This is an older video but it was just brought to my attention. Have you seen it? Classic. I mean, really? Who the heck are they trying to recruit? This is the place that puts 2 students in a truck with 1 trainer in what can only be called a "very cozy" sleeping situation. Instead of putting money into rap videos, maybe they could increase their pay? How about that?
Crap Company of the Year voting begins Wed, Dec 19! I hope you will vote and the winner is getting a trophy! I want to thank everyone who takes the time to comment and write to me. It is my goal to change the industry and with your help it can be done. See you on the road!
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So now many of these garbage bottom-feeder companies are having drivers sign a non-compete. This is meant to prevent the driver from going to another trucking company for a specified time, sometimes up to 18 months. Folks, I'm not a lawyer or do I play one in this blog but look up case law on these for yourself. They are basically unenforceable. A company cannot take away your only way to make money. It is indentured servitude. These are for executive so they don't take company secrets with them or salesmen who would be prevented from taking clients of the business when they leave. It is meant to prevent you from starting a competing business not from working. Only the lowest of the low company would use them because they are the only ones that would have to use them. I have been at my company for 16+ years. They don't have to threaten me to stay, they treat me right and so here I am. I am going to start asking about these when I call companies and you should as well. I would not sign one and neither should you. Think about this: If the company is so great, why do they need a non-compete?
Although difficult to enforce in court, I am finding that there seems to be a wink and a nod in the industry. Other companies are honoring them. Not all, but some. Meaning, they are working like a black-ball system in the industry. To legally enforce this, a company would need to take you to court to get an injunction against you. It is easier to just not hire someone from a company that uses these. Are they colluding together to do this? I have no evidence of that. It just seems strange to me but hey, what the heck do I know? Maybe all of these companies just got up and decided this on the same day independently of each other. Could happen. There will be a video about this soon. I am surprised I don't already have one. See you on the road! Should you lease a truck from a company? No. There have been only 1-2 people that have ever shown me a lease settlement that is more than a good company driver makes. But Mark, I am a trainer and make money! Yes, you have to have someone else help you with the costs. Solo to solo, no way. Drivers forget a few things. First, all of the extra costs other than the payment. Like FUEL and plates and various other costs. Also, to compare, we need to look at benefits. If you are leasing, can you take 5 weeks off with your normal pay and not come back to a negative check? How about paid holidays? What about health insurance? It is very expensive to purchase on your own. Even through OOIDA, which you should join, it is expensive. So, really, you aren't making any money, you are just paying off the truck for the company and buying yourself a job. Don't forget about breakdowns!
See you on the road! I want to thank everyone who sends me things from a company like a contract or a page from a manual. If you can't send something, take a picture of it and send that. These companies forever deny the stuff I say so when I get some proof from the company themselves, they shut up. It also helps new people to see that I am not just some nutcase crying about trucking. When someone actually can look at a document they know to believe what we are saying here is true. The things you send are invaluable and you are making a difference. Thank you.
I send out a newsletter 2-3 times a month and if you haven't signed up to be a member of the Trucking Answers Nation, what are you waiting for? Sign up HERE. Tickets to the Mid-America Truck show are now available to order. If you are even thinking about going, order your tickets. They are free in advance but $10 at the door so get them now and I'll see you at the show in March! Get the tickets HERE. See you on the road! There is more to winter than just having your brakes freeze. There is how to log an adverse condition and does something even qualify for that? That is the subject of today's video. Be sure to check it out! I want to know if you have ever used the adverse conditions exemption and what did your company have to say about it?
I sent out a newsletter today. I do not have a regular schedule for them, I get out 2-3 a month on different days due to all the other things going on. You can join the Trucking Answers Nation HERE and get on the newsletter list! Its free! Don't forget to follow me on Instagram @Trucking_Answers Friday, December 14 I will be on Trucking Business Freedom over at Auto Transport Intel on YouTube. The show is about an hour and starts at 1pm EST. Come on over, watch the show and let me know what you think! See you on the road! I am really getting tired of these companies taking advantage of new people to the industry. What the heck? The only way a company can expect to get anyone to work there when their pay is way low is to prey on new drivers and hope they don't find out how much money they are missing out on. If you know someone wanting to get into the industry please explain to them what they can get as far as pay or at least have them email me so I can set them on the right path. I understand people need to start somewhere, I get that. There is no reason not to pay someone at least a competitive pay though. It is not like one company is taking freight for 50 cents a mile, they would have all the loads. It is just a money grab and any company doing this should be ashamed of themselves. Be sure to watch the Crap Company of the Week today to find out what low pay really is!
See you on the road! Detention time has always been a problem in the trucking industry. Detention is when you sit waiting to get loaded or unloaded. I have always maintained that time should be paid for company drivers. Many companies want you to wait 2 or more hours to get it. What the heck is that? Would you send your teenager to work their first job if that job said their first 4 hours were unpaid? It is ridiculous and it should end. How do we end it? Well, if all company drivers were paid hourly plus OT it ends right there. Barring that, OOIDA is having a movement to change the FLSA that exempts truck drivers from minimum wage and overtime laws but that only goes so far. Minimum wage is not each hour, its all hours in a week. Example in easy numbers: You work 40 hours. 10 of those hours you sat without pay. Your check at the end of the week is $500. No problem because 40 hours at minimum is $290. The real solution is hourly plus OT for all time logged. I bet you wouldn't cheat your log then!
Why not owner-operators? O/O always forget that they are business owners. You negotiate a rate and accept it. That's on you. Company drivers are employees. We take no risk but get no reward. O/O take the business risk to get more (hopefully). Welcome to owning your own business! Don't forget that I am live today at 1pm EST! I am feeling under the weather so the show may not go as long as usual. We will see. See you on the road! |
AuthorHi! Welcome. I'm Mark and I've been a professional truck driver for over 33 years, the last 19 years at the same company. It is time that drivers got paid for every minute that we work and we are treated like the licensed professionals we are. Archives
February 2022
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