Dan Rather Report Part 2 “Truck Talk”
The Dan Rather Report Part 2 “Truck Talk” is now “In the Can” as they say in Show Biz!
Dan Rather Report Part 2 “Truck Talk”
The Showdown was held at “Willie’s Place” for Part 2 “Truck Talk” , the Dan Rather investigative report into trucking. It was not near as much fun as I thought it would be but still I was glad to attend. It was purely coincidence that I had scheduled my home time to go to NASCAR.
After all, I’ve been out on the road since August when I came to Texas for the “Great American Truck Show” where I met up with Hope Rivenburg, the young Widow of slain trucker Jason Rivenburg who had 5 month twins and a 2 year old in tow to promote the federal bill for Safe Trucker Parking called “Jason’s Law”.
That was a busy week where not only was I helping at the GATS Show, I was being interviewed by more than one production. One of which called Bully in the Workplace had to be coordinated with the Dan Rather Producers to facilitate the time schedule. This production is yet to air but Ellen Voie President of “Women in Trucking” does appear and you can see a Sneak Peak here.
Initially, I believe the Dan Rather Group might have ended up at the ATA sponsored truck show that was scheduled that same weekend in Pennsylvania but I suggested that GATS might give them a better opportunity to see a greater variety of folks involved in trucking. You see, the ATA, OOIDA and “Women in Trucking” all knew Dan Rather was doing a piece on Trucking for a good deal of time. I believe all were very excited at the prospect of meeting the Mr. Rather and having the chance to express what was important in the trucking industry from their organizations perspective.
In the beginning, I believe the content of the show topics filmed may have been so vast that a more narrow focus had to be made. In many of my post interviews after and in between filming I was also providing other links, contacts and information to the producers for both of these reports. This includes directing them to Mr. Tom Hansen who appeared in Part 1 “Queen of the Road” who posted here on this site to Tracy Hamm of the CRST Sex Harassment case. Also, a former Million Mile Driver from my company who was terminated in a snowstorm and others. I also sent them links to post show comments from various forums including negative comments from my First Trainers “Friend” here on this site and other sites where the vast majority was positive and in agreement. There were a few critics but those were mostly my familiar online stalkers.
I also provided links to “Women in Trucking” regarding both Dan Rather Broadcasts but they have since been deleted. I was also alerted that posts by members of another WIT member forum were not moderated to prevent information about the Dan Rather Report getting out in that arena in an attempt to keep this story under wraps.
Since the first broadcast, I received a letter from Ellen Voie revoking my membership to “Women in Trucking” stating that I do not Support their Mission, which is to help Women overcome obstacles they face in the Trucking Industry. The single most popular thread on the WIT site I started with over 3000 reads was deleted but I anticipated her doing that when she realized Dan Rather interviewed me in Dallas so I took screen shots of the entire thread which is some of the basis of the “Bully in the Workplace” issue.
My first online stalker originated from the WIT forum and it is because of the treatment I received at this organization that led me to twitter. That is how @TruckerDesiree was born.
Truth be known, I joined WIT in spring 2008 and had been reaching out for assistance from Ellen and on behalf of other Women I met during this journey who did not join due to the climate they observed where I was attacked verbally for seeking guidance AFTER I had been through my HR department.
I then joined OOIDA , not for assistance with the Women’s Issues in Trucking but because I was being asked to comment on many things trucking from my popularity on twitter and I was not educated in these matters enough to do so. I spent a good amount of time trying to gain knowledge or redirect people from twitter to the people at Landline Magazine who are also on Twitter to assist in some of these questions but they were not as interactive as I am.
Many times I called on the phone and spoke to a guy at OOIDA who emailed me articles and I would pass them along. Sometimes when I provided these articles I was attacked as with the case of the Dear VDOT Story in Appomattox News regarding the closure of Rest Areas.
There is a lot of unknown yet to be told history to this tale and I advised the Dan Rather Producers to “Please make the investigative reports LESS about ME and more about what is happening to people who have no voice or ability to speak to the outside world about what is going on in the trucking industry”. My position has always been that it is futile to discuss the issues that need correction in a way only truckers understand because they already know the problem. The answers lie in making the story interesting enough for non-truckers to care about what is happening.
The ATA, WIT and OOIDA have known about me and my Student Trucker Story for awhile now. They also knew Dan Rather was doing an Investigative Report. I believe ATA knew I was in the story but I think it caught WIT and OOIDA by surprise. This is an OLD story but it is a NEW twist to the story to a very interested NEW audience. There are many people being affected because Americans are desperate for work and the trucking industry is all too happy to take advantage of this crisis. These folks are searching for help.
