Need to assess the level of abuse we just endured!!

Streakn1 · Nov 7, 2008

When are these carriers such as the one we were with, etc going to start getting involved and investigate these less than honest fleet owners. When are they going to stop treating the drivers as nothing more than that, a driver. Why do they (the carrier) continue to have nothing to do with the driver when it come to such disputes? Maybe a little intervention on their part would keep it from becoming such an ugly mess. Its not the fleet owner that the customer sees, its the driver. The driver is the one generating the revenue for everyone including the carrier. Unfortunely, when a driver has a problem with a dishonest fleet owner such as we did and you bring it to the carrier's attention (and we were one of many to complain about this fleet owner) they choose to wash their hands of it and tell you "that's between you and the fleet owner." Wake up carriers, stop protecting the dishonest fleet owners and start listening to the drivers. Maybe if you fire some of these bad fleet owners the rest will wake up and start running an honest business. Are you listening?

Don't you think that if these carriers started investigating driver complaints against their fleet owners especially when it comes to not being paid, maybe these fleet owners would start thinking twice about possibly loosing their contract (livelyhood) over something as stupid as cheating drivers out of earned income. Do these carriers not care that they have dishonest fleet owners leased to their companies? Are these the kind of people they want representing them?

Thank god most fleet owners in this industry are honest and the dishonest ones are the minority! Unfortunately, in the beggining some of us get steered in the wrong direction towards the wolves dressed in sheeps clothing!

easyrider2697 · Nov 8, 2008

Streakn1 said:
When are these carriers such as the one we were with, etc going to start getting involved and investigate these less than honest fleet owners. When are they going to stop treating the drivers as nothing more than that, a driver. Why do they (the carrier) continue to have nothing to do with the driver when it come to such disputes? Maybe a little intervention on their part would keep it from becoming such an ugly mess. Its not the fleet owner that the customer sees, its the driver. The driver is the one generating the revenue for everyone including the carrier. Unfortunely, when a driver has a problem with a dishonest fleet owner such as we did and you bring it to the carrier's attention (and we were one of many to complain about this fleet owner) they choose to wash their hands of it and tell you "that's between you and the fleet owner." Wake up carriers, stop protecting the dishonest fleet owners and start listening to the drivers. Maybe if you fire some of these bad fleet owners the rest will wake up and start running an honest business. Are you listening?

Don't you think that if these carriers started investigating driver complaints against their fleet owners especially when it comes to not being paid, maybe these fleet owners would start thinking twice about possibly loosing their contract (livelyhood) over something as stupid as cheating drivers out of earned income. Do these carriers not care that they have dishonest fleet owners leased to their companies? Are these the kind of people they want representing them?

Thank god most fleet owners in this industry are honest and the dishonest ones are the minority! Unfortunately, in the beggining some of us get steered in the wrong direction towards the wolves dressed in sheeps clothing!

Interesting concept, BUT let me ask you a question...Do you get involved when the the carrier gets cheated or not paid by a customer...or is that between the carrier and the shipper? Do you call the shipper or the third party and ask them why they didnt pay?

MsUsedExpdtr · Nov 8, 2008

easyrider2697 said:
Interesting concept, BUT let me ask you a question...Do you get involved when the the carrier gets cheated or not paid by a customer...or is that between the carrier and the shipper? Do you call the shipper or the third party and ask them why they didnt pay?

Our problem was not with the customer NOT paying the carrier. It was with the fleet owner saying that he was having a problem with direct deposit....claiming "the bank" cant figure it out.
Then his next excuse was that he gave the bank our account number wrong = flipped a couple of numbers by accident....woops...sorry.

His crap will catch up with him eventually. I'm a firm believer in KARMA.

dhalltoyo · Nov 8, 2008

I am a firm believer in legal action and the power of public forums.

Thanks for warning us.

Several others have confirmed the same information.

Note: The above post is not investigative journalism, or racist, regardless anyone's imagination, personal vendetta or misguided anger. It may be critiqued by the Professor of Journalism or the “Tag Team” brothers of retaliation.

Streakn1 · Nov 9, 2008

easyrider2697 said:
Interesting concept, BUT let me ask you a question...Do you get involved when the the carrier gets cheated or not paid by a customer...or is that between the carrier and the shipper? Do you call the shipper or the third party and ask them why they didnt pay?

