Complaint Review: C1 Driver Solutions

A proposed class action has been filed concerning the Indianapolis lawsuits.  The case is Felty v. Driver Solutions, 13 C 2818, U. S. Dist. Ct., Northern District of Illinois (Chicago).

Trying 'LSC' organizations for help but the offices in Indiana say I have to be an in state resident and the offices in Illinois say they can't help since it's an out of state case. I am unemployed and cannot travel 500 miles to appear in small claims court in Indiana.

Here is my story about Driver Solutions, LLC C1 trauck driving school..

Attended C1 Driver Solutions truck driving school Saint Louis,
MO Aug.2007

They fraudulently had me apply for a Missouri CDL permit and
license using the school's address, stated all I had to do was transfer the
license to Illinois (not true would have to take the whole CDL test over again
plus demonstrate a serpentine back that the school does not teach). Put me with
PAM that ran out of work within my first 6 months and let 50% of their drivers
go. Driver Solutions never worked with me to find me another driving position
(as they state on their contract). Driver Solutions does not submit the whole
contract to the court, only a couple of pages. We couldn't test at many testing
centers in Missouri as the school had gotten in trouble with the state of
Missouri for bribing state examiners. There were many drivers with revoked
CDL's that had came into the middle of training to practice on the trucks in order to
pass the test, I was lucky to get an hour in a truck during the whole school.
The school was closed for two weeks due to problems with the motel they used
being full of drug users and prostitutes, classmates had been jumped there and
there was a breakout of crabs and lice at the school from the motel. Those
students were recycled into my class as well as the 97% attrition rate from the state testing in which those students in classes ahead of us were crammed into my class as well, causing much chaos in getting anything done.
  It was close to 107 degrees and the mobile classroom had no air conditioning so
classes were cut very short and the 2 working trucks had no air conditioning so
they made us take very long breaks. Training was almost nonexistent. We were
rushed through contract signing, we were given contracts to sign after a week
of classes and were told if we didn't sign that we would already have to pay
the full tuition. To make matters worse the school superintendent was there and
had a huge stick as a weapon. A couple people tried to walk out when they read
the contracts but were chased down and brought back. Students were coming in
after we had signed contracts and only paid $1000 for the school, they were
also treated much better than the rest of us.

I also have the same problems with the company, except they said they would take the money out of my G.I. Bill. They didn't, and I was stuck with the bill. Brian Alsip won't return any calls to me because he knows what his company did was a railroad job and now he won't be able to collect because Florida won't garnish or attach anything, and if he tries to go around he can be arrested and the entire amount vacated in Florida courts. Until Chris Welsh or Tom Lane contacts me personally I will continue to speak out against this criminal organization and support those telling their side of the story.

If you have had problems with Driver Solutions LLC (aka C1) there may be help available to you, particularly if you have been sued in Marion County, Indiana. 

Despite the fact that you may have attended a Driver Solution/C1 CDL school in TX, AR,MO, OH, etc., the Enrollment Agreement you signed states that all lawsuits have to be filed in Marion County, IN.  If you fail to pay back the money loaned to you, you will probably be sued in Indianapolis.   This creates a real hardship for those who are being sued who live hundreds of miles from Indianapolis.  Often judgments are entered against people simply because they are not able to go to Indianapolis to defend themselves.  This often leads to wage garnishments and bank account freezes.

The Legal Services Corporation is a federally funded national network of agencies who try to provide legal advice and representation to the indigent.  There are Maximum Income Guidelines these agencies must follow, but if you qualify you may be able to receive free legal services.  We've already helped others who have been sued by Driver Solutions, LLC.

If you have been sued by Driver Solutions LLC, contact your nearest Legal Services agency and explain to them your problem,
including that you've been sued in Indianapolis, IN.  If you are eligible for LSC services, you may be able to get help.
 

