Location:
Kernersville, NC
Driving Status:
Rookie Solo Driver
Social Link:
Currently in my second year as an Averitt Express Truckload Driver!
Posted: 2 years ago
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Hey guys, general update, question about good pants!
So I talked with some of you a while back about working for Steve C Davis, got an update, I got out of that hellish **** job, paid off my school loan with him and found a local home every day job that runs from Winston Salem NC to Lacrosse GA Monday - Friday, salary, sign on bonus, company paid insurance and 401k! :)
Now I will be outside in the weather at night for this job, run 12am til when ever I get back (between 1130am and 2 pm) so I am looking for somewhere that I can get a comfy pair of work pants that will also be warm when outside but not have me sweating to death in the truck lol
Been rocking some plain old cargo pants but in this day cab its not that comfortable in them since I'm a bigger guy hah ha
Wanted to see if you guys knew of some good winter wear for driving and being outside in the southeast region during winter.
Posted: 2 years, 4 months ago
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Ok so he is running under FedEx’s DOT authority. Probably because he had his insurance cancelled after that fatal crash.
My guess is this guy is not the most reputable and running his operation on a shoestring. I base that statement on running trucks with broken a/c and pushing drivers. I have known small guys do that and there equipment overall is generally junk and they don’t stay in business very long.
I could be wrong about this guy, just making an observation based on things I have seen in the past.
I had a guy approach me about leasing onto him. He bought a small company and has no experience in trucking. He had no idea what needed done and after speaking with him I declined his offer. He got some local contracts when he bought the company and needd drivers, which he has a hard time finding. The ones he does have are not the best. No way in the world I would work for a outfit like this.a
Where can I see this information on this fatal crash? All his trucks have lane protection stuff and cameras in them as well we have to do some mandatory safety tests for him each mo th for fedex
Posted: 2 years, 4 months ago
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I looked at the safe web info. This company has an active DOT number but is currently not authorized to have those trucks on the road. His update of his mileage looks normal. We have to file a yearly statement of mileage.
The red flag to me is the fatal crash listed. My guess dealing with FMCSA is he ran into insurance issues after that crash occurred and they have temp. suspended his operating authority. Just a guess by what is shown there.
I would be very concerned if he is running trucks without approval from FMCSA.
I have no idea regarding the promisary note, that is best left to an attorney.
No matter how you look at this situation, it looks like a huge mess.
What do you mean by all this? So he shouldn't even have trucks on the road? He is contracted under fed ex and has trucks in Greensboro and Charlotte nc, Florida and Marietta Georgia
It looks like he should not. Whats his affiliation with Pit Bull Express??
If you remember to, get his DOT # off a tractor of his, and share it here.
Go to the link I attached. Look at the bold red letters, upper left, in the chart /spreadsheet.
PJ is an owner op himself, but that Saferweb info is public; many of us access it freely.
Since you are up & free for the moment, go have a look see. Bold red letters.
Good luck, man.
~ Anne ~
265752 is the DoT number on the side of the truck
Posted: 2 years, 4 months ago
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In my experience, FedEx ground contractors are scumbags and the FedEx ground dispatchers aren't much better.
FedEx ground contractors run that way for a reason. It's all about the money. They get paid twice in different ways
1) the per mile rate. This covers expenses like payroll and equipment. This is how you get your money
2) the bonuses. This is where the contractor makes their money. Bonuses are paid out based on a percentage of success. They have to be successful 9x% of the time. That's why they can't stop.
There are contractors that will deduct a lost bonus from the drivers pay. It happened to me when I was delivering packages for ground.
During COVID, FedEx ground contracted FedEx freight to help them with their linehaul runs because they couldn't keep up with the online orders. I was able to dish it back to their dispatchers and it felt so good.
My first day running linehaul for ground, they made me wait 4 hours for a load. When they finally had something for me, it was too long for me to get done on my available drive time. They insisted it was all they had and I calmly told the dispatcher "I've been here for 4 hours. I'm going to sit in my truck for another 30 minutes and if you don't have anything for me by then I'm going home and you're only getting those extra 30 minutes because I'm getting paid to sit here". Her response was "you can't do that". I told her "guess we'll find out in 30 minutes". After those 30 minutes I went back inside to see if they had anything closer, they did not so I called Central dispatch told them to put down 4.5 hours of delay pay and set up my trip back home and they did.
The next day that same dispatcher had a trip ready for me when I got there and I didn't even have to wait in line.
The moral of the story is don't work for ground contractors. They suck and so do their dispatchers.
See he doesn't even do retention pay, and when the hot season starts in November, all the guys with dedicated runs end up losing their runs to seasonal people and then they run bull****, my friend who worked for Steve told me about it
Posted: 2 years, 4 months ago
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Z.M.,
I'll give you some insight as to the Promissory Note, which will help explain your difficult situation.
