Central Refrigerated Truck Stop

Central are looking for more ways to save mpney and its at the drivers expense!

Thanks for the well wishes!!

The Army has OK benefits and in this economy it makes the most sense for us!

Did you call them and have them fix it????????????

I'm dreading the neg pay week after hometime!

 

Thank goodness I still had my old wireless card and that all I had to do to make it work was to switch the sims card. Whew!!! Dummy me was just going to go down the road a mile or so and forgot to hang on to the laptop coming back. Laptop hits the floor and since I hadn't taken out the wireless, bent the heck out of the usb conn.
Glad I have the insurance but am getting rdy to cancel it now. Forget what the monthly paymenbt is but dang!!!!! They also want a $50 deductable. Screw that now that I've found out my old card will work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Well 1bad got to PA 3 days early hoping they will take the load 1st thing in the morning. If not he will not be very happy at all. Can't take a 1300 mile week at all!

Well only one more softball game for the season. Won today 10-8 but hard coaching when your daughter has to ride the bench. Glad it is all coming to a close though. Ready to get mentally set for the big move to TX. Softball is a great distraction but time to deal with the reality of the move I guess.

Keep safe out there boys and remember the women you leave at home have hard days too!

 

OK central folks… Need so info and advice as you are willing to give it. I have read a great deal of this forum, but not all 677 pages. Can’t see that well anymore
Read through a lot- sounds like quite a few problems, particularly in the last few weeks.. But not sure which posters are L/Os or company drivers. Sure don’t like the sound of a 1300 mile week – not at all.

I am thinking REAL hard on coming to central as a lease operator.Solo. I would pose these questions to L/O’s that are running under Central’s lease plan now. Yes, I know I’m a pain in the butt. I have met with recruiting and a lease guy (Steve) in WVC, UT. I am OTR now with a small company, 5 trucks, and I’ve got it pretty good. Been at it for a bit over three years and have a good feel for things. As it is, I run like an owner/op now… The old man doesn’t want to hear from me unless there is a problem. Pick my loads through CH Robbinme and just go. Kind like it that way, although I’m still trying to figure out what a nice guy like me is doing hauling produce.I am at a point now where I will either buy the truck I’m in now from the outfit- and get my authority-or go into a lease with a new truck. Very interested in the lease because I don’t need near as much $$$ to get started.. Also no need to buy a trailer.

So here is a list of questions that I have for you L/O’s. Your opinions are greatly appreciated.

1)If I am available for dispatch, will I get a load? Anybody had trouble? I know the DM/Driver relationship is key, and don’t mind a little back-scratching to keep things moving. I’ll take short stuff if I have to- but I do not---want to sit for 2 or 3 days with an early load, or wishing I had a load, etc. Bottom line- will they keep a lease op moving??

2)Are you guys really making decent money? I have the whole breakdown of expenses, I know what it takes to be successful running the way I do now- so what about as a lease-op? What problems have you run into?

3)If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is… So what’s the hitch? Gotta be something or things… I get it where they are making the company $$.. about 25 CPM more than my cheapest freight now… But where is the hang up for the L/O?

4)How about the sale price at the end of a lease term? They tell me fair market value- which I can live with. But are they going to try and gouge me? I would go into this only with the frame of mind to buy the truck at the end of the lease term. Tey also tell me that they will let me continue to run the truck for Central even though is passes the 3 year old deal. If I come in with my own truck it has to be 3 years old or newer? I’m thinking I can trust the answers from you guys that might have tried it more than a recruiter shoving a pen in my hand.

5)Are the route miles fair? I understand they use rand-McNally… close enough to hub miles to be OK? Any complaints there?

6)How about collecting for layover/ detention? Do they try to cheat you out of that or is it OK? Any really abusive shippers that take twelve hours to load? They tell me $40 for the second drop or pickup, $60/each for more… True? Can you get it paid OK?

7)Recruiting tells me 30% drop and hook. Has that been your experience?

8)Deadheading… Too far/ too much? Any complaints on that?

