- Ok, now you don't think I worked there, sorry you are incorrect. I attached an image of the Employee Manual that we were given back in the 90's. You said that RPS/FedEx had no say, but you are using their DOT number so yes, they have a say.
- Ok, thanks for making it more clear. What was the reason that the management of your terminal held you accountable for another contractor's route?
- Read your own statement, I answered it. You said "If the government does not get involved in every contract .. then why did it get involved in this one?" Why didn't you simply state what you just stated, that they got involved because was a lawsuit, it would have made more since. Your statement implied that the government gets involved without reason. Someone had to bring it to their attention which was done by a lawsuit. Quit being purposely vague with your statements. How was I supposed to know what you meant when you don't state it.
- "...disciplinary rules and protocols" I feel there is more to this statement than you are providing. Are you saying if a contractor stole or damaged a package while in the terminal, nothing should happen to them? What discipline did you receive and what protocols did you have to follow?
- What is your point with this statement. Your customer was RPS/FedEx, the one that paid you for your services. Remember they are the one you signed an agreement with to provide a service. How are they not your customer, no one else pays you for you service? Were you really a business person? I can't believe you didn't know that RPS/FedEx was your customer.
Wikipedia says a customer is: In sales, commerce and economics, a customer is the recipient of a good, service, product or an idea - obtained from a seller, vendor, or supplier via a financial transaction or exchange for money or some other valuable consideration.
After all this back and forth, when are you going to realize that if you give more details in your statements/questions, it makes things more clear. I think you purposely are being vague to hide information.
I was there in the 90's and the early 2000's. Yes, the agreement has been modified over the years, I know that. I have never disputed or questioned that. The addendum was changed almost every year, sometimes a couple of times. I bet the agreement is modified more over the next few years as regulatory/business needs change. Maybe someday the government may rule contractors illegal and they might have employee drivers. I haven't worked there in almost 20 years so I don't know what the current or past 20 years agreements says or nor do I care. I do know what was in the agreement while I was there though.
As a business owner since 2004, I can assure you I am versed in running a business. A lot of things you say are misleading when it comes to running a business. You keep talking about getting cash against depreciated assets that you are forced to purchase. Nearly all assets depreciate over time. I have invested over $120,000 in equipment since 2004 and guess what, it ain't worth that much today. You better believe that I counted the depreciation for tax purposes though. If I went out of business, I would not expect to get much for my equipment. I have had to get loans to purchase equipment and later to repair them. I had to get a loan and use my house as collateral because I had a piece of equipment go down. I needed a loan for to fix it and it was not worth much, but the replacement cost was too high. I bet you never had to chase RPS/FedEx down to get money owed to you. Nearly run out of cash because your RPS/FedEx did not pay you for 60 - 90 days. Have a competitor undercut your price, steal customers away and spread false information about your company. You really have no idea what is like to run a business.