Benn
Eleva,#2UPDATE EX-employee responds
Fri, January 08, 2010
I saw the billboards in the break room where they posted the accident and how much it costed...but I never once saw anything about anyone being killed Deb as you claim..."(too many new hires going out and killing people)."
So to be fair I will review the safe-stat on Marten Transport...but prior to his posting I do not recall ever seeing any fatal accidents. A few injury accident yes...but fatal...no. Need to keep the mello drama out of this board please.
Deborah
Chino,#3UPDATE Employee
Thu, December 10, 2009
First, and this was covered in orientation, ANY preventable accident, regardless of circumstances or point value assigned, within the first 12 months of employment will result in automatic termination. Marten even explains why their policy is so strict (too many new hires going out and killing people).
Second, Marten does use a point system when dealing with preventable accidents. The nature of the preventable accident itself gets "X" number of points. The cost of the accident gets assigned additional points. Citations by law enforcement earns deducts more points. You start out with 12 points, and earn 2 points every year you drive accident free. Yes, the first year points are doubled, which doesn't really matter, since any preventable accident will get you fired anyway. After that first year, if you have an accident (or more than one) that results in the total of your points reaching zero (or a negative number), you are terminated. More than a few companies use this system, so Marten is hardly unique here. I find it much better than the old system years ago, in which getting a scratch on your rig could get you fired, but the guy who rolled his rig and spilled a million dollar road gets to keep his job, because he's buddy-buddy with one of the top executives.
Since you claim you were in a solo vehicle accident (what kind?), I'm going to have to go with the idea is was preventable, and 100% your fault. Since you mentioned the double-points thing, then I am assuming you were employed less than 12 months?
I know of no employer in any industry that continues employee benefits when said employee is fired for cause, which is what happened in your case (unless they have a written contract specifying otherwise, which is very rare). However, you could have continued your health coverage under COBRA (expensive, I'll admit).
Marten did offer you transportation (taxi/bus) home, and would have shipped your belongings separately as well (via UPS or FedEx). You opted to rent a car, go to a hotel, and fly home. The problems that resulted from the choices you made are between you and TSA, not Marten.
As for your other complaints, while they appear to have nothing to do with your original report, they do raise one question for me... How much industry experience do you really have?
HHG and Practical miles have always been lower than actual, with actual no longer in use largely thanks to drivers who abused it.
Many items, including soft drinks, household products, etc, are HazMat in bulk, mostly either flammable (Class 3), corrosive (Class 8), or dangerous (Class 9). Hence why many carriers require drivers to obtain a HazMat endorsement. So far as I know, the only HazMat Marten doesn't haul is explosive (Class 1), poisonous or toxic (Class 6), or radioactive (Class 7), because we're mostly a food grade carrier.
As for fueling exclusively at Pilot, since when does that mean you cannot park or eat elsewhere (which those with some experience generally do)? Yeah, they have long lines, outdated pumps and card readers, offer mostly fast (junk) food, etc. They also have deep bulk fuel discounts, which is why you were dealing with long lines.
As for the low miles and excessive layovers, welcome to NAFTA, GATT, G20, and the resulting recession. The once recession proof industry is no longer, especially since people aren't buying things in an attempt to avoid foreclosure, getting their car repo'd, their pay getting cut, layoffs, etc, not to mention most of the manufacturing industry is gone.
If you have the experience you claim to have, you would know these things.
Benn
Eleva,#4UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, March 10, 2009
Sorry about the problem you had but at the same time thanks. I was an lease purchase driver for Marten and saw the problems from this site of the fence. I have to say I forgot about some of those problems you addressed here - so thanks for reminding me. Again here is another driver that is also saying the same things plus more.....Marten talks one thing but the reality is something different. Glad to see that what I said was true by verification of someone else. Now I just hope this prevents someone from making a mistake and hiring on with Marten not knowing all the facts first.