Trouble in Paradise?
 

OK so many of you know , I have had a few jobs to say the least since I got back in to trucking after a 13 year hiatus. My question is this, why do Trucking Companies screw with your pay like your some sort of dumb ass and you wont catch them when they rip you off?

I have been having a problem with payroll for some time now at Joule Yacht Transport. Its like she makes up rules as she goes and just tries to find ways to not pay you. Dispatch will tell you to write down "Day Pay" for a problem out on the road and then payroll will say "Oh no that was not "Day Pay" that was a "Down Day " so here is your 50 bucks instead of 150 for day pay. When I call it in, they usually pay me the difference. But she keeps on doing it over and over again. This, and this alone is a major reason for me to quit a job.

I mean if your not gonna pay me what you say you will, then why am I working here? I have been trying to work it out but it seams even when I do,I still get the shaft!

Oh Well, I guess its time to look for maybe one more OTR job before I give up on this whole trucking thing.:(:(:(:(

Your expectations are to high, and I don't think you're cut out for this type of business.


I have 26 years in the trucking and don't even come close to having the problems you've had, I think you need to look inwards as maybe just maybe you might be the problem.

So what your telling me is that your ok with not getting paid properly for your work? Wow, I guess there are drivers out there that dont care what they get paid, now wonder the trucking companies take advantage of guys like you. I would never stand for that, and no my expectations are not high, I do expect that a company pay me what they say they will and pay me for what I do.

As far as not being cut out for this business, I must laugh, out of 33 drivers on the road in my company, only 2 drivers run as hard as I do and I am one of them. If I run hard, deliver your product early every time and do a good dependable and safe job for you, I expect to get paid correctly. It has nothing to do with high expectations. It has every thing to do with MORALS and HONESTY something of which you sound like you dont have.

Guess what else, I have been in this business longer than you, 31 years to be exact so I dont think I am the problem, I think its more of a Florida thing, maybe a red neck thing, maybe a southern thing as I am a Northerner with morals maybe the southerners just dont have any?

The good news is that I have been hired at yet another company here in the Tampa area so lets see what there deal is when I start in a few weeks. Waiting now to get my new Peterbilt 357. Maybe job number 8 will be the charm!

Oh and by the way, when I was in New York driving tractor trailers I worked for the same company for 3 years until I became an owner operator so I have had plenty of longevity in my "North" jobs.

3 years with the same company? Is that all? Just 3 years????

I'm afraid that 31 years ( or even 41 years) does not exactly eliminate you as being a major part of the problem. Sounds to me like you're a bit short tempered and impulsive. I've learned, years ago, what kind of results you get often depends on your approach to negotiations. Sounds like, when you walk into the room, you're like a bull in a china shop. I've never had a problem getting things like pay straightened out, but in the same companies, there were other guys that could never seem to have the company get it right. Reading what you've written, it sounds like your approach may be familiar to me, and one that I would never consider using.

And, considering I'm RETIRED for a couple of years, I just may have a couple of weeks on you.

i think all you do instigator is dream and think of rubbish you can put in here,apart from trying to ride your pushbike to the shop

Instigator, it's not just trucking companies that will screw with your pay. It happens in all lines of work just as much. She's overruling dispatch on the pay, you need to go over her head to get it fixed or clarified on how the pay works for that situation.

True every company has different payroll people, this company has someone that not only shorts me but other drivers I have spoken too. So again for the nay sayers its not me at all. I have a good attitude, I guess my problem is that I was "The Boss" for soo many years, and I belive in always doing the right thing, others done share my values. Companies that are willing to short change driver pay are not companies I am willing to stay at. Its dishonest and deceitful at best.

Im sure that I will eventually find the right company for me. Until then I will keep looking as I only have 10 to 15 more years that I am willing to drive.

And for the ones who doubt me, or want to make you think that I am the problem, those people are like bullies, they are often jealous of you for one reason or another, so be it.

