a place to vote on which major trucking company will go under.

[Matcron33]

a place to vote on which major trucking company will be the next to go under..
you place the name of the company and why you think it will go under. this should be interesting...

for me it's hard to decide. Between werner and swift. one is hurting as bad as the other. swift for the fines they had to pay... it really hurt the company. and werner for the fact that they have a hiring freeze. I guess werner is about broke.... and the peterbuilt dealer ship they have. is about to eat them out of house and home.. and do to the fact that catapiler is no long selling there engines on the highway truck market..

one last rule. you can decide on any trucking company to put in the voting poll... I am purely placing this voting pole for entertainment for everyone..

[jagerbomber3.0]

Well i will go you one different, they are not one of the super size mega carriers but they are well over 1000 trucks. Falcon Transport. I worked for them for a year hauling dedicated auto parts runs. Their whole operation was tied very closely to the automotive industry with GM and Chrysler being big hunks of their business on the van side and the majority of their flatbed freight was tied up in hauling coils. I havent heard anything about how they are doing but i would guess this automotive downturn has effected them as bad or worse than alot of the other big players.

[OhNoMrBill]

a place to vote on which major trucking company will be the next to go under..

Why are you such a pessimist?

Have you just been fired by some big carrier or what?

All of your posts seem very negative, so what is your story anyways?

[Matcron33]

what's my deal??? it's really simple. I have worked for my oldest brother for the last year pulling containers out of chicago. the company he leased the truck to. had the accounts frooze completely.. the container companies owner was getting a divorce. and didn't say anything about it until the lease was signed. so may 1 I was laid off with out any kind of notice what so ever. they never even called me to tell me. and when i called in to see what they had for me to do on that friday. the didn't say anything then.. you would be a really upset from the whole matter. too make matters worse never of them will tell the unemployement office i am laid off. why??? because neither of them want to pay the unemployement benifits i really need. to make matters worse. no one is hiring. and that is a fact. I am 5 states away from home. stuck in the south side of indianapolis. it's really bad here. to make matters worse. neither my brother or the owner of the container company will varify the last year of employment. any local companies here that is hring. won't hire me. because i am not a resident of this corn fead state of indiana.. it's bad. the worst i ever had my whole life.. too make matters really bad. I live in a truck on my brothes lot. have to baby sit the shop why because the crack heads here will rob the place. he will not pay me. and when i asked to be paid. this is what my very own brother told me.. I let you stay on my lot. that should be pay enough. so I have very little money and no where to live. I can't get help from either indiana or florida for welfare,unemployement or any other govornment program... how am I writting this to you. on the computer in the office of the shop my brother owns.. beleieve me. you have no clue on what it's like to be completely left out in the cold. I always wondered why so of the homeless were bitter. Now that i am homeless. I see completely how they feel when the ask for a dollar or hold a sign up begging for help.. and no one will help. so as you can see. I am really not a negative person at all. what happened to me shouldn't of happened. and I haven't done nothing wrong in my life to deserve this..

and i am sorry if my post on the trucking sites seem to be a bit negative. and to truthfull. honesty is just that. honesty. most of my post are to help people with question they have about trucking related jobs.. this is the only post on the internet any where that is meant to be entertaining and fun...

and you can believe me i am on here everyday sending out applications and follow up calls on them.. no one in the trucking industry seems to want to help me.. later when the economy picks up. and they are calling me begging me to come and drive there truck. I have a great memory... and I will recall this point in time in life. and how they turned there noses up at me... I am going through a really bad time in my life rite now... hopfully one day soon. things will get better for me.. and remember you asked..

[OhNoMrBill]

lots of detail

See now that is kind of what I thought. I know that things are tough everywhere right now, but your circumstances can be fixed if those people would just do the right thing. I am sure you could find work driving if they would just verify your employment.

There are companies that are hiring right now. They are getting very picky, as they have hundreds of applicants for every position they have. Even the big training carriers are still taking students, but they have huge waiting lists to get in class.

They are also getting stricter with accidents, and speeding tickets.This all makes sense from an employers perspective. In this economy they can take the best and ignore the rest. Unfortunately for you the unverified work history is a big negative.

[jonp]

Falcon is logical but I would say Swift due to the huge debt load and the fines/court cases that are coming down the pike. they are in real trouble.

[Matcron33]

See now that is kind of what I thought. I know that things are tough everywhere right now, but your circumstances can be fixed if those people would just do the right thing. I am sure you could find work driving if they would just verify your employment.

There are companies that are hiring right now. They are getting very picky, as they have hundreds of applicants for every position they have. Even the big training carriers are still taking students, but they have huge waiting lists to get in class.

They are also getting stricter with accidents, and speeding tickets.This all makes sense from an employers perspective. In this economy they can take the best and ignore the rest. Unfortunately for you the unverified work history is a big negative.

yep,that's what i know!!!

[ordinaryguy]

Werner is not going under....

[matcat]

I too think swift, I have thought so ever since I first started with them 2 years ago.

