Dangers of blogging

[1catfish]

It's a Canadian carrier. I'm not sure OOIDA would be that interested. Plus my former employer still owes me 3 grand (security deposit). I'll wait till I get it - then I can start some noise like going to prweb.com and sending out a free press release "Canadian trucker fired for making too much money" I still think "blogging" was just an excuse. One of their best paying customers prefers to load their stuff on roll-tight/conestoga stepdecks, and MacKinnon has only roll-tight flatbeds. I was the only roll-tight step. That high-roller shipper was probably asking them why they sent me over only once a month; so once MacKinnon got rid of me, they had something to tell that shipper: "Use our flatbeds! We have no steps any more." They were going broke with me around, since they could only keep 23% of whatever the $3/mi the load paid. But when they put that load on a company truck, the poor bastard will go 1,500 miles for 40 Cnd cents per mile, and MacKinnon would laugh their head off all the way to the bank.

remember, there watching this site. shhhhhhh!

[mike3fan]

Seems to me you assume alot. The carrier is taking all the good loads, they want all the high paying freight for their own trucks, they are not treating their drivers fair, they charge too much for storage, blah blah blah. You were warned once before for posting rate and shipper info on your blog from the same company that later fired you for continuing to do so (even if in a more vague way). Seems to me they were within their right.

One thing I have found out about dispatchers and load planners, more often than not they are about moving the freight with the least amount of trouble and with the least amount of effort on their part, if your in the area you get the load. They don't sit around and see how they can screw you the most.

[no_worries]

"You were warned once before for posting rate and shipper info..."

Ahhhh...yeah, that could be a problem.

[tracer]

"You were warned once before for posting rate and shipper info..."

Ahhhh...yeah, that could be a problem.

They never told me anything about my blog. The one time I was called in they asked me to stop shooting YouTube movies with a HANDHELD CAMERA while trucking. I complied immediately. And I don't "assume too much". I worked at the place for over 3 years. I know what the %$#@ I'm talking about.

[mike3fan]

They never told me anything about my blog. The one time I was called in they asked me to stop shooting YouTube movies with a HANDHELD CAMERA while trucking. I complied immediately. And I don't "assume too much". I worked at the place for over 3 years. I know what the %$#@ I'm talking about.

That isn't the way I remember you telling it, but whatever. I would disagree with the assuming part.

[mike3fan]

From your blog Nov. 17,2009

So, the new Rule #1 is no more road trip videos (sorry, YouTube). Rule #2 is not to talk about the company freight in too much detail or reveal the names of our customers as this might put my employer relationship with shippers into jeopardy. So, guys ... don't ask me what I'm hauling or "where are you right now?" I'm going to run a semi-secret trucking operation from now on

I signed a paper at the end of the meeting, so now I have to take a break and regroup and see what else I can write about in my limited free time besides trucking and freight and shippers There should be something else, right? When you work from 7 am to 7 pm, it can be hard to see at first what it is but I"m sure I'll be able to find new topics in no time.

Yep, they sure seem justified to me.

[tracer]

I deleted my blog today from blogger.com. You never know what a guy like mike3fan could find in the archives But I still think blogging shouldn't be a reason to fire someone who's had an almost perfect safety record. A Jim Park called me today to talk about this ... I asked him not to use any names, but he's going to talk about "dangers of blogging" in his next radio show on XM.

[jagerbomber3.0]

Damn it man, I that you took it down. your blog was one of my daily reads. Hopefully you get on with a carrieier that doesnt mind you discussing your own personal finances and travel stories. Even with Mackinnon and their strange ways you always seemed to portray them in a pretty positive light. The whole situation sucks and now i have one less thing to read.

[Bigmon]

I just went to look and it was down. I was hoping it was a technical error. I read it daily too. Hopefully, your new company will let you have one even if it's very plain.

[TK THE TRUCKER]

I heard Jim Park talking about you on Dave Nemo with Truckin' Tim. Dave was off today.

[HaulnHorses]

I just went to look and it was down. I was hoping it was a technical error. I read it daily too.

X 2 Bring it back!!!!

[mike3fan]

While talking about the dangers off blogging, one of our other friends on this site should be careful about blogging about certain sleeping patterns.

[Maniac]

You never know what a guy like mike3fan could find in the archives

And if he can find it..........

But I still think blogging shouldn't be a reason to fire someone who's had an almost perfect safety record.

I agree, however if they want to fire you they can, the contract, 30 days notice or whatever means NOTHING.

ANYTHING, and I mean ANYTHING that the "carrier" has YOU sign is biased towards THEM and only THEM. Check into Landstars 34 page contract, small print no less, probably written by a team of lawyers.

A carrier NEVER EVER does ANYTHING that doesn't benefit THEM FIRST and foremost, and than maybe a little tidbit for you, it's all about them making money and moving freight, and you are just a helper (slave) for them to do that..............nothing else.

Your safety record is commedable but only if and when it suits them

[bulldozerbert]

Hey, I miss your blog already, I checked it every day, serious..................

[tracer]

I just went to look and it was down. I was hoping it was a technical error. I read it daily too. Hopefully, your new company will let you have one even if it's very plain.

Sorry ... guys. I took it offline till better times. The way I see it the only way to have a job-related blog is if you're 100% independent and work for yourself, under your own authority. Then the only person they can complain to about you is ... you You know how those 4-wheelers sometimes get angry with your slow big truck and call the phone number on the truck or trailer's side? Well, I am really looking forward to the day when I have my own authority and some 4-wheeler calls my number to complain But if the new company that hires me has a clear-cut policy on blogging, I might re-start it earlier. Just need to get back on the road pronto - the truck, trailer and the Conestoga cost me a lot of money sitting in the parking lot.

[BanditsCousin]

Anyone who says you can sue or need written notice is an idiot. 30 days income, Allan...seriously?

O/O's can be fired (contract terminated) at any given time pretty much. I've signed 3 so far, and all say contract for hauling can be terminated at any given time for any given reason. The same works in your favor.

Hopefully this will be the start of a great new chapter in your career, though!

[allan5oh]

Anyone who says you can sue or need written notice is an idiot. 30 days income, Allan...seriously?

Yes, seriously. But that's only if that's what the contract states. The two contracts I've dealt with both had 30 days notice, unless either both parties agree or if the contractor broke a law or violated a company policy.

So if they tear up your contract technically they can be sued for 30 days, because they violated their own contract.

I'm not saying this applies across the board, it really depends on the fine print within the contract.

[tracer]

Yes, seriously. But that's only if that's what the contract states. The two contracts I've dealt with both had 30 days notice, unless either both parties agree or if the contractor broke a law or violated a company policy.

So if they tear up your contract technically they can be sued for 30 days, because they violated their own contract.

I'm not saying this applies across the board, it really depends on the fine print within the contract.

Well, I confirmed this the other day with one of the VIPs at the MacKinnon: there's no contracts signed when an owner-operator is hired. For real.

[allan5oh]

Although it really is probably going off topic here:

Part 376.12: Written lease requirements. - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Generally what will happen is there will be a contract made up to satisfy these requirements. Usually in that same contract the carrier will add many more items, such as the 30 days notice. Maybe Mackinnon simply doesn't do this. I have heard of two seperate contracts as well, one basic one kept in the truck and a more elaborate one that goes into more detail. Of course leasing a truck from GE capital is totally different.

Or Mackinnon could be exempt from the requirements, being a Canadian carrier.

[solo379]

Don't know about Canada, but in US, you suppose to have a copy of a contract in your possession all the time. Or you might get in trouble with DOT enforcement. But my lease also have a provision, that it could be terminated at any time, for any reason, by either party....