Drive for Marten Transport, you WILL lose!
 

The company is being groomed to be sold off in my opinion, and therefor is not a stable place to work. Also, as they are desperate to "save money" on medical expenses and payroll at all costs, they are scraping together any excuse they can to fire any driver who has moderate to high medical expenses and/or will not accept their per diem package (now up to 14 cents of your overall pay). I am a victim of this. I have been driving for almost four years, made my rookie "bump and scrape mistakes" early and have been incident free for three years. I even got a three year safety award from them, right before they fired me. Now, they are smearing me on my DAC report with some very damaging and VERY vague/misleading statements, which are preventing me from finding work while I go through the EXTREMELY tedious process of disputing their claims.

Thier advertisments say "prestige has wings". Believe me, there's NO prestige in starvation.

They expect the best, but they don't pay the best... or treat you the best...

Reason for termination: violation of company policy regarding: Overall unsatisfactory job performance. Got popped on I94 wb in southern WI 400 lbs over axle on the drives. Shipper scale shows me legal, Illinois scale on US 41 nb out of Chicago area gave me the green light. Load was too light (less than 42,000 lbs) to get reimbursed for a CAT scale. Due to alleged overaxle weight, I was pulled in for a level one DOT inspection (which lasted for an hour and a half) and was made forty minutes late for delivery instead of being there with bells on. I have had a grand total (in my own recollection) of 5 service failures in nearly 4 years. Of which, only 2 were entirely my own fault. The other three stemmed from circumstances beyond my control. (see above example)

The Blue Bird of Happiness strikes once again.

Used to work there...it was a pretty weird place.

.... high turnover as I remember it.

But man...I love those freakin APU's !!

Its worth remembering that this industry actually

does eat its young.

The industry needs a national union like hogs need slop, drivers will be getting the shaft until there is a national strike and all truckers honor it to get a union going.

If the jobs suck, conditions are bad, then truckers themselves are at fault for it, they can organize and shut this disaster down, and all of you should get moving on the movement now.

I just saw a kid driving for Werner yesterday, he looked like he just got out of high school yesterday, that is the future unless the drivers organize a union, if you don't like it, they will replace you with a 19 year old kid !!!!

These things should not be !!!! :pissedoff:

I have noticed that cash and commerce are the real dictators of the world.

Unions seem to have worn out their con game over time.

As long as there are people like you around drivers will be working for pennies instead of dollars in addition to sitting back and letting Mexicans take all your jobs down the road.

I been sitting for going on 3 days now....currently there isn't enough freight to come together and organize.

Wasn't the Obama gonna issue some sort of card where working people could organize and essentially elect a union or something like that ?

Some of these companies are so highly leveraged a strike would collapse them in a very short span of time

I used to work at Lockheed....they were union.

There was a contract... a pay scale...benefits....etc.

.... it did not allow us to shove the company around.

It more or less tried to make sure we were able to maintain a basic and functional standard of existence against the backdrop of the economy of those days.

Unions and capitalism don't mix well any longer....I doubt it will ever occur in the world of trucking during any of our lifetimes.

I also especially doubt one could tell a private owner what he or she must do with their company.

Really, how does UPS survive then ???

They are buying up non-union operations in an attempt to bust the union, I don't think it will work.

Remember Overnight Trucking which for a long while was one of the few non-union companies in the past age ?

Now you're catching on !!!

Read and learn from experts:

New Threats and Opportunities | Teamsters for a Democratic Union

That is the general idea, force these trucking companies to merge and pay drivers what they are worth !!!

The Teamsters would most likely bring more stability to the OTR trucking industry. Some of the turnover rate amongst drivers can be attributed to unrealistic expectations amongst newbie drivers. The majority comes from job hopping veteran drivers. It is not the drivers that are at fault, it is the anti driver sentiment that the companies have as a whole. These companies, from the largest to the smallest, use and abuse drivers. They expect perfection from the driver and then will toss the driver away like trash over the smallest thing. Any trucker who thinks it will eventually get better without the benefit of the union is mind screwing themselves. Right now there are two kinds of OTR drivers. Those that have been bent-over and those that will be in the future. The TL carriers do not want stability amongst the drivers. If they did they would have fixed the problem years ago. Its cheaper to open the company cdl mills and keep pumping new inexperienced drivers into the system than to respectfully treat its career veteran drivers. I do not believe any career driver expects this industry to kiss their behind, they just dont want to be treated like a dish rag.

Jimmy? Jimmy Hoffa...

IS THAT YOU?

