Complaint Review: JBHUNT

Ok, I just saw the paragraph about thinking about reducing driver pay. Think about this fairly simple math. Average variance is 10 percent out of route because companies pay off a routing system that is in no way feasible for a 72' long truck to travel. The average driver is off 52 days (52 weeks in a year right??) and then we'll figure in 2 weeks vacation. thats 64 days total.. benefit of doubt and to make the math easier, lets just say 65 days off. That means we are out her 300 days of the year. Now back to the 10% out of route. 300 times 10% totally free labor is 30 days.

Lets see you bust your butt at work (dont forget, your not allowed to go home either, even if JB Hunt CLAIMS to not find a load in Ohio and your stuck for a 4 day weekend(not a holiday weekend either) and ye you see everyone else driving around, etc.... lets see you do that totally free. For 1 whole frggin month!!! Driver pay decrease???? Come on, I think we;re already getting screwed. How about an increase. How about paying me $15 dollars an hour or better, 24 hours a day???? I dont know what JB Hunt would do if all of a sudden the trucking industry become non-exempt from basic labor laws. Boy, I would love the overtime im missing out on. Or better yet, how about the office work off of commission of what the drivers make?? especially fleet managers.

Ok, onto the whole idling thing, and yes i do currently drive for jb hunt. A question was asked.. "When you are in a restaurant does your car idle?" While im sure this question is rhetorical, the real question that shouldve been asked is... "When you are in a restaurant, is your house HVAC running??" Because thats all we are doing out here. you ever go out to your truck and hafta freeze for 45 minutes for it to warm back up or better because you shut your truck off for an hour??

How about the fact is, and YES i have pictures of my OBC (Qualcomm) messages, just give me an email address. And i will prove that it DOES NOT MATTER whether it is -20 degrees or 107 degrees, the current company policy is 40% as of march 2008. Again, took digital camera pix, high quality, in case they do fire me, its going to be used for unemployment using harsh living conditions as a defense. At this point i dont care, I stay here because the benefits are good. Well, I say good, dont believe recruiting baloney lie of averaging 2500 miles a week either. TRUST IN THAT!! you WILL STARVE if you are expecting more than 2000 miles a week consistently. And thats with setting good ETA's arriving at customers early. And God forbid, dont ever let yor fleet manager set up a t-call in Niles, OH or East Brunswick, NJ without a preplan. TRUST IN THAT TOO!!

Heather,

Idling is part of truck driving. If the companies don't like it, they can buy APU's or hotel rooms. Do you really think it is fair or even reasonable to tell a driver he/she cannot have heat or A/C after a long day's work? How about some power for a little entertainment like TV or computer, etc?

That truck is that driver's home. He/she should be allowed to be comfortable. And, the FMCSA says that a driver will have "adequate supply of heat and air conditioning" or the truck can be put out of service.

Heather, here's an idea for you to make my point. Go home from working your 8 hour day [about half of what the OTR driver works] and do not run any heat, air conditioning or electricity. Only use what is battery operated.

Do this for 1 week and then spout your BS. This is typical drivel from an office employee. Get your CDL and LIVE on the road ot of a truck, and you will change your tune. Guaranteed.

FYI, the newer fuel efficient trucks can idle on .7gal fuel/hour, and the big fleets pay far less than an individual consumer or small company. Big Deal.

Response to JB Hunt Modus Operandi

You state that Hunt commonly abuses their home time policy then later state they don't deny the driver his home time. Which is it, driver?

When you slip seat you risk not getting the same truck back after your TAH. If you voluntarily shorten your TAH just to keep your truck that IS NOT Hunt's fault. Stop blaming Hunt for your decisions. If you want to keep your truck AND spend a lot of time at home then buy your own truck.

Response to JB Hunt did it to me too!

The hiring process is not complete until all info in your application checks out. That includes checking your references. You got a bad reference from your previous employer because you quit on short notice. That's a warning sign to future employers that you're a risk. This is YOUR fault, not Hunt's.