A Promissory Note is a negotiable instrument, which means your obligation to pay is not conditioned on anything that Stephen Davis did or didn't do. And as a negotiable instrument, they can be bought and sold. For example, I could buy the promissory note from Stephen Davis and then sue you to force you to pay me the $4,000. You can't defend your obligation to pay me the money because Stephen Davis failed to fulfill his obligation to you. You still owe me the money.
So, what does that mean for you? First, it gives you some idea of the type of person you're dealing with. He had you sign a promissory note, which gives him more leverage than a simple contract. If he sued you on the Promissory Note, I don't know, without doing some research, if the judge would even listen to your complaints. He would probably direct you to get legal counsel.
That is your second problem. Attorneys are expensive. It would probably cost more than $4,000 dollars in attorney fees to enforce/defend any action on the Promissory Note. But, while Mr. Davis, was savvy enough to have you sign a Promissory Note, he made it payable to corporate entities. As a general rule corporate entities must have an attorney represent them in court. Thus, you have some leverage in the fact that he would have to hire an attorney to collect on the Promissory Note.
Bottom line:
1. You owe the money and there is little chance you can avoid paying it.
2. Even if you hire an attorney, who "won the case" for you, you might end up owing your attorney $4,000.
Good luck.
I'm not so much worried about paying him back, I'm just wondering ifnhe can come at me for more or block me from going somewhere else, I'm not that kind of person to skip out on a debt I am greatful of school and what not but don't think I want to run a year for him under fedex
Posted: 2 years, 4 months ago
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I looked at the safe web info. This company has an active DOT number but is currently not authorized to have those trucks on the road. His update of his mileage looks normal. We have to file a yearly statement of mileage.
The red flag to me is the fatal crash listed. My guess dealing with FMCSA is he ran into insurance issues after that crash occurred and they have temp. suspended his operating authority. Just a guess by what is shown there.
I would be very concerned if he is running trucks without approval from FMCSA.
I have no idea regarding the promisary note, that is best left to an attorney.
No matter how you look at this situation, it looks like a huge mess.
What do you mean by all this? So he shouldn't even have trucks on the road? He is contracted under fed ex and has trucks in Greensboro and Charlotte nc, Florida and Marietta Georgia
Posted: 2 years, 4 months ago
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I saw them just haven't had time to reply to anything yet, woke up late and had to go to the terminal to run. I guess I need to speak with a legal representative about this promissory note. Not sure if the terms are waved of I repay him before the year is up or what he can legally do to me. I asked his secretary about their definition of a "firm" she told me it was for any other contractor for fedex in Greensboro or Charlotte, but she wasn't sure if it was different for me because of the loan for school.
Posted: 2 years, 4 months ago
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Where is this at and how much money is owed? Explain this "sponsor" setup if you can.
Roughly 4700 right now because he cash advanced me for my first few weeks of work.
So I'm sure you guys deal with this a lot these questions that is, I took a risk on getting a CDL to run teams with a really really close friend, he got a job and Walmart and left where he was while I was in school. ((Hooray me!)) So when I talked to the sponsor I had that paid for my school we came to an agreement that I'd try the team driving thing with him and see if I like it, and if I don't then we can part ways and I just pay him back. I signed a promissory note that was VERY vague in its terms. My first week in training they had me on the yard to start driving but unable to log onto the system or do anything for FedEx (he is contracted for them) until they fixed an issue with me in the system. That took 3 hours before they could even let me go on duty which I was on grounds for riding around in the truck with a trainer learning to hook up trailers and stuff, the pace that ran during that week was not something I was interested in (****ing in bottles, and using baby wipes to bathe with) just run run run run. I told the owner I wasn't interested in "living in the truck" now I know I will catch flack for that part but to each their own. Week 2! 3 hours into my trip the truck AC breaks going to Las Vegas, same trainer team, run run run no stopping **** in a bottle if you gotta go, so on and so on. I came on looking to run days, got forced to run nights "it's part of training" so got 0 sleep in the 90+ degree heat the whole trip, maybe 2 or 3 hours a day meanwhile my trainer slept at night in the passenger seat (great training!). So I get back, I am a physical and mental wreck for trying to run the way they run being so green, felt sickly, had some personal issues to take care of so I told them I wasn't good to run back out the next week due to all of that, unpaid time off. I was guilted about it and coerced to go back out before I made it understood that I was not SAFE to go back out because of how I was feeling. So when I asked about the vague wording of the term "firm" he told me over the phone it meant no other contractors for FedEx, I am just trying to figure this all out, because if he does fire me and sue me and then denies me from working anywhere how the heck am I supposed to pay him back you know? lol I posted a link to the picture before, not sure if I am allowed to do that, if not I apologize
https://imgur.com/eMoMGqY
Z.M.,
Welcome to Trucking Truth! Too bad you didn't come here first, however.
Although hard to read, that contract seems pretty cut and dry, as a 12 month no compete. I'm not an attorney, and would really recommend you see one, if you plan to move on, as mentioned above.