Good question! In all my years of driving, not once has a carrier I've driven for ever informed me that they were not paid for a load that I had hauled. I'm sure that is a possibility though. Trust me, if I had been made aware of such a thing and there was anything that I could do to help, I would. Thats the difference between me and my prior carrier. They had the ability to make a difference, and they did not.

The fleet owner that tried to screw us still has a fleet of trucks leased to them and still screws drivers to this day I've been told. its ashamed that more of their drivers have'nt sued them like we did!

BillChaffey · Nov 9, 2008

Seems to me the Carrier is taking a certain percentage of each load for their (the Carriers) over head & profit. So if the Carrier does not get paid that's their risk. The O/O is working for the carrier not the Consignee.

x06col · Nov 9, 2008

Really? That's an interesting attitude. I'm wondering how common is that train of figgure'in.

Lets read it.

Tennesseahawk · Nov 9, 2008

Currently, if I don't get paid for a load, neither does my co-driver. However, I make sure I do everything right, from making sure the I's are dotted, to not going with questionable brokers. So far, not a problem. Eventually, however, I hope that I have enough in my coffers to overcome that obstacle.

This conversation is the main reason I will not sign on a truck driven by a contractor. Only O/Os themselves. I will sign on drivers for my own trucks, because it is I who will pay them. This will alleviate the problems with having to tell a fleet owner to get rid of a bad driver; or have fleet owners who don't pay their drivers, because they have a gambling habit or whatever. I hate soap operas.

But since all the bigger companies depend on drivers to move their stuff, it would be in their best interest to get rid of fleet owners who have a bad habit of stiffing the movers, regardless of how many trucks they own. The fact remains that these companies don't want the hassles of hiring their own drivers and owning their own trucks. Then it's up to them to put on legit fleet owners and tank the bad ones.

pjjjjj · Nov 9, 2008

x06col said:
Really? That's an interesting attitude. I'm wondering how common is that train of figgure'in.

Lets read it.

I agree with that attitude/concept. To me, a contract is between carrier and shipper/broker/whoever they chose to do business with/whoever they chose to take that risk on. The OO has no say in which companies the carrier gets loads from, so I wouldn't expect him to take the risk on whether they pay or not.

The carrier takes a portion of the gross revenue on the loads they accept on behalf of the OO, and to me, paying the OO whether or not the shipper/broker pays is the carrier's responsibility. The carrier's contract with the OO usually specifies the OO will get paid for doing a load, afterall, it is at his expense.

Of course, this is assuming there is no cause for non-payment, on the part of the OO/driver, ie late, damaged, whatever. It's also assuming the carrier chose the load and who to do business with, as opposed to the OO himself.

That's my 3 cents anyway.

cheri1122 · Nov 9, 2008

If I were not paid by an owner, I'd inform the carrier - not because it's their place to intervene (it's not), but because they are (or should be) an interested party. The integrity of their contractors affects them as well as the drivers. Collecting the money is up to the driver, however they can do it.

MsUsedExpdtr · Dec 1, 2008

roosterwes check your messages

roosterwes....the email address you gave isnt working - check your EO messages.
I noticed that "Mario the con artist" has his ad posted on here again but he changed his address so all the drivers that he is ripping off cant track him down.

aristotle · Dec 2, 2008

My sympathies to the OP. I just got stiffed by a fleet owner who refuses to pay my last two weeks of pay because I took a local job over the Thanksgiving weekend without giving the truck owner two weeks notice. I informed the owner that two weeks notice is a courtesy, not a legal requirement. However, paying a driver wages for earned income is a legal requirement. I called Panther to get their advice. This fleet owner has several complaints from previous drivers about not getting paid. You can be sure legal action is looming large for said owner. His name will be mud as I take this very personally. Too bad there isn't a forum or clearinghouse to warn drivers of dishonest owners. Why does Panther shield these hucksters?

davekc · Dec 3, 2008

I am not sure who you drove for, but your information is inaccurate if you are a independent contractor. As to giving no notice would depend on what your contract between you and the owner states. Laws governing independent contractors and employees are not the same.
If this particular owner has this in his contract, he would have a claim against you for breaching this contract. At the same time, he is obligated to pay you for work performed.