I work in the office for one of your competitors and let me commend your on you response. You were accurate on your response to idle fuel. With fuel running $3.00 a gallon, idling every hour is 3 dollars. Multiply that by 17,000 drivers is a huge expence. Enough of a expence to question the ability to change driver pay rates. Drivers need to realize that no matter who the carrier, we all have the same challenge. We have to balance the labor pool against seniority and safety. The senior driver knows how to balance loaded miles against their safety and fuel consumption. There is a assumption that all drivers do is drive. That is not the case. You need to balance your family, cariier, pay, and hometime. With that in mind, there is a carrier for everyone. We are all different with the same goal. The service of drivers and customers.

I work in the office for one of your competitors and let me commend your on you response. You were accurate on your response to idle fuel. With fuel running $3.00 a gallon, idling every hour is 3 dollars. Multiply that by 17,000 drivers is a huge expence. Enough of a expence to question the ability to change driver pay rates. Drivers need to realize that no matter who the carrier, we all have the same challenge. We have to balance the labor pool against seniority and safety. The senior driver knows how to balance loaded miles against their safety and fuel consumption. There is a assumption that all drivers do is drive. That is not the case. You need to balance your family, cariier, pay, and hometime. With that in mind, there is a carrier for everyone. We are all different with the same goal. The service of drivers and customers.

I drive for JB Hunt.
Their target idle rate for drivers right now is an incredibly high 43% My idle currently sits at about 55% and my FM (fleet manager) is happy with that. If I got it down to 35% I would start getting bonuses. The lower the more I'd get.

JB Hunt is also in the process of getting APU's to solve that problem anyway.

As far as the original post goes, You get 2 days of TAH and Bank 2 for each 14 days out. This was VERY clearly explained in training.
The bank days are for use when you need some extra time off. Like my up coming wedding. Yes I'll have to slipseat, that's not that big a deal, yes it's a pain but if your not a pig it's easy. And I have all the goodies, nice CB, XM, CD player, clothes, food, extra water and MRE's (just in case) etc etc etc. I used to drive for Schneider and am VERY happy to be driving for JB Hunt now. I'm treated far better than I was there. I'm on 2 days of TAH right now. I got home thursday, and will leave back out Sunday morning. Managing your available hours reporting about 3-4 days before you get home will allow you to more closely control the time of day you get home. Be smart about it, realize that trucking is a very hard job that's not for everyone and make fat money.

Steve:

As I wrote my piece I knew I should have clarified my position that I was not making reference to you. My omission! You do not write as one of the "cowboys" or "special breed of man" types I've referred to! Secondly, you seem to have a good command of the English language and grammar! Thirdly, your response to me was not full of the immature insults to be expected from the "super truckers" of the world!

The engine monitoring devices are tied into the satelite communications equipment. At a glance they can tell how the driver is operating JBHT equipment. When I was there, they had the capability of seeing actual MPG in real time, as did the driver by scrolling thru the qualcom status information. Additionally, hard braking and GPS position reports were available. The super truckers of the world cry and say they are spying. Yep, that's what they're doing. Its their equipment and the driver works for them.
If that driver is wasting fuel or constantly getting himself involved in situations requiring hard braking, then that driver needs some education before he kills someone or wastes money.

I don't doubt you were told this about idling but I do doubt if your friend was ever told this. JBHT knows idling is needed at times. The lies and rumors spread about JBHT are legendary and comical. Most of this is based on jealousy. JBHT has been a leader in improving the image of the profession. The image of who a driver is and the image of how he operates his equipment. Go into a shipper and see the slobs and pigs who represent their companies. See a properly attired JBHT driver and you'll find the difference. On the highway, who's doing the tailgating? Who has the obscene/suggestive stickers? At the truckstop/rest area, who throws out their garbage from the window? Who throws out the "yellow bottles"? Who drives thru the truck stop at night with a jake brake on to show off? JBHT is one of many companies who are trying to improve our image...an image of drivers who are just as professional as airline pilots.

Again, I seriously doubt very much your friend was told this about idling. Idling is needed from time to time. They know this at Lowell from the top down.

