Marten Transport ripoff moving trucking Specializes in protective service transportation of foods, chemicals and other products requiring temperature controlled or insulated carriage Mondovi Wisconsin

 I had a accident last night a car got in to my lane but he said that I hit him there's no single scratch on my truck or trailer how ever from what I ear marten don't care I'm a owner and I pay for my own insurance I was on my lane I stop on my lane the police came and give no citation to any one and just did a exchange of information This is driving me crazy I don't want to lose my job over something that I didn't do But everyone is saying don't worry they will find the way to blame u

 I pickeed up a trailer in the Denver, CO yard and found out later in Illinois, when it was put out of service, that the air line had been capped off and one air bag was broken, not even put back in correctly. Come to find out that the company was aware of this, never told me, and let drive across the country like that. It was "repaired" by TA in Mill City, NV. They were told by MARTEN to cap off air line and release trrailer for load, even thoguh it wasn't fixed. Common issue I'm told, but having experienced it firsthand...it's true.

After 39 years of driving I can tell you,as much as I don't like to,if there is a truck accident with no other vehicles invovled,and I can only assume the car wasn't invovled other than to make you slow down,then it is on you for whatever you did or didn't do.

That's just my 2 cents,and if you survive in the trucking industrie years down the road you will agree.

I wish you nothing but the best and God Bless.

mrtmrsh@gmail.com                       Marty

 If a Jake don't slow your drive tires then why would you need to turn it off on wet or icy roads?

 It takes a tractor and a trailer to jack knife,one or the other can't do it on it's own.

I'm afraid Marvin your story just doesn't sound true.  I have been in the trucking industry for 12 years after retiring from law enforcement so lets look at what you say.  1.  You were on a wet road and lost control of your vehicle and ended up in the median, so who is at fault here?  Anytime you lose control of your vehicle YOU ARE at fault according to the law with the exception of being struck by another vehicle or mechanical failure which neither occurred according to your description.  If you lost control in the rain you were going to fast for conditions and the company's findings were accurate. 2.  Theft means the unlawful taking of ones property without permission, and you advised that you took their tractor to get food without permission so what else would you call it?  If I take the money from the register at the liquor store that doesn't belong to me without permission and went 2 blocks and bought food would you accept the excuse that "well I only went 2 blocks to get some food".  I suspect they had a break room at their office there or order a pizza because I'm sure someone in that town delivers, unfortunately no means no and don't drive means don't drive.  3.  If the company owes you money that problem is easy to fix and you can either file a civil complaint in small claims court or contact the State Labor Board and they can help you get your money.  I'm sure if they truly owed you the money they would pay you and avoid the hassle.  Just because you say they owe you money doesn't make it so, what do they owe you money for?

Unfortunately, it sounds like you had a bad day with an accident and then compounded the problem because you had an attitude and thought you knew it all when you got to the office and you quickly got your attitude adjusted by the police.  I suspect your driving career is over or at least over for the foreseeable future so move on and find something else you like to do.

Here is the rule regarding weather related accidents - if you get into an accident that otherwise would not have occurred in better weather, you were automatically driving to fast for conditions. Since you were brought back to Mondovi, WI for review, it is safe to assume this was a major loss accident.

First of all, something is wrong with your version of the accident. Either your trailer was already hydroplaning when you backed off the throttle, or you hit the brakes. That is the only way your trailer could be coming around you, unless you were hit by a strong cross wind or gust right at that moment. Unless your trailer was out of control because you were hit by another vehicle near the rear of the trailer, you were driving to fast for conditions.

As for the theft of the tractor, I strongly suspect there is more to this story that you omitted.

Oh, and by the way, Marten is the largest employer in the Mondovi, WI area, and has a tradition of charitable donations in the community, as well as others. It's something large employers, and many small ones, do without ulterior motives beyond potential tax reductions.

Here is the rule regarding weather related accidents - if you get into an accident that otherwise would not have occurred in better weather, you were automatically driving to fast for conditions. Since you were brought back to Mondovi, WI for review, it is safe to assume this was a major loss accident.

First of all, something is wrong with your version of the accident. Either your trailer was already hydroplaning when you backed off the throttle, or you hit the brakes. That is the only way your trailer could be coming around you, unless you were hit by a strong cross wind or gust right at that moment. Unless your trailer was out of control because you were hit by another vehicle near the rear of the trailer, you were driving to fast for conditions.

As for the theft of the tractor, I strongly suspect there is more to this story that you omitted.

Oh, and by the way, Marten is the largest employer in the Mondovi, WI area, and has a tradition of charitable donations in the community, as well as others. It's something large employers, and many small ones, do without ulterior motives beyond potential tax reductions.

