FBI in the Boro

[billyscott]

No comment here, just wondering if anyone has any more info on it.

 

 

http://wgnsradio.com/fbi-visits-murfreesboro-business-few-details-known-cms-16653

[TripleDigitRide]

This has been a long time coming. This trucking company has had a bad reputation for a long time. I know the .gov forced them to pay employees back wages in the early or mid-2000's. If I recall correctly, the total was nearly $100,000. I would bet my last dollar that this has a whole lot to do with how they are paying their drivers. 

 

As a contractor for the USPS, you are required to pay your employees prevailing wages. They have been using some real fuzzy math for a long time to avoid paying the required wages and provide the required benefits. This couldn't happen to a more deserving bunch of scumbags.

[RobertNashville]

Okay...let me be the devil's advocate here (of course many of you think that I AM the devil but I digress)...

 

I'm not defending this company if they are doing what TDR says they are doing. However, I can't help but wonder why drivers/other employees would continue to work for a company that treats them this way; especially when being a CDL qualified truck driver seems to be a profession that is in pretty high demand?

 

I suppose what I'm asking is...is there a point at which the blame starts to shift from the "bad company" to the employee that continues to work for them when he could go somewhere else and be treated right???

[monkeylizard]

Who's to say that what you're describing isn't happening? They could have a really high turnover rate. They could get rookie drivers with wet ink on their CDL. Those drivers get wise and leave. Company goes back to the trucking school and gets some more rookies. Wash-rinse-repeat.  Finally someone decided to leave AND report it to the feds.

 

Pure speculation on my part.

[TripleDigitRide]

Okay...let me be the devil's advocate here (of course many of you think that I AM the devil but I digress)...

I'm not defending this company if they are doing what TDR says they are doing. However, I can't help but wonder why drivers/other employees would continue to work for a company that treats them this way; especially when being a CDL qualified truck driver seems to be a profession that is in pretty high demand?

I suppose what I'm asking is...is there a point at which the blame starts to shift from the "bad company" to the employee that continues to work for them when he could go somewhere else and be treated right???

There is some validity to you point. Unfortunately, this is pretty typical in the trucking industry. Too many truck drivers are poorly educated and barely living paycheck to paycheck. It's even more complicated where owner-operators are concerned.

There are so many trucking companies competing for contracts to haul everything under the sun. Too much competition forces the companies to bid at such low prices, the profit margin can be - and often is - razor thin. In order for the company to be profitable, someone is going to get screwed at the hands of loopholes and fuzzy math. The easiest person to screw is the truck driver.

If you dig into this company, you'll find that they have been doing this for a very long time, and the proper authorities have been notified on numerous occasions. This is also something that's very common. A fine here, a fine there. But the. gov refuses to shut them down.

Many of these companies hire ex DOT employees who know better than anyone how to take advantage of the system. Again, in the end, it's the drivers being taken advantage of.

I'm extremely thankful I drive for a great company. Sadly, they are in the minority.

[Armed Aviator]

There is some validity to you point. Unfortunately, this is pretty typical in the trucking industry. Too many truck drivers are poorly educated and barely living paycheck to paycheck. It's even more complicated where owner-operators are concerned.

There are so many trucking companies competing for contracts to haul everything under the sun. Too much competition forces the companies to bid at such low prices, the profit margin can be - and often is - razor thin. In order for the company to be profitable, someone is going to get screwed at the hands of loopholes and fuzzy math. The easiest person to screw is the truck driver.

If you dig into this company, you'll find that they have been doing this for a very long time, and the proper authorities have been notified on numerous occasions. This is also something that's very common. A fine here, a fine there. But the. gov refuses to shut them down.

Many of these companies hire ex DOT employees who know better than anyone how to take advantage of the system. Again, in the end, it's the drivers being taken advantage of.

I'm extremely thankful I drive for a great company. Sadly, they are in the minority.

 

I can't let this pass.  There is no such thing as too much competition.  The market place will determine the price. If someone doesn't like the environment or it isn't profitable, they'll leave for something else.  :2cents:

[Guest 6.8 AR]

I remember in the 70's, Winn Dixie was made to pay millions in back pay to hundreds of employees. Dept of Labor forced them to

do it in lieu of an impending indictment. They complied. I don't know anything about this one, though, so I have to assume they

are innocent until proven guilty, unless the same kind of result happens here. Businesses will do what they have to succeed and

thrive, and some of it can appear illegal at times. If they are doing this, and there are no undue politics spoiling an investigation,

it will come out.

[TripleDigitRide]

I can't let this pass. There is no such thing as too much competition. The market place will determine the price. If someone doesn't like the environment or it isn't profitable, they'll leave for something else. :2cents:

Point taken, and I agree. I should have substituted the way or "Too" for "So". My bad.

[JayC]

If they think there is too much competition now, wait 20 more years when they're competing against computer driven trucks, and 90+% of CDL drivers are laid off.

 

Truth is there is probably only 1 job that has even a worse future than truck drivers, and that is cargo airplane pilots...  if you're making $100+k a year working as a flight crew member for FedEx or UPS, I sure hope you're within 10 years of retirement, otherwise you better start training for a new job now.

 

Truck drivers won't fare any better in the long run...  if you're under 40 and a truck driver, IMHO you better start looking for a new line of work now...  if you don't believe me just look at what happened to the car industry in Michigan when they started to 'automate'.

 

I can't let this pass.  There is no such thing as too much competition.  The market place will determine the price. If someone doesn't like the environment or it isn't profitable, they'll leave for something else.  :2cents:

Edited December 6, 2013 by JayC