Steve:

As I wrote my piece I knew I should have clarified my position that I was not making reference to you. My omission! You do not write as one of the "cowboys" or "special breed of man" types I've referred to! Secondly, you seem to have a good command of the English language and grammar! Thirdly, your response to me was not full of the immature insults to be expected from the "super truckers" of the world!

The engine monitoring devices are tied into the satelite communications equipment. At a glance they can tell how the driver is operating JBHT equipment. When I was there, they had the capability of seeing actual MPG in real time, as did the driver by scrolling thru the qualcom status information. Additionally, hard braking and GPS position reports were available. The super truckers of the world cry and say they are spying. Yep, that's what they're doing. Its their equipment and the driver works for them.
If that driver is wasting fuel or constantly getting himself involved in situations requiring hard braking, then that driver needs some education before he kills someone or wastes money.

I don't doubt you were told this about idling but I do doubt if your friend was ever told this. JBHT knows idling is needed at times. The lies and rumors spread about JBHT are legendary and comical. Most of this is based on jealousy. JBHT has been a leader in improving the image of the profession. The image of who a driver is and the image of how he operates his equipment. Go into a shipper and see the slobs and pigs who represent their companies. See a properly attired JBHT driver and you'll find the difference. On the highway, who's doing the tailgating? Who has the obscene/suggestive stickers? At the truckstop/rest area, who throws out their garbage from the window? Who throws out the "yellow bottles"? Who drives thru the truck stop at night with a jake brake on to show off? JBHT is one of many companies who are trying to improve our image...an image of drivers who are just as professional as airline pilots.

Again, I seriously doubt very much your friend was told this about idling. Idling is needed from time to time. They know this at Lowell from the top down.

Steve:

As I wrote my piece I knew I should have clarified my position that I was not making reference to you. My omission! You do not write as one of the "cowboys" or "special breed of man" types I've referred to! Secondly, you seem to have a good command of the English language and grammar! Thirdly, your response to me was not full of the immature insults to be expected from the "super truckers" of the world!

The engine monitoring devices are tied into the satelite communications equipment. At a glance they can tell how the driver is operating JBHT equipment. When I was there, they had the capability of seeing actual MPG in real time, as did the driver by scrolling thru the qualcom status information. Additionally, hard braking and GPS position reports were available. The super truckers of the world cry and say they are spying. Yep, that's what they're doing. Its their equipment and the driver works for them.
If that driver is wasting fuel or constantly getting himself involved in situations requiring hard braking, then that driver needs some education before he kills someone or wastes money.

I don't doubt you were told this about idling but I do doubt if your friend was ever told this. JBHT knows idling is needed at times. The lies and rumors spread about JBHT are legendary and comical. Most of this is based on jealousy. JBHT has been a leader in improving the image of the profession. The image of who a driver is and the image of how he operates his equipment. Go into a shipper and see the slobs and pigs who represent their companies. See a properly attired JBHT driver and you'll find the difference. On the highway, who's doing the tailgating? Who has the obscene/suggestive stickers? At the truckstop/rest area, who throws out their garbage from the window? Who throws out the "yellow bottles"? Who drives thru the truck stop at night with a jake brake on to show off? JBHT is one of many companies who are trying to improve our image...an image of drivers who are just as professional as airline pilots.

Again, I seriously doubt very much your friend was told this about idling. Idling is needed from time to time. They know this at Lowell from the top down.

Steve:

As I wrote my piece I knew I should have clarified my position that I was not making reference to you. My omission! You do not write as one of the "cowboys" or "special breed of man" types I've referred to! Secondly, you seem to have a good command of the English language and grammar! Thirdly, your response to me was not full of the immature insults to be expected from the "super truckers" of the world!

The engine monitoring devices are tied into the satelite communications equipment. At a glance they can tell how the driver is operating JBHT equipment. When I was there, they had the capability of seeing actual MPG in real time, as did the driver by scrolling thru the qualcom status information. Additionally, hard braking and GPS position reports were available. The super truckers of the world cry and say they are spying. Yep, that's what they're doing. Its their equipment and the driver works for them.
If that driver is wasting fuel or constantly getting himself involved in situations requiring hard braking, then that driver needs some education before he kills someone or wastes money.

