USA CDL JOBS TRUCK DRIVER FORUM

I can say the past 3wks me being out, were tough. I didn't get many miles, yet again and this is the 2nd time I didn't get home when I requested to be. Also it sucks when 5% of your pay is taken out from the top! And the only reason they say it's being taken out: "Due to the economy and instead of letting people go. We decided to remove 5% from the drivers pay checks."

I was grantee to have 2500 miles per week and be home on time. 1wk out you gain 1 day home. So far I have been first seat since Jan 13 and these past several weeks have sucked badly. The amount of pay and time out I wonder if I will ever make any decent money. I guess taking the lumps and bruises for my 6months are the worst ones. I highly doubt I will be here for 1yr as I hoped for, unless things improved.

One thing I can say is that I have a job {pay is better then unemployment} and I am doing something I have always wanted to do.

Soon will be getting a laptop, but until then I will catch you all in the next few weeks.

Laters,
Taino

Ok My brother I can weigh in in this entire post:

Taino wrote:

I can say the past 3wks me being out, were tough. I didn't get many miles, yet again and this is the 2nd time I didn't get home when I requested to be.

(Welcome to the trucking industry!)

Also it sucks when 5% of your pay is taken out from the top! And the only reason they say it's being taken out: "Due to the economy and instead of letting people go. We decided to remove 5% from the drivers pay checks."

( What in the world??? I have never heard of this! You have GOT to be kidding right?)

I was grantee to have 2500 miles per week and be home on time

( I never say that word guaruntee to any driver because they lie when they say it, the only guaruntee you will get is you wont be home on time about 70% of the time, and you will never know how many miles you will get)

1wk out you gain 1 day home. So far I have been first seat since Jan 13 and these past several weeks have sucked badly. The amount of pay and time out I wonder if I will ever make any decent money. I guess taking the lumps and bruises for my 6months are the worst ones. I highly doubt I will be here for 1yr as I hoped for, unless things improved.

(Stick it out the best you can brother.. the grass IS NOT greener on the other side... You will starve your fisrt year but if you can make it and stick it out for a year, keep your record clean you will do good things ! ITs tougher than it has ever been in trucking right now due to the economy.)


One thing I can say is that I have a job {pay is better then unemployment} and I am doing something I have always wanted to do.

Soon will be getting a laptop, but until then I will catch you all in the next few weeks.

Laters,
Taino

Good to hear from you!! Stay safe out there

Yes, I was told that the first year as a Driver is tough.

But the 5% from the top hurts hard core. I have planed to stay on for a year but also thinking not too. The 5% is BS and I think it's not right for them to rob me [us] like they are.

Either way I will drive safe and keep my CDL protected. The most important thing on my list is to make sure my family has a roof over there head and they are feed.

Thanks for your insight Ole Wise Kidd.

Ill be heading out Tuesday morning for another 3wks. Hopefully the next few wks are better then the last 6.

Taino Keep me posted and talk to me BEFORE you quit.... ill PM you my phone #

Cool, will do.. I don't ever quit before not having plan "B". Except a ring from me around 2pm est.

Hello Taino,

How are you doing this Month?
What exactly is (was) the "5% off the top" idea??
Did you sign an agreement or did this company just initiate the deductions?

Hey, hows it going? Good to hear from you ScrewDriver.

Me its going well thus far. My miles improved after I made a few calls to corp. Last week did 3256 and this week did 2386 for three days with a three days off. But I will not complain about that. I need the extra days off. I went and got my Hazmat, Dbls and triples. My new Lic will be here or should be here b4 the 9th next month.

The 5% from I know of has been taken out from everyone in the company and No I didn't sign anything allowing them to do so.

Hello Taino,

I wonder what the feds (i.r.s.) might think of such company doing the (illegal) deduction or if alerting them would be a good idea or if they would even care??
Do such deducts appear on your paystubs or not? If NOT, and I'm no Accountant, I believe these deducts then would be ILLEGAL and all you employees can challenge the company as ONE VOICE.
I would seek what Company Documentation is available that STATES VERY CLEARLY why these deducts are being done regardless of the company claiming what they claim, which reads and smells very fishy.
Do YOU have a Accountant for your money matters? If so then check with him/her/them about such deducts.
I HOPE you fare well in investigating with a Attorney/Lawyer in the matter and HOPE you all receive positive results.
- - -
I'm NOT DRIVING at all anymore as I got very tired driving my car up to 85 miles ONE WAY to get into a combo and run up to 500 mile trips, then get in me car to go home. I was doing this for about 6 months and the car has become sick as well (mechanical issues).

