Canadian good and bad trucking companies

Discussion in 'Canadian Truckers Forum' started by angry_trucker, May 22, 2010.

  1. themadhabber

    themadhabber Bobtail Member

    25
    0
    Jan 17, 2013
    0
    I was interested in maybe applying to them after I finish my school since they have a novice training program for drivers with zero experience. Was just wondering if they have a good reputation.

    My goal is to get into the oilfields but it seems most of the jobs are class 3 vac trucks and the other class 1 jobs need at least a year or 2 experience. I wouldn't mind going the vac truck route but then I'd be a year out of school with no class 1 experience.
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. bobbyt

    bobbyt Medium Load Member

    623
    106
    Jan 29, 2009
    Edmonton ab.
    0
    There are a lot of companies that have body vacs (class 3) and semi vacs (class 1) if you could get into one of them then the transition would be a lot easier.
     
  4. themadhabber

    themadhabber Bobtail Member

    25
    0
    Jan 17, 2013
    0
    Do you happen to know which companies do the semi vacs?

    Also, when jobs say they pay such and such per hour for 40 hours a week does that mean you're generally only looking at 40 hours a week? I would like to work my ### off when I get to Alberta, I've seen a lot of jobs with 80 hours a week which would be awesome but it seems a lot of them require 3-5 years experience.

    What companies are known for long hours with lots of work? I don't want to go there to just work a standard 40 hours a week.
     
  5. Sarabeara

    Sarabeara Medium Load Member

    528
    129
    Nov 6, 2012
    0
    Generally, I don't think you will have an issue in the winter months with
    racking up your hours.
     
  6. nate980

    nate980 Road Train Member

    2,020
    5,221
    Dec 23, 2010
    Langley BC
    0
    Your main concern shouldn't be how many hours a week your going to get if you've never even done the job in the patch. You should concentrate on somewhere with good training and an eye for safety.... You can get worn out quickly and that's when costly mistakes happen.
     
    rainyday lover Thanks this.
  7. Maven

    Maven Bobtail Member

    6
    3
    Jan 21, 2014
    0
    Other companies I would consider bad.

    (1) - Schneider - They only run there guys with loads out of Canada to the terminal in Woodhaven. They might have even pulled out of Canada completely now from what
    I've heard. Hoping So...Lousiest outfit in the nation as far as most are concerned. No Pay, Treatment is garbage. Trucks do under 100k..joke company.

    (2) - Werner - They play the same game as Schneider. There management probably learned from Schneider. Although both have good training programs, that's to ensure they can brain wash you with the statement "ALL TRUCKING COMPANIES ARE THE SAME!" which you hear repeatedly in there classes. They're a joke
    as well. I've heard of truckers dieing because they won't take the auto shut off, off so you can idle in ultra cold or ultra hot temperatures...always getting
    lawsuits because they don't pay worth a ####. Benefits aren't bad but you will be so poor you can't afford medication anyway. USELESS WASTE OF TIME!

    (3) - Morrice - There is good and bad both at Morrice. I found the recruiter was great. The pay was a bit low to start but after I complained it went up! The
    stupidity was in there dispatchers (surprise surprise). They'd send you to one load and canel it mid way to the pickup. Always high stress in the
    dispatch office. Although I did find there afternoon dispatchers great. The night shift were just argumentative morons. There maintenance department
    seemed good and relatively ready to help a driver having issues with a truck. I found the afternoon shift mechanics to be well seasoned and pro's.

    (4) - Gibson - Totally insane outfit, you have more bosses than you can count (all over paid morons). Run you in between Alliston ON, and Ohio as much as you can
    go. Pay is great. The other drivers there are great guys. Just the management is so screwed up I left. They make there own rules in the trucking
    trucking industry. One of the big things they do is papered logs. Only use the qualcomm for communication and to screw the driver with tracking.'
    Best thing Gibson had going for it, was it's maintenance department. They were mostly good. The rest of them are cracker jacks who want to be
    in the auto industry and think that Honda is a front runner in that trade. When they are just morons. LONG LIVE THE AMERICAN AUTO INDUSTRY!

    (5) - Hyndman - Good and bad at Hyndman, recently taken over by Celadon. There limiters are ultra slow now set at 62-63 mph. There drivers are 92% good drivers.
    Maintenance department has it's ups and downs. They are driving Pro Stars now. Could soon change to some Volvo's apparently to. They traditionally
    drove Pete's, and every driver I talk to misses there Peterbuilts. Over all they aren't a horrible company but they pay is ultra low sometimes. Have to
    really watch them with the pay. Some were papered and electronic logs both. They have a good cattle division. Over all a good company but the pay
    makes them worth an honorable mention on the fail bored. If you want to own a place to live on your own. Best not to work for them.
     
  8. Maven

    Maven Bobtail Member

    6
    3
    Jan 21, 2014
    0
    Glad to see someone is making money. Congratulations! I sure am not.
     
  9. Maven

    Maven Bobtail Member

    6
    3
    Jan 21, 2014
    0
    I've worked for both Union and Non Union companies. Although I feel that Unionisation is great for the individual. If it isn't on a total North American wide perspective. It does essentially close doors on companies. Unfortunately I feel this is likely more to management greed, as they can just open up another company with new lacky's in charge and a different Incorporated name and they don't have to justify it to anyone but public perception of there business practices. I assure you in North America business ethics went out the window when they allowed complete national free trade. Yes unions are a good thing if they think globally. Unfortunately it will take people far to long to realise that full unionisation across the industry would allow EVERYONE in the industry a very good life style. A nice home, a nice vehicle. All of which the people who argue against unions never own. Unless they are company owners.... Being thrown scraps off a dinner table is fine for some. But for me, I would prefer better treatment in this industry. As I'm sure many others would, judging by the posts on this forum.
     
    Derailed Thanks this.
  10. Maven

    Maven Bobtail Member

    6
    3
    Jan 21, 2014
    0
    I've seen both good and bad unions. Being part of 10 separate companies that were unionised. Yes, do I see corruption of unions sometimes. Very much so. I've seen the money I've paid these unions used for absolutely despicable actions. Of paying Union men full wages for sitting at fancy five star restaurants eating there fine meal of choice, while getting paid a great wage. At the same time. The money in that job when I saw it, was so good, that I could afford a cottage, a house in Toronto, pay all my bills and always come out at the end of the year saying. I really have it good. Instead in the trucking industry I wake up every morning and dread finding out how little I'm going to be paid this week. Bosses in my old industry were always willing to invite you to there home to see what there life style is like. Which was exceptional. I have yet to see that in the trucking industry. When truckers learn that there middle managers are living in near million dollar homes and properties with every luxury under the sun. Buying there children homes, and there grand children homes off your backs. You might want to re-think that issue of where the corruption truly is, in this industry. Hell, WERNER can give a whole multi function 600 million dollar complex to the Olympic committee, yet his drivers are so poor they are begging for food from the senior drivers who can at least afford a meal. It's rather sad.
     
    Derailed Thanks this.
  11. Maven

    Maven Bobtail Member

    6
    3
    Jan 21, 2014
    0
    So In this man's eyes, drivers don't have a right to make a decent living wage unless they have a law school education. LOL ....Capitalism at it's finest I suppose. Might strike you as weird. In this day and age unless lawyers have a very good reputation, they make about similar wages to us. It's sad really for them as well. I know you'll use cognitive desertion with my statement. But if you looked into it seriously. You'd understand what I mean.
     
    Derailed Thanks this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.