I don't doubt you were told this about idling but I do doubt if your friend was ever told this. JBHT knows idling is needed at times. The lies and rumors spread about JBHT are legendary and comical. Most of this is based on jealousy. JBHT has been a leader in improving the image of the profession. The image of who a driver is and the image of how he operates his equipment. Go into a shipper and see the slobs and pigs who represent their companies. See a properly attired JBHT driver and you'll find the difference. On the highway, who's doing the tailgating? Who has the obscene/suggestive stickers? At the truckstop/rest area, who throws out their garbage from the window? Who throws out the "yellow bottles"? Who drives thru the truck stop at night with a jake brake on to show off? JBHT is one of many companies who are trying to improve our image...an image of drivers who are just as professional as airline pilots.

Again, I seriously doubt very much your friend was told this about idling. Idling is needed from time to time. They know this at Lowell from the top down.

That is not what I was talking about.

If you idle more than 5 minutes, they know it. They have all engine functions tied to a computer that supervision monitors closely.

You cannot idle even when it is needed. They don't care. If you are cold, get some long johns and extra blankets, if you are hot open the windows while you sleep.

These are the things one of my friends was told.

With all of today's no idle laws, ALL companies should be installing generators with heat/ac.

After all, that truck is the driver's home for several weeks at a time, and I know when I get done with a 15+ hour day, I want to relax and be comfortable for just a few hours.

I was never a super trucker or cowboy as you put it. I only idle a truck when I absolutely need A/C, heat or electricity.

J.B. Hunt as just adopted an unrealistic fuel consumption avg.

Steve:

I doubt very much JBHT has said "absolutely no more idling, ever!".

They do have idling and fuel consumption goals, to save fuel. If you owned that many trucks and could save just one dollar per day per truck times 365 days, you'd have those policies too. The problem is this ABSOLUTELY S-T-U-P-I-D practice of idling for NO INTELLIGENT REASON! Such as:

1. Nobody in the truck while loading/unloading.

2. Going into the truck stop and letting it idle.

3. Idling while sleeping when temperatures do not require A/C or heat.

When you go shopping or eat at a restaurant, is your car outside idling in the parking lot?

There is no reason to idle a truck other than to provide A/C or heat WHEN NEEDED, or to prevent fuel gelling during extremely cold weather. The "super trucker" practice of idling 100% of the time simply shows the world the level of intelligence of Mr. Big Man Truckdriver who has "more miles backing up than any four wheeler has going forward".

The cry baby owner operators with no business sense or business ability constantly complaining about fuel prices but then idling 100% and then driving 85 MPH when 65 does perfectly is simply an admission of their lack of business ability.

But, I guess we all know what the real cause of this issue is. Its that grand conspiracy between JBHT, Walmart, Schneider, Swift, the D. O. T. and the State of Ohio to take away everybody's rights and ruin the little guy. After all, don't you know trucking is nothing more than a reinactment of the days of the old west and every driver, especially owner operators are today's big, bad cowboy!

I was "hired" by the OKC,OK. termial. I verified that I was in fact hired, and quit my job, and showed up the following week for the 3 day orientation, after which I was to be on the road.

On the third day of orientation, after going through the physical edurance test, road test, DOT physical and classroom orientation, I was called into the terminal managers office and let go.

The reason was a bad reference from my last employer! Well DUH! He was mad as hell that I quit on short notice. I quit because he would not authorize funds for needed repairs and wanted me to do the maint and repairs (for free).

Then I'm totally unemployed. J.B. Hunt tells me that I can come back in 6 months! I don't understand that logic.

Steer clear of J.B. Hunt. They are full of s**t.

They also do not allow you to idle your truck anymore, but dont tell you that at orientation either. 2 of my friends were fired for fuel consumption!

I guess they expect you to live like a caveman, or just be all sweaty and smelly in the summer, and freeze your a*s off in the winter.

