I was a model driver for K&B Transportation, S Sioux City, NE for over 8 months. "Pinned" my rear to the seat for 11hrs, and drove my full shift; which was usually at night. Never late with a load; they would exclusively assign me their critical loads (loads which could not be late; at the proper temperture, etc.)
After receiving two minor traffic violations in one year; which violates K&B policy; they terminated my employment. I was told a the time I recieved the second ticket that the President of the company would waiver the policy and extend my employment due to my excellent record with the company (other than CSA points due to the tickets.) With my perfect delivery record and doing extra's such as yard checks, reporting damages so other drivers would not have to find a damaged trailer; driving off Interstate routes to save them fuel cost for example - I thought for sure they would not fire me.
Two weeks after recieving the second ticket and two weeks before Christmas; K&B routed me to the yard on 15 December. They sent a Qualcolm message to the truck asking me to come to dispatch. I was given the company policy letter documenting my two tickets; asked to sign the termination letter; and was given a bus ticket to depart first thing in the morning. I asked "what about my TV, Microwave, laptops, two months of clothing/blankets, bedding - research books for freelance projects of mine, etc?) They said I could take one suitcase on the bus, but the rest was my problem, not theirs.
They knew they was going to terminate my employment the day I recieved the ticket. Safety told me they would take $50 a week to pay the ticket for me. Hindsight, I should have fought the ticket; but since they offered payroll deductions; I naturally thought that they was not going to terminate me. Even my dispatcher said the same; "Monty - that was close. Just no more tickets, but you are not going to get fired for the current tickets."
During those two weeks they should have routed me to the house (I had been out 3wks already) - allowed me to clean my truck out, then routed me back to the yard. Their excuse was "We do not terminate drivers by phone; in case they abandon the equipment." Well, what are Dac reports for? Abandoned truck/trailer will permeneantly bar future employment. So that was a lame excuse.
Futhermore, they could have atleast paid for the additional baggage shipment of mine; since the accumulation of property occured while completing on-time pickup and deliveries for them. Some companies allow 4 minor traffic violations in 3 years with no more than 2 in one year; so I was at the 2 in a year limit.in other words, I knew I could find another trucking job; however, I am still in shock that I had to ship my own belongings at my expense. Money I had to borrow from family since I was living from paycheck to paycheck. It cost an additional $200 to ship the four suitcases.
My advise: Do not work for this company for any reason. Drivers are treated as second class citizens. You are TOLD when to drive, sleep, urinate, eat. Every moment of your day is planned through dispatch. If terminated, call a federal marshall if they do not provide bus fare; its the law. However, if they had respected me as a driver and not like "Tyson Cattle" they would have shipped my baggage home. I dumped a lot of good stuff in the dumpster.
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