Merit Transportation Out Of Business

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Omaha trucking company filed for bankruptcy
Posted: 10:31 PM Aug 20, 2008
Last Updated: 10:31 PM Aug 20, 2008
Email Address: sixonline@wowt.com

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Channel 6 News learned Wednesday night that Merit Transportation of Omaha is closing. The company had been in Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

A 12-year employee of the company said there was an early afternoon meeting in which employees were told by the owners that they fought to the end.

Merit employed more than 30 people in the Omaha office and shop with 125 drivers throughout 48 states.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: brian on Mar 6, 2009 at 11:45 AM
wow how did that happen to such a big co,what are they going to do with the trucks

Posted by: p on Jan 28, 2009 at 11:25 PM
i feel sorry for all the merit drivers that stayed until the end. i worked there from 2005 until 2006 when they started taking your bonus for too many log book violatins. they would give you the miles and punish you by taking your monthly and quartly bonus

Posted by: Freighttrain on Jan 17, 2009 at 02:33 PM
I was with Merit from 2006 to 2007 till they were pretty well out of Buissines. I had a heck of a time getting my truck deposit back. They left me holding the bag on a $1300 M.R.I. bill because he had dropped our insurance but was still charging the employes for something they did not have for about 5 months. I had to get intouch with the Fed's and send them a bunch of info. they needed so they can go after him, they were a bunch of scammers.

Posted by: lark on Dec 19, 2008 at 07:55 PM
Back in june of 06 i almost went to work for Merit. Instead i went to go work for hill brothers. I don't work for hill as of 3 months ago. i remember when merit first filed there chapter,at the hill yard if you even spoke of jim hill or merit you would be fired.I parted ways with the hills cause they ain't doing NC as much anymore. It started taking them 40 days to get me home. Merit drivers are ok in my book,i met alot of you guys at Sapps and along the road. yall were a fun bunch to hang out with. Jim hill has his own company that is funded by his dad,the rest of his family doesn't deal with him the last i heard. I think it's jim hill trucking over in Gretna. The best of luck to all of yall.

Posted by: Gerry on Dec 17, 2008 at 01:17 AM
If would have been great if the banks would have worked with the Drivers and gave them a chance to keep their trucks and lease on with other companies. There were a lot of Drivers that had a lot invested in there Trucks

Posted by: Gerry on Dec 15, 2008 at 06:58 PM
I was hurt on the job in june and Linda told me I couldn't opearate the truck until cleared by a doctor so I keep in touch with her ever other day and tell her I had been to Wal-Mart to check on the truck. One day I when to Wal-Mart to check on the truck it wasn't there, I call Linda she said they came and got it. My CB,cloths,television Bedding and numerious articles of personal effects were taken and not returned my doctor bills were not paid and my $500. escrow was never returned. At least after 3yrs with them they could have told me so I could have at least cleaned my property out of the truck....P.S Hey Bob , Randy & Oz.

Posted by: north east driver on Oct 6, 2008 at 11:39 AM
what happened to our 500 d truck deposit money and our pay. we ran our butts off in the north.

Posted by: adrian on Oct 3, 2008 at 11:46 PM
what a bunch of deadbeats, and to think people have extended credit to jim hill through all this and now he is what 50 trucks strong, i believe he is just as guilty as wills, being a employee that is now stuck with creditors calling continously and being 75k in debt, dont you guys remember when we got the united healthcare insurance whose name was on anything you recieved?????? jim hill i hope they both fry..........

Posted by: truckers wife on Sep 24, 2008 at 06:24 PM
David, I think you mean Gary Wills.....Bill Harris left some time ago, and started Harris Quality

Posted by: David on Sep 23, 2008 at 09:42 AM
I was a Merit Driver from 2004 till this past March, I finally had to quit because I had tried for over a year waiting for all the promises of health care and paying all the past bills that the drivers had incured from medical that had not been paid so I held on lond as I could, knowing this was going to happen. Lots of friends were there and we all worked hard for the company only to keep getting deeper and deeper in debt to doctors. I'm sorry for all the drivers and office personnel that I concidered my friends. I hope Merit gets everthing they got comming to them, and randy you know as well as the rest of us they didn't care for the drivers only what they could squeeze for lying to the drivers over and over. I would like to hear the comments from driver and others my email is (bohda1@hotmail.com) I watched a lot of changes from bill harris till march 2008, Good luck everone connected to merit.

Posted by: Brad on Sep 5, 2008 at 07:09 AM
would not be bad if I would not of run hard for merit for past 3 years and received to many driving violations can't find a new job.

