ripoff report website

by Big-D
(West)

For the past few months I have been considering trucking and researching it in depth. No fewer than 100 hours of my time has been split between this and a couple other sites geared to help new truckers adjust, and help answer Q'S from those considering the business for the first time. I realize there are pros and cons of the job and have decided that I am willing to give it a try; I have no wife or girlfriend, no children, no debt, and good renters in my rental property.
Last night, however, I did a search on google.com for two companies I am considering, and the first search result that came up was from ripoffreport.com.

As I read the complaints posted by former drivers, current drivers, and driver spouses, I felt absolutely deflated about the prospect of driving a truck. Realizing that a disgruntled employee is likely to embellish their horror story, I TRIED to take it with a grain of salt, but there are a lot of legitimate issues which seemed to be common threads in both of these companies. Hoping it was not an industry wide problem,

I looked up a couple more company names on ripoffreport and found very similar problems. I would be more than willing to list the companies names, but didnt know if that would violate this website policy, and thus find my post removed?
Nonetheless, here are some of the issues, in short:

1.)Not being given copies of signed loan agreements
2.)students were eliminated for issues they had disclosed initially on their background questionnaires. This coming AFTER they had a signed agreement to pay back thousands for the training.
3.)While in training, additional physicals given to students, after which several students were disqualified to continue. This despite the fact that they had disclosed their condition before being hired. Again, they owed the several thousand $$ or would face having their credit trashed.
4.)Being forced to sign binding arbitration agreements while still in training
5.)they expect you to drive over weight-or the dispatchers will black ball you and you'll be waiting-unpaid-for days at a time between loads
6.)trainer using your log book to drive illegally
7.)if you fail your physical exam, or a road test, you have to pay your own way home from training
8.)One driver, after deciding to quit his job, asked to be routed back to base to return the truck. His dispatcher instead sent him on a couple of runs in the wrong direction, then another. He reiterated that he wanted to be rerouted home. Dispatch tells him they will "get back to him", and leave him there another 4 hours. He decides to start heading back to the yard, when they contact him to go back to the last drop site where he finds a cop and tow driver ready to evict him from his truck. Right in the middle of rural Missouri. They later sent him a bill for truck recovery fees, and a paycheck for zero$.

I could go on and on, and you've probably seen this site before. I am hoping you can help me understand the CURRENT trainee process, and whether or not its common practice to screw a driver just because they want to leave the company, and then leave an unwarranted ding on their DAC? I realize the value of staying with your first job at least a year, but what if they have screwed you out of absolutely everything and continue making accounting oversights on your paycheck (like another guy stated on the site)? Heres a link to one of the companies with the worst rap sheet on ripoffreport.com
http://www.ripoffreport.com/searchresults.asp?q5=central+refrigerated&Search=Search&q1=ALL&q4=&q6=&q3=&q2=&q7=&searchtype=0&submit2=Search!

Again, I really want to truck, and am hoping someone can help me put all these accusations in perspective. I suppose I am wanting opinions on whether these trucking companies intentionally hire tons of recruits so that they can steal their schooling fees and or trap them into a job where they get screwed - only staying there as a driver in fear of retaliation. If you are a recruiter or company kiss-ass, I will be able to see that in your responses. So please don't anyone come back here and tell me that EVERYTHING on ripoffreport.com is a lie, or that its just a bunch of failed truckers that are lying because they are disgruntled. Any unbiased information will be greatly appreciated. THANK YOU, DAN

PS- A few days ago, after speaking with a couple of recruiters, I felt confident that I would get hired, and jumped the gun - I have already quit my job and was planning on trucking. It was two days later that I found ripoffreport.com

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Feb 12, 2013
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lokking for o s driver NEW
by: Anonymous

looking for a o s driver that drives for o s now im fixin to go to work and nd a drivers name so they can get a refuro my email is petrock94@yahoo.com will split the frist one after orentation thx

May 04, 2009
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Be sure to read my comments on this
by: Hervy

But I don't have time to do it tonight, on Kinko's pay per minute.