Many Owner-Operators do not see the relevance to this story but they should because the mega companies with their confused disenfranchised cheap labor force of desperate people are seeking a chance at HOPE , they are hungry. Cheaper Labor will be the demise of Owner-Operators unless they pay attention. The Mexican Truckers that were mentioned in the broadcast making .13 cent a mile? That is what Student Truckers make and they are a dime a dozen but some of them figure out what is going on, like me.
OOIDA VP Todd Spencer was not aware I had joined OOIDA when he came over to shake my hand at the taping of Part 2 “Truck Talk” by Dan Rather. He did congratulate me on a “Good Job” but there is much more to the Student Trucker Industry than just my story and that is why I will persist to help get other Student Trucker Stories and Women Trucker Stories OUT to the public.
The public is interested in Truckers right now like they have not been before because they can understand this topic whereas other issues they do not. That is why the message has been lost despite the fact that these things have been said before for many years.
While it was not planned that I attend this forum initially, the coincidence that I was in Texas at the same time prompted an invitation for me to be present. At the time I was told about the show schedule, I was sitting in Bentonville, Arkansas awaiting a load home to Texas. I waited much longer than I have ever had to wait for a load home with no word whatsoever. I did not understand the silence but when I found out about the behind the scenes wrangling it made sense to me.
I was happy that Allen Smith from “Ask the Trucker” was invited to attend and that the Dan Rather Producers facilitated him to participate, after all, it was Allen Smith of “Ask the Trucker” who reached out to help me. He and his Wife Donna provided me a place to tell my story and not be moderated away. It was my story “A Day in the Life of a Lady Trucker” that captured the interest of producers during their research of other blogs and organizations in the trucking industry.
My story is based on events and people I met as a student trucker. It has adventure, humor and triumph as I overcame obstacles set before me from the system seemingly set up for failure which is the Student Trucker Industry that I encountered. It is based on actual events from documented complaints I submitted to my company that were dismissed in some cases. Other situations I was told were being investigated but were in fact not being investigated. Because I kept meeting students with similar stories I began to write even though many of my obstacles were behind me. On Dec 16 2009, I will have 2 years of accident free driving with no citations despite everything I have endured. That is from sheer persistence and determination that I did not take “NO” for an answer. For every roadblock set before me I found an alternate route around those obstacles.
Michael H. Belzer who appeared in “Truck Talk” himself wrote a book about the Student Trucker Industry named appropriately “Sweatshops on Wheels” his book was written way before I came along. Indeed this is an old problem that has been long covered up.
I have to commend “Werner” Chief Operating Officer Derek Leathers for appearing and being open to a discussion. I wish that more companies had the courage to discuss suitable solutions for more effective training system for student truckers and personal safety for Women entering the industry which keeps being shoved to the side.
I was surprised by the opening statements by Mr. Rather about the ATA backing out. The evidence suggests they knew I was in Texas and were told I would be present. Even though I would not be on the forum, I did promise to be sorta kind of nice and sit in the audience with my hands folded on my lap. The ATA remarks about me not being credible and so forth are in my opinion a “catch all” statement. No one has contacted me from either my company or the ATA to request evidence or comment after the broadcast. The documents provided to Dan Rather Producers are copies my company has had for sometime, how honest they are being with the ATA and the fact that I have been reaching out for assistance at WIT during the past year and a half might be more of a reason they would like my story to go away.
OOIDA Life Member Miles Verhoef was on-hand, he also did not know I was an OOIDA Member prior to this taping, nor seem to care.
I sat with veteran Women Truckers off to the side and they were quite happy with these issues coming to light, after the ending of the show I was rather touched by an older Woman and her Husband, both OOIDA members who you can see sitting in the front row, she came up and grabbed both my hands and said “Thank You so much for speaking up”. She was thrilled someone was listening to what is going on out here. THAT my friends …. (And enemies) is what makes me do the things I do and say the things I say.
I am not motivated by money or sponsors or of fame. I am motivated by the ATA not showing up and answering questions about me to my face. I am motivated by my company who is willing to put more effort into a media packaged letter about their “Commitment to CARE” and hide me from other drivers with the same complaints as mine rather than address the obstacles student truckers and experienced drivers face from their system. I am motivated by Ellen Voie who persistently misleads about her intentions and priorities. I am motivated by the drivers I meet everyday who wish someone would not only listen to them but understand the complex array of issues occurring out here which indeed affect highway safety, national security and human dignity.
The day following the show I returned from my home time, I had 2 preloads waiting for me and got a third shortly afterwards. I also had a bad headlight that keeps blowing. My company policy is to go into a terminal for repairs to save money which is understandable with this economy. Being the “Team Player” that I am, I picked up my load in Texas “ON time” and advised through my QUALCOMM I would stop by our Hutchins terminal which was very close to me to have the issue fixed.