Anyway, mactron33, I feel your problems! I have been there, just recently, only I managed to find a job, it is all about who you know really, I know that doesn't help much, but put your name out there, the guy I am with now found me on the internet on some wierd site I posted a looking for a job ad on! Try craigslist for one, there are also various other sites out there dedicated to trucking too in a classifieds format.

Why that guy will not verify your time, is wierd. Did he pay you via 1099 or a real check with deductions? Did he pay you under the table? In any of those circumstances you can get him slammed big time for not paying you properly, and could probably get unemployment, but it will not be easy.

[jburd]

Maybe Swift and Werner can merge and become........


WERST



I know that's wrong...especially since I'm going to work for Swift,but I can help myself.

[BIGRNTN]

YRCW! Ever since Yellow took control of the reins it has been ALL downhill.

[P A Frederick]

I don't know who will go out first, but I know with the economy like it is, if diesel goes back up over $4 this summer, a LOT of companies (big and small) will close the doors. Last year most made it through due to fuel surcharge and freight rates being higher than now, but they won't survive another spike like that.

I work for Heartland and we had driver appreciation this week at the Columbus terminal. While there the owner was walking around talking to drivers (his son handles most of the day-to-day I guess). Anyway, he told the group I was in that he had letters on his desk from 150 different trucking companies wanting to sell him their business just for their debt. He won't buy because he can't get rid of their equipment (and he's pretty tight and a shrewd businessman). I don't know, Heartland isn't a perfect company and I've had good and bad weeks and I have my complaints, but I think they will be around a goo while. They bought 2000 new trucks this year with cash and are still debt free. By the end of December all drivers will be in a new International ProStar. Like I said, I have my problems with them, but I think as far as being around, they will be because they are debt free and have a lot of money stashed away for hard economic times like these.

I have heard of several big companies being hit real hard (like close to closing hard). Some are so over extended on credit as it is, if something happens to make this thing worse (diesel prices, etc) they won't be able to get any $ and will have to close. I heard USF Holland is in a big bind right now. Also Yellow (which I think owns Holland-might be wrong maybe someone can correct me). Swift has been bleeding for years, and this whole mess they are in now is not helping. I could name company after company I've heard, but you can hear anything in a truck stop or on the CB. One I've heard a lot and read a little about is Covenant.

I don't know. Like I said, if diesel gets over $4 a gallon during this down turn, a lot of drivers are going to be looking for jobs. Thats mostly why I stay and put up with Heartland's problems. For all their problems, they seem like a pretty financially stable company. Also, if other big ones go out, the few that are debt free are going to be able to take a bigger piece of the pie as far as freight.

Just my opinion on the subject. Hope I didn't make anyone mad or anything.

[Matcron33]

I was at heartland. I made it about 2 weeks with them. the company seemed good. at first I like the company. I was doing florida local. I was given a load for sam's club. and then i was given another load after that. that was being watched by the owner. sam's was suppost to be a drop and hook. well I get there. and the recieveing office didn't open till 9 pm. I had too log all time waiting for them on duty.. and the next load I had to have repowered. due to the fact i was out of time... I communicated this with disbatch. I never got a response. well I get back to jacksonville on friday morning. my idiot of a distbatcher hung me out to dry. on the first week. when i got back to the terminal. I was brought into the little room in the disbatch office. and was treated like dog crap and blamed for the load. it was at that time he told me the load was being watched by the owner... well I was there for one week and managed to get put on an extra 6 month probation by i believe my disbatcher.. he made me feel like I should be lucky i helped me save my job. I went home over the weekend. thought about everything. and how i was treated from the first week. and decided that if i was going to keep getting treated like that by the disbatcher. then I didn't need the job that bad... so sunday when i called in i told the weekend disbatcher that I wouldn't be reporting for work at heartland any more.. turned the keys in and the paper work and all the books. and everysince then. when i see the ads for heartland express. I think about the bit about drivers get the respect they deserve. and laugh about it....

[Matcron33]

I too think swift, I have thought so ever since I first started with them 2 years ago.

Anyway, mactron33, I feel your problems! I have been there, just recently, only I managed to find a job, it is all about who you know really, I know that doesn't help much, but put your name out there, the guy I am with now found me on the internet on some wierd site I posted a looking for a job ad on! Try craigslist for one, there are also various other sites out there dedicated to trucking too in a classifieds format.

Why that guy will not verify your time, is wierd. Did he pay you via 1099 or a real check with deductions? Did he pay you under the table? In any of those circumstances you can get him slammed big time for not paying you properly, and could probably get unemployment, but it will not be easy.

nope! no 1099! I made sure they took taxes out! I have the w-2's all the pay stubs. and they were done by a payroll company. plus i have a copy of the permits and origional lease agreement. and all the log sheets. plus all the paper work from the loads.. I played it very smart. I new the chances of getting a good refernce out of them. are slim to none.. so I back my paper work up.

any one who reads this. I strongly recomend if you work for an owner oporater who leases to another owner oporater. keep full and complete copies of all the paper work. when it comes to blows. and they suddenly don't want to give you a good reference. or say you never worked for them. you will have proof...