If you decide to pull for an OTR company with a fleet of 2000 or more, be advised that you will get stepped on at some point. If it isn't hometime it'll be paychecks, toll reimbursement, benefits, layover pay, lost loads, DAC/USIS, etc., etc. All the big ones get over on their drivers some way or another. It will never stop.

A couple of years ago, I was told by Hunt to go to an interview at one of the plants where they had a dedicated run. They told me all the usual big benefits their drivers get etc.

I went to the plant at the appointed time. Another driver and I sat there for probably two hours or more. I left and called the Hunt recruiters. They said, "Oh we're so sorry, that job had been filled". I told them to forget about me.

Another thing I've found is that their recruiting department is the worst of telephone solicitation. They'll call you sometimes several times a day saying , "I've got this great driving job..." I finally had to threaten them with that "Do Not Call Registry".

I would not send my worst enemy to JB Hunt to work for them. I am not a driver, I'm a drivers wife.

My husband went to orientation after being guaranteed he had a job by the recruiter. On his first day of orientation, he was told the job he arrived for was no longer available and was given the option of 3 other jobs, two that they said aren't worth it and one they pushed him in. The job they pushed him in was one they had been offering him for over 2 years. At that point, having left his previous job, he had no choice.

His class has 24 people in it. At the end of the 3 day orientation they were down to 16 in his class after having kicked plenty of people out, and not just for failing the driving or not passing the physical. The class that started the day before him started with 28 people and ended with 11 people. Out of everyone actually left at the end over 50% were pushed into jobs that they hadn't gone there to take. When my husband left orientation he STILL wasn't cleared to work which meant his STILL didn't have a job.

They lie to people to get them in, assuring you that you have a job and the job they tell you about on the phone, just to get you there. Then all hell breaks loose.

Thank god my husband's DAC report and MVR report is so good. He has driven 15+ years with NO accidents and NO violations, so he has now found a nice job with a respectable company that actually has a GREAT health insurance plan, which is hard to find in the trucking world.

I would not send my worst enemy to JB Hunt to work for them. I am not a driver, I'm a drivers wife.

My husband went to orientation after being guaranteed he had a job by the recruiter. On his first day of orientation, he was told the job he arrived for was no longer available and was given the option of 3 other jobs, two that they said aren't worth it and one they pushed him in. The job they pushed him in was one they had been offering him for over 2 years. At that point, having left his previous job, he had no choice.

His class has 24 people in it. At the end of the 3 day orientation they were down to 16 in his class after having kicked plenty of people out, and not just for failing the driving or not passing the physical. The class that started the day before him started with 28 people and ended with 11 people. Out of everyone actually left at the end over 50% were pushed into jobs that they hadn't gone there to take. When my husband left orientation he STILL wasn't cleared to work which meant his STILL didn't have a job.

They lie to people to get them in, assuring you that you have a job and the job they tell you about on the phone, just to get you there. Then all hell breaks loose.

Thank god my husband's DAC report and MVR report is so good. He has driven 15+ years with NO accidents and NO violations, so he has now found a nice job with a respectable company that actually has a GREAT health insurance plan, which is hard to find in the trucking world.

I worked for JB Hunt as well, and it seems that they commonly abuse their hometime policy. When I worked for them, I was told that I would get 2 days off for every 7 worked. Knowing this, I would work 4 weeks straight, which would earn 8 days off. The problem is that if the driver does use the days he has earned, JB Hunt requires the driver to clean the truck out and turn it in (called slipseating). It is in JB Hunt's interest to keep the truck on the road as much as possible, because if the wheels aren't spinning, the truck isn't making money.

JB Hunt doesn't deny the driver his home time, and the driver is guaranteed to receive a truck when he comes back. The catch is that it won't be the same truck. This means the driver may end up with stinky, dirty, poorly maintained truck. To avoid the chance of this happening, the driver agrees to take only 1 day off for every week on the road. The company has effectively forced the driver to take less time off, but since the driver is making the decision, the company can keep their hands clean.