E.W.Wylie - Ottertail Corp Promise's good pay, miles and open door policy West Fargo North Dakota

I really don't know where to really begin, however, every potential driver out there should know what is going on behind closed doors. I signed on at E.W.Wylie in January 2009 I figured I would try there lease purchase because of the following factors:

I talked with them over the phone for about 3.5 to 4 months

The recruiter explained after all fixed cost min I could expect would be $1,000 a week

That drivers in the lease or o/o drivers where averging about 2,000 to 2,500 miles per week.

That if there where issues I would have a contact person to talk to get things resolved, ( open door policy)

There advertisement for the length of time I talked to them and even after I came on board still showed the latter.

When I came on board there advertisement showed that drivers where making over 1k per week even in the slow period due to the ressesion, we are under. When I got there I found several drivers in the heavy haul divison, that had been there a week or 2 waiting on a load. I figured that that would be no big deal due to the fact I was in the flat divison. The very first week out I had a egr cooler go out the fuel pump and had to be towed out of the customer. ( crap happens) I was fixed same day truck went down sat for 2 day's waiting on 2nd load. Got second load sat 3 day's for next load, ( keep this in mind no layover pay) ( company guy's get it not o/o or lease). I needed to get home within a week or 2 to get my gear in my truck. I had to d/h 400 miles at my expense because they couldn't get me any closer. I told them I needed 2 day's at home to take care of stuff. I didn't get a load for 4 day's out of them. The whole month of February I had 6601 miles from the 2nd till the 28th, ( yeah a slow period however I have never seen it that slow.).
I made 841 for the whole month and the terminal manger told me that is Great money for a Lease driver or O/O I told him that recruiter and terminal manager in Fargo stated 1k per week is what I am should expect. Sat at home for 2.2 weeks in March because they had no loads. ( I am still trying to figure out how drivers are getting 2k to 2500 miles per week.) I only refused going to the North East. ( Just personal Preference.).

In the month of April I came up with approx 6200 miles Oh boy I broke a sweat. No paycheck the whole month because since I wasn't making miles I was in debt with them on my truck ( not to mention the bills at home) I talked to the same recruiter in April gave him a fake name ( steve from chicago) to see if they are still telling drivers the same thing I was told and please don't be supprised but yes they where telling the same. Even the head Recruiter was saying the same thing as well.

I had to scream and hollar for 4 hours to get what was owed to me, threaten a lawsuit and even go to the President of the company and E.W.Wylie to get paid the $1,500 + they owed me. It took over 1 month from the time I did the load to get paid on it. Funny thing is they don't care. They asked several times if I was ready to quit that they would find someone else to take over the payments on there truck.

OK now to the point, I hope that you take what I have written on here to heart. I wouldn't be wasting my time just to let you know what is going on behind closed doors. You know that it is bad when you have a driver that has been there for 15 + years and the only reason he won't leave is he needs the insurance because his wife has cancer.

All they care about like many trucking companies is that you balance there books not yours by barely making a dollar to try and keep the lights on. They are protected by this Ottertail corp. that own's them. I have been driving for a long time ( over 7 years) and I have only worked for 4 companies in that time. Here is an example of what you will make 1881 loaded 372 mty for a tttl of 2253 $2583.96 after fuel and all fixed expense's you get a check for 578.00 that is a revenue of 3.8 cpm not good. NOT GOOD AT ALL. So in a nutchell in the month of April I made a total of around $750.

Please becareful of this company, and don't be taken like I was.

Smoke
grant, Michigan
U.S.A.