Marten Transport (19 month review)

Alright guys I said yesterday I would give a full breakdown of my experience at MT (Mondovi, WI) and here I am to do it. This will be long winded so if you're not interested in reading, pass it by. I'll do my best to be as descriptive as possible. Ok, let's do it.

PROS:

1. DETENTION PAY
2. Nice Equipment
3. Long Runs (When I Started)
4. Home Time
5. NO MICRO MANAGE

CONS:

1. PER DIEM
2. Sliding Pay Scale (I'll explain)
3. Local Pay (Memphis Terminal)
4. Weekend Dispatch
5. Railyard Useage (I'll explain)

Ok guys let's start with the Pros...

1. Detention...

They pay DETENTION PAY AFTER THE FIRST HOUR UP TO 9 HOURS FOR A MAX OF $180. This can be abused once you learn the system. All you have to do is be on time, write time on bills, and match those times with your macro you send in saying you're leaving. So easy, a cave man could do it.

2. Nice Equipment...

They have very nice trucks and trailers. All come with APU AND INVERTERS. Trailers are really nice with steel floors. All trucks are governed at 65 MPH. They have an account at BB for trailer washouts. They fuel at any pilot/flying J also.

3. Long Runs...

When I started, I basically ended up doing a dedicated run to Arizona from Memphis. (1511 paid miles). From there, I would take a little load into California and from SoCal pick up at Stone Brewery in Vista,CA going back east. Runs coming from the are 2500 or better going north east. I don't do northeast so I would drop in Memphis. (1896 miles or so) I did this for the majority of 2016 back and forth. They pay bonuses for running over a certain amount of miles.

4. Home Time...

They advertise home weekly and it's true. When I first started, I would go out west to deliver in AZ. Load pick up Monday, deliver Thurs. I would stop through Tucson and do a 34 after delivery then proceed to go to California.

5. No MICRO MANAGE...

They do not MICRO MANAGE you. They let you run howb you please given you show you can run. I used to run 500+ a day and only so the truck one time for a 30. I had no problem with miles, but you don't necessarily have to run 3K a week to make 1K take home. Once you learn the system, you'll understand. Detention covers you here.

Ok, now CON TIME...

1. Per diem...

Per diem was forced. I didn't mind but the vets hated it. What they don't tell you is there is a per diem cap of $1500 a month. Once you break the limit, you pay all goes up .3 but you get tax regularly. I don't care much for tax time so I wasn't bothered.

2. Sliding Pay Scale

Very confusing and a way to screw the driver in most instances. I ran long runs above 650 Miles so my pay would go down to .365/mile. If I ran a 1500 miles run x .365 I'd make $547.50. Now if I had a flat rate of .45 I'd clearly make more. They have to sliding scale to attempt to keep pay up on shorter miles. Not ready a con, but most vets hated it.

3. Local Pay (FULL TIME HOME DAILY DRIVER)

Now let's not confuse this here. When I was regional and did local work optional on either Saturday morning or Fridays when I got home really early, pay was $20/hr. As a full time home daily driver out of Memphis, pay is $16.50/hr. That is just disrespectful for anyone operating a 80 ton vehicle. I worked 65 hours one time and only saw $713 take home. That's pathetic and I'd advise against it. I don't know what other terminals pay, but Memphis is cheap. It's also very unorganized. You'll do all types of work for that low ### pay. It's just a headache. I only did it to get my Endorsements and move on.

4. Weekend Dispatch

Might as well not have dispatch because they are useless lol. That's pretty much everywhere tho.

5. Railyard Useage

Now from a company standpoint, this isn't a problem. It's a shaft to the drivers. All the big money long hauls from Memphis I used to do go by rail now. That sucks because that forces you to be pieced on runs vs the old Lanes I used to run directly to Cali. Big money runs from Cali also go on rail East.

SYNOPSIS...

Marten Transport is good for drivers looking to escape Swift, Werner, Schneider, etc. There is no point being here if you're a vet. For the time I was there, Marten did treat me well. I made the most money there I ever made in my life at 66K. They aren't an evil company but they are changing for the worse. Lots of office people leaving the MEMPHIS terminal. The terminal manager up and left, DMs leaving, shop guys, you name it. That's odd to me because I was friends with them and they were nice. They just left without notice. All big runs go by rail now shafting those like me. Don't bother with local in Memphis lol. It's a waste of time.

If you go to Marten, just use them as a stepping stone to big money companies. I stayed because for all the #### in dealt with, they treated me well overall. They didn't treat me like crap, I admit. Once my I beat a pending court case, I started planning to move on. I knowingly took the pay cut to get the endorsement and leave. It took a while, but it is what it is. Once I gained experience, I saw just how it's not beneficial to stay.

My advice to those that go here is to do your job. Run 500 a day, use detention to your advantage, and move on in time. The experience is definitely worth it as you'll learn about reefers and how the refrigerator side works. Not all bad, but there will be some waiting. Detention covers you so you'll be fine.

I rate my experience here 8/10. Marten bought my house, so they were good for something haha. I hope you guys read this and I appreciate it. I'll answer any questions or concerns you have.

Good day...

 

@mjd4277 can you chime in? Am I lying lol.

 

The terminal manager left the next day after I put in my 2 weeks. I had just spoken to him and we laughed and even went to dinner that night. He's a cool guy. Next thing I know, he's gone. Something isn't right. I hear he found a better opportunity and they got mad and just told him to leave.

 

You just be safe bro. Don't do anything stupid.

 

I'm already employed elsewhere. Start orientation Tuesday lol

 

I wouldn't know man I'm not familiar with NE. I hate even venturing near there