The response was: “Can’t we go to a truck stop and get a bulb?” My suspicion as I had written earlier in my Qualcomm was that this was a deeper issue because the bulb kept blowing and this particular terminal did the prior work last month so my intent was to get our mechanics to investigate their work to save our company money.
In trucking though you have to “read between the lines” on the Qualcomm which I have come to refer to as “Hot Potato”. They say something trying to you in order to provoke a response. You can only get rid of the “Hot Potato” by using special “Codewords” to get them to either go silent or move on to another subject.
I rarely interact with my current dispatcher. I am aware someone else has perhaps advised some of his word choices to me and I have a pretty good idea who it is. My dispatcher has never been privy to my student trucker story nor to the previous drama I endured in my other fleet, I feel sorta bad for him because he does not know what is going on and he is a good dude.
Anyways, three days later, Two $16.00 bulbs, a stop at a TA for a temp fix which delayed my schedule resulting in being un-dispatched from a load and a trip to Freightliner for a repair because TA could not complete the work. Here I am still dealing with that headlight issue that I should have stopped by the terminal to have repaired. What does this all mean?
Well, first go round a fleet Qualcomm was sent out prior to the Dan Rather broadcast telling our drivers not to speak to any media following the show if they were approached and for them to contact …. Get this… The HR Lady from my Student Trucker Story if they had questions. AS IF! Here is a resource about HR Departments so educate yourself about that so you understand better. “How Organizations Empower Bully Bosses”
So I suspect they didn’t really want me around other drivers so that they would not know that there is a second broadcast. See the way issues disappear in trucking is to ignore them, deny they exist and say the source is not credible. That’s the way it is done INSTEAD OF coming out and FIXING the problem.
I have never asked for special treatment, I only wanted to pay $5500.00 to learn to operate a truck safely. I am not the only one in the world who feels the same, to the contrary. I am not the only Woman who has been badgered for sex, left in the desert and lied to that some investigation was occurring when it was not.
I am not the only driver who is upset about idle policies that charge drivers when the Smart Way EPA award is being accepted for reducing emissions when in fact driver’s don’t have APU’s or proper bunk heaters. The truth is driver’s are afraid to be charged by our employer to stay warm in winter that’s why the emissions are down! I am not the only driver upset about forced Per Diem and the DAC reporting system hanging over your head which has so many allegations of False Reports to keep drivers quiet.
I did live to tell the tale and I had a few talents that ole HR Lady never anticipated … I can write and communicate to the entire world from a PDA one letter at a time. And Guess What? THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD WHO CARE ABOUT RAISING THE STANDARDS FOR TRUCKERS EVEN IF THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY DOES NOT!
It seems I am also an Inspiration for Ellen Voie, she is beginning to address the hard questions , albeit with my research. On November 11, 2009 at 4am I posted an intriguing article about another industry experiencing similar challenges for Women on a new Twitter account called @WomenTruckers I followed Ellen who blocked it and me but not before she lifted one of the articles for her forum which she posted November 11, 2009 at 9:43 am on “Women in Trucking”
This is not the first time this has happened where what I wrote was “borrowed” by Ellen Voie.
I Support “Women in Trucking” but I do not believe in “Selling” personal safety, this should be free information. Especially when the ones you need to protect yourself from are in your own company and if one of those companies is a “Women in Trucking” Sponsor, that’s sort of a conflict of interest now isn’t it?
Let’s spell that out a little. If the ATA and WIT are working together and Violence is occurring to Women who are entering trucking in their student phase and ATA says I am not credible and WIT says I don’t support their mission yet they are trying to make a “Best Practices Guide” with the EEOC, to what? Sell to companies in a way in the form of sponsorships? That sorta sounds like “Vinny” coming by some “Mom & Pop” shop saying if you pay me , I will make sure Guido my cousin won’t break into your store”. Preventing Violence toward Women & Men as they enter the Trucking Industry, keeping people SAFE should be FREE. The trucking industry should do it willingly not spend money to cover it up and fight it. What is wrong with you people?
All of the links on this WordPress are to provide free resources to anyone who wants to learn more. I have always been good at collecting information, research, networking and managing difficult people …. I just want to drive a truck right now.
I have learned from the non profit , women in trucking it means nothing except someone is getting a paycheck and they aren’t doing anything to help the people they are collecting membership fees from. WIT does not represent REAL Women Truck Drivers who are the kind I have met that have huge hearts and vast knowledge.
See Y’all at MATS for the Salute to Women behind the Wheel!
you are right! non-truckers are interested in these stories and issues, especially women and all working people. thank you for helping to get this out to the broader public. it may feel lonely sometimes but you have support and solidarity.