9)How about breakdown- has anybody had a problem that should have been covered but wasn’t? Are they fair on what is warranty and what is not? On maintenance, I though about taking $500/ mo. What do you guys set aside?

10)How about time off… Can I really run it like I want or are they going to raise holy hell? Will they get me home (Salt Lake City) when I need to be there or can I expect to get screwed?

Well… That’s the short list. I’m sure more will come up. I just want to make sure I know how deep the water is before I jump of the bridge. I would trust the opinion of you folks running L/O better than anybody else. Any advice, opinions, or answers will be taken to heart. If I need to be torched for my post full of questions, flame away.

Thanks so much for your time- I have enjoyed “lurking” on the forum. Jim AKA Tomahawk
Star Valley Wyoming
379 Pete all tricked up

 

My update for the last few days leading into my 3rd week of training:

week 2 was OH to SLC, SLC to OH, OH to Anahiem and now beginning week 3 Chatswoth to OH. Our longest downtime has been at WVC dealing with trailer issues. Stopping by the Fontana terminal tomorrow before we head back east.

 

1bad is a company driver however I talk alot with Jess and 1bad with JJ who is l/o. The company doesn't pay layover to anyone anymore (as of about a month ago.) As far as keeping you rolling that all depends on your DM some do really well other have a hard time breaking even most weeks. I know they have had to fight for money alot of times that was owed to them. There again depends how on top of things your DM is. As far as sitting goes that is gonna happen freight is slow and winter is on top of us almost now and this is much like construction from what I have noticed feast or famine thing. I'm sure you have experienced that if you have been driving. All I know is that everyone is advising to stay away from the leases right now. To many drivers and not enough freight to go around to make it worth your while is what I am hearing from l/o's. Thats's just my 2 cents take it for what is worth. But I know if you have a family to support and you are doing good where you are at it may be in your best intrest to stay put until the ecomny turns around and people get out of trucking just because they needed a job. Then the freight will be there to make more money.

Keep it safe out there boys!

 

I have been running well so far at my new company. No complaints.
Stayed out for the weekend for more miles, though I will be short on hours by Wednesday.

Was at Washington Courthouse this morning, I always hated going there.
Was not bad though. Was late by the time I was checked in at the office though, only arrived 30 min early to the gate.
We had some empty trailers there though, so the lady changed it to a drop for me. So was no longer late, and did not have to pay for unload. Yeaa

Allot of drop and hook. Company has it's average at about 80% drop and hook. It is a short to med haul company though. They try to keep you rolling well though. Just no 1000 mile loads.
Truck is in the shop for a few things now though, so I am taking a 10 hour break. Most of our loads out of Columbus are not loaded till the afternoon anyway, so no big deal.
I will hopefully have the truck out of the shop soon so I can get a few hours sleep, just to be safe if I need to make a night run.

Good luck with your military thing JJ.
I considered staying in to go on drill status when I got out after Desert Storm. I was just too irritated with the Army to stay in at that point.

 

Sigh. Still sitting in Rockwall, Tx. Have a preplan but pickup is not till 2330 tonight. Its a 2 dropper going to Ok. where I just no their going to send me home early. Hell, if thats going to happen, send me home now!!!!

 

OMG!! Stay where you are! Central does not keep all leases running. They can't even keep their dedicated running. The only ones who seem to get miles are teams and trainers. If you wanna train, then it may be a good thing. If you wanna stay solo, stay where you are. You have the luxury of picking your own loads that you will never get at Central. At the end of the lease, you still will owe them "fair" market value for the truck. We tried the lease thing and lost. No miles! We sat for 3-4 days at a time waiting on loads. Wayne called and begged for loads and was told, they didn't have anything. Then when they did, it was for 800 miles or less. We were lucky to get 1400 miles. If you have a job and it pays the bills, stay with it. In this economy it is a great thing. If you want a lease option that sounds good, try JCT. They have a $1 buy out at the end of their leases.....

 

Heading for OH again. It was nice meeting JW, Pismo, and Iceman at the Fontana yard good luck fellas! On the road again....