Covenant Transport Phony Christian Company Still Scamming Me Chattanooga Tennessee
Five months after being fired by Covenant transport (they told TN state unemployment I quit), I have been billed for a loan I supposedly got from them. The letter came from a collection agency. I don't see how I could owe them money as they kept my final paycheck. I was being fired and they expected me to take their truck from Florida to Chattanooga, TN after picking up a load (Michelle, my dispatcher had already told me I was fired for refusing to drive another 2 hrs after a 9 hour run). I got angry and went home to SC with the load. Covenant took my last paycheck for the unauthorized miles and outstanding personal loans. Now they say I still owe them. They won't talk to me and refer me to the collection agency.
I know I should not have taken the truck home, but it is too late now for regrets. Besides, I was broke and had a dog and lots of personal property to get home. I don't think I owe them any more money. A full paycheck should have been enough. The truck was parked in a secure area and not damaged or trashed in any way. In fact, I left it cleaner than it was when they gave it to me.
Michelle only cared about her bonus, which was based on the miles we drivers ran. I had no desire to run 3000 to 4000 miles a week so she could buy a big screen TV.
Southerngirl
North Charleston, South Carolina
U.S.A.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Hindsight2020
Germantown,Wisconsin,
U.S.A.
Just another scammed victim of Covenant
#4UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, April 01, 2008
Even tho you said you drove 9 hours out of your 11--you didn't mention how long you were up or sat at a dock waiting to be loaded. How much on duty time did you do before driving those hours. There is no crime in not driving the whole 11 hours, as there are other factors not said like how long you sat somewheres on on duty time, etc. Most drivers when they quit go by their house to unload the truck, and then take the truck back.
As far as what was mentioned in one of the rebuttals about paying for a rental to get home or a greyhound ticket, when you are with Covenant, if you choose to take a rental, they advance the money to you--then you have to submit for a reimbursement. That is NOT good when you've quit as it puts you up against a wall. They are well known for not giving you miles, and having you sit for days at a time--and NOT PAYING YOU. They also do NOT answer phones when you call.
As far as advances when you are working for them--its hard not to take them when you have to pay for alot of things out of pocket like scales, some tolls, and other stuff. They also charge you for the use of prepass/expass and other things that they take out of your check. You have enough coming out of it to begin with that doesn't make it any easier on you.
As far as myself, I never took any advances as I have other income so was fortunate in the two weeks I was there sitting, that I didn't starve. I just never got paid for anything. They have rules that change constantly. But I don't condemn you for doing what you did as alot of factors weren't mentioned in this report, and due to me having been there for a short time, I know how things were done--or not done around there. There are better companies out there for you to apply at. Just consider this a nightmare learning experience as alot of others have. Good luck
Momof_2
Small Town,Virginia,
U.S.A.
Are you serious!
#4Consumer Comment
Tue, March 25, 2008
Your own immaturity caused you to quit your job. If you wasn't contacted by anyone why would you believe your dispatcher. It seems that you just was lazy and didn't feel like doing your job. They should have called the police on you for stealing thier truck and having a bad attitude. If anything this company should write a ripoff report about you.
Southern Belle
Fairmont,West Virginia,
U.S.A.
Lucky if you ask me
#4UPDATE Employee
Tue, March 25, 2008
I want to respond to your comments....
You claim Covenant fired you? I work at Covenant and first of all NOBODY will fire you unless you are brought into the terminal and actually told you are terminated.
She may have said you were fired because you were refusing to run a dispatched load but she cannot fire you unless you are brought into the terminal. SO therefore you actually DID quit. DID YOU GET ANYTHING IN WRITING THAT YOU WERE FIRED?
I don't understand why you would not run the last 2 hrs of your shift. You and dispatch had words but yet you would drive HOME? Now did you take a break to do this? Cause the load to be late? Were you out of hours(apparently NOT)? Obviously you were not too tired either if you kept on driving to SC.
If you get advances they have the right to take them out of your check. You must not have had enough miles that week.
Also one thing I might add is the cost of fuel is very high and you had no right to take the truck home UNDER A LOAD!! Do you realize that you are very lucky?
1. You abandoned a load under dispatch. (that should be on a DAC because you took that vehicle home and left it there with a load on it.)
2. You took the truck home without permission which could have constituted as high jacking company equipment or vehicle theft!! PLUS the customer's product!!
Might I add that if they fired you they would had paid for your ticket or part of a fee on a rental car to get you home. They wont leave you stranded. You apparently were angry as you said and you did this on impulse. I would be grateful to be able to run 3000-4000 miles a week if I were you. You did the right thing though I suppose by leaving and making this career choice. I mean ,if you are a truck driver you made a choice to do a career in this and that involves driving 11 hr shifts if needed to service the customer. I think you have a great job. You get paid to travel and see this beautiful country,you said you were working 3-4000 mi per wk so that definitely a PLUS and you managed to get home safely with your life and career intact and you are worried about a loan report? You can file a dispute on it if you claim you do not owe them anything and you can prove it.
As far as a bonus for the dispatcher, well shes obviously a very productive dispatcher if she is getting you miles like that. Heck she deserves it. She works for a living just like me and you. I am also a driver and I do not know this lady but I tell ya, high fives to her for running you good out here with the freight thaes days it is slow for companies. Dispute you credit report young lady and do the right thing. Covenant did no wrong here.