Dear Terrie:
I felt from the beginning being new to this industry that the general public would be shocked to learn how student truckers are trained as a matter of standard operating procedure.
That is with regards to the speed and manner that many trainers go so quickly themselves from student to teacher and in a “team business model” like Covenant Transport & CRST the result is many times 2 students with very little combined experience at each other’s throats operating this 80,000 lbs vehicle down the highway with very little company support.
The additional issue that Women are being actively recruited without good planning and actually the coverups that are going on was truly something I knew even the people who work in other areas of Supply Chain Logistics and Transportation Industries would quite embarrssed that they were unwittingly supporting such organizations that permit this to occur.
These people are making a mockery and a profit from recruiting Women into an industry that should be held to a much higher safety standard because the job is conducted on the highway where everyone drives.
I appreciate all of the people who have taken the time to read about these issues.
Thanks for posting,
Sincerely,
Desiree
I was not impressed with the show @ all. Same old thing…The big boy from Werner tried to act like he cared. Werner I have to ask you, how much experience do your trainers have?
All of these big mega fleets have grown accustomed to “SPINNING” the truth to try to benefit them.
As Drivers we “Know” what the word on “Werner” is but I have to be honest, that I know 3 people who worked there and they were okay. One did become a trainer in less than a year, maybe 6 months he had driving and he was made a trainer but he was a conscientious person. He does not work there now because he had family issues and had to find something else.
I think smart fleet would look at the opportunity to change and publicize it. For instance, Wal-Mart settled a huge lawsuit that has been going on for years because they said it was best for “Public Image”, it will take many years for this to occur but I see they are doing things to change their image in the way of the products they are putting on their shelves and much more.
I do think they should check out who they sponser before they put their name on any of the organizations mentioned in this post lest they get another embassassing moment for their image.
These companies are so used to snubbing their noses at these issues it means nothing to them, that is why we have to keep writing and talking and exposing them.
Take for instance CR England who is on Twitter as @CREngland and tweeted derogatory remarks about the Dan Rather Report , yet they are in the consumer report http://www.ripoffreport.com for Rapes and other abuses to drivers and turned around to post this to capitalize on the wounds of other companies mentioned in the Dan Rather Piece:
http://www.truckdrivingjobsblog.com/dan-rather-goes-the-rounds-with-trucking-execs
This is typical trucking industry conduct, a Circus Show Midway where all the games look fun but they are a rigged.
I wonder, was CR England invitied to the “Truck Talk” episode? I think I would like to know ….
Yes, It’s funny that these companies now want to capitalize on the fact that they were not included in the initial Dan Rather episode. What a joke! As though they’re all of a sudden “the good guys” All I can say is, their time in the spotlight will come soon enough.
This is an excellent post to review the important high lights which has led up to the Dan Rather Reports series of interviews, talk and videos. I think it’s important that people understand how the trail of events began in order to better comprehend the degree of passion and motivation which leads up to an event. Without it, it’s somewhat like celebrating the 4th of July without knowing the history of what occurred leading up to that day.
So many times people hear bits and pieces of something and then throw in some vicious rumors, and before you know it you have a totally spun lie of what the truth is about a story or “campaign for reform” as I like to look at it. That’s exactly what the Dan Rather Reports is turning into….REFORMING THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY!!
Here’s an example of a “Spin” of how lies, rumors, and misconceptions can hurt positive efforts.
The night of filming at Willies Place for episode 2 of “Truck Talk” with Dan Rather, many drivers, owner operators, and trainers were lined up at the door. Allen and I had been there earlier going over a few things with the show, and we then walked outside and listened to what the talk was about. In a nutshell, drivers were discussing how the Dan Rather publicity was going to nothing more that give bad press to truckers who already have a poor image to the general public. NONE of the reasons, causes, or positive benefits were mentioned or the fact, that the shows purpose, was to expose the dirty scams of the industry which were in fact causing drivers so much grief and heartache in their careers.
It wasn’t until we started getting in on the conversation and actually began explaining that these CDL Mills were just churning out drivers, charging them huge amounts of money, know that more than half would not even want to stay in trucking, and the ones that did stay would be driving for between $0.14-$0.25 per mile…..FORCING THE SEASONED DRIVERS OUT!. Not too long after, Desiree arrived and joined in explaining to trainers and drivers the same thing, adding the abuses that are taking place towards women and how THE COMPANIES allowing such abuses were making THE GOOD TRAINERS look bad!
Now they were able to enter the “Truck Talk” forum with an open mind and were able to understand what the issues were REALLY about.
