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My Covenant Transport Story

mts

New Member
The recruiters paint a very nice picture of Covenant. I was given the option of training in OH or TN. I went to OH in April. After 3 days I was told I'd have to go to TN anyway.....at MY EXPENSE since they'd already paid for me to get to OH. New to the trucking game, I went. I met my trainer and his first words were, "I am god, you're a student. If I tell you to do something it's because I know what is best when it comes to my truck." It was a very long 45 days...yes...45, not 30. During that time I received NEGATIVE paychecks because if you're going the right way, you're only worth 14 cents/mile. But if you make a wrong turn (even if it's the direction god tells you to go) you're worth $1.00/mile taken out of your check.
Finally, at the end of May, I was paired with another "student driver" and we were given 4 days hometime, but I had to get home at my own expense. On day 3 of being home we both started calling dispatch to learn our return information. "Wait 'til after Memorial day." So we did. I can't count the number of voice messages I left at Covenant because you NEVER get a human. After 10 days, I gave up.
I found a local job but when they tried to confirm my employment w/ Covenant, I didn't exist. The new employer faxed copies of my paystubs. Then they found me BUT they would have to charge to share the information. (Isn't that illegal???) Needless to say, the new employer didn't hire me b/c they couldn't get the info they needed. I only got 1 month credit on my dac report. AND MY MONEY IS LOCKED ON MY COMDATA CARD!
This is a 100% true account for the person requesting "honesty".
Good luck if you choose Covenant.
mts
 
The recruiters paint a very nice picture of Covenant. I was given the option of training in OH or TN. I went to OH in April. After 3 days I was told I'd have to go to TN anyway.....at MY EXPENSE since they'd already paid for me to get to OH. New to the trucking game, I went. I met my trainer and his first words were, "I am god, you're a student. If I tell you to do something it's because I know what is best when it comes to my truck." It was a very long 45 days...yes...45, not 30. During that time I received NEGATIVE paychecks because if you're going the right way, you're only worth 14 cents/mile. But if you make a wrong turn (even if it's the direction god tells you to go) you're worth $1.00/mile taken out of your check.
Finally, at the end of May, I was paired with another "student driver" and we were given 4 days hometime, but I had to get home at my own expense. On day 3 of being home we both started calling dispatch to learn our return information. "Wait 'til after Memorial day." So we did. I can't count the number of voice messages I left at Covenant because you NEVER get a human. After 10 days, I gave up.
I found a local job but when they tried to confirm my employment w/ Covenant, I didn't exist. The new employer faxed copies of my paystubs. Then they found me BUT they would have to charge to share the information. (Isn't that illegal???) Needless to say, the new employer didn't hire me b/c they couldn't get the info they needed. I only got 1 month credit on my dac report. AND MY MONEY IS LOCKED ON MY COMDATA CARD!
This is a 100% true account for the person requesting "honesty".
Good luck if you choose Covenant.
mts
i'm still hearing a lot of stuff on this company.
 
covenant is no different than swift. they suck. if you are having problems getting your money get a lawyer and on best case scenaryio you will make more than you have earned. it is illegal for any company to keep your money. inform the BBB on the situation also.
 
My wife and I are leaving Covenant tomorrow. Will post a new topic on this, along with the e-mails between me and Joey Hogan (CEO). I'm also starting a website specifically for people to post information about Covenant to keep folks from joining this trainwreck of a company.
 
covenant is no different than swift. they suck. if you are having problems getting your money get a lawyer and on best case scenaryio you will make more than you have earned. it is illegal for any company to keep your money. inform the BBB on the situation also.
sounds like they have no money for a lawyer now that they was ripped. What a deal. Dont feel to bad we all have storys.
 
My wife and I are leaving Covenant tomorrow. Will post a new topic on this, along with the e-mails between me and Joey Hogan (CEO). I'm also starting a website specifically for people to post information about Covenant to keep folks from joining this trainwreck of a company.
did you ever start the web sight?
 
"I am god, you're a student. If I tell you to do something it's because I know what is best when it comes to my truck."

Covenant is supposedly a "faith based" company. This kind of statement is not only offensive, but blasphemous in my opinion. I'm confident that judgement won't come from any of us.

I've worked for a "Faith Based" company in the past, and what I've heard about this company is far from that business model. People propose that they are faith based or flash the fish symbol a lot, can be a dangerous lot if they don't live up to it. Like I said, judgement won't come from any of us.

On the side, I once worked for a guy who said "I have more money than God.." I said, I've got news for you, God doesn't need money.
 
Go and file in small claims court immediately, no lawyer required. Sue for the maximum amount. They may try to fix the problem with your situation sooner than later.
 
I used to work for Covenant. If I had to I would consider going back to work for Covenant, but I know how to cover my butt. My husband and I drove team together. I have some good memories with Covenant and some horrible ones. Just like with any job (not just trucking) you have to learn to take the good with the bad. I still have several friends that work for Covenant, some that have been there for going on 10 years. Some of the reasons why we left was because of the pay cuts and the minimal amount of home time we had...example we would stay out between 6 to 14 weeks at a time. Freight is slow everywhere right now compared to what it used to be, but it has slowly been picking up. Make sure you check your DAC soon after you leave. Many companies will try to charge you for that, but if you go to the main website you can get it once a year for free. I only have a few complaints that are negative about Covenant. Poor communication by night and weekend dispatch, you will often find them sitting outside on smoking breaks which explains why you can never reach them when you need them. The other is watch your paycheck for deductions you did not authorize. My husband picked up a trailer one night that had some damage and drove 15 miles to the nearest truck stop while waiting for our next dispatch. You could not see the damage in the dark where it was located. As soon as daylight hit, we inspected the trailer, noticed the damage, and contacted Covenant. We were then asked who picked up the trailer and informed my husband would be charged $500, plus the loss of his safety bonus for the damage. We have documentation that the damage was pre-existing because of the dirt marks, so we are in the process of disputing it and taking them to court. In most states, it only costs about $35 to file a case with small claims court. Now the kicker. If you can prove they put something on your DAC that is untrue and you can prove it, you can get an attorney involved and sue them for damages and lost wages and most importantly get anything negative from your DAC removed. You also have to consider, as with any large company, that they have lots of lawyers working on their side and a lawsuit of that nature will take years before it is settled. Remember use that Qualcom (Satellite) in your truck and do not make phone calls. That information is saved for years and it can be your saving grace, instead of he said she said. If you have problems later down the road you can always get the Qualcom records to back your story up. Good luck!
 

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