Your working for the wrong company, If I posted a copy of my pay check stub you would cry, just saying it is not a florida thing it is just being in the right place at the right time. Or in your case the wrong place.. Good luck in your search..

Timberwolf..

[QUOTE=Instigator;511859

Maybe job number 8 will be the charm![/QUOTE]

Isnt this more like job number 11? Just sayin according to your previous post you are in double digits for the last two years.. As far as them doing the same thing over and over again, if they fix the problem then what is the problem??? I tell my dispatchers if you guys dont want to hear my voice then make sure I have my loads and i will run all day with out calling you.. My company makes mistakes on my aycheck at least twice a month, each time I send an email out and with in a week or two it is corrected.. No problem. I have to agree Instigator you seem to have your expectations set to high, I dont understand why you are upset if they fix the problem then there is no problem, having to tell them over and over again is not a big deal in my eyes, it is not like you are the only person they have to deal with..
Just my two cents for what it is not worth..

Timberwolf

The Irony behind the fact that I find Solice behind the wheel of 80,000 lbs of explosive material..

I don't want to stir the pot here, but having worked for Pritchett for almost 4 years and hoping like hell I can go back here shortly I know you didn't give them enough time to show you what they were all about. I don't know where your earning expectations are set at, but for what you were making in Sarasota it was more than I was doing in tallahassee, and I did right at 44K per year.

You never even gave them time to give you your quarterly bonus, name some companies in Florida still paying their drivers 2K a year in safety bonuses, and their weekly bonuses of 50 per week, for what your loads were paying you would have gotten your weekly bonus every week, 50 per week equals 200 per month, 2400 per year and that puts your total bonuses at 4,400 for the year, and that's for first year drivers. Drivers with 5 years make 750 on their quarterlies, that's 3K a year plus the 2400 in weekly bonuse, 5,400 per year!

If you're looking for more, especially in south Florida then you might spend the rest of your life looking, Pritchett has the best office staff I have ever dealt with, and in 4 years the only payroll issue I had was being paid too much and they told me to keep it. I don't think at this point you're going to get much in the way of sympathy from people on here or people with whom you deal with in your future, I speak my knowledge of Pritchett from personal experience, not some here say crap that floats around on these boards like a turd in the toilet. I can't speak for Joule, or wherever else you've worked but I can say that you left Pritchett without even giving them a fair shake.

I hope you find what it is you're looking for at some point, but sometimes you have to change your way of thinking to make it in this world, but then again I'm only 28 and I'm sure I'll be told I have no life experience, nor the amount of trucking experience to able to chime in on issues such as these.

So simply put, Good luck.............

I own my own company and I do quite well thank you.

[QUOTE=millersod215;511896] name some companies in Florida still paying their drivers 2K a year in safety bonuses, and their weekly bonuses of 50 per week, for what your loads were paying you would have gotten your weekly bonus every week, 50 per week equals 200 per month, 2400 per year and that puts your total bonuses at 4,400 for the year, and that's for first year drivers. Drivers with 5 years make 750 on their quarterlies, that's 3K a year plus the 2400 in weekly bonuse, 5,400 per year!

Mansfield Oil Company That's who.... Quarterly bonus comes out to Roughly $500 with no mishaps on your record, this number includes employee senority bonus that increases with each year of employment.. Plus a yearly Bonus at Christmas time this past year was over $2000, Plus load and a half pay every Sunday.. plus a family oriented company that realizes family is important, I love my job with a passion.. Did I mention 401 k with 6% company match.. Decent health, company paid short and long term disability and life.. oh yea and we are #50 on Forbes top 400 privately owned American companies with well over 6 Billion in revenue, We not only supply fuel, we produce the majority of all DEF if it says Air1DEF it is ours, supplied to all 50 and beyond, did I mention they own an ethanol plant as well.. Life is still good at Mansfield Oil.. Busting my ass daily to keep ALL OF YOU GUYS ROLLING DOWN THE HIGHWAY...

