My husband and I decided to try team driving in September 2006. Since I already had a class B CDL we decided to try the Expediting Industry. Keith started checking the Internet for expediting companies and put out several feelers with different companies. We were immediately contacted by Expedite Solutions. We explained that I already had my CDL for 14 years so only Keith would need to attend 'school' to obtain his. We were told that I would only have to attend orientation. We started with Expedite Solutions Oct 2, 2006.
We were told we would recieve 52% of the truck earnings, plus 100% of the fuel surcharge, we were to pay for fuel, oil, wiper fluid, tolls, ect... out of our 52%. What we were not told until after we were contracted with them for a year was that they would be holding an extra 30% of the fuel surcharge and an additional 30% of your 52% percent for a 'savings account' they require you to have with them. They also require you to pay 25.00 a week for a financial advisor ($1250 a year), and require you to rent a laptop at an additional $35.00 per week, plus insurance resulting in the driver actually receiving about 12% of the actual truck revenue. There were many weeks we would end with a negative balance resulting in our having to pay Expedite Solutions for working all week.

As for Expedite Solutions equipment, the first truck we were assigned was in such poor condition we had to keep plastic over the floor because when it rained we had standing water in the floor. We also consistently had to find someone to, or call someone to, 'jump start' the truck as it had a bad starter. This truck also had rusted out fuel tanks. On one instance we filled our fuel tanks at the Flying J truck stop in Greenville S.C., we parked the truck in the parking lot, it was about 4 hours later we noticed a huge puddle of fuel under our truck with a rivet running down the parking lot under the other trucks parked beside us, our truck had sprung a leak through the rusted out fuel tank and dropped 27 gallons of fuel (we know it was 27 gallons because the tanks were full when we parked the truck and was a little under 2/3 full 4 hours later). We called Expedite Solutions owner Kyle Ochs and was told to run with it like that 'just don't fill it above the leak'. We refused to do this, as we were not only paying for this fuel that was leaking out but also this was a major DOT and OSHA violation.


Kyle finally agreed to fix the tank. He had the tank sealed off for $35.00 and resulting with us having to run with one tank for the next 3 months. We were then assigned a 2nd truck. Oh yes, the second truck, even nicer than the first truck. When it rained the truck was like a waterfall. The entire ceiling leaked on this truck all the way across, front and back. This truck also had a major oil leak and an antifreeze leak. We were adding a gallon of oil every 2nd day to this truck. Our truck was actually barred from the Mitsubishi plant near Bloomington, IL. They called Panther II and told them our truck would not be allowed back on their property as they had to have an OSHA clean-up done because we leaked so much oil sitting on their docks (we were only on the dock for about 30 minutes). This truck also had a major bulge on the front drivers side steer tire, we informed Kyle of the issue with the tire and once again we were told to run with it as it was, even though this was not only jeopardizing our lives but was also a DOT violation. (It finally blew out in Hurricane, West Virginia)


The brake drums on this truck were worn down to nothing and the brake shoes were cracked and worn. When checked by the mechanic at the Bloomington, IL TA we were told this truck did not meet DOT regulations and was not safe to drive. The mechanic called Kyle Ochs and was told “do not fix it”. We did have the mechanic give us a written statement the truck was unsafe to move (I still have the mechanics statement) and the owner ordered him not to fix. So we were now being told to drive a truck without brakes and a huge bulge on the drivers steer tire.

We finally had enough of risking our lives, and after 8 months of these truck issues plus making no money (we were living on our savings from before we started with Expedite Solutions) and being told, even though we were suppose to be “independant contractors”, we could go home no more than a couple days a month. (If you go home for more than a couple of days they hold what little you make for an additional two weeks.)

After leaving Expedite Solutions we received a letter from them saying we broke their contract by quiting and they were charging us both for our CDL's. (remember I already had my CDL for 14 years before starting with them.) When we quit Expedite Solutions they owed us the last two weeks of loads we ran, plus the last 6 weeks of fuel surcharges. They also had the $6000 in the savings plan they required drivers to keep, and in addition to all of this money which amounted to about 9000.00 they sent us a letter that read we haven't done a final accounting yet, but we're pretty sure your going to owe us $6995.00. This pretty sure letter went on to explain how we could just make them a check for half the amount and call it even or we could set up payments for the full amount. No mention of the $9000. they owed us or of a final settlement.

Yes, deceit lies theft - scams they all fit Expedite Solutions! The only semi-honest thing they give drivers is during the orientation they present each person with a future income projection sheet. This paper shows the teams current bill evaluation with so much percentage going to house payment, utilities, car payments, credit cards, ect... they then give each driver another projection for the end of one year of driving for Expedite Solutions that shows no percentage going toward house payments, credit cards, or car payments. This is very true because by the end of the year your house will have been forclosed on, your car repossessed, and you will have filed bankruptcy on your credit cards.
So beware and know the facts before you go to their school.

Oh yes, we never received a 1099 from them at the end of the year either. So much for financial advice!

Pardel
Bernie, Missouri
U.S.A.