Complaint Review: PTL - Murray Kentucky

My husband recently (last week) attempted to go to work for PTL.  I am honetly wishing I had looked at Ripoff Report before he took the job, it certainly would have saved our entire family a lot of undue stress!

The recrutier Seth, told him they would put him on a bus from the closest station.  Ok, they did that.  He also told us there would be 1-1/2 days of orientation, which he would be paid $150.00 for.  PTL would pick up the tab for the bus, hotel, and meals.  He received $75 on a comdata card on day 1 and was told he would receve the balance when he was dispatched on his 1st load. 

During the "orientation" the trainer gave out incorrect and incomplete information regarding DOT regulations in reference to ON Duty/Off Duty time during unloading, and neglected to inform drivers of the mandatory 30 minute break required during an 8 hour shift.  When my husband questioned him about the break he acted stymied.

My husband arrived in Paducah, KY (the nearest bus station to Murray) and was put on a shuttle to Murray.  He arrived around midnight and was to be downstairs by 6:30-6:45 the next morning to be shuttled to the training center.  The 1-1/2 days of training conssted of pretty much nasty lunch, and a dinner vouch for the a place 2 blocks from the hotel.  Kind of sucked the night it was raining.  On Friday, the day he should have been pulling out in his new truck with his first load he sat in the hotel in Murray with absolutely no idea when he would be getting a truck and a dispatch.

On Saturday he was asked to volunteer to go to Louisiana and recover a truck - this truck would then be his assigned vehicle.  He was told he would receive $300.00 for the recovery.  So, he rode in a van for 8-10 hours to go "recover" his assigned truck.  The person that drove the van was going to drop and run, smartly my husband told him if he left before they were sure the truck was operable he would find a way to the nearest bus station and head to the house.

Well, it's a good thing.  The truck would start, but not run.  After calling multiple mechanics, they couldn't find anyone to come to the location (mind you this is now Saturday).  Of course, my husband and the guy who took him to the truck were sitting for more than 2 hours before they were told no one was coming.  PTL finally called for a tow truck!  No big rush on this, after all, the powers that be weren't stuck with a non-working truck miles from home, the day before Father's Day.

When the tow truck arrived, my husband and his chaffauer followed the truck to the shop and were put up in a hotel for the night.  Sunday morning, they headed back to Murray without the truck.

My husband was told he would still receive the recovery fee (we shall see).  Back in Murray he was told to ride the shuttle back to the training center on Monday at 10:30 am.  While staying at the hotel he had multiple conversations with other drivers that were there  for orientation.  It seems the general theme was hurry up and wait, sit around the hotel, we don't have any trucks for you to take out, but we have a full hotel of "new employees".  Some of these drivers claimed to have been sitting there for more than a week.

On Monday morning my husband called the Operations Manager when he couldn't get any straight answers on when he would be assigned a truck.  He was told to take the next shuttle to the training center so they could talk face to face. First, the shuttle drive left early - there is 1 shuttle per hour.  My husband was asked what was wrong, and when he relayed everything that he had been told by the recruiter, and the reality of what was really going on, he told the man "Either fix the problem and put me in a truck with a load or send me home" - he was given a bus ticket home.

After all was said and done, while waiting for my husband to get home, I called the recruiter, Seth.  I knew it was an exercise in futility, but I figured I would feel better.  When I confronted him about what he had told us and what actually happened he back peddaled and made excuses.  I finished the conversation telling him it would be really nice if when they were recruiting new drivers they would attempt to be honest, maybe let the guys/gals know, although they can't always promise they weill have a truck to assign to them right after orientation!  I know that won't be done.  I used to think military recruiters were the biggest liars, but the trucking industry has certainly topped them!

So, if you are looking for a truck driving position, I would NOT recommend PTL.