Posted by: Susan C on Sep 4, 2008 at 11:39 AM
Anyone that is owed money for unpaid wages, bonuses or health insurance premiums can contact Tom Stalnaker @ the US Bankruptcy Court 111 S 18th Plz Omaha, NE 68102 (402) 661-7444. They can also direct you as to what you need to do to place a claim

Posted by: just a driver on Aug 31, 2008 at 09:40 AM
Lets get past all the crap. I justed wish the truth would be told. We all worked hard. for us who stayed it is because merit was easy to work for. We called our home time etc. Now we did our part but where is our last 2 paychecks. When you call the dept of labor your told Merit is in chapter 7 .You'll have to wait for the courts to reach you to see if you get a settlement.Thats crap. We the employees made the funds for Merit we should get paid first . But doesn't look like thats going to happen. Good luck to all who worked here . I'm ok with all that happened we knew this was aposiblity back in Oct when they filed chapter 11. Just never thought we wouldn't recieve our final checks.

Posted by: Randy on Aug 29, 2008 at 12:58 PM
I worked for Merit about 7 years since I was lucky enough to get a local route. Yes, Bill and Roxy were still there. Still all in all I didn't have any problems during my employment. I can see things changed!

Posted by: truckers wife on Aug 27, 2008 at 09:54 AM
Randy, how long ago did you work there? I think you must be thinking of Bill Harris. He cares about his employees, that is why when he left Merit many of them followed him. Not just the drivers either!

Posted by: Debbie on Aug 26, 2008 at 05:00 PM
Randy, Are you sure you worked for Gary Wills? I never once saw that he cared about his employees. Only himself.

Posted by: Joe LaForm on Aug 26, 2008 at 02:34 PM
That man didnt give a damn about his employees,just about money

Posted by: Fred Werner on Aug 26, 2008 at 01:52 PM
I think it is sad that these other trucking companies have no compassion for these drivers out of work. Their idea of helping is posting ads for jobs. It's a sad world we live in.

Posted by: PLM Trailer Leasing on Aug 26, 2008 at 11:14 AM
Attn: Merit drivers PLM is currently recovering its trailers which were on lease to Merit. If you are in possession of or know the whereabouts of any trailer, please contact Ryan Gordon at (913) 221-8884 or rgordon@plmtrailer.com. 100 trailers are numbered sequentially from 1097 through 1196 and an additional 100 are numbered sequentially from 3085 through 3184. We would appreciate information you may have.

Posted by: JJ on Aug 26, 2008 at 09:04 AM
Randy, Thing changed and he did what ever he could to take from the employees and the company. I feel bad for allof the employees and there families.

Posted by: Randy on Aug 25, 2008 at 06:36 PM
Times are tough lots of companies are going under. I worked for Gary for 6 years. He treated me great and was the best Otr company I ever worked for. Shame on your for all for slamming him. It's too bad this had to happen to a man who cared about his employees.

Posted by: truckers wife on Aug 25, 2008 at 09:56 AM
4 yrs ago, my husband drove for Merit, and this was coming way back then. 1st Roxanne Harris left, then Bill Harris left and started Harris Transportation. They bought too many new trucks. There were ALWAYS trucks with no drivers on them. Spend, spend, spend! What I'd like to know is are these drivers that stayed till the end going to get paid? And what about their 401K's? If the Wills family is in trouble with the IRS, what else is going to come out about them? The drivers were paying for health ins the didn't have, are their 401K's safe? What a sad ordeal for all their employees, drivers, shop guys and office personel.Next we'll learn these people aren't going to get unemployment, because the Wills family didn't pay into that fund either!

Posted by: Randall on Aug 24, 2008 at 02:19 PM
This is a follow up message from a Merit driver previously stranted in PA. To any other Merit drivers who may still be out on the road having trouble getting home or just working out details with truck/trailer. Thanks/banks/truck owners have worked out a solution for another driver and myself. They are paying for the fuel to enable us to drive the trucks close to home. May God's grace be with you, keep on keeping on.

Posted by: Debbie on Aug 24, 2008 at 10:25 AM
There are two words that go with Mr. and Mrs. Wills and family ego and greed....

Posted by: No worries on Aug 24, 2008 at 04:32 AM
Werner will not be next. I am a shareholder, and know that they have no debt. They are just treading water while all these other companies go under. I do think you'll see some big one go down or at least restructure, such as Swift.

Posted by: omahan on Aug 23, 2008 at 03:11 PM
first merit trans-whos next? werner?

Posted by: I Know on Aug 23, 2008 at 03:08 PM
I have a feeling That this is Going to happen to a "few" BIG Truck Driving Industries and their Subsidiaries because of Greed,Mishandling Of Money,Nepatisim,Low pay for their Mechanics(Who Really Make the Buisness go),Favortisim of "Good Ol'e Boys",Economy,Heck I can Go On!!!!!