The motivation behind all this? TO MAKE THINGS BETTER for our fellow drivers. TO STOP THE ABUSE taking place: Pretending that there is a Driver Shortage (the real truth of the 125% turnover rate),;Taking money off of vulnerable people in the CDL Miils; exploiting new drivers by having them drive for peanuts to move the freight cheaper; starving the veteran drivers out by giving them less miles ( while new drivers get more miles); ** Allowing women to enter a team or training situation which is unsafe and not having a “escape route” properly set up to assure their safety**; The fear of the DAC report, reporting information which may end a drivers career, the ongoing leasing scams, etc…
I can remember when we first started out almost 5 years ago, How’d we get mail saying, “Are you trying not to get people into trucking? Why are you writing about the scams? They won’t want to enter into trucking if you tell them that ” Being a voice for “the vulnerable and potential prey” was, I guess, “unheard of” So are people suppose to pretend none of this is happening?
Unless drivers realize that all this exposure is to help them, then things WILL NOT CHANGE. Also, they need to jump on board, create a blog, join the face book groups and fan clubs which will supply up to date info, share your stories without fear, start talking about experiences, eventually we will be a voice in unison.
Dan Rather Reports was a huge step in the right direction, but the truth is, unless we follow up and do something about it, it will JUST DIE DOWN AND GO AWAY. …which is exactly what the Megas want!
We’re grateful for Dan Rather Reports contacting us and Desiree so this info could get out. We are grateful to the people that we were able to contact who either emailed us and who wrote their experiences on the blog , we asked them if they wouldn’t mind sharing with Dan Rather Reports.
http://www.askthetrucker.com/truck-driver-training-and-trucking-companies-comments-and-questions/
We’re grateful that Trucker Desiree works tirelessly, relentlessly, and with the motivation and commitment to achieve the goal of helping others succeed in an industry designed to fail!! Why fail? To keep the cheap freight and turnover rate moving! I have to say, that until Desiree joined “our cause”…AND THEN HER OWN ALSO….Allen and I felt like a square peg in a round whole.
Desiree has been able to get the message out, facing ALL KINDS of obstacles, being able to motivate people, taking the time to listen, starting support and networking groups. Her accomplishments did not come easy ( I’m not sure I even know of anyone who has that much perseverance) and I urge all of her supporters and readers to help ANY WAY they can to lighten the load and aid in the goals TO HELP EACH OTHER.
Let’s not let this TOPIC “Go Away” Don’t keep it in the trucking forums where only truckers read about them. Let’s not criticize one another for our efforts, but rather offer ideas to make them better. More than anything, let’s be doers and supporters, helping one another with whatever we can offer; advise knowledge, or just compassion.
If you need info, there is much free info on our blog. Just type in the KEYWORD search bar on the right, for whatever you’re looking for and info/articles will come up.
I know Desiree also helps people anyway she can, and more folks are active in the quest for Trucker Reform. They’re doing whatever they can to help drivers also; Truckers Strike from Drivers Alike, Daniel Audet from the TruckStar , and there are more being added and acknowledged every day. Together we really will and can “raise the standards of the trucking industry”…and we will give a new meaning to “YES WE CAN”
Desiree has a lot of good “details” in this post. I urge you to read it again….AND THEN AGAIN. I wanted to address a few more of the topics in it, but I’ve become pretty long winded already while I got on my soap box!
Hi Donna:
One sort of funny thing that has happened since these broadcasts is that I am getting many people writing me who are in fact more interested in becoming Truck Drivers but want me to help them find the BEST Companies and the BEST CDL Schools.
This is really an huge opportunity for companies and schools to stop spending their advertising budgets on LYING to people and implement some training regs that give a GOOD “Word of Mouth”, A GOOD TRAINER NETWORK would benefit the company for Safety and overall Industry Reputation.
Being a Good Driver does not make you a Good Trainer, many first time managers are indeed FIRED because they get crazed with power trips and control issues.
Becoming a trainer does not mean you OWN someone and this is one thing I hear often with Women Trainers is that they want to Dominate the Female Student and the teaching part gets lost.
When these companies are rushing to create trainers they are forgeting that many drivers became drivers because they don’t play well with others, that doesn’t mean they are not good at their job but may not have the tools nessesary to teach others without attacking verbally which is detrimental to learning.
There is opportunity that can spring from this expose or there can be more cover up.
It’s the choice of the Industry, I will continue to document it for the public and they are interested
I wonder where “Mollie” is now? She says she worked for CR England but now there is no record.
http://www.ripoffreport.com/Employees/CR-England/cr-england-i-had-three-trainer-9c3ye.htm
I also now a former trainer fom CRST who was on one of our “Bully in the Workplace” blog talk radio shows & he discussed what he saw as a trainer working for CR England. That show is archived for the curious in my FAQ Section
Desiree, you are an inspiration for soooo many. We need many, many more follow ups, round tables, interviews, etc, with participation of everybody in the trucking industry and the public as well. I also want to belive in reform but that will need massive participation of everybody and considering all the misinformation and/or lack thereof, that is a HUGE challenge. So, I thank you, Desiree and others like you, who have the guts, the determination, persistence, commitment, and so much more, who can speak in such eloquent and intelligent way and get the message out there.
