I came here to write about the things I have been having to put up with and behold, I swear I wrote some of the things already on here. I also learned a few things as for instance...
Going thru the rooms and our belongings... Which makes some sense now. I was sure my and my roommates things were gone thru when we were in orientation but wasn't sure. Our things just didn't look quite like we left them.
The Covenant Hotel or what it's more known as to Covenant drivers as the "roach motel" When I stayed there my room had a large amount of black mold, electrical problems, and bugs! One night I was sitting on my bed talking to my roommate and I looked down at some paper work and I saw a bug. NO big deal I thought at the time... I killed it and sat back down on my bed but that was not the only one by far. I seen many roaches, spiders, and a plethora of other bugs. So much so, my roommate and I went to Walmart and bought raid.
Also, they do not, I repeat... Do not service the rooms while there is someone in them. So it could be 2,3, 4 weeks before they will go in and clean your room, change the bedding... Etc. Just depends on how long your stuck there.
While there for orientation they do feed you... Kinda. Your given meal tickets for the 3 meal per day for orientation. Only while in orientation. Your allowed 3 things and a drink. The portions your given is about then size you would give a 7-10 year old. For instance... 1 ice cream scoop of runny, fake scrambled eggs. And believe me its not a heaping scoop. If you wanted another scoop you had to pay for it... 2 buck... Not worth it. Also, like I said a few lines up... You only get meal tickets while in orientation, after that your on your own. So if your stuck there for 2,4, 7,9 days 2 weeks waiting... Not making money you have to pay and the prices you have to pay is unreal.
You can get layover pay. I know I did. On your first dispatch load you have to put in for it. They will not just give it to you. So, the previous poster may not have known that or he really did get screwed out of it.
When I started with Covenant, dispatch was pretty good but has greatly declined since. I will borrow a term from the show King of the Hill... Dumbassery
The dumbassery of dispatch is astounding. I also can't believe the lack of common sense.
Communication is severely lacking. It is a daily occurrence to wait 30 minutes to 3-4 hours for a response to a message sent over the Qualcomm or even not get one. Not even as much as a response saying... We are looking into it or something. That's really bad when the lumper service is pissed off and on your ass for payment and all you can tell them is "I sent the request in and I haven't gotten it yet" and you've been sitting there for 3 hours and have been unloaded for 2 1/2. So you ask why don't you pick up your cell phone and call your dispatch?
I don't know about other drivers but I have gotten "fleet messages" saying to not call unless is an emergency... And yes directions and lumper fees are not emergencies. Also, sucks when the routing is wrong and your sitting on the side of the road, interstate... Etc waiting for corrected routing just to find out you may be 2 blocks away form the shipper or receiver.
Again you ask... Why not pick up your cell phone and call the shipper and receiver so they can reel you in. Again "fleet messages" saying drivers are not allowed to call shippers or receivers for load info like directions, or early delivery/pick. We are supposed to send a message over the Qcomm to dispatch for that info... Only to wait for what seems forever to hear... We don't have directions, call them or we don't know.
As for charging 2 cents a mile for the perdiem... I don't know. They very well could be doing that. If so... It one more reason to not work for Covenant.
There has been many more things I could write here but I'm on my 10 hour break and need to get some sleep.in closing I will say the only reason I'm still here is to get a whole year in so I can get my vacation. I know that my not be much of a reason to stay for some people but I'm so close and I want a good, paid vacation and I'm not going to give it up just yet. After that... I'll be looking hard and heavy for a driving job with a diffenet company.
If you want my advice and a current employee, who really is trying to stick it out... Don't work for covenant transport... Save yourself a headache.
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