Your Welcome..

Timberwolf

Hey that's good to hear another Florida company is still treating guys right, what about the days when CCC took all their safety bonuses and gave their drivers a what? 10% pay cut. I don't know that they've even given that back. This is what I'm saying, Pritchett might not have been the best carrier in Florida, but for being local it's hard to find another company to offer the bonus structure they do.

I really hope he finds what he's looking for, I think all of us are always searching and sometimes we find it I just hope he's not missed something good because he wasn't willing to give it a fair shake to see how things turn out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UceGF3M56bE

Well as far as Pritchett is concerned I think I gave them a fair shake, I was there for 90 days. In that 90 days they were very unorganized at best. The pay was much lower than what they first told us it would be. We had to do 3 loads per day, which eventually I figured out a way to do if I busted my ass. the problem there was everytime I was running good, some dumb ass supervisor would pull me off of my run to help out at other facilities that were not getting there work done. I very rarely got a full week of loads in due to Pritchett pulling me off my run to help out the other drivers that were not pulling therre weight, and then they would send one of them to do my run! Supervisory people were not well trained. They wanted me to be lead driver and supervise everyone for lower pay, thats right LOWER pay ! My run paid 56.00 per run, If I supervised they would have moved me to another place that only paid 38 per load. What were they thinking? The problem with Pritchett is that no one would make a decision. It was like a cluster *uck up there in Lake Bultler and from what Ive been told its always been this way. I had no time for this so I moved on. I also did not like walking around in the dumps and twisting my ankles every other day.

So just to give you guys an idea of what Joule Yacht does to me, this week I only made 640.00 dollars, I was out all week. I paid for a wheel and tank polish and they only paid me half back! I spent 70 on tanks and wheels and I got 35 back, WTF? They will tell you one thing and pay you another. I also only got paid 50 dollars per day for sitting in NJ for 3 days due to a breakdown that could have been avoided cause no one would listen to me as to what the problem was. ( Bad Compressor) Usually we get 150 per day for this but for some reason they decided to only pay me 50 per day. They are very inconsistent with the pay. I also dead headed a lot of miles that week so it kills the paycheck, I lost 200 bucks last week from dead head miles. This is one thing that really gets me frustrated as I dont see why they only pay half for dead heading when they make soooo much for
loaded. I have tried over and over again to fix these payroll problems but it seams every week there is something new.

Bottom Line is that I was offered the other job and I acceted the position, I start on July 9th so Joule will have plenty of notice. I always leave on good terms. The new company pays more, loaded empty are the same, I am getting a brand new Peterbilt 357, a brand new trailer, and I will be home every weekend or every other weekend which I like! The bennefits are good and the company has a good reputation as far as I can tell. I am hpefull maybe this will be the last job! Maybe! Hahahahahaha even I have to laugh at that one! Time will tell, I spoke to management at length about what I am looking for and visa versa and we seam to be on the same page, time will tell.

Kentla93 Ya know I even lost count! Lets see, I think I am around, including some of the smaller companies I tried, 11 is correcto mundo! The next one will be number 12! Maybe the charm! I hope so I am getting tired of all the companies! I just want a place to call home!

Well thanks for explaining things without blowing up like people tend to do. I can vouch for the being pulled off of good paying runs to go haul stuff that's either cheaper, or not even knowing what it paid. When I was with Pritchett we received 2 PTO trucks and I was issued one, I was hauling sludge to Valdosta making good money and then they signed a contract hauling wood chips from Tally to Panama twice a day for much less than what I was making, I had no say in the matter other than to haul it or someone else would in my truck. I can understand that frustration, I do hope something good comes your way, it is out there and it might take 20 jobs to find it, so long as people continue to hire you I don't see why people get so bent out of shape.

Just answer one question for me, would you?

And, after you had the wheels and tanks polished, how much did your fuel economy improve?