Here is the rule regarding weather related accidents - if you get into an accident that otherwise would not have occurred in better weather, you were automatically driving to fast for conditions. Since you were brought back to Mondovi, WI for review, it is safe to assume this was a major loss accident.

First of all, something is wrong with your version of the accident. Either your trailer was already hydroplaning when you backed off the throttle, or you hit the brakes. That is the only way your trailer could be coming around you, unless you were hit by a strong cross wind or gust right at that moment. Unless your trailer was out of control because you were hit by another vehicle near the rear of the trailer, you were driving to fast for conditions.

As for the theft of the tractor, I strongly suspect there is more to this story that you omitted.

Oh, and by the way, Marten is the largest employer in the Mondovi, WI area, and has a tradition of charitable donations in the community, as well as others. It's something large employers, and many small ones, do without ulterior motives beyond potential tax reductions.

Here is the rule regarding weather related accidents - if you get into an accident that otherwise would not have occurred in better weather, you were automatically driving to fast for conditions. Since you were brought back to Mondovi, WI for review, it is safe to assume this was a major loss accident.

First of all, something is wrong with your version of the accident. Either your trailer was already hydroplaning when you backed off the throttle, or you hit the brakes. That is the only way your trailer could be coming around you, unless you were hit by a strong cross wind or gust right at that moment. Unless your trailer was out of control because you were hit by another vehicle near the rear of the trailer, you were driving to fast for conditions.

As for the theft of the tractor, I strongly suspect there is more to this story that you omitted.

Oh, and by the way, Marten is the largest employer in the Mondovi, WI area, and has a tradition of charitable donations in the community, as well as others. It's something large employers, and many small ones, do without ulterior motives beyond potential tax reductions.

It is unfortunate that you feel this way about Marten, but the points about not using Jakes during snowy and other adverse conditions are valid. Every company I've worked for has said that at every orietation for said companies.

Also, Marten has in their handbook that one is not allowed to drop a loaded trailer without prior authorization from dispatch.

And what is the point of mentioning Marten donating money to charity? That has nothing to do with what happened, as far as I can see.

I find that backing off the fuel easy, not suddenly, doesn't cause loss of vehicle control. I may have been lucky, however.

Be sure to keep an eye on the entrance ramps to the interstate, and plan for a fourwheeler to pop out of one with no warning. It's a common enough occurance.

Marten needs to open a company paid driving school, My uncle worked for marten for almost 3 years until his diabetes got out of control & had to go on insulin for a year so he had to quit driving for a year. My uncle got his weight under control & got his diabetes under control & got off insulin, before my uncle quit driving he left marten & had two or four jobs sense he left marten but they would not hire him back because he had to many jobs, my uncle lost the best driving job he ever had it was good money, marten even let me ride with him during the summer months after I was out of school they have a rider program. My uncle had worked for sorry companies in the best bu he finally found the one good company he looked for & he is sorry he quit them I am sorry to because I could no longer go out on the road It as been almost 6 years sense my uncle left marten he is with a good company know but not like marten they have the same type trucks like marten volvo, but this company does not have refer units I just wished marten had a company paid driving school like schneider & swift does because marten is a good company from what I heard from my uncle marten would even be better if they had a company-paid driving school to help people wanting to be truck drivers & imagine extra money they would bring in. They could open a school in atlanta georgia near their home terminal I have been to their home terminal in atlanta georgia somebody needs to suggest to marten that it would be a good idea for them to open a training school like schneider @ their next meeting. Because after I get my 1st year experince over the road I would seek employment with marten & stay with them for life after they have treated my uncle with good treatment & treated him with respect I would work for them.

What Marvin stated was .I came upon an entrance ramp, and a 4 wheeler popped up under me very quickly.
He later states I should found myself out of control traveling across the median, before coming to a stop

In other words, he was still driving on the highway. He was not exiting it. A 4-wheeler entered the highway directly in front of him, having come from an onramp. This is why Marvin speaks of the Median.

Kent states 2. If he had of been checking his mirrors like he was supposed to, BEFORE taking the off-ramp, he would have seen the four wheeler and been able to avoid the incident, even if it meant going on to the next exit and turning back

I agree that had he been scanning ahead -and scanning for traffic entering the highway- and using his mirrors, he would have seen the 4-wheeler.

As for the Jake brake theory, coming off the fuel could .... conceivably.... put the trailer into a skid on a sharp curve. But at 54mph in 10th gear he would have only been pushing about 1300 RPMs and the deceleration should not have been so severe as to put the trailer into a skid. I think he was simply driving too fast for the conditions and his skill level.

I also think he should have taken the block walk to get his food rather than taking a vehicle while he was under and waiting for the results of the review.

