you permits and lease and insurances are in order. It is very easy to be wiped out completely.

Ed
Dove Expedite

 

[bcurt]

Danny, first off " Go red Wings " This sounds like a company #2 that I hired on with last year for the same reasons ( deadhead ) it was clear in my attentions with them. This was a small boyfriend / girlfriend operation, that worked a load board.. This company did the same thing to me and more. I addressed the situation many times, ended the relationship after a few months, them oweing me a few hundred bucks. Then a few months down the road i started getting bill collectors ( phone companies, utilite companies )calling my cell, asking when they could expect payments.. for services i never had, in states i never lived. So eye for eye we now have that straighten out.. These people were based in MI. then moved to Ind. I would quit them and watch my credit report closely.. Be safe..bcurt

 

[DannyD]

Ed,

EGL knows I'm working for a 2nd company. They've never brought up the insurance thing you mentioned, but to be sure I'll ask them. Also, company #2 had told me that I only need bobtail because when I'm under load they're insuring me. Still, your idea of making absolutely sure is a good idea & I'll be taking ya up on that.

Bcurt,

Yea, the Wings aren't looking to good. Ya can't win every year & I know that. 3 Cups in 10 years isn't to shabby. Hockey in general tends to have a lot of upsets. Still, the Wings do seem to lose to inferior teams quite a bit. I think this year Calgary is a better team. We got 40 some odd points vs. StL, Chicago, & Columbus, so our record is inflated a bit. If we lose to Calgary in a later round, IMO we'll have lost to a better team. If we lose to Edmonton here (we're down 2-1 as I'm writing this) it'll be disappointing.

As for the company I'm still up in the air about it. I just went to my mailbox between last paragraph & this one & my check was there. I was waiting to see if there was some kind of adjustment for that $50 they told me about. So they seem to pay on time. I just wasn't paid what was agreed upon. I'm going to write the letter to em in a second here. If I get the $50 & they understand I'll be reasonable with delays or what have ya, but none of this next day stuff that adds a lot of miles to my trip, I'll prolly stick w/ em. If I don't get the money or they think I'm going to agree to a run & will take it no matter what the changes in the terms are, then I'll be done w/ em.

Have a great one,
Danny

 

[DannyD]

A lil update on this situation.

Run #2 was my main beef. I talked to him about the extra money. He said that the load was less weight than he expected, but he put the extra money in w/ the check. He's actually right in that the load was lighter than what he'd been told.

I can see his logic, but I guess he couldn't see mine in that I was told a certain dollar amount I'd make & took it based on that. I wouldn't have taken the load if I was told it was so light & paid so little. I had also planned on about 3-4 hours of work on a Saturday night b4 I went & played cards. I hadn't planned on 5-6 hours of work & having it kill my evening because I had to wake up so early the next day. The miles on my van are the same whether there's 3000 pounds in there or a feather. The time is the same amount of time too.

Anyways, the end result is I've had enough misunderstandings & am done working here. I'm staying w/ EGL & possibly getting another backup company.

Take care,
Danny

 

[ibdriving]

I know where you can drive a 24' footer and make enough with out having to work two places do make a nice living.

Just get it in writing or make a verbal agreement (email a confirmation restating the verbal) that you will run for so much a mile. If he does not pay, contact the owner and tell him that is why you are longer running for them and that you feel cheated and lied to.

Ed
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