Truckload in the Bank

1/5/09

Well that sure paints a "ROSEY SPIN" on what I went thru with them. Drivers sitting for days on end at terminals and just before getting the layover pay they get dispatched on a load that doesn't pick up for another day.
Bobtailing thru two states to pick up empty trailers to deadhead back thru the two states to sit for two days with no load and no hope of being paid for those miles because you don't have a paying load. Not to mention getting reimbursed for the tolls you have to pay out of pocket.
Lets see what else... Oh yeah the "new trucks" they are buying leak and spend more time in the shop than on the road. One driver told me he would intentionally leave the truck running with the windows open in the hopes someone would steal the piece of junk. He had been with Celadon since the good old days and was disgusted at the treatment all the drivers were getting. Duplicity on the part of the operations department, outright lies being told by the recruiters in reference to miles.
Celadons recruiters were still telling new drivers that they will see at least 2700 miles a week. What a joke!!!! There wasn't more than 5% of the ENTIRE FLEET seeing those kind of miles when I had finally had enough. No I think that Mr. Russell is being taken for a ride by greedy underlings who don't know anything about trucking. They are college educated fools, who may have mba's but not enough common sense to come out of the rain.
Sorry about the rant but I finally had to say something about the CRIMINAL way "CELADUH" treats their employees. I like Steve and knew him for what he is ... a businessman. But I really think he needs to listen to more of his drivers instead of the suits. He is losing good drivers at an alarming rate because they are fed up with not being able to pay their bills. That is my personal opinion and I know that there are many on the forum that think differently and thats cool. For the record I left Celadon in Dec.08 so I do have a current take on what was happening there.

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" If you ain't living on the edge, you're taking up too much room!

A friend of mine is there now for orientation I told him he will last there a month he is giving them 90 days. will see.

Wish him good luck

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" If you ain't living on the edge, you're taking up too much room!

as a broker celadon is a great company for us...

As a broker I'm sure they are good for you. But as far as being a driver for them.... not very good at all. They have lost site of what was really important in the industry. The driver. If you treat you're drivers like a number then you can expect poor drivers. The number of accidents had increased in just the past 4 months there to a ridiculous amount. Even to the extent of sending qualcomm messages about the "alarming increase in drivers topping their trailers". For those of you who don't know "topping " your trailer is getting it stuck under a low bridge. We started getting those messages at least once a month, I personally have seen 6 ripped up trailers, witnessed a celadon driver hang his drive wheels up on the retaining wall in the gorge, he was trying to pass in a no pass zone. This yahoo actually ended up shutting down the westbound lanes of I 40 for over 2 hours.
No sir that company is trying to become another Swift or JB Hunt. Service failures, accidents, and driver abuse is just the start.

I'm glad for you that they are working out, but then again sir you don't drive for them. It's a different story.

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" If you ain't living on the edge, you're taking up too much room!

I completely understand, the driver perspective is a side of the company I don't see much of, I rarely talk to Celadon drivers since all their loads with me are on EDI and automatically update location and whatnot... no need to talk to drivers which I do with smaller companies. This is disappointing to hear.

The reason Big Bad Broker likes celadon is cuz he cant find anyone else to pull for the low low low rates he is paying.

yep.. CH robinson , more problems then the load is worth, stop calling me three days after I delivered...

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The only thing we are given for lack of Effort, is the reward of Failure!

not always true, I use them because they have the capacity to take on large volumes for us with little notice.
rates currently are down simply because freight is so scarce, fuel is lower... you know the drill.