BEKINS VAN LINES - GRAEBEL VAN LINES NOT PAYING EMPLOYEES, STATING THEY DON'T WORK FOR BEKINS HILLSIDE, Illinois

THIS IS THE LETTER I WROTE AND SENT TO THE CEO OF THE COMPANY, WE WILL SEE WHAT COMES OUT OF IT, I JUST EXPLAINED SOME OF WHAT WENT ON.

Dear Greg,                                                                                                       12/14/09

            My name is Elizabeth G and I was working for an independent contractor/ owner operator out of HillsideIL, by the name of Debbie Gonzalez.  I did this as a favor to Rocco Alienello. I worked for this individual for a month, under the agreement that I would make $400 a wk. I drove from Orlando Fl to San Jose Ca, then all over Ca, and then picked up a load in Ca going to Las Vegas. This is where it came to an end. This person was not going to pay me again, so I refused to move the truck. Debbie owes Bekins over $12000 and I did not want her owing me anymore money that she did, so when I refused to drive anywhere I got a speech from her, I then called Rocco who informed me he would discuss this with Debbie, But that I was not a Bekins employee so he didnt know what he could do. I feel that I was harassed enough and was driving a very unsafe truck. I was informed when I got to Florida to get in the truck that the engine brake didnt work and that it would be fixed before we drove anywhere; this did not happen, I drove to TX before this was fixed and this took all day, where I was told by the mechanics that we were not allowed in the truck while it was being worked on. After this issue was resolved a few hundred miles down the road the voltage meter on the truck started to drop, I then called Rocco to inform him that something else was wrong with the truck and was told if it is still drivable then to just drive, when the volts drop in the truck you then start losing power to instruments on the truck until the whole truck shuts down, in my opinion that is an unsafe situation. While driving down the road Debbie was pulling fuses until I informed her she needed to stop because it was dangerous.

            Debbie had no money for fuel to run the truck in 37 degree weather but she didnt have an issue with gambling while in Vegas and wanting to stop while on the way, all the while blaming me for why we were running behind and telling Rocco and dispatch that I refused to drive the truck unless the engine brake was fixed which I never said and she was wanting me to falsify my logs, and freezing me in the truck with no heat on a blow up mattress. I had asked her several times to turn the truck on and run it, but she refused.

            I have been accused of abandoning a load, which I never accepted, because I was not working for her any longer, after driving 4000 miles and working for this person for 3 weeks and getting paid only $400, I was not able to continue this type of employment, and would hope that you would see my point and agree.

            My attorney has advised me to write this letter and request that the slanderous and false information be taken off my DAC report, since I did not work for Bekins that can not be stated on my report, and since I did not abandon a load or dispatch, this also needs to be removed, also nothing else should be added to my DAC report.  I would also appreciate it if the company could discuss with Debbie to please stop texting and harassing me.

                                                                                    Thank You

                                                            Sincerely,        

                                                            Elizabeth G