SCDI, out of NC, is not even authorized for service (with 36 power units and 53 drivers) at the current time. He filled out his last S150 form in May. Hmmmm. Pit Bull Express out of Toledo (heard of THEM in the news awhile back; will look for it) has 4 power units, but no O.O.S. filings.
Does he pay you on a W2 or a 1099? My guy drove for a FX/LH contractor some years ago, and it was team also. The owner he drove for was a great guy, and we still keep in touch w/him, but my guy only lasted a year, himself. He wasn't obligated for schooling, already had his CDLA for quite sometime. Are you pulling doubles, too?
This Steve Davis guy; does he hold your 160 certificate? Do you have your hard copy CDLA? So many questions, and I'm not sure that your answers to 'little ole me' would even matter, but ... who knows.
Do you live in Ohio? Just asking, because you didn't list your state (that should be mandatory, Brett!) and we've got a few great companies that hire newbies from within.
I have no clue how enforceable (if at all) that 'contract' is. Chief Brody in the house ?!?!? Rob T.?
Best I've got for now, is give us more. Here's an example of the CRST contract, that to my knowledge, nobody has successfully beaten in court:
Best wishes; stop back.
~ Anne ~
No I still have my certificate, all I signed was the promissory note for him, I am located out of North Carolina, and I am honestly looking for somethin local that is home daily. I am hauling doubles but I am not sure if I am 1099 or not, what do you mean he isn't authorized for service? What is this S150? Fairly new to all this still.
Posted: 2 years, 4 months ago
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So I'm sure you guys deal with this a lot these questions that is, I took a risk on getting a CDL to run teams with a really really close friend, he got a job and Walmart and left where he was while I was in school. ((Hooray me!)) So when I talked to the sponsor I had that paid for my school we came to an agreement that I'd try the team driving thing with him and see if I like it, and if I don't then we can part ways and I just pay him back. I signed a promissory note that was VERY vague in its terms. My first week in training they had me on the yard to start driving but unable to log onto the system or do anything for FedEx (he is contracted for them) until they fixed an issue with me in the system. That took 3 hours before they could even let me go on duty which I was on grounds for riding around in the truck with a trainer learning to hook up trailers and stuff, the pace that ran during that week was not something I was interested in (****ing in bottles, and using baby wipes to bathe with) just run run run run. I told the owner I wasn't interested in "living in the truck" now I know I will catch flack for that part but to each their own. Week 2! 3 hours into my trip the truck AC breaks going to Las Vegas, same trainer team, run run run no stopping **** in a bottle if you gotta go, so on and so on. I came on looking to run days, got forced to run nights "it's part of training" so got 0 sleep in the 90+ degree heat the whole trip, maybe 2 or 3 hours a day meanwhile my trainer slept at night in the passenger seat (great training!). So I get back, I am a physical and mental wreck for trying to run the way they run being so green, felt sickly, had some personal issues to take care of so I told them I wasn't good to run back out the next week due to all of that, unpaid time off. I was guilted about it and coerced to go back out before I made it understood that I was not SAFE to go back out because of how I was feeling. After the length week in the heat and no sleep, then driving all night that night back to terminal and then a 2 hour drive home at the end of the shift I was so exhausted and sickly feeling I couldn't sleep til the next day. I expressed my grievances to only be told well we will reimburse you the mileage and get you another trainer (which they did but turned out to be a longer time out than the first one running the same run in a truck with smokers). I expressed my issues and the whole time I was calm and polite but the owner got emotional, yelling, threatening to fire me, and then sue me for what I owe him for school. So I have come to the conclusion that line haul / otr just isn't for me, I don't like it, felt miserable being that far away from home and living that way. I told him I was looking for something local with a lil more home time than a day and a half, deaf ears. I have found another job that is Monday - Fridays no weekends, home everynight and its hourly rather that 38 or 42 cent a mile and having to run to Las Vegas then Rialto CA and maybe get lucky to get sent back home afterwards. I signed a promissory note for the payment of school, the wording of it is vague and I am wondering what he could go after me for if he decided to sue me and if I could take the job that is Class B hot shot autotransport with a plain ford diesel truck an 3 car trailer. So when I asked about the vague wording of the term "firm" he told me over the phone it meant no other contractors for FedEx, I am just trying to figure this all out, because if he does fire me and sue me and then denies me from working anywhere how the heck am I supposed to pay him back you know? lol I posted a link to the picture before, not sure if I am allowed to do that, if not I apologize
https://imgur.com/eMoMGqY
Posted: 2 years ago
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Promissory Note
So I talked with some of you a while back about working for Steve C Davis, got an update, I got out of that hellish **** job, paid off my school loan with him and found a local home every day job that runs from Winston Salem NC to Lacrosse GA Monday - Friday, salary, sign on bonus, company paid insurance and 401k! :)