Complaint Review: Paschall Truck Lines

I don't think that telling the man that he can't afford to be an OTR driver because he has a pre-paid cell phone is a sound observation, nor is it an invited criticism. Many people have entered this industry over the past few years, after losing all they had when they lost jobs from other lines of work. Some people do the best they can do, until they can do better.

Further, I don't think that your contention that finding a local job will solve all issues either. Believe it or not, some people LIKE being out there on the road. I know I do.

When his truck breaks down, the company should be as responsive to the driver's needs, as they are in wanting the truck back up and running again. In fact, they have and obligation to do so. I think it's fair to say that many companies fail to do so far too often. Out of sight...out of mind. And the larger the company, the worse they are in being responsive to a driver's needs at times like this.

It can be very frustrating to break down hundreds or thousands of miles from home or where a company's headquarters is located, and it can be even more frustrating if one breaks down off the beaten path where financial services used by trucking companies are not widely recognized and/or accepted.

And of course, people who work in offices or in maintenance shops are not going to always be the most concerned people on the planet when you are out there all alone and stranded. It may not be that they don't care, but simply that they are also dealing with other things at the same time. You're one of many issues that they may have going on at any given moment.

I do find that one complaint that the man has is valid. It would be far more helpful in situations where a driver is unable to immediately cash a comcheck or obtain funds through other money transfer methods, if people who are in charge of taking care of drivers when they break down had access to a company credit card that could be used to take care of the immediate needs, such as paying for shelter for the driver until business hours roll around and getting to a place to get some cash can then be taken care of.

Because this is not the case with most companies, it does tend to leave people out in the cold, so to speak, because the driver is out there alone, and the company personnel is not there to take care of the situation on his behalf. So one does need to be prepared to look out for their own interests if the situation ever arises.

Steve offers a good piece of advice here, in that it is always a good idea to find out how a company deals with issues like breakdown, and how they take care of the driver when stranded out on the road and separated from his truck. Most drivers learn after the first time that something like this happens, that they have to look out for number one.

It never hurts to keep a couple of hundred dollars stashed back at all times for those little emergencies that arise from time to time, and/or to have access to a debit or ATM card from one's own bank account, to protect your own interests at all times.

Working out reimbursements can always be done later. Take care of yourself first.

Always keep blank comchecks (or those of whatever service is used by one's company) on hand because not everyone who does accept comchecks keeps blank checks for the convenience of the driver.

Motels that offer truck parking quite often accept comchecks, and are very familiar with them, but even then, it can be a hit and miss situation. The closer you are to areas that tend to see more truck traffic, the more likely you are to find businesses that recognize and welcome comchecks.

If you are off the beaten path, most banks, even the little ones in those little towns, are familiar with comchecks and T-checks, and will cash them for drivers. I've never been turned down yet, but then I've not been in every bank across America either.

I was leased to PTL 15 years ago, and I found them to be a decent company to deal with, but like many companies their size, there was always a certain amount of frustration to deal with when there were problems to deal with. They only had around 400 trucks back then. I see now they are up to around 1,500 trucks. Wow.

I've never cared for large companies, and I doubt I ever will. The frustration level is just too high.

Although I do see this alot at my job being that I take broke down drivers to hotels and none of them take com checks, there are easy solutions here.

First of all, I always iron out those details at time of hire. The "what if's" have to be covered at that time.

Although a com check is as good as cash, and safer than a regular check or credit card transaction, the general public is not educated on them unless they deal in the trucking business.

You cannot take an OTR trucking job if you are unprepared.
It sounds like you are broke and have no options of your own.
Get a local job.

What I mean is, do you not have any cash and/or Visa debit Card of your own?
What about a credit card?
Why a prepaid cell phone? They are a joke, and only losers usually have them.
The Prepaid phone comment my first clue that you cannot afford to be an OTR driver.

Here is what you could have done to help yourself.

You could have stayed with the truck, and let the repair facility help you find a hotel, and or even provide you courtesy transportation. This way you could have stayed in the truck until the company worked things out for you. You chose to get out of the truck and be on the street.

You could have had the Com Check authorized to you personally for reimbursement of costs or as a cash advance, and used your own cash, debit card, or credit card to get the hotel and/or cab.

FYI...I am an experienced former OTR truck driver and have been through this many times.

Get a local job.