Yet, the company should pay him if they owe him.

I also agree with the analysis concerning Paul. Paul, I have no idea what it is you do, but yours is not an opinion that should be given any credence.

I find 3 errors in this report. 1. If he took the off-ramp at 54 mph he was going way too fast. Most off-ramps are marked at 45 or slower. 2. If he had of been checking his mirrors like he was supposed to, BEFORE taking the off-ramp, he would have seen the four wheeler and been able to avoid the incident, even if it meant going on to the next exit and turning back. No. 3 is a point of information: Any truck driver knows that JAKE Brakes do not slow the drive tires. All they do is Increase the compression ofthe engine and cause the ENGINE to slow, you still need to apply brakes to stop. If you apply the Jakes AND the brakes at the same time, yes,you can skid. So, you apply one, then the other, but you don't apply them at the same time, and yes, it is true, you NEVER USE JAKES ON WET PAVEMENT. I have been driving only 6 yrs. but I have driven everything from tricycles, to farm tractors, to D-9 caterpilars, for well over twenty years, and I have only had 2 accidentsin my entire life. Both were my fault, both were from drinking and driving, that is why I quit drinking in 1978. I am in agreement with Marten, this was driver error. But, if Marten owes money they should, of course payup.

Of all the time I spent out there running the 48, I never heard any complaints against Marten.

Now if this was Swift, Schnieder, JB Hunt, etc.. I could easily believe it.

Marten has a good reputation as far as I have ever known.

Any experienced truck driver knows the facts here.

1. An empty van has less traction than a loaded van.

2. "Jake" brakes need to be in the O-F-F position while driving in rain or snow or any type of slippery surface.

3. The driver here had to be driving too fast for conditions.

I only have about 3 million commercial miles logged, but this is just my opinion.

Paul & Bsmjem 1st you are both wrong have you never heard of a tractor jack-knife...?

what you two are talking about is a trailer jack-knife, but that is not what Marvin had.

a trailer jack-knife is when the trailer tire's lose grip. most of the time it is from hitting the brakes to hard but not all the time. ice, snow, wet roads can also make this happen.

a tractor jack-knife is when the drive tires lose grip. in this case i would think that Marvin had the jake's on and when he backed off the jake's kicked in and did what thy are made to do and that is slow down the drives. doing this on wet roads can make them slip. a tractor jack-knife can also happen then you hit a slick spot with your foot to the floor.

if the DRIVE TIRES lose grip it will jack-knife

Bsmjem we can all see that you are not a truck driver if you were you would know that a trailer does not have to pass you for you to have a jack-knife. a jack-knife is when the trailer and tractor bend to the point that thy touch.

Paul you said "Backing off the fuel doesn't cause the trailer to jack-knife" but paul he didn't say that what Marvin said was "I backed off the fuel, to give him some space, only to find that my rig was jack-knicking out of control " i don't see the word trailer in what he said.

Marvin you said "A review said that I was driving too fast for conditions and ruled everything driver error" i can't say much you were driving to fast.

Marvin you said "I went two blocks for some food, and Marten had me arrested for theft of the truck" if thy like most others have some one checking you when you leave and you knew that you were not to leave with the truck then what did thy do wrong..?

Paul you said "you must have been gone hours, not minutes" if you read whet he said he never said how long he was gone.

Paul you also said "If you come here and file a complaint, make it the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Otherwise, you are the one who is the fraud." that is true but then if one were to look at all the post YOU have put on this web site one would think you are the fraud after all by your own words from other post you are a cheat, lier, and an idiot.

This incident sounds like it is out of bounds to me also. The only way the trailer can pass your tractor is if the brakes were applied, or if you were making a severely tight angled turn. At "54 mph's" you appearently were not makintg a hard turn, leaving braking, the only other variable that can cause this action to deploy!

Backing off the fuel doesn't cause the trailer to jack-knife. Instead, you have to hit the brakes hard. Probably because you were doing exactly what they said. Too fast for conditions.

And, then you're trying to tell me you only drove two blocks? How long were you gone? Ten minutes? Chances are they wouldn't even notice that.

Chances are, they told you not to take the truck anywhere. Then, you went ahead and did that anyway. Plus, you must have been gone hours, not minutes.

Nobody in their right mind drives 2 blocks if they are told not to move the truck. They walk.

I wasn't born yesterday. What you say doesn't make sense.

Yes, they still owe you any pay. But, I'm not sure I believe that part either.

If you come here and file a complaint, make it the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Otherwise, you are the one who is the fraud.

Tell Marten about this complaint, so that they can offer their version of what happened. I'd be interested in hearing what they have to say.