Continental Express Inc

I have o call BS on this post! I too am with Continental Express (Danville, Va), I pay Va taxes that they set up. Have a NC CDL, so I will have to file that on my own but no biggie. Moving is all I seem to do. I stay out 90+ days at a time. If you don't move a lot and just sit around... Maybe you just aren't worth a hoot as a Trucker (28 years Driving)? I have only been with this company for Four months now and have only taken one week (3 days) off for Vacation and have had two resets the whole time. My choice, not theirs. as for Split-Logs???? Are you meaning 8-2 splits? If so, why do you do it? It's your Truck and you're the Captain of it! Don't do it if you don't like it. I hardly ever do a Split as they suck! I also refuse to run ODD or Over-weight. As I said before, you're the Captain of your Truck! Yes, they do have problems with the way they Dispatch us, but no Company is perfect. I have learned that if I am going to be late, so be it. I hate being late for anything, but if that's the way they Dispatched me, then it's on them. Nothing I can do but get there when I can. Have had a some of late appts too since being here, but have never been yelled at nor charged for it. It wasn't on me. As for Truck repairs, I have had to get mine repaired a couple times. Had no problem is doing so neither. Of course I'm not one to #####, Cry and Moan about it the whole time neither, as you seem to have in all three Posts you've made on this site (PTL too). It will get done when I can get around to a Yard, which ever one I get to first. I almost always (98%) have a new Load Assignment waiting on me before I even deliver the Load I am on. As I said before again, yes, they have a lot of problems Dispatching correctly. It seems as if they have ALL been trained wrong. This alone has made me think about resigning a few times. But then I calm down and remember Stevens Transport and how they were worse! All in all I average around 2,500 miles a week and gross over $1,000 a week on the low side. If you're not..... Well maybe it's you? As everyone else I talk with at Continental Express makes way more. I could run harder, but I don't really need money. I make enough as of now. I was averaging $1,400+ a week for the first 2.5 months here. In short... Either suck it up or Truck on down the road. No Company is perfect and they will all screw the Driver over is some form and fashion. Deal with it or go flip Burgers.

 

Hello, unhppytrucker

I am starting with continental at their fort worth terminal on tuesday. I would really apreciate any advice or any comments you can offer regarding yur time with continental

Thanks

 

In Ft Worth, from what I am told, it is a lot of short short short hauls. A lot of waiting to be loaded and unloaded. I have read on here where a few Ft. Worth Drivers have quite already due to the low miles and wadges. I have also spoken to one Driver there who claims to get as many miles as a OTR Driver does and never leave Texas. Their method of Dispatch takes a long time to get use to. I have been with CE now for 5 months and still can't understand their thinking behind it. I have considered quitting a few times. As of right now I am sitting out a 34 reset in UT. I was suppose to run the holidays, but my return load was given to another Driver so he may go home for the Holiday. Samething happend on Thanksgiving, loads are scheduled so tight, I couldn't make OT delivery and had to sit out a 34 until after the Holiday. Sure I average 1,100-1,400 a week. Have had a couple $1,8000 weeks too. But it is a stressing task for sure to get those miles in. 4-6 days no shower, many meals missed because your breaks are mostly at shippers/receivers. No APU's in Trucks so hope you don't need to run any power hungry laptops. I am right now having to constantly turn my Truck on in order to recharge the batteries to charge my Laptop. Smart Idle sucks! In short, pay is good, they treat/speak to us nice. Benefits are same as all, they suck. Trucks are BASIC, they don't tell you were to Fuel or how much to get, just do it. They also don't tell you which route to drive, just get there. I like that. I'm on the fence as of now. Some things I love, some I hate with a passion. I drove out of the Danville, Va yard. Great miles/pay. Transfered to the Sidney Yard last week. After one week and half the miles I told them I was going to resign. They said they'll put me back on the Danville Fleet, so I'll stay... for now. If you run paper logs and believe in not so legal driving, you'll love it. If you're ELC and believe in the Law (as I do), it'll be tough. I could go on, but don';t wanna scare you off and your time may be different than mine and the others. Not saying it's a horrible company to drive. But it is a different kind of company. Just remember, like all other companies out there, Recruiters will tell you anything. On the bright side, it's a Drivers Market right now. So if you don't like, you can always move on with ease. Sorry for the run on reply. My lights went out in my truck. Time to restart it again!!!!! Grrrrrr.

 

Thanks very much for your reply. I do appreciate the update. I am not scared off so do not sugar coat any opinions or observations. On those freightliners there is supposed to be a way to by pass the smart idle. I don't remember the steps but there is something about putting it in gear and hitting the accelerator while holding the clutch in...I will try to look it up. Please keep posting. You seem to be more grounded in reality than some people that post on these sites. Thanks,

Rob

 

No problem. As for the bypass on the Truck, they have it all blocked. I have tried everything online short on buying a gizmo. We have to ask for premission to idle first, then it'll idle under 20 and over 75. But I think they turned that off for the Winter months as mine will still shut down unless it's colder than 10 with a -20 wind chill. lol. Hope it all works out for you here. Joe in Texas is a good Dispatcher (so I've heard). Just give it time and push through all the BS (as with any Company). Let them know right up front what you're willing and unwilling to do and what/how you expect to be ran. They do try their best to work with you. I wont Off Duty Drive under a load, wont run over-weight nor fiddle with my Logs in any way. Miles are there for OTR Drivers, more if you run Old School. Maybe I'll see you down there one day? I go there some to drop loads, hope to transfer once it picks up down there. As you know, every Company has its flaws, Continental is no different. The good is great and the bad is horrible. I'm sure you'll do fine. If you decide to quit, first talk with someone, more than likely they'll fine something that works for you? Good luck.

