Central Refrigerated Truck Stop

Last summer, or the summer before, Central put out a big message on the Qualcomm. Freight's going regionalized, largely due to the costs. Companies would rather pay for a load to go 800 miles than go 3000 miles, if they have a facility on the other side of the US with the same product. As a result, a lot of their loads are going regional.

They don't assign people to regions so much, but you'll find you're in the same place for a while. There's a West Coast Dedicated, and there's a meat fleet in the midwest that sent out a request for drivers today. Kraft's west coast or eastern region. Beer's not regional.

I know a number of drivers who love the regional thing, especially the west coast. I know a kid who does Fred Meyer dedicated. He runs Fred Meyer out of Oregon into Idaho and Utah, and then brings a load back to Oregon and does it all over again. He loves it.

The problem with the long loads is there's competition for them. Trainers get the highest priority it seems, and then lease ops, then teams, then company solos. While I can understand their resoning, as a team it annoys me, because my co-driver and I often get 900 mile, 4 day runs. Sometimes we drop, sometimes we don't.

And I'm babbling. But the short answer: yes, Central's going more regional freight without calling it that.

 

Actually it never touches your Comdata card if you have direct deposit.. I can live with the days delay to be able to use my debit card at more places than truck stops and walmart.

 

Kraft is broken down much more than that. I am in South eastern. There is midwest and north east too.

Ahhh again with the misconceptions.. long loads (2000+) are given to teams first. Teams being two people(trainee/trainer, husband/wife, two friends) There isn't a priority system. If you are the closest avilable team you get it. As a last resort the nearest solo (leasee or company ) gets it. Same applies to "regional" freight. Nearest available solo gets it.

I actually have a DM and had a DM who tell it like it really is...

 

Just so everyone knows, Comdata is also accepted at Target, Starbucks, Barnes & Noble, Old Navy, and several more. We try it to see if it works when we go home. I think GameStop even takes it. Keep on mind if you call Comdata, it automatically gives you a balance and charges you $1.00. Keep up with the fees as well, so you know the balance, and only have to call to transfer or write a comcheck. The fees irk me, because it used to only give you a balance if you asked for it. little things like that add up to $52 per year. I could name all the things I could do with that but won't.

We have only had to use the advance a few times. I agree don't take it unless you have to. As far as the tolls, if you know what they are (like $33 to go from okc to joplin or vice versa on 44), you can request the comcheck and po before you go, then there isn't all the stupid fees that iritate me.

Btw, thanks to me trying to figure out the hype on Angry Birds, lextec is now hooked.

 

Only fee on my debit card is if I use an atm machine to withdraw money and it is good wherever Visa is accepted. As for the tolls I have a stash of cash for those. Yep if you plan your trip well get the tolls via comchek.. just make sure you include the fee to cash the dang thing

 

That run is nice, but you will have report to 4 or 5 people all the time.
They are too lazy to look on the computer to see what your eta will be, they ALL want new ETAs each. Also they are not happy with your ETA and want you to move faster...
The one we had was 2900 miles, we had stopped only for about a total of 6 hours and we had to explain why.

 

I have had two trucks and neither one of them has had ICON or TAS.

 

We have a t2000 and if we leave it set for 24 hours we will have dead batteries... It happened to us last weekend.

 

Well, my fan hub bearing burnt up in Davenport, so if anyone is at the flying J this weekend, come say hi to me. In the bob tail black and red prostar with the chrome all over it. Im down $400 and 4 days off work, going to be a BAD week for pay, plus I have 1/2 of fuel thats not getting paid for on this week.

 

if your truck is dyin that fast, get to the shop or see if you can have it checked on the road, the batteries may have one or more that are bad. buddy of mine had a t2 with all 4 batteries bad but because of his tripack he never knew.