jb hunt intermodal southgate, ca

Not sure if this is the right place to post so mods feel free to move it.

I did a lot of searching online, found intermodal posts out of texas and east coast/chicago but nothing out of socal so I will try to lost my unbiased experience here.

It was time to leave my regional job, was making close to 80k but honestly, I probably wouldnt have stayed for double that. Great company, just hated living out of a truck.

I started looking around for local gigs and a friend suggested jb hunt, I literally laughed it off but after I started doing research, their dcs and intermodal didnt look bad.

Gave the jb recuirter a call and asked about a jack in the box dedicated but he said he didnt have it. He never tried to talk me into otr or regional as I told him I wanted local. He said he would keep me in mind if something ever opened up local. I chalked it up as recuirter bs and the hunt continued...no pun intended.

So the next day he calls and says he has intermodal local but its first come first serve. I say sign me up but two weeks out as I give two week notices to my employers.

I notice schneider is hiring local as well so I put in an app to them as a plan B. Long story short, not here to schneider bash but all 3 people I spoke with at schneider (recuriter, manager, and background guy) didnt seem completely professional so I scratched them off my list.

So for the next week I was constantly changing my mind about coming to jb, heard horror stories of getting screwed into otr at orientation but like I said, absolutely hated living out of a truck so I rolled the dice and came to orientation.

They send all the west coast guys to southgate, ca (fly or bus you in). To those who were in the military, the first day is like MEPs. About 30 guys in my class. First day is pretty much backing test (pull out of parked spot drive up a few feet to the left and back in).

Then you do a road test, you can float gears but they want to see you double clutch at least once). Test is pretty easy since everyone in my class had at least 2 yrs experience, I think they just want to see that you can drive safe).

After that it was the dot medical, they are pretty thorough and piss and hair drug test. Also they make you lift a box with weights and you walk back and forth a few times.

2nd day is pretty much policies, peoplenet etc.

Last day is more videos, smith system and we went out in groups in vans and demonstrated smith system.

Now to dispell some myths I heard.

They run your mvr/dac/psp prior to orientation. They try to verify your employers prior to it but if your past employers dont respond theyll continue it during orientation. My advise is bring your w2 if you can if you think your past employers wont get back. They wont screw you and send you home if they cant verify but you cant drive until your past employer verifies.

My biggest fear was having my promised local job dissapear. First day you come in, you get a paper which shows you your pay and position, mine said local intermodal.

Like I said there was about 30 of us, nobody got screwed out of the position they were told, only 2 guys were doing otr but they wanted it.

Everyone here so far has been friendly and professional. I never got the feeling theyre out to screw you over a slip up, some guys had trouble backing and the instructor helped them back each time.

Pay for orientation is min wage, decent lunch each day. I report to intermodal training monday ($15/hr for training). I know its too soon to tell, but I think I mad a good choice coming here for what my needs are.

 

From what I read, all intermodal terminals are different but Im getting .32 a mile and 22.50 a drop.

 

Its actually .32 hub miles 26.50 for drop and hooks and 40.50 live load. Monday was another orientation day (go over pay etc). Tues-friday you go with a trainer, learn the rails and peoplenet. The forth day I could have went solo but I figured I would make a lot less than with my hourly pay so went with trainer again.

They still dont have a schedule for me so they told me to take weekend off and come in monday

 

Alright, worked 2 days so far, 1st day I could have made 220 but ended up with 180. Second day was slow and i only did 2 loads and made 120. Still learning the rail yards "ramps" but feel like im getting the hang of it.

 

Ok so the last two weeks I averaged about 860 running 5 day weeks. I work swing/graveyard and i think it lays way less than the day shift since we only do drops. A lot of things are done terribly inefficently and as a result I work at least 12 to 14 hours all for $160 a night which is peanuts imho. The peoplenet takes at least a good 15 20 mins if not much longer for your next load after you send a loaded or unloaded call. Much time is burned spotting and dropping trailers.

If you work 6 days you could probably make a grand but thats working 14 hour days plus yard time everyday

 

Yes, the preplan is what I meant. I'll reply right away but it still takes a good while. I'll send a free form asking for next load and depending on who is working that night, ill get it sooner or later.

The loads are there and its only supposed to get busier.