We will be doing a ‘end bullying in the workplace’ show on December 29th, on blogtalkradio.com. Special Guest Catherine Mattice.
DAY JOBS radio has been named a popular podcast on btr! We ARE seeking sponsors who care about ending workplace bullying that occurs in many industries.
Also shared with you the story of our in-person experience at a private trucking company which insisted there are many openings in the business, the WIA speaker’s constant references to the guy who showed up to trucking class and froze up behind the wheel, the constant discouragement given about trucking schools when people apply to WIA for the funds, etc. etc. As you say, ‘we just want to drive a truck!’
I told you about the men staring at work when walking across the room daily, conducting business, after they were asked to stop.. staring when on work ‘breaks’, the profanity, that occurred again recently. After telling them to stop the profanity in the workplace, the manager responded with condescension to the workers ‘watch your language, guys’. The paycheck that has been withheld over one month with the words ‘ ‘we mailed the check’.
There are certain expectations when people accept a job. One, to be paid ,of course. Two: to receive common courtesy and respect. When enough people stop working for bullies, change occurs.
You hit the nail on the head when you mentioned new trainers. Trainers I’ve had and I’ve heard about had control and bullying issues, it’s not isolated to women trainers/trainees. Trainers need to be screened and trained, but that would be an obstacle to making the company money.
The “best company” question is probably the most asked on the net, my answer has always been that it’s up to the individual. It’s not only what you make it, it’s your relationship with the people you work with, then it’s your relationship with that company. The best company for someone may not be the best company for someone else.
Most of the time the best companies don’t need to advertise in the free trucker rags because they’re reputation is known, they’re found by word of mouth.
The same goes with trainers, some of it has to do with individual tastes but there needs to be some sort of standard above and beyond just being a good driver. Because like you mentioned, not all good drivers make good trainers.
Great perspective connecting the bullying at work with trainers. It definitely fits.
I agree, the best companies that you hear about “Word of Mouth” do not advertise much but unfortunately you have probably already committed yourself before you ever hear their names.
My CDL School seemed to want to “Steer” us to 3 particular companies which were Werner, Covenant Transport & Stevens Transport …. I did not want to learn a paperless log system and be handicapped in my learning from day one.
I felt this way about going to any company the ran all automatics as well.
I wanted to go to Stevens but I wrote something on my application that licked me out of the system, I checked the box that said I could not life 75lbs, which in fact I can but I was told to be clear I would not lump freight.
Stevens ejected my application and said I had to wait 6 months to reapply, that left Covenant Transport.
My friend from CDL School ended up going to Stevens and while he moaned and groaned about being made to route things by hand in the old school way and was upset about his 3 weeks of team driving requirement, he realized what good learning tools he received from doing things the “thinking way” later when he was on his own.
I even called him when I went solo for a few tips seeing how my company is primarily teams so not many drivers have experienced what time management skills are required to go solo.
Also, my friend was shocked when he heard how I was treated and told me Stevens had a very strict Sexual Harrassment Policy , he could not believe what I had to tolerate at Covenant Transport or what went on with our former classmate “Tony” from my Student Trucker Story.
After all is said and done, I have heard that KLLM and Roehl have good training but I know one girl who had problems at Roehl, I can only say what I have heard. I know 2 people at KLLM and recently met a Trainer from there who was at the Dan Rather taping at Willies Place.
I’ve had a number of people begin to contact me about GOOD Companies and It’s tough because who is good today may not be tomorrow.
I’ve met people who had good training at companies with bad reputations.
One thing for sure is DO NOT believe the sales pitch, you will be broke as a joke for a good deal of time for your first 2 years.
Learn the shady system and work around it to survive to get your experience.
DO NOT get into a Lease O/O situation because you are being sold a truck.
There are so many ways they try to take advantage of drivers and students to nickel and dime them to death, do you research on Consumer Reporting Sites like http://www.ripoffreport.com and check out http://www.askthetrucker.com
If you can deal with being poor for 2 years to learn to drive the truck safely and keep your nose clean, accidents and so forth the field of options opens up.
For Single Women, I am looking into that and I have no advice at this time. I would like to know though if Ellen Voie is benefiting in any way shape or form from the recruitment of Women into Trucking and what the name of those companies are.
