Owner Operator Question

truckerwife · Jan 7, 2005

Hi I am the wife of an owner operator. I am just wondering if anyone out there has had problems with their company giving you a hard time for being out of service due to truck maintenance or even personal issues for that matter. It seems as if some companies treat you as their "employees" and want you to abide by those rules when really you are your own boss. I ask this because my husband has been with a couple companies who get all bent out of shape if you are out of service for any length of time. Has anyone else dealt with this problem??

terryandrene · Jan 7, 2005

I have been out-of-service as an Owner/Operator for as little as a few hours and as long as nine weeks (twice) during the past 15+ years with FedEx Custom Critical. Not once has anyone from the company questioned my motive nor the length of time we were out. They have, on a few occasions, acknowledged my status and offered me a run they thought I might be interested in when I returned to an available status.

davekc · Jan 8, 2005

We are with Panther and they do call to see if we want to come back,but that is about it. You are an independent contractor. They can't make a demand to return unless there is an availability clause in their contract. If so, it wouldn't be common. It is ok with us if they ask, but they have never demanded it.
Davekc

romoore245 · Jan 9, 2005

ConWay once threaten to leave us out of service for two months for going home without permission as the (now removed) dispatcher put it. That was last year, this year they are happy to put you in service whenever your ready to go. Even after taking the three months off during the summer after our wreck we went right into service when our truck was replaced. A supiviousor once told us the dispatchers misunderstand the policy and get carried away and try to bully the drivers to keep rolling.

mcbride · Jan 11, 2005

>ConWay once threaten to leave us out of service for two
>months for going home without permission as the (now
>removed) dispatcher put it. That was last year, this year
>they are happy to put you in service whenever your ready to
>go.

WOW. This kinda shocks me...we thought we had bumped heads with all the big headed dispatchers. lol We have been leased with Con-Way for 3 1/2, geesh, almost 4 years...holy...(time just occurred to me), lol...anyway, we have never heard of any in service policy. I think this is a selling point of Con-Way as when we were with FedexCC they had an in service percentage you had to adhere to.

mcbride-
--What goes around comes around--

miko · Jan 11, 2005

I guess any company would be happy to have you back as soon as possible.(Even tho it is very slow right now)
The only thing that would bother me alot is the pay you miss out on.

nightcreacher · Jan 12, 2005

ive been with con-way for three years now,im out of service a week at a time,never had them say a word,but was with fed x c c ,they not happy when out of service,but as owner opp they can say anything

jasonsprouse · Jan 14, 2005

I used to run for CTX in a truck that I used for snow plowing in winter. They called me about every day when I was out of service asking if I was ready to back on. Each time I explained that I was plowing snow, and would be back on when it was done storming.

I always made sure it was done snowing, because I always took off the cap and put the tailgate back on when I plowed. It took me about 45 minutes to change the truck over................

Weave · Jan 14, 2005

This has never been a problem for me. But... mind this. If you are a contractor who likes to take off for long periods of time during certain times of the year, please explain this to the carrier BEFORE leasing on with them. This is just being mindful of their business, as they expect to have a certain number of power units available at any given time of the year. For instance if you all of a sudden tell your carrier you want the summer off in the middle of their busiest season to sell sausage at fairs and don't tell them ahead of time, they might get a bit upset with you. Sure you are a contractor, but they do expect to be able to use you.
-Weave-