Posted by: Randall on Aug 23, 2008 at 11:29 AM
I am one of the stranded Merit drivers, unable to access fuel needed to reach home. Currently, over a 1000 miles away, making preparations and sorting things out. I have my basic living essentials and God will provide. The circumstances were sudden and unfortunate and my prayers go out to all other drivers and employees. I know that this will pass and there will be a new beginning followed by prosperity. If the bank will not provide fuel, I plan to ride a bus or catch a ride with another trucker and I have a job prospect already in the works.

Posted by: Shirley on Aug 23, 2008 at 06:18 AM
I am the mother of one of Merit's drivers who waited for fuel to deliver his load. He was experienced enough to know a lie when he hears one. He waited long enough without going farther south before getting on a bus headed home. Now he has to contend with automatic withdrawals from his checking account without a paycheck to pay them. I pray all those stranded drivers find their way home. Hope Merit gets what it deserves.

Posted by: NATCO on Aug 22, 2008 at 06:30 PM
Transportation Opportunities Available: Drivers, Dispatchers and Account Executives Call Cori at 800-846-2826 x 255

Posted by: Confused on Aug 22, 2008 at 04:17 PM
What I would like for someone to explain is how someone with a company in bankruptcy can build a $750,000 home??? What bank in their right mind funded that loan???

Posted by: Joe LaForm on Aug 22, 2008 at 12:08 PM
Call Lessors Inc. Of St.Paul,Mn 1-800-233-1865

Posted by: Sean on Aug 22, 2008 at 09:26 AM
Drivers, Call K&B Transportation at 800-851-8651 about our driving opportunities.

Posted by: jdm on Aug 21, 2008 at 11:37 PM
was so suddened looking at puzzled driver with his 9yr old son crying and stranded 1600 miles from home seating on sidewalk clueless so sad and claim he was left all to fend for him self to find way home shame shame shame

Posted by: Joe on Aug 21, 2008 at 07:27 PM
I don't even know what Merit Transportation is. Still, why do I feel like saying- Good! Good riddance! Now pay back what you can & should!

Posted by: Mark on Aug 21, 2008 at 05:45 PM
The owners only fought to the end to keep sucking money out. The family was taking in excess of 350,000 per year combined and expensing off all of their meals and even all of the supplies for three different households. Not to mention company vehicles and family vacation expensed off to the company. The IRS will have a heyday with these jokers

Posted by: K on Aug 21, 2008 at 04:55 PM
How sad for those employees. Unfortunately in this economy it's difficult to find another job of equal or better caliber. That's why I was thrilled to see the posts from Dave and Curt. Kudos to you guys!

Posted by: Keith on Aug 21, 2008 at 04:40 PM
I have no idea who Merit is or what they did, other than a trucking company. At first I thought it was the city bus company.

Posted by: Recruiter on Aug 21, 2008 at 03:09 PM
LCT Call 800-874-3344 ext 8531

Posted by: Curt Morehouse on Aug 21, 2008 at 12:25 PM
Call Craig @ Morehouse Truck Line - 800-228-9378 ex 4

Posted by: Dave Zimmerman on Aug 21, 2008 at 09:49 AM
Call Dave at Shaffer Trucking at 800-669-0322 ex 5519

Posted by: Chris on Aug 21, 2008 at 09:10 AM
Wow sounds to me if you take care of your employees they will work hard for you. Shame on these owners and bosses for not taking care of your valuable employees. And if I was one of those drivers stranded I would call the bank and tell them exactly where the equipment is and help them recover the equipment. Good luck to all the workers who are now looking 4 a better job.

Posted by: Joe LaForm on Aug 21, 2008 at 12:41 AM
I was a driver for Merit. I am not suprised about this. I knew that this was going to happen a year ago when I left. I am sorry to see that Joel in dispatch along with the drivers I worked with are out of a job. But Gary Wills stole from us and took our money for insurance without providing it. The fact that Merit has stayed in business this long is amazing. Its good to know they will no longer steal fro drivers OR office personnel

Posted by: John on Aug 20, 2008 at 11:18 PM
I have worked with drivers from Merit for 5years. It is sad this is the way it is. The drivers were always top of the line.

Posted by: Relived to have gotten out on Aug 20, 2008 at 10:45 PM
There is so much more that is not being told. There are drivers stranded all over the 48 states with fuel cards that have been shut off. Most are under loads. They are being told that the fuel cards will be magically turned on in the morning, and then to deliver their loads. Some are being encouraged to take their equipment home and let the bank search for them. What a sad ended to an all too predictable tale. This was avoidable had better decisions been made along the way. I would love to see what GW, Jared or Uli have to say for themselves now! IRS filings for $800,000 in unpaid withholdings, tax liens against the motor home ... a 3/4 million dollar home in the process of being built ... AMAZING!!! I hope they keep digging and get this family for all that they have done to their employees, the industry and Omaha for having to acknowledge that they live here or ever did business here.