I will like to examine if there are any allegations of Rape or Violence against any Female Students and where they are now, I want to know what became of them and how they were treated.
Desiree,
I have been on a trucking website since April of 08…I have heard some real horror stories and will be posting one myself, hopefully later today when I have all the facts straight…
The reason driver’s are so expendable is because the driving schools are subsidized by the government….It all boils down to money…The problem has been lately that freight is so slow and there’s not enough frieght for all the new drivers that they are now terminating them for any reason..Plus the fact that new drivers will work cheaper…But bottom line, there’s not enough freight and if they don’t keep drivers “thinned out” then there will be a back-log of drivers and the schools will loose money…
Here is a story that I would like to tell….
Approximately 3 years ago my step-son attended a trucking school (Volunteer Training Academy, in Murfreesboro , Tn)…He paid $5,000 to attend this school….
When he finished his training he was hired by Averitt Express in Nashville, Tn…
He went out with one trainer and the gentleman who was training him was having seizers and my stepson was scared to death….He reported it to Averitt and they did nothing….He and the trainer were not getting along well…The trainer constantly bitched because my step-son snored too loud…He did what he could and bought nose strips to try to keep him from snoring…Anyway they got into an argument and he put my step-son out in Ohio…My step-son called Averitt and they had to find a driver in the area to pick him up and get him back home…
So now they set him up with another trainer…
The new trainer takes him out for a road test…My step-son told him that he was not ready to be on his own…After the road test the trainer reported to Averitt that he was NOT READY YET to be turned loose…Averitt made the decision, against the trainers discresion to turn him loose anyway..
My step son drove for approx 4 months…In that time, he took out a street sign….
The next accident was, he was pulling up on a scale on night and he didn’t get the trailer lined up…The trailer slipped off the scale and broke in half….He was terminated from Averitt immediately…
Now he’s out $5,000 for training school and is ruint in the trucking business….He ended up filing bankrupty due to the cost of the school…
I thought the show was good from the aspect that it reiterated several of the key issues. Mainly new driver training. When I agreed to be on camera that was my motivation, not slamming my former company (which deserved to be slammed). I have always been pro-driver and started my career as a driver and one of the things that has irked me is the lack of standards for new drivers. A more recent issue is how the schools are taking peoples money and then no jobs are available. I have always been in support of the degenderfication of the trucking business. The integration by capable and safe women drivers has made the industry better. No longer the good old boy network. The problems are still there though, lack of foresight by companies when they set up trainer-student teams. That is another issue that still needs to be dealt with. I was never the martyr type, just a conscientious worker with morals and religious convictions. I quit a job in this recession because the company I supported obviously did not have the same convictions or morals, or the guts to even show up for an interview. I for one am extremely proud of HD Net for doing the stories and beaming that people like Desiree spoke up. Organizations like the ATA would like for the American public to think there are no issues and keep everyones head buried in the sand. The article spoke of patriotism and I for one am the most patriotic SOB I know. One of the articles of the Constitution assures me that I have Freedom of Speech and frankly, no trucking company or individual will ever keep me from excercising it….Tom
Dear Tom:
Thanks for posting! I do believe despite the attempts by Organizations to silence me after I bought their memberships, this story may actually be getting some legs. It is also putting a fire under the ass of the slackers who claim their Mission is to help overcome the obstacles that in fact they have become themselves.
Unfortunately, drivers may still be confused about who is helping and who is just trying to make a buck off them.
A story that came out in http://www.thetrucker.com Nov 15-30 issuse has an article that takes a different approach to initial reports to flame Truckers and Trainers in general. I cannot find this article online but it is called “Dan Rather on Trucking”
I had written an email to Lyndon Finney at “The Trucker” and was later contacted by phone after he received my response from the first Dan Rather Report regarding the ATA saying “Their sources were Suspect”, meaning Me and You. that email text is printed here on this wordpress.
In my phone interview Dorothy Cox was present who has been covering Ellen Voie for several pieces about her Organization and upcoming “Salute to Women behind the Wheel” which is really a sales technique to “shoot fish in a barrel” and have lots of Women wearing her T-Shirt who are not members to give the appearence that this is a mighty organization. The truth is, there really aren’t many Women Truckers and that would not be a big deal if Ellen was not trying to peddle a “How to go to CDL School” book.
While this new article does clarify some items, they seem to have strategically placed a “Women in Trucking” article next to it so that Ellen can get some business for herself , they failed to mention her revoking my membership which has to do with said “Dan Rather Report”.
Just as CR England wasted no time dimissing the Dan Rather Report and then figuring out a way to capitalize upon the wounds of others, Ellen Voie has also by announcing her NEW Calling…suddenly her “Priority” is a “Best Practices” guide.
