Covenant Transport Paying Covenant to work for them $500.00 charges, and $5.00 hr. idle time Chattanooga Tennessee
I worked for Covenant for the last year, the heat and A/C in the truck I was in didn't work. Terry Swenny, supervisor told me that, "The company is not Responsible for and or doesen't care about the drivers comfort level, and what do you want something free", Speeking about heat and A/C in the truck.
I was told I'd have to stay on tour for 5 to 6 weeks at a time on the dedicated Georgia Picific account because where I live.
I became ill tring to adjust to sleeping in the heat and cold. The bacteria thrived in the wet sweaty seats and bunk of the truck. I became depressed sick and I had to quit or die. The smell of death permeated the truck. When I told them I was quiting for the last time they offered to advance me $50 of my check for a motel. A motel would be to late my TV, Bedding, Clothes, and laptop were moldy and filled with mildew and and no longer any good. I lost all my belongings and Covenant is charging me $1000.00 aledging there was an accident that no one knows anything about. All I know is it doesen't seem fair. You'd think a truck driver would make more than min. wage they don't at Covenant. But thats neither here nor there, If being charged for accidents, and being fined by the company to the tune of $500.00 a pop without your knowledge isn't enough.
The company now charges $5.00 an hr. for miles driven that your cheated out of and idle time in the truck. When I say cheated out of. Say the dispatched pay miles are 1000, you may have to drive 1200 before your there. If the driver has to wait for a load, take the law required 10hr. break the driver pays for that at the rate of $5.00 an hr. and they will take it from your check and you can litterly be paying your whole paycheck to work for Covenant.
David
Elk City, Oklahoma
U.S.A.
5 Updates & Rebuttals
Anonymous, For Now
Henderson,Nevada,
U.S.A.
Current Employee - Covenant Transport
#6UPDATE Employee
Sat, July 19, 2008
I must agree with the person who responded with the advice provided. This particular Driver may be exagerating. However, they let my truck go 3 weeks without air conditioning before finally routing me through to get it fixed. The dispatcher and the breakdown departent knew about it and knew I was travelling through the southern states frquently (hot weather). Also, there is no paperwork signed saying that we are responsible for any charges. I have signed nothing saying I am responsible for any "excessive idle time." This company is horrible. I am only sticking around till I get a Lawyer.
Anthony
Rossville,Georgia,
U.S.A.
I'm Certainly No Fan Of Covenant Transport...But...
#6Consumer Comment
Fri, June 13, 2008
...There are parts of this complaint that make no sense.
As callous as that company is towards drivers, I'm having trouble with the thought that a supervisor with the company would dismiss the fact that you had no heat or air conditioning at all. People used to live without air conditioning all the time, but I too would not want to be out there in a truck without it, as most people are accustomed to having it.
Then you go on to offer that there was "bacteria" forming throughout the truck, and that the smell of "death" permeated the truck. One of two things is apparent. Either this is a total exaggeration, or you have some sort of disorder. Mold and mildew? C'mon. That makes no sense at all. And then you claim to have thrown all of your possessions away because everything was ruined? If you trucked in the Brazilian Rain Forest, you wouldn't see enough humidity to ruin clothing and electronics.
I'm beginning to see a pattern, in that former employees of Covenant are being charged with accidents that they know nothing of, and are having cash taken from their checks. I'm assuming that they disclose this up front and a paper is signed by employees giving them the right to do this.
First of all, if such a paper was shoved under my nose, asking me to agree to be responsible for any costs associated with any accident, I would get up and walk out immediately. You know right then and there that this is a company that is not worth working for. This is an outrage, and the only way to stop it is for people to refuse to sign in agreement to such a policy. Better yet, avoid the company altogether. They have amassed one of the worst reputations out there for abusing drivers.
Second, if you have had no accident, you need to fight those charges.
The last charge, involving $5.00 an hour that they are deducting for what I am guessing, is for excessive idling of the truck beyond a certain limit, is also a rip-off and another outrage, and again...anyone that would agree to it is nuts.
There are good companies out there that provide alternatives to idling a truck for rest, that maintain air conditioning and heating for the driver's benefit, and who do not deduct outrageous charges from the checks of drivers to off-set their profit losses because they are not willing to adapt to running a business efficiently.
Covenant Transport is not one of those companies.
Anthony
Rossville,Georgia,
U.S.A.
I'm Certainly No Fan Of Covenant Transport...But...
#6Consumer Comment
Fri, June 13, 2008
...There are parts of this complaint that make no sense.
As callous as that company is towards drivers, I'm having trouble with the thought that a supervisor with the company would dismiss the fact that you had no heat or air conditioning at all. People used to live without air conditioning all the time, but I too would not want to be out there in a truck without it, as most people are accustomed to having it.
Then you go on to offer that there was "bacteria" forming throughout the truck, and that the smell of "death" permeated the truck. One of two things is apparent. Either this is a total exaggeration, or you have some sort of disorder. Mold and mildew? C'mon. That makes no sense at all. And then you claim to have thrown all of your possessions away because everything was ruined? If you trucked in the Brazilian Rain Forest, you wouldn't see enough humidity to ruin clothing and electronics.
