Avoid Marten Transport LTD.

Thanks once again for the compliment, doode.

I'm working for a small company out of southern Indiana. I have worked OTR for them, but am now local. I have many numerous tasks with this local work, but I'm happy nonetheless.

 

When I pulled a fridge, there were many things I had to deal with that I didn't have to see while pulling a dry box. Here are some of the things that annoyed me while driving fridges:

1. When driving reefer, you'll get paid less. Yeap. With food being more critical than something like a car part or a washing machine, you'd think reefer drivers would get much higher pay. Think again.

2. Reefers take some time to get used to sleeping in front of. This is because the wagon is kept cool by a diesel engine that sits about 4 feet from your head when you're trying to sleep. If it's well maintained, it's not too bad. If you work for a sketchy reefer company, loud exhausts (from broken mufflers) and squeaky belts will keep you awake if you're a light sleeper.

3. Reefer loads pick up from semi-reasonable places, but deliver to the worst places. And about 75% of the time, you'll have to either unload the freight or get a lumper. It may be 80%. Usually, when you load a reefer load, you'll be expected to count the goods going on, and you may even be required to throw pallets down for the uninionized forklift steering-wheel holder with milk maid hands who doesn't want to do that.

3a. Reefer loads require long waits a lot of the time, for both loading and unloading. And while you are waiting, you don't get paid. On some reefer loads, my wait times at both ends tallied more than 24 hours.

4. Reefer loads many times are "hot", meaning you'd better be used to long driving shifts for many days at a stretch. Many green drivers can't manage the delivery schedules and have to get out (or are forced out).

5. Reefer docks disprect drivers more than other docks. Those docks treat drivers like they're subhuman, and you may have a serious problem with that mistreatment.

6. Sometimes you'll spend all day waiting on a load, only to have the bills handed to you about the time you're ready to go to bed. You're body will want sleep, but your company will want the wheels turning if the load has to be at the receiver the next morning.

Good luck driving reefer. You'll need it if you're green.

 

Well, we didn't get paid less to pull a reefer. I liked pulling a reefer because you could hook up the truck to the reefer to keep your batteries charged and run the bunk heater as much as you want without worrying about the batteries.

I liked the sound - it was easier to sleep with the constant noise. We always nosed into spots or parked away from everyone else or near other reefer drivers so as to not tee off other drivers. We never ran into any problems.

Never had to wait more than a few hours to drop off, sometimes as quick as 20 minutes. Sometimes it was just a trailer drop and grab another. No different FOR US than a dry van in that respect. Very little drop and hook with the company we worked for.

Never ever ever had to unload our own truck. In three months, needed a lumper twice and they were already there, just had to pay them with a T-check. The shipper/consignee always arranged that in advance.

Never ran into any bad treatment at any docks. Most were very courteous.

Never had a problem with "hot" loads or heading out as we were about to sleep.

Now, mind you, we are CANADIAN and deal with the northeastern US and Canada. Things are different everywhere so this was just our experience. I never understood why people hate reefers so much.

Quite a few companies around here pay you MORE if you drive a reefer.

Not to argue with Dudley, just another set of experiences

 

Ok! Finally got a minute to slip back in here! Thanks for stepping up to the plate in my absence there, Scarecrow, you did good!

We don't do pallet exchange. Honestly, I don't even know what pallet exchange is EXACTLY. I've got a good idea, but all I know is that if the freight is to be shipped on pallets, it goes in the trailer on pallets, and it comes out of the trailer on pallets. We NEVER leave a consignee with empty pallets.

MACK E-6 hit it on the head. Marten got tired of paying for prepass transponders that turned up missing when drivers quit or trucks were turned in. You can get your own transponder with Marten's discount. I think it costs like $6 a month. No biggie.

