Advance Distribution John Dyer Kokomo, Indiana Illegal theft of property and wages. Kokomo Indiana

Grant Underwood was a Peddle Driver who delivered LTL shipments within No. Indiana and Michigan. He was a day cab driver and did 2 day Peddle runs and was allowed to take his truck home or park by his house.  This was considered a privelage and he was responsible for the truck starting or not get plowed in or stuck in the mud with this privelage. 

Grant decided to quit while unloading a LTL shipment of mattress at our customer in Detroit. He abandon the trailer at our customer and drove the truck back to his home (or parking location near his home).  When he called me in dispatch after leaving the trailer at our customer, he advised me he was going to park the truck at another customer location of ours and we could pick it up there.  I told him that if he choose to do that we would charge him for the cost to re-cover the truck.  He said he could not afford that and he would return the truck to our terminal in Kokomo, IN. 

It is our written policy that remote drivers (like Grant who was hired from Addison,MI) are required to return company equipment or be charged for the cost of recovery.  We also state in writing we will provide the driver transportation home to prevent drivers from abondoning equipment.  At 5pm the following day Grant still had not shown up with the truck so I put a plan together with another driver in Michigan to recover our truck that night.  When Grant called me later that night he asked if the truck was towed or I came and got it.  I said we recovered the truck.  He said that he could not bring it to us because he hadn't arranged a ride home. I told him that was not his decision to make and that he had told me the day before he was returning the truck to Kokomo and because he never showed we recovered it.  We did withold money from his check to send two drivers up to Addison,Mi to get the truck.  

Grant also told me on the phone he had personal property that was left in the truck.  I said that we would overnight it to him.  Our shop manager boxed up all of his belonging and our office associate sent them to him via next day UPS.

Grant was a W2 employee and not an independent contractor.  Therefore I do not understand if he had legitimate greivances regarding any deductions or unlawful deductions why he did not go to the State and decided to voice his concerns here on Rip Off and Facebook.  He threatened me with small claims court.  Our actions were well within our right to recover our equipment and protect our interests and I am prepared to defend that if necassary. 

I run my business honestly and do not hide job descriptions, hold employee expense reimbursements or short employees hours.  We have been running electronic logs for 6 years and have done so to promote safe driving and a safe work enviroment.  I am available for further explanation of our work records or employment practices.