Rick

AVC, ever sat back and thought about what your saying? You are darn near demanding that all truck drivers US wide shutdown and go on strike. Lemme give you a clue, not everyone can do that buddy. We have bills to pay and mouths to feed, going on strike means no money which means no food and no bills getting paid which means I lose my house and cars. This is not the time to go on strike.

So do Mexicans, and they will take over the trade like they have the construction business if AMERICAN DRIVERS do not do something in the next few years to stop this disaster.

If you guys did not strike when fuel hit near $6.00 I guess you never will, welcome to hell, it will just keep getting hotter if you guys do not organize.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...&type=business

Quote:

In 2008, more than 3,000 trucking companies filed for bankruptcy as the industry spending on diesel fuel rose 34 percent to $150.9 billion, according the American Trucking Associations. A one-penny price increase in diesel prices annualized over an entire year costs the industry an additional $397 million, the trade group said. So, with prices rising again, diesel costs are once again causing heartburn in some quarters.

Truckers just sit back and take it......going broke is a way of life I guess and truckers do not seem to want to be the leaders they could be.

We do have a new Pro-Union President who is not an oil criminal, so the time is right to strike, you got it wrong man !!!

So, you're saying that y'all won't get reimbursed for scale tickets on any load less than 42,000lbs with reefer trailers? And all trucks having APU's?
(I'm guessing that you've read that out of the company handbook or some official documentation of theirs)
That just seems wrong to me, on several levels. At Werner, there's no lower limit to the weight for which they'll reimburse you, that I know of. Heck, I've weighed loads that were listed as 27,000lbs before (Yeah, I know, no chance of it bein' over, but the trailer felt a little heavy when pullin' a few hills and I didn't want any unexpected surprises) and got reimbursed for it.

I drive for Marten...only 4 months now...but, have been out here 17 years and find them to be a great company. As far as scaling loads goes, it's true about the 42,000 lbs....but, Martin trailers are also equipped with axle guages that are fairly reliable and a guage inside your truck showing drive axle weight. Once you figure out how to use them they're pretty reliable tools. I will add that I've found some faulty guages on trailers...but, not too many. On loads I question...I scale it...claim it at tax time...scaled a lot at first...then got the hang of the guages and don't worry about it anymore. I've also found most folks in the "office" as with most places...are pretty good folks. I've never had to ask for my detention pay or had to "argue" for any pay due. In fact, I was 4 days late in getting home once...before I could message in to ask for the PO for $200 ($50 a day, it was sent to me). Anywho...I haven't run across a company in 17 years that has 100% satisfied employees...and I can't say every week out here I've got the miles I've wanted...but...that's nothing new.....6 week average is more than what they promised.

Bear in mind, my comments are not "against" the unhappy driver...just stating my experiences thus far. Do I have some complaints???? What driver doesn't...comes with the job...ie...that's trucking.

Uh...yeah why would I want to strike because of fuel being so high?I made a killing on fuel surcharge last year.Most of the time the fuel surcharge fully covered the cost of the fuel for the whole trip and I put a couple hundred extra off the fsc in my pocket.
I also hauled alot of chemicals for the oil industry.....when the economy tanked and they slowed production my work died so I say bring on the high oil $$$$ and fuel $$$$.
Also I would never consider working with those teamster they are the bottom of the bucket in my eye's.

Fuel never hit $6.00 a gallon, even on the "Left"coast. Worst I saw was $5.18 in MA.

As for Unionization.....Why? Because you whine and cry?

Who are you? I doubt you are even a driver. OR....your BigDiesel in disguise...trying to stir chit.

AVC quit spewing your TEAMSTER CRAP. The TEAMSTERS HAVE KILLED MORE TRUCKING COMPAINES than TED KENNEDY HAS HAD DRINKS IN HIS POLITICAL CAREER. In the 70's between 60-70% of the trucks in the nation were UNION Carriers. Deregulation hit and THE TEAMSTERS refused to give the carriers the flexibility to adjust to the conditons needed. Hell even Schiender was UNION THEN THEY SURE AS HELL ARE NOT NOW EXCEPT FOR less than 50 drivers that he could not get rid of and they are all about to retire.