This will take a while.

In the meantime, as far a DAC Report

check out this page DAC Reports

UPDATE

Ok, here is my response to Dan about the ripoff report comments (and other endless complaints in other places) that some drivers make about trucking companies.

Should all negative comments that you read about trucking companies be taken to heart... Click here for my thoughts

Apr 30, 2009
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Anonymous hated trucking.
by: Jimmy

After re-reading your post, I'd like to respond.

I find it hard to believe you weren't "allowed" to leave the motel room.

Yes, trucking hours are long. 14 hour days are the norm. You didn't really think it was a 9-5 job, did you?

Yes, pardner, there is paperwork. Sorry, I've never seen a trucker that has a secretary.

Waiting for a load in some far away podunk town. Yes Sir. It happens.

And a truck that needs repairs. Again, it happens. Almost any company wants to do repairs at their shop, not one on the road. It keeps costs under control.

A disgusting trainer? Yikes. Sounds like the deck was stacked against you.

Been there, done that concerning all your remarks.

Too bad you could not oversee the problems and have dealt with them and been successful in the biz. I'll repeat, the lifestyle is NOT for everyone. I'll repeat, too much misunderstanding.

Apr 28, 2009
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More info for Dan
by: Jimmy

Hey Dan, Jimmy here. Here's more info re: your inquiry. You only take 1 physical at orientation. The only exception would be if you have a medical problem that could restrict you from driving and you need a follow-up physical 3 months later to make sure the "problem' has not manifested itself. If you are in that situation, be prepared for a possible letdown. Blood pressure falls into that catagory.

Be very clear about repaying the loan for school. Read the paperwork, ask questions. Present secenarios to the company, Such as,"What if" etc. No one forces you to sign anything.

If you flunk out at orientation, most companies will bus you home.

When you are training on a truck, of course the trainer will,in essence, be using your log book, indirectly. You have 70 hours and he has 70 hours. So, use your 70 hours. You're there to train, right? The problem with trainer/trainee is personality conflicts. And the trainee will not like being bossed around by the trainer. This relationship is not forever. It's just for 3-4 weeks. Deal with it.

You also mentioned a driver wanting to go home and was irritated that dispatch sent him the opposite way. He waited 4 hours and then headed home without authorization. Dispatch cannot just pull a load out of thin air to accomidate drivers. Maybe he was sending him the other way to get a load that would take him home. The way home isn't necessarily a direct run.

I'll be the first to say that trucking isn't for everyone. Do you think the people that attempt to climb Mt. Everest and fail come back and say they couldn't hack it? No, of course not, they blame the weather, the conditions, the lack of oxygen, their fellow climbers, anything but themselves. So, do you want to be grouped in with the failures or the winners? Jimmy

Apr 28, 2009
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It'$ The Rea$on For The $eason
by: Anonymous

Large companie$ are doing anything and everything they can to $urvive in thi$ rece$$ion. The rea$on i$ the allmighty dollar. Experienced driver$ co$t more money than rookie$ per mile. Right now rookie$ are preferred over $ea$oned veteran$ becau$e the companie$ can $ave million$ by paying le$$ per mile to the driver$.

Apr 27, 2009
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Dan's confused
by: Jimmy

Hey Dan, first off, there are NO guarantees in this world. You are wondering why so many ex/truckers slam trucking companies AFTER they get fired, right? I've never seen anyone get fired for doing their job, from any type of business. For as many ex/drivers that bad mouth a company, almost as many love that company. I spend hours each day browsing websites, including 'RIPOFFREPORT.COM'

I mostly browse trucking websites to keep up with current goings-on. My experience is on this site under 'Words of Wisdom'

The common thread I notice among disgruntled ex/drivers is misunderstanding. I've seen it over and over again, especially at orientation. The newbies show up and get a rude awakening. They show up broke, they show up with very little understanding of how the biz works.

