Jack Cooper Transport

Looking for advice on how to get in the door. Summer of '14 I put an application in with Kentucky Truck Plant and Ft. Wayne and also sent one to the email link on the web site. Spoke with the terminal manager at KTP a couple of times following up on my application? All to no avail. I have had a CDL for 20 years with about 18 months resent OTR all accident/ticket free. Turned another application in again this summer wanting to try again. Called KTP to follow up and the terminal manager said this class was full but suggested I stay in touch. What can I do to help my cause?

 

Nobody responded but I got a job offer and start orientation at Kentucky Truck Plant next Thursday.

 

Good luck with it, I hope you like it.

 

What about Jack Cooper in the Atlanta area? Any idea on what manufacturers/railheads they pull out of in this area? What areas do they go to out of Atlanta? What's the probability of backhauls to Atlanta and how often through home? Thanks in advance.

 

Hapeville is the Ford railhead, but I doubt they are hiring as they have laid off recent times. In the Atlanta area you probably would be more likely to get hired with USAL or Hansen Adkins.

 

How much would if any would I suffer with either Hansen and Adkins or USAL as opposed to Jack Cooper. I am currently a spoiled linehaul driver for OD, not gonna leave a good deal if not for a #### ton more money.

 

First you need to decide that you don't like your current job anymore or you may have regrets. As far as pay goes USAL and Hansen Adkins both pay very well and have better equipment than we do. The only thing they don't have is full paid family insurance and pension, but they have a 401k. I left a $100,000+ feeder job roughly 4 years ago to haul cars and I have no regrets, but I was sick of working nights and weekends and my w-2 is not as important to me at this point in my life as working days is. Carhaul is a great profession, but if you like your job don't quit to do it. If you want to work mostly weekdays instead of nights and weekends, work harder but eventually make good money, some weeks better some weeks less money, carhaul is a great job. I am glad I made the move, but my situation may not be the same as anyone else. I can earn what I could before, but I enjoy my work/home balance better now. When I am loading in 10 degrees and snow in Michigan, I miss my steering wheel holding job, but not bad enough to go back.

 

T

 

Banker I will be starting orientation this week at Kentucky Truck. I am leaving a bulk tanker job for a concrete plant job that pays 75k and home every night. Hours suck but as stated I am home. I am puckered up pretty tight wondering if the jump is in the right direction. At 41 I am looking for a job I can retire from.

Now for the question. I live off of I75 between Dayton and Cinci. After talking to the rep at Kentucky Truck I am getting the feeling that it's a lot more time away from home the the three Cooper drivers I talked to before filling out the app. Can you give me some insight on what I can expect on time away from home. Am I looking at nights out weeks I guess is the question?

 

It really depends on your priorities and I can't speak for you. This is a road job and I pack my suitcase to be gone 4 nights. Usually I am home the 2nd or 3rd day and load for another 2-3 day trip, go home and leave eary the next day. I am not certain about how much traffic KTP gets going past your house. I would ask the TM where the bottom of the board usually delivers to and how often you will get Michigan or Ohio loads. As long as you don't go too far out of route to get home most Ohio or Mi loads may take you by the house. If you can get Mi or Oh loads you could be home every other day or so and make $1500-$2200 a week. If you go south or west every trip you may not get home during the week. I don't know enough about KTP's traffic to give you an honest answer. I know that they go to Mi, but I don't know if it's the top of the board or the bottom.