As a former 30 year Teamster, (Locals 63 and 578-Southern California) and former shop steward at UPS and now "semi-retired"..I can tell you first hand that (A). The Teamsters power is rapidly dwindling in this country and has been for many years. Union leadership only care's about it's next forced dues increase and has completely lost touch with their base members, the trucking industry. (B) The few unionized companies that still exist such as YRC and ABF are basically teetering on the edge of financial doom. The Teamsters long ago abandoned the freight business and now concentrate on organizing government employee's because it's much easier..I used to be a big Teamster "flag waver", but over the years became convinced that the Teamster brotherhood is a myth. Give away contracts, minuscule pensions, and the ability to fire an employee at will are the norm in most contracts now. Teamster power is a joke..."Card check" legislation was gutted by Congress and the Mexican trucks keep rolling across the border...Some Teamster Power" huh ? Jimmy Hoffa is not his father and never will be...Just a fat former attorney who never did an honest day's work in his life. UPS is having their own issues now in this economy. Lay-offs and "furlough" days are happening at the company because the volume just isn't there anymore....That "shut-down" hoopla has been talked about for years and will never happen because you couldn't get four truck drivers to agree on the correct time of day, much less to organize..By the way...TDU is a dissident organization that has no credibility in today's labor movement...

i do not dislike unions...i do not like them either. i agree that i got bills to pay. so all u die hard strikers out there. good luck. i will be hauling ur frieght while you sit at home for free. what amazes me most is all the talk of truckers sitting for free...but u think sitting for free is gonna fix something? if you strike your job will go to someone that NEEDS work. whether that person is american or mexican. all the union will do is get you a 5 to 10 cent raise per mile..then you are gonna pay 4 to 9 cents in union dues. not worth it to me. has anyone ever thought to themselves..hey i aint happy doing this job, i dont get paid what i feel i am worth? if so and you agree..get the **** out. why would anyone go to work and be miserable and go out of there way to make everyone around them miserable. i love my job. i am comfortable with my pay. i love my homelife and everything i got there. u hate truckin so bad..cya!!!

Only $5.18 and you bend over and take it with a smile !!!

LOL :lol2: :clap:

The trucking companies are counting on people like you who fall in line, you guys deserve the worst and that is what you will get, because you are cowards who will never stand up for your own profession.

Kids out of high school will take your jobs and so will Mexicans !!!

Well, all I can say is you must be accepting their per diem package. I can tell you right now, you ARE going to regret it 4/15 next year. Have fun paying in instead of getting a return. I just didn't think a $650 million/ year company needs my 42 dollar a day write off, especially when I wasn't getting enough miles to make the per diem pay off. Also, when you gross 1100 on a good week and only take home $175, you can't afford to piss away 10 bucks a load on scales, ESPECIALLY when there's one on the shipper's property. As for not having to argue or fight for your fair share, don't get comfy. You make any kind of wave, or have any kind of medical condition, you will be singled out, gotten rid of and blacklisted so you won't be able to find another job. Welcome to Bendovi wisconsin.

:eek2:

Hi Snowman ! Long time, no hear from...good to see your still around. I'm still pulling cryogenic tankers part-time as usual..Did get divorced though after 24 years....single after 08/12/09....damn, almost made the "magic 25"...

I made decent money with the high fuel prices, as did many Owner Operator's, whom drove smart. So why shouldn't I have smiled?

Trucking companies aren't counting on anybody for anything. They know that someone is going to drive their truck, Unionized Driver or not.

I'm not worried about high school kids or Mexicans taking my job. I am more concerned, about the out of work ex-unionized office worker, or ex-unionized automobile assembly line worker, coming into the industry, to show us "How it's done".

Sorry to see that Fred.

At least you still have a job!!

I would think that if the union was so great, it wouldn't need such a hard sell.
Desparation is a stinky cologne.

Sorry to hear that. You're just full of surprises arent you?

I've only been a teamster for a year so I cant compare it to 30 yrs ago but they have won a couple battles here and there. Big Brown doesnt make it easy for anyone. They push and push knowing full well they are testing us and the teamsters to see how far they can go. I try to shrug it off. Its just a job and as long my checks are good thats all I ask of them. I do things the way they want most of the time and they leave me alone!

Yes, UPS will push you..I don't miss that constant "looking over the shoulder" stuff and I sure don't miss my days on the package car with that constant push to do more with less time. Just document everything and never speak to a supervisor without a steward present. Even the little things can get turned around on you..Thanks for the kind sentiment about the divorce..don't know what happened. She had her mid-life crisis and just decided I was no longer good enough, so life goes on...Dating at my age kind of sucks though, I'm clueless....

Thank you for clarifying that. I was getting confused.

I was referring more to the way they push the terms of the contract. They practically dare the union to do something about it. I know they are tough on package car drivers, city drivers and even supervisors but as a linehaul driver I dont feel a whole lot of pressure besides their huge emphasis on safety and thats not really a bad thing. Oh well I guess were getting off topic. Here's hoping you meet a young attractive lonely female to spend the weekend with and help you drown your sorrows.:cheers:

If UPS drivers stick together they will never be able to bust the union.

Same thing with FEDEX drivers who should be joining the union soon if those guys stick together.

That would be good for the industry and all truck drivers if FEDEX goes union.