As far as I know the deductions are being done is because if they were not then their will be many employees layoffs. So the company is doing the deductions. I have been advised that there are some other companies out there doing the same thing. Which ones, I'm not sure but would like to know if this is true.

I worked for a pest control company that did some thing familiar. They would deduct 35.00 out of our check and then put it back into our checks. So we got taxed twice on it. I called the labor board about it and they told me it was legal for them to do that.

As for the 5% that PAM is taking out. Yes it shows on my check stub but not in my check. If that makes sense. Also I don't have a money accountant to do my money. When I get home I will post a copy of it on this post. Don't worry I will blackout the vital information. That's if it's okay with Old Wise Kidd?

I only have a tax agent; which she hasn't seen or done my taxes as a driver as of yet. Since I have only been first sit since Jan. 13, 2010. But when I get back 4/09/10, I am going to see her on the 12th and have a bit more in detail chat with her about this 5%. I am worried if it is showing as my income and I'm not making the amount that I'm suppose too be. But I am deciding to not go with her for my 2010 taxes because I/we felt we were being treated like crap when we were their and also it wasn't professional like it was for the previous years. We've been going to her for over 15yrs but if I get a cold shoulder on the 12th then I will find another tax agent.

One thing I am seriously trying to get into that PAM offers is the FedEx Dedicated runs they have opened up. If I can get into one close to my house it will be for sure a A++ for myself and family. But only time will tell if it will pan out.

Let's hope for the best.

Yes thats fine just black out the info and make sure you black out the company info, company name, ect... even though everyone knows who yall are talking about, make sure you black out anything that can be traced back to you, and anything that can be traced back to the company.

ROFL.. Right O'. Will do, I don't need any problems or anything getting back too me.

nope you sure dont

Hello Taino,

How's it going, how are you doing both mentally and emotionally since trucking strains both?
What if anything did you discover about the 5% deduct with a tax professional or have you found a professional?
Any furtherance on the sought after FedEx dedicated idea at PAM??
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Nothing much new here apart from possibly starting a local long term gig first week of May, driving a straight truck delivering A/C parts. It's through the driver temp service I'm with and home daily.
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Holler when ya can!!

Well, it is kinda getting to me being out here and not making the money I was told by several people. But making the best of it. How it is effecting my wife and 2 girls, well a bit tough for them. I can hear it in their voices when we chat on the phone. When I'm home I try to some all the time I can with my family before heading back it. The 3 days home feels like 30mins.

Yes, being out here is both mentally and emotionally stressful. But this is a means to an end, I always say every day when I wake up. I am collecting a pay check and my family is being supported. Will I do this for a long period of time. Mean yrs in my life, nope I wouldn't.

As for the FedEx gig, nothing out of or near Florida. But they are adding new contracts with them. I asked my DM [Dispatch Manager] if there's any Dedicated lines in my area. And if he is willing to pass the information along to whoever needs to know. He stated he will and has. So, hopefully it will work out for the best. I have also asked to go to the DBL/Triple training course we have. He said he sent the info in as well.

So I haven't been on lately. Just had for me to get any WiFi out here, unless I wanna pay 60 per month through a provider or 150yr at either pilot, loves, TA or Flying Hooker. Which I rather and won't do. Not making a lot of $$$$$..

As for the 5%, I haven't asked to talked with a lawyer as of yet. I don't want to stir the pot while I am a co driver. But one of the drivers has created a forum for us drivers to talk on and I was also told the company looks over it. And their they have a post about it. Believe me I have made a stink about it there.

I will stick it out for my time. I have also been looking into local gigs while I am at home. You just never know what opportunities can arise.

Hey Tiano , if you need someone to do your taxes , When I ran the road as both O/O and company driver ,I had ATBS out of Colorado do my taxes . I never had any problems and it cost me 795 a year to do them . They did everything from producing quarterly reports to your meal deductions . You know you get paid for meals every night your out right ? It was 52$ a day , every time your out over night . You have any questions yell . I ran the road for 15 years and had to hang up the keys for medical reasons. (blasted heart attack and defibulator ). I can let you know if you need any info . Joe