They are thrust into a so/so motel, bombarded with paperwork and not really knowing what tomorrow brings. You are not hired until you pass your physical/drug screen/road test. It amazes me how many drivers get sent home because they fail their drug screen. DUH, HELLO, going to orientation with drugs in your system. Now that's an intelligent person.

You have to list your jobs for the previous 10 years. I've seen 'em show up and can't remember the previous year, let alone the previous 10. Pen and paper in your pocket. DUH, why would I need that.

Ay some point in time, you need to get some maturity. A 23 year old acting like a 10 year old isn't going to cut it. You've seen my posts about the responsibility of being a trucker. Just to process a new driver costs the company dollars. If there was minimal turnover, guess what?, they could fire the recruiters, get fantastic insurance rates, not have the expense of motel/food/bus tickets/personnel/doctors/paperwork/advertising/etc.

You are ahead of the game if you can get schooled prior to employment. Be ready for anything they throw at you. Be flexible, don't plan on getting home for awhile, concentrate on learning, learning, learning. Most of the disgruntled ex/drivers brought any bad situation on themselves. Just blow off the negativity. It's HOW YOU handle adverse situations that make the difference. That's the difference between success and failure.

And lastly, plan ahead. Don't fly into a cold region without a jacket, just because you just flew from a warm region. Have you ever seen a smoker bum a cigarette AND a match to light it? Now that's a guy who plans ahead!

YOU have to be responsible for yourself. I'm not responsible for you, just as you are not responsible for me. Not everyone can handle the lifestyle. Keep in touch. Words of wisdom from Jimmy.

Apr 27, 2009
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Those reports
by: Anonymous

Dan, I can feel you.

I was displaced from my industry and put a lot of effort and research into retraining and transitioning into trucking. I did some driving when I was younger and thought it would be a good career move as I am single.

I was suspicious of the loans for schools right off. I didn?t want to be out a ton of money. So, as I was unemployed I went through my local Employment Development to get my class A. A good thing too, you read the stories and I?ve met the people that it has happened to.
I read all of the same reports you are talking about. Disgruntled people do have a way of exaggerating the facts. Take another look. If trucking companies where so great would they really need recruiters?

I choose to go with W. Well the crazy stuff started right off. Orientation was a joke. A few days of outdated videos and paperwork I had already submitted. My physical lasted all of two minutes. Then after sitting with no communication and not being ?allowed? to leave a motel room and they stuck me out one the road with the worst example of a human being I have ever met for training. Drivers don?t do pre trip or post trip inspections because they do not care and they are not given the time.

As a driver, you can legally drive 11 hours a day. The way you are routed you have to drive every minute of it to get the job done. Then there?s the paperwork and other duties your to perform. Can you work a twenty hour day? If the truck needs repair, they will get back to you, sometime. The truck I was in had no heat and when I tried to talk to the company they didn't have time for me. Oh to be left setting in a fare away place waiting for a load.
Once I did the math I realized I was making less than a dollar an hour. When my trainer, the disgusting pervert, went home for time off, they dumped me in a crappy motel and wouldn't talk to me. I brought myself home. Then I was scolded like a child.

Yes there is close to a 600 percent turn over in trucking. You pretty much have to go with an OTR company to get your foot in the door because of insurance requirements. But to them you are just a number. I haven?t gone into much detail here but I will say, it was the worst experience of my life and I would not want to repeat it.

(from Hervy. This is very unfortunate and is not typical and if it is all true should be reported to the department of labor and department of transportation so that it doesn't keep happening to other drivers.)

Readers of the above experience should not feel they will be treated the same way. Here are some schools that our visitors are talking positive about. truck driving schools

Apr 27, 2009
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LINK for Trucking Company DAC Reports
by: SteveO



http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/motor-carrier-questions-the-inside-scoop/
Hope this helps you out. Plus is some interesting reading
SteveO

Apr 27, 2009
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Trucking Company DAC Reports
by: SteveO

Found a Good Site a "DAC Report on Trucking Companies"
Of course Good and Bad.
Hope this helps you out, very interesting reading
SteveO

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