[freebirdrfd]

I was at heartland. I made it about 2 weeks with them. the company seemed good. at first I like the company. I was doing florida local. I was given a load for sam's club. and then i was given another load after that. that was being watched by the owner. sam's was suppost to be a drop and hook. well I get there. and the recieveing office didn't open till 9 pm. I had too log all time waiting for them on duty.. and the next load I had to have repowered. due to the fact i was out of time... I communicated this with disbatch. I never got a response. well I get back to jacksonville on friday morning. my idiot of a distbatcher hung me out to dry. on the first week. when i got back to the terminal. I was brought into the little room in the disbatch office. and was treated like dog crap and blamed for the load. it was at that time he told me the load was being watched by the owner... well I was there for one week and managed to get put on an extra 6 month probation by i believe my disbatcher.. he made me feel like I should be lucky i helped me save my job. I went home over the weekend. thought about everything. and how i was treated from the first week. and decided that if i was going to keep getting treated like that by the disbatcher. then I didn't need the job that bad... so sunday when i called in i told the weekend disbatcher that I wouldn't be reporting for work at heartland any more.. turned the keys in and the paper work and all the books. and everysince then. when i see the ads for heartland express. I think about the bit about drivers get the respect they deserve. and laugh about it....

first of all learn how to pronounce and spell dispatch. second of all learn how to play with your log book. if you can't fix your logs, you're PROBABLY not gonna make much money driving a truck

[Matcron33]

first of all learn how to pronounce and spell dispatch. second of all learn how to play with your log book. if you can't fix your logs, you're PROBABLY not gonna make much money driving a truck

no comment needed. this driver told us he lies on his log book. oh, I write the posts in simple english. using big words will make it hard to understand for everyone...

[freebirdrfd]

no comment needed. this driver told us he lies on his log book. oh, I write the posts in simple english. using big words will make it hard to understand for everyone...

there is no B in dispatcher, i don't need to use a log book. i make more money running local and being home with my family and friends every nite, weekend and holiday than i did O.T.R..........

[Matcron33]

there is no B in dispatcher, i don't need to use a log book. i make more money running local and being home with my family and friends every nite, weekend and holiday than i did O.T.R..........

maybe you should try symbolizing the letter B in dis-B-atcher. when a dispatcher treats you like crap. or leaves you setting, along with a number of other things they are known to do to drivers. relate the word to a phrase commonly used in the american language.. and the thread was setup. So people could give opinions on which trucking company they thought were going to go under next.. "Not a place" to bag on the "OP" which is what it has turned into.

[marathonman]

I was at heartland. I made it about 2 weeks with them. the company seemed good. at first I like the company. I was doing florida local. I was given a load for sam's club. and then i was given another load after that. that was being watched by the owner. sam's was suppost to be a drop and hook. well I get there. and the recieveing office didn't open till 9 pm. I had too log all time waiting for them on duty.. and the next load I had to have repowered. due to the fact i was out of time... I communicated this with disbatch. I never got a response. well I get back to jacksonville on friday morning. my idiot of a distbatcher hung me out to dry. on the first week. when i got back to the terminal. I was brought into the little room in the disbatch office. and was treated like dog crap and blamed for the load. it was at that time he told me the load was being watched by the owner... well I was there for one week and managed to get put on an extra 6 month probation by i believe my disbatcher.. he made me feel like I should be lucky i helped me save my job. I went home over the weekend. thought about everything. and how i was treated from the first week. and decided that if i was going to keep getting treated like that by the disbatcher. then I didn't need the job that bad... so sunday when i called in i told the weekend disbatcher that I wouldn't be reporting for work at heartland any more.. turned the keys in and the paper work and all the books. and everysince then. when i see the ads for heartland express. I think about the bit about drivers get the respect they deserve. and laugh about it....

I worked for Heartless for 6 months way back because they pumped themselves up to be the best company out there and found out that they were probably the worst one out there. My dealings with them were similar, they would dispatch me on stuff that couldn't be done, I had dispatchers tell me "Make it work."

[marathonman]

It is hard to say which ones will go out of business, or which ones will survive, or which ones will go into bankruptcy protection, or which ones will go into the government financial programs being set up by our current government. If I had bad feelings toward a company that did me wrong I could say, "I hope so-and-so goes out of business..." but what good does that do? This economy is sinking faster than the Hindenburg and with as much catastrophic promise. I say, we all turn our hearts, minds and spirits to the Lord Jesus Christ and get ready to go, cuz... it's over!

Mactron33, I'm sorry for all the bad stuff that has happened to you. I hope you find what God is trying to bring out in your life to make you a better, stronger person, by having all these unfair things happen to you. I went through many, many experiences that I couldn't begin to tell in 50 blog posts and I want to put it all behind me, forgive them, not be bitter, venomous, or a chronic complainer about it, which I have been in the past until God helped me. I pity all the people who have done wrong against not just me but against others because of where they will have to spend eternity unless they ask forgiveness from God. If I have something in my heart against them then I will miss it myself! All of this life boils down to forgiving others of their mistakes against me. See what kind of lemonade the Lord will help you make out of this, eh? Thanks for listening guy, and good luck in your future in trucking. Something will work out. It always does. God bless you.