For over a year and half I have brought to Ellen a number of items, some she ignored or snubbed, some she simply took and “Made her Own”, to SELL herself.
Never once has Ellen Voie called Tracy Hamm but she did try to discredit me and defend CRST.
Recently, A Schneider Woman Trucker has contacted me who located me because of the Dan Rather Interviews and her story is horrific!
Being that Ellen Voie hails from Schneider, you would think they would be leading the way in “Best Practices” already.
In the past few days she has attempted to contact people around me who I collaborate with to gain “Solutions” for herself to Sell. She has also “Borrowed” my research materials on numerous occasions and has now protected her updates on Twitter which is intended to be transparent to show credibility and accountability. Rather than following back other trucking women, she follows only the ATA, The Trucker, and one of my longtime online stalkers, weird? Ok, she just unfollowed her again…. weirder…
I have been in contact myself with the EEOC for many months, I don’t think Ellen is aware of that, nor are others who have seriously underestimated just how far I will go.
These organizations do seem to think Speech is not Free and that we live in a Country where speaking out is not permissible. WRONG!!!!!
On the other hand, the ATA HAS begun to interact with me on Twitter directly, and a few others. Twitter is a leveling ground where all previous rules of business do not count. Everyone can see everything, they see who is full of it and who is not. Having lots of money or a big name does not nesscessarily mean anything, that’s the beauty of it. A regular person can have an impact with thousands of people. People who are sick and tired of being lied to and seeing the Government feed endless programs that come up short and deliver nothing.
I am motivated by the cloak and dagger methods going on here with “Women in Trucking” , this is uncharted territory that even the Military is struggling with, because Women working this closely with Men is at an all time high. These changes will require BALLS to fix the problem that exists. So far Ellen and the ATA have not shown me that they have any.
Talking about a “Best Practices” and making a paper so you can you speak and have a Hospitality Room where everyone kisses your ass does not solve the Corruption that occurs when all the Nice God Fearing Civilized Management go home at 6pm.
That is when the corrupt Dispatchers and Protected Predators are permitted to run amuck, that is when Women who are in charge go on a little power trip and a little flattery pushes them to manipulate situations over both male & female students who have no one to call for help.
Even when they might get be lucky enough to reach someone who does CARE , the shift change does not guarentee anyone will continue to CARE , the ball gets dropped, there is no follow up, no investigation, everyone goes back to business as usual.
The ATA can right now, TODAY hand down a ZERO TOLERANCE Sexual Harrassment Policy to every one of the companies it represents.
Trainers with ANY Complaints of Sexual Misconduct should not be permitted to train EVER.
Companies who use the “TEAM BUSINESS MODEL” should be held to a Higher Standard and I am currently working on a Solutions Guide which I am Sure Ellen will steal and peddle somewhere.
Unless you have LIVED the Team Business Model as a Student , it is VERY easy to armchair quarterback.
These companies are basically putting Women in a “Date Rape” Situation, because this is a person they know in a friendly way and rely on, they trust them to a certain degree, therefore, they let their guard down.
There is also the “Doctor/Patient” Syndrome occuring as well.
These are complex problems that should have real victims like this Schneider Woman Trucker, Tracy and so many more who have been contacting me have their INPUT.
To have someone like Ellen Voie throw something together to make a buck off of is a bigger slap in the face, esspecially when I have yet to see her come up with any ideas of her own, just “Borrow” them from the ladies on her forum, from me and even from Donna Smith.
I’m going to keep lighting the fire under these slackers asses, let’s make them hop!
Too many Students and Woman are being taken adavantage of by the Trucking Industry, some have their dream snatched away.
I want to hear more about the Woman and the DAC in addition to the corrupt unsafe Student Trucker Industry
“Trainers with ANY Complaints of Sexual Misconduct should not be permitted to train EVER”
I would say that any trainer with SUBSTANTIATED allegations of misconduct should be barred from training.
However, to imply that accusation = guilt is riddled with problems.
Hi Vern:
Yes, the system right now has so many problems that it is out of control. You have “the woman scorned”, “the attention hound”, The real victim” and so on….
The biggest problem is that no one in management is trained to deal with any of this so they just ignore it and that is why the worst of the worst thrive.
No investigation occurs in many cases, the woman reporting is targeted to be eliminated and this is a pattern.
Ruined DAC reports to blackball them from the industry and so on…
Even substantiated cases have turned into a retaliation atmosphere for some women.
Then there are the Women who come out making it worse for everyone.
It is the companies who need to have a policy, this is a business not “Blind Date” where you just go from one person to the other.
It’s a huge complex mess and it’s going to blow up in the face of the Industry and be quite embarrassing, esspecially now that having a Woman at the helm is so “Hip”
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