And Truckerdoode, as far as reefers vs. van it isn't even a matter of preference to me. I just wanted a respectable company big enough to keep me movin' and small enough that I wasn't a number. The refer running has never cost me a minute's sleep. Most companies that run both refer and dry vans will usually give a pay differential of a couple cents per mile in favor of the refer fleet. All my lumpers are paid by t-check or are directly billed to Marten. Dock times can be a bit longer, but I haven't had much issue with getting my detention time paid to me after 2 hours in a dock. I'd say I qualify for detention pay on average 2 times a month. We do a fair amount of drop and hook, which always is preferable.

I thought running refer was going to be a lot more complicated than it is. Turns out it's not really a big deal. There's a bit more responsibility, but it's worth it if you find a company that treats ya decent. I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you're getting set up with a refer company to get your career started, I wouldn't let it be a dealbreaker. There's a lot more important things that I would judge a company on first.

 

I don't drive anymore, TD. This is because I no longer have a CDL, as I got tired of all the BS in trucking and got rid of it.

 

i glad you are no longer working for Marten, I've worked with them for a couple of months now (overall driving exp going on 4 yrs). I have had to repower loads because drivers MIS_caluted there hours. I Have NO problem with my fleet manger, my miles, or pay. I a driver knows how to use the tool TIME MANAGMENT there is no need to run a log by lies, My q-com hardly ever goes off unless I have a load or I forget to do a check call. I make more then 188.00 per week (btw you didn't say how long you were with Marten and everyone signs that paper on the 6 month of service agreement.) that shows me that you were lazy and didn't drive much or most of your loads had to be repowered. Marten has been one of the better companies I've worked with and I don't need to brown nose anyone. I have not had any problems in any department. There are no glass around the FM's at Mondovi site. Some of the nicer drivers (company context) have been Marten drivers sure some of them have minor comments be they all seem to like working for this company. Go work with JB Hunt, SRT, Forilli, CR England and you will find out that Marten does their best to take care of the drivers who care about their company.

 

I can't believe this guy, $188 a day come on now what do you think we all are a bunch of jerks. He probably made more but after stopping at every truckstop to feed his fat lazy behind, and trash talk on the CB that's all he had leftover.

I've been driving since 1982, and Marten is a good company, they have been around for a longtime. I've talked to a couple of their drivers and all they had to say was good things. Here is a fact, with every company you are going to disagree with certain procedures or not every other employee is going to bow down at your presence. So what, get over it, as long as I have a paycheck coming in each week and I have good benefits for myself, I look over the little issues. I go there to do my job and go home, I'm not trying to win a popularity contest, I've seen people go down as a result of that.

For you new people getting into trucking, go out and investigate, go to a truckstop or company and ask the drivers, get a feel for it. Do not think it is some big thing that Hollywood has created, but it is a rewarding career for people that still like to go out and see the country. I've worked for a O/O when I began, I've been screwed over, I've pulled junk equipment, I've driven some of the nicest equipment, I've stuck it out though, and now I run a Portland to Medford meet and turn, 2800 miles a week, off on weekends, home everyday.

Trucking to me is more than a job, it is way of life. Dude, it sounds like to me you better find another career option, flipping burgers maybe.

Nuff said.

Late

 

Tip and Gypsycowgirl.............Thanks for sharing your point of views regarding refers.........You've given given me a lot to consider.............Scarecrow, think you'll be hearing the call of the open road again someday?

 

The pallet exchange thing is something that came about after I left Marten.

I spent as much time trying to find pallet yards to either get or get rid of pallets as I spent loading/unloading.

Likewise, I spent a lot of unpaid time trying to find foodbanks to get rid of damaged cases of food.

This is one of the main reasons I left them to go back to dry box trucking.

Glad to hear things have changed for the better at Marten.

 

I might. One never knows what the future holds. As my dad taught me (he's been driving since the mid 60s), you've always gotta have an ace in the hole. I'm holding an ace, and if I ever need to show it, I will. For now, I'm happy doing what I'm doing. I enjoy the company I work for. They treat me very good. Pay could be a little better, but I get by just fine.