AR Transport?

Do you know how the work is out of the Springfield Mass terminal ? I see trucks going into Maine a lot but haven't had a chance to stop and talk to a driver. I work for Linde doing liquid bulk but keep going back and forth about staying. It get more and more stressful with the lack of help and respect amongst the driver group and now they're starting to get picky about every little thing we do in the truck and what the cameras see us do. Even just using the gate opener while pulling up to the gate has got someone in trouble which is ridiculous. I never had a problem.before but now thats ridiculous. on top of that they did away with company drivers in our DE plant and Ruan is now doing the work. doesn't really make us here in ME feel good about our future.

 

Does A&R Transport have much word going trouble Baltimore, MD?

 

Springfield is a great location. very good driver retention, good work, regional and system type freight. If you have a passport and don't mind going to Canada there is even more $ to be had up there.

as for Baltimore MD we have terminals in Philadelphia, Pa and actually we plan to get a brand new terminal there in 2014 to upgrade our current facility. tons of loacal and regional freight out of that location as well. should be no issues getting through Baltimore. I know they run a number of md, va, etc loads from that area.

 

if you get a chance to talk to more A&R drivers in person you will find not many companies have drivers so helpful to one another. the family aspect and pride of working for this company is never more evident in the way the driver force helps and cares for the new drivers.

 

A&R has been around for 35+ years and has always been the leader in nationwide plastic bulk. we have great long term relationships with our shippers and we do 70% of their freight and they want us to do more and more every day. we're the shark in the fish tank and that is based on the professionalism and quality of drivers we have. the work isnt easy but the money is good that you earn. Plus its nice being a speciality carrier and customer love to see you and rarely do you wait to load/load.

 

What would you say is the hardest part about loading and unloading?

 

Loading is by far the hardest part of the job. it is the art form or apeciality of the business. learning the gauges to make sure you put on a good load and dont over load. every product, rail car, trailer, and truck combination load a little different. So it takes time to learn the job. 3-6 months of just figuring thins out on average. You can make good money during that time but it just takes that long to get in the groove.

a friend said it best. This isnt hard work, this is thinking work. The more you think, the harder the equipment works and doenthe job for you. You have to not be afraid of heights a well. climbing and getting on top of rail cars and trailers, etc. lots of drivers lose a bit of weight having to be active working which is a good bonus.

 

The weight loss could be a good thing for me. Say a customer wants 45k lbs what is best way to get it loaded without going back and forth to scale. Also does the weight ordered have to be precise or is there some leeway. How about if the car doesn't have enough product how much of a hassle is that?

 

weight does not have to be exact plenty of wiggle room. it comes with training and practice. As you work with your gauges you know what to hit to get your different weights. also you shoukd keep a journal documenting style of trailer, and peoduct and waht gauges read to have a quality load on. its something you will learn smething new every day for years.

when cars dont have enough weight 2 things can happen. The shipper or A&R ok you to leave light because customer doesnt accept split lots. Or you have to do a split load and get the rest of the weigh from another r/c with te same product in it.

 

Hey thanks for answering my questions. I want to give them a try and get out of dry van but I don't want to leave good company only to find out I don't make as much or am never home. I would run out of Columbus. Only had one driver on here from that terminal and he quit cause of $$$