I'm beginning to see a pattern, in that former employees of Covenant are being charged with accidents that they know nothing of, and are having cash taken from their checks. I'm assuming that they disclose this up front and a paper is signed by employees giving them the right to do this.
First of all, if such a paper was shoved under my nose, asking me to agree to be responsible for any costs associated with any accident, I would get up and walk out immediately. You know right then and there that this is a company that is not worth working for. This is an outrage, and the only way to stop it is for people to refuse to sign in agreement to such a policy. Better yet, avoid the company altogether. They have amassed one of the worst reputations out there for abusing drivers.
Second, if you have had no accident, you need to fight those charges.
The last charge, involving $5.00 an hour that they are deducting for what I am guessing, is for excessive idling of the truck beyond a certain limit, is also a rip-off and another outrage, and again...anyone that would agree to it is nuts.
There are good companies out there that provide alternatives to idling a truck for rest, that maintain air conditioning and heating for the driver's benefit, and who do not deduct outrageous charges from the checks of drivers to off-set their profit losses because they are not willing to adapt to running a business efficiently.
Covenant Transport is not one of those companies.
Anthony
Rossville,Georgia,
U.S.A.
I'm Certainly No Fan Of Covenant Transport...But...
#6Consumer Comment
Fri, June 13, 2008
...There are parts of this complaint that make no sense.
As callous as that company is towards drivers, I'm having trouble with the thought that a supervisor with the company would dismiss the fact that you had no heat or air conditioning at all. People used to live without air conditioning all the time, but I too would not want to be out there in a truck without it, as most people are accustomed to having it.
Then you go on to offer that there was "bacteria" forming throughout the truck, and that the smell of "death" permeated the truck. One of two things is apparent. Either this is a total exaggeration, or you have some sort of disorder. Mold and mildew? C'mon. That makes no sense at all. And then you claim to have thrown all of your possessions away because everything was ruined? If you trucked in the Brazilian Rain Forest, you wouldn't see enough humidity to ruin clothing and electronics.
I'm beginning to see a pattern, in that former employees of Covenant are being charged with accidents that they know nothing of, and are having cash taken from their checks. I'm assuming that they disclose this up front and a paper is signed by employees giving them the right to do this.
First of all, if such a paper was shoved under my nose, asking me to agree to be responsible for any costs associated with any accident, I would get up and walk out immediately. You know right then and there that this is a company that is not worth working for. This is an outrage, and the only way to stop it is for people to refuse to sign in agreement to such a policy. Better yet, avoid the company altogether. They have amassed one of the worst reputations out there for abusing drivers.
Second, if you have had no accident, you need to fight those charges.
The last charge, involving $5.00 an hour that they are deducting for what I am guessing, is for excessive idling of the truck beyond a certain limit, is also a rip-off and another outrage, and again...anyone that would agree to it is nuts.
There are good companies out there that provide alternatives to idling a truck for rest, that maintain air conditioning and heating for the driver's benefit, and who do not deduct outrageous charges from the checks of drivers to off-set their profit losses because they are not willing to adapt to running a business efficiently.
Covenant Transport is not one of those companies.
Anthony
Rossville,Georgia,
U.S.A.
I'm Certainly No Fan Of Covenant Transport...But...
#6Consumer Comment
Fri, June 13, 2008
...There are parts of this complaint that make no sense.
As callous as that company is towards drivers, I'm having trouble with the thought that a supervisor with the company would dismiss the fact that you had no heat or air conditioning at all. People used to live without air conditioning all the time, but I too would not want to be out there in a truck without it, as most people are accustomed to having it.
Then you go on to offer that there was "bacteria" forming throughout the truck, and that the smell of "death" permeated the truck. One of two things is apparent. Either this is a total exaggeration, or you have some sort of disorder. Mold and mildew? C'mon. That makes no sense at all. And then you claim to have thrown all of your possessions away because everything was ruined? If you trucked in the Brazilian Rain Forest, you wouldn't see enough humidity to ruin clothing and electronics.
I'm beginning to see a pattern, in that former employees of Covenant are being charged with accidents that they know nothing of, and are having cash taken from their checks. I'm assuming that they disclose this up front and a paper is signed by employees giving them the right to do this.
First of all, if such a paper was shoved under my nose, asking me to agree to be responsible for any costs associated with any accident, I would get up and walk out immediately. You know right then and there that this is a company that is not worth working for. This is an outrage, and the only way to stop it is for people to refuse to sign in agreement to such a policy. Better yet, avoid the company altogether. They have amassed one of the worst reputations out there for abusing drivers.
Second, if you have had no accident, you need to fight those charges.
The last charge, involving $5.00 an hour that they are deducting for what I am guessing, is for excessive idling of the truck beyond a certain limit, is also a rip-off and another outrage, and again...anyone that would agree to it is nuts.
There are good companies out there that provide alternatives to idling a truck for rest, that maintain air conditioning and heating for the driver's benefit, and who do not deduct outrageous charges from the checks of drivers to off-set their profit losses because they are not willing to adapt to running a business efficiently.
Covenant Transport is not one of those companies.