Covenant Transport The Best Time to Kick a Man, Is When He's Down Chattanooga Tennessee

My husband has been driving for Covenant for six months. The first three months were great. All of his loads were on time, and his log books were clean. He was getting 2000-2500 miles per week. His dispatcher went out of her way to mention how much she appreciated him. After that, his work quality didn't change, but the company's treatment of him did change.

He has been averaging 1200 miles per week for the last month and a half. They sent him to unpaid log-book/safety training in Pennsylvania on a Friday. Apparently they found two log errors, but couldn't tell him where they were. They left him in PA until he picked up his 800 mile preassigned load on Monday, that delivered Wednesday afternoon.

Two weeks ago, he pulled over a curb and lost a mud flap backing into a loading dock. The first thing the guy asked when he went to get his papers signed was if he lost a mud flap. "Three out of four of the trucks that deliver lose mud flaps," he told my husband. My husband reported it, and it was considered an incident. His qualcomm had been broken off and on for two months, so he was routed through Chattanooga to get it fixed. They scheduled him for two unpaid days of training and an accident review. During the review, they explained they would have to go on-site to review his claims that it was necessary to pull over the curb. He'll find out next week. Wonder what the answer will be?

He is also being charged the flat fee of $500. $500 to replace a mud flap?!?!

Today's paycheck should have been $400... not exceptional, but still money. They deposited $61. They charged him $60 over his actual advances. They charged him the payment for the accident. They charged him $80 for idle time, although they left him sitting up north in 20 degree weather in areas where there was no idle-air to be found. He thought they had just left off a load or something, but, no, they just screwed him over.

They must have an income column on their general ledger for driver screwage.

We have two high-functioning autistic sons. We had to get assistance to pay our rent this month. Last month, we went a week without electric (we had no water as our well is run off our electric); that was the first time we got help. I've spent the last week explaining over and over again to our children that Santa actually delivers love, and Mommy and Daddy by the presents, but, even though they were very good, Mommy and Daddy cannot get any presents this year. I was able to get some used toys for them.

There should be legislation regarding the ability of trucking companies to screw over their employees. Legislation through which companies like Covenant cannot loophole. My husband is working hard and stressing just as hard. They are trying to put an accident on his record, and keep him stuck in their pockets.

Contact me regarding class-action suits. What they are doing is wrong.

ok, 1st of all I agree with the company's position that the driver is the one responsible for damage done while driving the vehicle; with the possible exception of equipment failure or malfunction, in which case it would be the owner of the vehicle. It can be no other way. You cannot, as a driver, place the blame on an observer. Do not trust anyone to protect you, other than yourself. GOAL (Get Out And Look). Next time I suggest you have have your wife spot for you.

That being said, I fail to understand why you are paying for this accident. Were you an Owner/Operator at that time? If so then your insurance company should be paying the damage, other than a deductable. If you were a Company Driver, then the company's insurance carrier is who should pay for the damage, or the company itself if they are self-insured. That is what insurance if for, and insurance is MANDATORY in every state.

I suggest you do 2 things.
1) contact your state's board of labor and file a complaint. The trucking company cannot withold money from you without your prior written permission.
2) speak with an attorney. The attorney should advise you that the company wrongfully withheld the funds. I suggest a small claims action to recoup the funds plus interest, or perhaps an action under the labor code in which you would not only recoup the funds, but also get damages equal to 30 days pay for not being paid when the money was due you.

Good luck, and be safe out there.