M BJORN PETERSON TRANSPORTATION SAM owner 6700 miles otr in 2 weeks 4days unpaid with overage deadhead detained by shipper and brokedown 2x glendale, Arizona

This guy who wrote this talks like a leaser. But many of his comments identify him as a company driver. This also leads me to believe there is a lot of hearsay, which is true, but not something he experienced personally.

The owner does seem to like to blame drivers for trucks breaking down and there is no detention pay, downtime pay, etc.... You break down or get detained trying to get loaded or unloaded, there is no compensation.

This is how the pay system works: All BOL's must be in by Friday to be paid the following Friday. You better have a receipt for everything and double check your paycheck against the receipts.

Yes, the trucks are in poor repair and inquiries about poor maintenance are met with the explanation that it's DOT legal and don't worry about it. It is absolutely true that 99% of the time he'll only fix a truck if it is broken down and can't move. If you have a bad issue but the truck can roll, you are met with the explanation that he'll get you fixed down the road... which never happens.

The owner does like to micro-manage everything and treats drivers like this is their first day driving. I've found the best way to deal is to stay off the radar. Avoid contact with the office. A simple question about anything could turn into a 10 minute discussion about the best route to take and where to fuel (despite the fact you've done this exact run 20 times already).

It is obvious from reading this that the driver who wrote this is speaking about things other drivers told him. it doesn't sound like
he'd been with the company very long.

Direct Deposit takes a few weeks to kick in once you start. So they will hold your check in the office until you get back to pick it up... Which may, indeed, be months later.

I'm in no way defending the company, I'm just trying to clarify some things.

Yes, the owner is extremely difficult to work for.  This company is, what they call in the business, an Outlaw company.  They have a safety rating that reflects that.

The company has drivers that have been there for many years, but has difficulty keeping drivers because of verbal treatment, old and unreliable equipment, poor maintenance, and DOT officers at scale houses who constantly remind the drivers how poor the safety rating is.  I, literally, had one DOT officer tell me he'd never seen a company with such a poor safety rating that was still in business.

Knowing you drive for a company that is under the tight scrutiny of the Federal Department of Transportation is a lot to have on your shoulders.  It makes a high pressure job that much more difficult.

This guy who wrote this talks like a leaser. But many of his comments identify him as a company driver. This also leads me to believe there is a lot of hearsay, which is true, but not something he experienced personally.

The owner does seem to like to blame drivers for trucks breaking down and there is no detention pay, downtime pay, etc.... You break down or get detained trying to get loaded or unloaded, there is no compensation.

This is how the pay system works: All BOL's must be in by Friday to be paid the following Friday. You better have a receipt for everything and double check your paycheck against the receipts.

Yes, the trucks are in poor repair and inquiries about poor maintenance are met with the explanation that it's DOT legal and don't worry about it. It is absolutely true that 99% of the time he'll only fix a truck if it is broken down and can't move. I'm fairly certain that he has no concept of preventive maintenance. If you have an bad issue but the truck can roll, you are met with the explanation that he'll get you fixed down the road... which never happens.

The owner does like to micro-manage everything and treats drivers like this is their first day driving. I've found the best way to deal is to stay off the radar. Avoid contact with the office. A simple question about anything could turn into a 10 minute discussion about the best route to take and where to fuel (despite the fact you've done this exact run 20 times already).

It used to be that you could get $50 a day in advances. They've lowered it to $25 and it can be a little rough if you're on a run that has caused you to skip a week in pay. Slow mail can delay them receiving the trip packets by the required time.

It is obvious from reading this that the driver who wrote this is speaking about things other drivers told him. it doesn't sound like he'd been with the company very long.

Direct Deposit takes a few weeks to kick in once you start. So they will hold your check in the office until you get back to pick it up... Which may, indeed, be months later. They don't volunteer to take it down to your local bank and deposit it.

I'm in no way defending the company, I'm just trying to clarify some things.

Yes, the owner is extremely difficult to work for.  This company is, what they call in the business, an Outlaw company.  They have a safety rating that reflects that.

When you work for someone who tells you how to break the law, you have to expect that somewhere down the line they are going to screw you.