Complaint Review: ELE Logistics Inc Charlotte NC

We've been profitable Owner Operators for 18 years, and ELE Logistics, Inc in Charlotte, NC is the worst, most predatory company ever leased to!  They structured the lease with so many deductions that you can't ever afford to take time off.  We were told,  "We don't haul cheap freight, we average $3 per mile".  That wasn't true for us.  We took them at their word regarding their freight rates to "do the math", but their projections were too optimistic, and we never saw the rates they bragged about.

They haul broker freight, not their own customers, and too much uncompensated time is spent at loading docks (10-15 hrs per week), preventing realistic driving time.  Profitability depends upon rolling...

Their lease agreement deductions don't fit on a single-spaced page!  There are also items in their lease agreement that are contrary to FMCSA regulations -- they want 20 days to pay you -- not "within 15 days" as per FMCSA.  Also, they want 90 days to return your escrow money-- not "within 45 days" as per FMCSA!  I'm not a lawyer, but other items in their lease might be illegal too -- like REQUIRING you to purchase their inflated insurances as a condition of employment, so that they can deduct and keep all your premiums for the month, even if your lease terminated on the 1st of the month!  (Illegal?)

Don't expect your escrow money back, or last paychecks either.  Here's what their lease now tells you:  They'll keep $1000 if you don't work there at least 120 days.  (we couldn't afford to work there that long).  Theyll keep another $1000 if you don't give 2 weeks notice.  They'll keep another $1000 if you don't complete your 2 week notice.  They'll take $500 if the Keep Truckin' ELD is disconnected for any reason, $250 for not turning in a toll receipt, $500 for every DOT violation, $500 for not turning in a DOT report within 24 hrs, $250 for any late delivery without prior notice to assigneed dispatcher... you get the idea, the list goes on.  (Illegal?)

Don't even think about bringing your own insurances, you are REQUIRED TO PURCHASE THEIR PRODUCTS, no exceptions.  (Illegal?)

ELE Logistics Inc in Charlotte NC is predatory.  The rates they described never occurred to support the deductions they required, and with their broker freight there's so much time wasted at loading docks that making a living here wasn't possible for us.  Being an Owner Operator in trucking is hard enough -- we couldn't make a living working there, and they took thousands of dollars from us.  If the FMCSA, NC Insurance Commission, or NC Attorney General want to look into this, I'm happy to share, and have documentation for everything in this review.  

I hope this warning spares others the grief we experienced working for ELE Logistics, Inc.  BEWARE!