Did they tell you to get the wheels and tank shined up? Did they tell you they would pay you back in full if you did? Seems your withholding some info here, if they didn't tell you it needed to be done and they'd reimburse you in full for it then that's YOUR problem not theirs. If this is the case, be glad they paid you half back, had I been in charge I wouldn't have paid you anything back if I never told you to do it.

Yes is the answer to your question, they told me the owner likes the trucks to look there best on deliveries and pick ups. The driver before me in that tractor kept up with the wheels and tanks and had them polished. I also purchased new chrome lug nut covers once and they paid for them too, no problem. I was just surprised they only paid half for the wheel polish. And yes the truck did go faster down the highway after that! lol!!!

Getting back to Pritchett, they pulled one of there OTR drivers off the road to help us out when I worked there and he was not a happy camper. His pay was almost cut in half until he finally stood his ground and they put him back on the road. They did strange things like that all the time. Like I said before I think they have some management issues where no one makes good decisions. I guess if you wanted to run local everyday and dont mind the smell of the garbage dumps then its a good job!

I guess I will continue to work and get hired due to the lack of drivers out there, dont get me wrong, I dont like job jumping either, there are companies that wont even call me back. But for the ones that do call me, once I explain each job they are ok with it. I explain to them what I am looking for and visa versa. The next job is hauling chemical tankers, not for everyone, but I did it for 3 years back in the 80's and they knew the company I hauled for even though they went out of business a long time ago.

sounds like everyone is against you.. why not just go o/o so you cant blame anyone else but you?

That's what I did, if you can't find any company that fits your expectations start your own.

My boss is still a jerk but who am I going to complain to, right ? lol

yeah.. me too.. i keep telling the boss to get a new truck yet he wont listen... man them arguments get out of control!

Hahahaha I was an Owner Operator back in the 90's. Not so sure I even want to stay in the trucking industry much longer as I see changes coming that are not so good. besides I cant believe they are paying rates that I got back 20 years ago, how can anyone make money these days? heading in to the next job with a good attitude I am just praying that maybe I will be treated ok, but hey after all this is the trucking industry so my expectations are low going in.

Not all rates are cheap, Instigator. You need to be willing to hold out or negotiate for the better rates. This week I have been sent loads that pay from just over $1/mile to over $6/mile. There are still way too many that are below $2/mile. If you are willing to haul for the cheaper rates there will be no shortage of brokers and shippers that will keep you rolling. I do get calls to haul loads with good rates.

Instiqator, its seems your exspertions will never be meet as in your posting you place tomuch on what the comps. sell you. as for the tanks and rims, as you put it they ask you to keep there trucks clean and nice. dont think that means spend the cash we will pay you back. at most you get a that aboy from me. never spend someone else cash with out a ok from them

Instigator, your posts really kill me. Northern morals? There are NO crooked companies up north? You ARE joking right?
If it's so good up north, I-75 has on ramps to the northbound lanes. Go get on one and truck on home. I'm sure Sarasota will continue to survive when you leave.

Hahahahaha no thanks, I moved from NYC for a reason! When I was driving there the trucking companies I worked for were all good, I guess the bad companies are all over, maybe I just never realized just how bad this industry has gotten. All I know is that the ones I worked for down here in Florida have all been crooked and cheating there drivers . I think I may have found a good job with All Star, went to orientation and I liked what I heard. Time will tell as I start my first run tomorrow.

Gman I guess the older I get the less I am willing to chase down the good paying loads, and yes I agree they are out there, but most brokers now a days are willing to cheat everyone as much as they can. I speak with O?O all the time and hear the same story all over the country, the brokers are getting more and more greedy and paying less and less. I could not be bothered trying to run my own truck at this point in my carreer, I would rather make what I make and drive for someone else without the aggravation and expense of owning again. Im glad to hear you get good paying loads and I wish you continued success you are certainly a rare one in this industry!