looking for info on DG coleman out of denver...

May be a little late here, but I'll post for others. Worked for D.G. Coleman for a few months. Smaller, family-owned company (although, they have some connections with Ruan). They aren't "terrible" to work for, but I couldn't keep with them. I will say that that they never were dishonest or shady on my paycheck.

The bad I found (and ultimately was the deciding factor for me), is most of their dedicated/regional runs, are in day cabs, with tiny baby-Cat engines that don't handle mountain hauling well, and are governed at 67-ish, so even on flat terrain, you can't make up any time. Believe me, when you're loaded to the last ounce hauling bottled water through the Rockies, you'll find out real quick how much .34 per miles can suck (and going down hill is the same - the jakes don't hold unless you're in a very low gear, so even when descending ya gotta crawl or you'll burn your brakes up).

Anyhow, having a company-paid hotel at the end of your shift might sound good, until you can't find one of their approved hotels (or any other for that matter), or you can't get in it (or anywhere near it). Then you're stuck, exhausted, out of hours, with nowhere to go. If you're backed up at a distribution center for 4-5 hours, you can't log sleeper berth (and don't let the DOT catch you napping in a day cab). This situation seemed to happened to me repeatedly, and on my last trip for them, I had been on the road for an amount of time I will not mention here. When I got back to the yard, I told them I wasn't going out any further than 200-300 miles in a day cab (but told them if they put me in a sleeper, I'd go wherever they wanted me to go). The owner didn't like the terms, so I walked.

They kept saying "we're getting sleepers soon", but "soon" never came. When I see them on the road, they're still driving those old worn out International 9200s with kittens under the hood (which they purchased second hand, um-teen years ago, from a dump-truck company).

They however, do have a few routes with newer equipment hauling tanks (mostly liquid asphalt, bulk powders, and spring water out of Buena Vista, Co.). However, those are their bread and butter runs and typically are reserved for the company drivers that have put in some time with them.

So there's good and bad. Staff/dispatch is friendly/professional/approachable, mechanics are good people and will make sure your truck/trailer are fixed if there are any issues. But the way I see it, it comes down to my CDL and my paycheck. If I'm making .34 per mile in a 67mph governed truck, that means the company is making the lion's share of the pay. They have an obligation to keep updated equipment and take care of their drivers. If they want to squeeze pennies by running me out of hours in Nohotelsville every time I leave the yard, then they can find someone else. In truth, they don't own that many trucks, and yet they're always looking for drivers. I'm guessing their regional/day cab "arrangement" gets old with drivers fairly quickly.

Just my opinions.

Hope this is helpful to someone, and good/safe miles to ya!

 

Oh and if you "do" happen to work for them and get on one of their dedicated bottled water accounts, get comfortable hitting the scales and going back to have some of the load taken off. Nestle out of Denver will put you overweight every friggin time, costing you hours of driving, that you aren't paid for (happened twice in the same week, and about once every week thereafter). But then, while driving the mighty little "day cab that tried", you've got to get to Sam's Club in Salt Lake City on schedule (and trust me, you do NOT want to miss a dock appointment at these locations - ESPECIALLY in a day cab, when you're already out of hours, and your hotel is an hour+ away). Then it hits you, you've got to sit there for 2-5 hours waiting for a dock opening, you've already been on duty/driving way beyond your legal hours of service, you don't have a sleeper berth; and meanwhile, you're starting to realize this situation unfolds pretty much every time you do the route....

Yeah, no thanks

 

YuuuuP ! This company is pretty tightwad cheap on everything. This is one of those companies that have the drivers that are grown men that tattle on each other for kindergarten level nonsense, and gossip about each other to no end. Only the top tattle tails get the good New shinny trucks. They bug the heck out of ya during the day with calls and expect you to answer the phone or pull over somewhere and waste time answering a call that is of no immediate relevant importance, some are important like they may wanna change yer route up in the middle of yer run, anyway my phone sux "i have sprint" and i do not get good connection in a lot of areas, and it is hard to hear it ring in an ol piece of junk rattlebucket truck, but they fired me within a week and a half because i didnt answer the phone a few times - I am Driving ! i do not have a blue tooth as i could not afford one at the time until i got a few paychecks coming in and i told them that before i even started ! And my last check they are trying to rip me off and out of $700, cause they dont wanna pay the training days and they are back charging for the pre employment drug screen and physical ! Cause they say its their company policy that u have to be there at least 60 days and if u quit you dont get training pay, but they fired me ! NOw i have to sic the state labor board on em. Next is consultation with a lawyer . Dirty company. Stay Away !

 

Hahaha, same ole D.G. Coleman.

Be sure and tell the State that they fired you for not answering your phone while driving, and that they're trying to enforce illegal labor practices. That application you signed, said you were free to leave at any time, and they were free to let you go (nowhere did you sign papers saying you'd pay the company x-amount of dollars should you leave before x-amount of time).

It always amazes me that as many companies as I've driven for, none of them have ever tried that nonsense with me. I wonder if it has something to do with the fact that my application states I have a college degree.

Best of luck to you driver.

 

If there is anyone out there thats has been wronged by this company as far as them with holding youre training pay if you were there less that their 60 day policy, there is a strong potential for a class action lawsuit right now. I have consulted with an attorney and the more the merrier to sue them !

 

I told the state that, and coleman didnt have a come back on that but they came back crying that i violated dot rule one day cause i didnt take required 30 minute lunch brake, it was 28 minutes and i had rolled the truck through a power plant security check point and that stupid peoplenet logged me back in driving at 28 min. i told colemans about it and they corrected it. State ruled in me favor on that one, LoL !
In the app process there was some forms you had to sign saying that if you "quit" within 60 days of employment that they would not pay the training pay but they fired me. the only other forms for deductions was a "employee deficit agreement" and a "driver chargeback" which has nothing to do with paying me for wages earned, only if i had owed the company any monies upon employment separation.

 

...and they wonder why we can't keep decent drivers on the road lol