Interstate Distribution Company - Tacoma, Wa.

How much driver unload does Interstate have?? and do they have dedicated freight out of Portland OR ?

 

I'd like to hear from some drivers on this as well, but they promise 85% drop and hook and 95% no touch freight.

 

During this past year, we have "touched" the freight 4 times that I can remember. Two of them very recently.. in fact last night was one..UGH! 3 of them were tailgated which wasn't too awfully bad except that one was 1300 cartons and took us 51/2 hrs.. but we were paid $150 for that. The one last night was handtrucked into the store.. both of those were Joanne Fabric Accts. Those are normally dedicated runs. The other 2 were just random places.. a grocery outlet I think was one.. the other.. I don't remember.

There are dedicated runs out of Portland.. the guy whose load we repowered last night was out of our Troutdale/Portland terminal and that was the JoAnnes.. I think there might be some Michaels.. DHL... and others that I'm not aware of.

I don't know how accurate the percentages are, but I will say that the majority of the time we do drop and hooks, and when we do live unloads they are usually quick and painless... with the exception of one recent delivery in Elkhart IN at Phillips Glass... 9 1/2 hours!!!!!!!!!! We won't be doing THAT again. Thank God for no forced dispatch lol. If you are dispatched on a load that you can get to early.. like a day before your apt time, you can USUALLY drop it in a nearby yard when there is one. We have yards scattered all over the place especially near the bigger cities.

I hope this helps ya out somewhat

 

Well, My Goodness!!! HERE I AM!!!....from 2006....Hello, Admin....er...Huston??? We Have A Problem??!! The fix (Name) may be easier than we thought!!

KJ

 

I loved working for IDC...I drove both team and solo for them. They used to want new drivers to have 6 months experience before hire so the hiring of Newbs is after I became disabled..(unrelated to driving btw)

You will enjoy your experience driving for them..when and if I can get back into a truck I have a job...THERE...

The stories about them being good to their drivers are true, they will help you when you need it...and they don't make you feel bad about needing it.

You will learn to drive in Mountains safely under ALL conditions and if (as a new driver) you feel it is beyond your comfort level they prefer you stay safe and find a place to park. However, they do expect to you keep moving once you have had enough experience...and they don't really throw chains...at least not the huge really heavy ones...when you learn how it's not that bad...just cold and wet.

Get some really good cold weather gear (Cabellas?!) you'll be glad you did.

They worked with me all the way, even down to having to get a different dispatcher (I still don't know why she was so difficult to communicate with).

The estimate of no-touch is right-on...and the one time as a solo I had to unload they paid for lumpers...

They were going through a transition (growing) for a while but it sounds like they've come through it pretty well....

Good Luck Newbs....and welcome to the road!!! Just remember to breath, you'll be ok....

Later,
KJ

 

Thanks for all the answers, its good to hear from drivers with IDC or former IDC drivers, thanks again. Oh, by the way, I didnt know they had NO FORCED dispatch.?.? Is that for there 48 state drivers (like Crete) or everyone.? Thanks again and DRIVE SAFE

 

I'd check that out Knighton...I think it refers to unsafe conditions rather than refusing loads...just a heads up.

KJ

 

My wife is real curious what training as a team is like. Are there any team drivers out there that trained as a team? We'd like to hear how the training went and how it was having 3 people on the truck.

 

We would also like to hear from someone on the 7 week training program. I realize some of it is local, then a good deal of it OTR. How long is the OTR period. Do you still train together during the local part. If I understand correctly, during the OTR, training can only last for the 14hrs the trainer can stay on duty.
Thanks to all for the info!!
Cheers

 

HEY K & J
How is orientation going? What have you learned about IDC?
Hope its all you (and I) thought it would be.