I just wanted to take a moment to update readers of this report. I think its important to use these types of forums to bring attention to companies that only care for the bottom line. Its also important to inform consumers when a company makes an honest effort to address a consumers concerns.

While I stand by what I have said, I need to also take this opportunity to place some blame on myself, and let others know that it is important to not let a bad experience cast a negative light on everyone involved with this company. My mistake was that I had become so jaded that I assumed everyone seeking to discuss my negative experience was disingenuous, and ultimately only interested in taking me for more. That is why I have to offer an apology to Tom Lane for never giving him a chance to rectify the problems I had. I was well into a meeting with Tom that I realized he was not simply looking to argue his side but genuinely cared why I felt my experience was lacking.

Tom expressed his feelings about the specific school I attended, and to my surprise was in agreement with how I felt about the property in St. Louis. I was wrong to assume he was already aware of the situation. He showed me that he has an honest desire to improve on the problems that arise. I would encourage others to be more willing to talk with him if he reaches out instead of letting your experience jade you to the point where you close off all contact and it escalates to this point.

My intent was to help others not fall into this trap, and I think that can be done. If my feelings about Tom are correct and he honestly does care about the students and not just the money to be made, then it only stands to reason that talking with him if you have a negative experience will in time help make it a positive experience for others that chose this path.

I  similar story about C1 in FT wayne indiana  And PAM Transport  I went to the school  was told I would get 160 hours of training  40 class room 120 range and road then pass cdl test and have a job with pam.  I actually had about 20 class room   and 30 hours of range and road of which i was behind the wheel on the range for about 3 hours and behind the wheel on the road about 1 1/2 hours the rest of the time we we watching others on range practice . When we actually drove on the road it was on the exact route we would take when being examined for official test.  Were Told Iquote " dont tell examiner this was the practice route  We are not supposed to train on it"  Well  fortunately For me I already had some drive experiece and was able to pass the test.   Then onto PAM.  Called them and set up trainer driver. When he call me to find out where he was to pick me up he replied he wouldn't come to me like he waqs supposed to I would have come to him approx 50 miles from my house.  Got through that  and met him got in truck to find he was giving someone else a ride by harrisburg PA.  that person wasn't allowed to drive the truck because he just Quit and was just catching a ride.  So my Trainer driver said i would drive  not a problem to me i was behind the wheel   after about 30 seconds from the on ramp he decide that he was going to sleep. and if adeer jumps out in front of us while i was driving consider it a dead deer.  for the next 4 weeks we wnt from laredo TX to east coast non stop and of couurse i drove the night shift only. being a new driver the most dangerous time to drive is the night time. but he said that was the only time I would drive. before finishing the tour with him relayed some usefull information onto that I should try and get to be a trainer because that is the only trucks that make money because they don't stop.    After getting my own truck his staement was true  i averaged about 200 week after taxes not enough to feed my family let alone me on the road.  The Straw that broke the camels back I was in York PA to drop my load and pick up a empty trailer to find that no empties on site.   I had a friend that knew where 2 were i relayed that to my night dispatcher and he sent me a qualcom message to go and get one. about a hour into the he must of grew a brain and found out they would have to pay me 150 miles to do this . he bthen instructed me to go to a truck stop and rack for the night there was one closer.  so I did just that went to pilot and went to sllep.  When I got up messaged dispatch for location of trailer. they replied none available. So i called on the phone and Spoke to "Christy Tucker"  my dispatcher   i was then she told me it would be a couple of days to just wait and reset HOS. I informed her that i was only 150 from Home ad would be doing it there she ttried to threaten me with be charged out of way miles. and then I will be making this a permanet Restart and retuning the tractor to the closest terminal she insisted that i bring the truck to arkansas That was happening i returned it to new jersey terminal and video tape were it was and what condition.  after all that they had the balls to make a note on My Dac report that i had an icident that required the tractor to be towed Since they couldn't charge me with abandonement.  I was fortunate enough to live in an area that has gas wells needing drivers all the time and have secured steady employment.