 

Thanks again for the encouragement. I would like to meet with you sometime when you are in Texas. My driving will be primarily in Texas or so I was told. That suits me just fine. Or I could drive in the south. I am not keen on going North at all. I have delivered to a Millard facility in Gaffney, SC, before and I understand that CE has a terminal there.

 

I can concur this company is full of crap. The owners are ohio duche bags. They want to run illegal when you should be on duty sleeping. I cant tell you how many 8/2 splits they wanted me to do while being unloaded and be at the next delivery. The local runs are live loads. I have no idea how they make it in the business. Good luck, the miles were not there the sales pitch from recruiting sounds much better than reality. I quit after 5 days. Ohio sucks!

 

If you didn't want to do any 8/2 splits nor do your breaks while being loaded/unload, why did you do them then? I hate 8/2 splits and my "10" hours break is just that, a BREAK (My Time). I don't conduct any Company Operations while I am on "My Time". I wont run Illegal neither. Sounds like you allowed the DM's to run you and your Truck instead of you running yourself and Truck. Keep in Mind in your next Gig, YOU are the Captain of YOUR TRUCK!!!!

" They want to run illegal when you should be on duty sleeping." Huh????? How can you run while On Duty Sleeping? I hope you're not Sleeping while you're Driving! Yes, that would be ILLEGAL! Did you mean Drive while logged as "Off Duty Driving"? Why in the world would you ever allow someone to convince you it is okay to do that? I NEVER ODD while under a load. Now, if I am Bobtail and waiting for my Trailer to get loaded AND I am on a break, I will ask to ODD to go get something to Eat or go to a Best Buy. NEVER ODD while under a load!!!!! Some Drunk hits you, you go to Jail! Period! Grow a Back Bone and stand up for yourself! It's your CDL, not theirs! They sit behind a Desk in a Office. You're out in the thick of it.

Lasted Five Days? Wow!!! Really didn't give it a chance did you? And now you're on here Preaching the word. Just WOW! True, my first few weeks I was like WTF???? But I stood my ground and spoke up. What's the worst that could happen? They fire you and you're Driving for another Company within 5 days? Instead of crying like Baby, why didn't you talk to Joe, or the other DM in Texas? Did you even try to talk to anyone? Did you try to go OTR with them? I am OTR and besides my first check, the lowest check I have Grossed so far is a little over $1,000. My average check is around $1,300 a week (a couple $1800- $2100). All legal too! I am the pain in the ### that wont cave in to what is wrong or illegal.

As far as "Douche Bags", I have not experienced any of the in my 5.5 months here. I have only experienced EVERYONE only speaking Polite with me and Joking around. I don't know how many times I send in SmartA$$ comment on the Quallcomm about mounting .50 Cals on my Truck or taking the Tractor and Trailer to New Mexico to make Meth. I only get laughs back.

Of course ALL Recruiters will tell you whatever YOU want to hear! I Interviewed about 20 different Companies before joining Continental ( that's right, I Interviewed them!). Not once did I ask the generic questions. I knew what answers I would get already.

Is Continental perfect? No, no Company is perfect. Do they have a weird way of Dispatching? Yes, it is very strange! Many times I have seen a Load Assignment and thought WTF???! Have they pissed me off ever? Many times, with Dispatches. But I am also good at the so called "Stupid Game" when anyone wants to play it with me.

Hell, I just this Saturday, waited 23 hours for a load to be ready, only to run it 22 miles down the road. Did it upset me? At first, until I calmed down and remembered I was making Detention pay of $15 an hour for 19 hours! And yes, they do pay Detention Pay, always! 22 miles and I made 22 X .45cpm, plus $15/hr X 19 hours. Not a bad day in the end to sleep,shop at Wal-Mart (ODD Drove too, was Bobtail), watch Movies and play my Laptop.

But then again, no big lose with us losing someone who couldn't even stay in the Army more than three years and has the gall to use it as a Tag. I'd list my Deployments from 1990-1997, but I wouldn't want to embarrass you even further.
Just remember, McD's is always hiring a few good Fry boys.

 

Well, I have survived my first five days. Actually tomorrow will make 1 week. As far as I can tell, I have not ben lied to about anything. I have all the work I want. My dm has been pretty easy to work with as has his boss. The shop guys have been great. On the surface CEI is much better than any of my previous positions. I wish I had a newer truck but I was told that is probably coming soon. Based on my experience thus far you must have been working at Dart, not CEI. Now that was a ghetto operation. More later.

 

Glad to hear it's going well so far for you. I called Mark in HR last week and asked him to give you my Cell number if you have any questions. As I've said, I have only been with Continental for 5.5 months. Much less time than the assigned Mentor. However, sometimes it's good to talk to another Company Rookie about things. The old folks around here are more in toe with everyday operations. My Truck number is 535, Shane C.