William Scott Womack - Comments

The sub-contracting issue is a major concern. Fed Ex Ground has an article written about it on www.publicintegrity.org dated April 2012. UPS Freight has similar issues too with using sub-contractors. As far as the LTL side of the company I am experiencing intimidation,( as is many drivers, but choose to put up with it, because it is the best paying driving job in the country), when I choose to excercise proper break time for safety reasons on the return trip back to Roanoke, VA from Richmond, VA. The daytime supervisor tells me I am late. Depart time was 2045 hours arrived at Richmond at 0000 163 miles at 3.25 driving time , I had a 30 minute break from 0045 to 0115, all other time in Richmond is spent dropping and hooking my sets and working the dock. I departed Richmond at 0441 hours arrived at Roanoke at 0827 hours. The distance is 162 miles the route is 60W, 150S, 360W, 307W, 460W, 581N, 117N. Total drive time at various posted speed limits is 3.25 with 2 fifteen minute breaks. Supervisor tells me I am really 45 minutes late. He implies that I do not care about the customer and I am a slacker by saying I am late. He shares information with all the city drivers he can, so when he hears them ragging on me about being alleged late this validates it for the supervisor. It is sad to see the lack of understanding for this supervisor when UPS goes to the extreme to promote safety. I am just properly exercising my breaks and posted speeds. ( We will soon be like UPS package Delivery to run below the posted speed, I wonder what then.) The drivers are scared if they do not drive straight back that we will get more sub-contractors in Roanoke like that have at so many other terminals to do the work. Most drivers think it is useless to say anything so they just put up with it and most drive like a bat out of hell. The moral is very low and the comradary is bad even though we are a Teamster represented carrier. I have been driving since July 1987.