Celadon closing up shop!

same thing happened to Roadrunner a couple years ago....fraud, now they are circling the drain as well

 

Were I in your position (presuming you are a dispatcher, been one myself), I'd be working your dispatch system to get my drivers as close to home as possible with or without loads.

Here's what I'm thinking: Celadon is done. Fried. Once the doors close, the general liability insurance goes bye bye. So I would work out whatever deadhead authorizations are necessary to get those empty trucks rolling back to the home forty, or at least to the closest Celadon-owned terminal/drop yard/facility TO THE DRIVER'S HOME (that part is critical).

That way, the equipment gets returned for whatever asset reallocation is coming, AND the drivers get home safely. And YOU, as the dispatcher, get a whole lotta attaboy's and pats on the back for looking out for your drivers. Which will add to your reputation in a positive manner and make getting your next position easier. Smaller carriers generally prefer dispatchers who focus on the drivers and let the big boss monkey focus on the customers.

 

Saw this on Twitter this morning. Sounds like everyone is in a panic over there in Indianapolis.

 

The creditors have seen this often enough to know what is going to happen. Trucks, trailers, and loads getting abandoned all over the country once the fuel cards get shut off. Making it harder (or impossible) to recover the assets for liquidation.

I still see a few former Arrow trucks running around that I'm pretty sure (but can't prove) never made it to the books for liquidation when Arrow collapsed. And I don't blame the drivers one blasted bit! They got screwed hardcore (without even being danced with first), and saw an opportunity to get some back.

I'm now an O/O, although without any additional trucks or employees. But if I had drivers, and I screwed them in this manner, no way would I expect to see my trucks again! Heck, I'd sign them over to the drivers and let the drivers dispose of them as they wished. But then, if I found myself in this kind of financial trouble, I'd bring my drivers home, get them some transition pay, and work to get them into positions with more stable companies before I shut my doors.

I like to believe that is the difference between a company owner versus a corporation with a board of directors and investors. As a single owner, I have total control over my company without a bunch of other people looking over my shoulder. Greater risk, certainly. But I get to run things according to my conscious rather than what the Board wants.

 

Oh my lord, i dont believe what i am reading. I am on a load to Denver. I saw so many Celadon trucks on the highway Friday. These guys and gals are going to get screwed something serious. Itsm was a long time coming though. New ownership tried to clean it up, but they were in too deep

 

although what i am about to say is not trucking related, when i was younger, it bears mentioning here, as it happens in ALL industries.......

i worked at a place,(again, non-trucking related) and had been there for about 7 years. i liked it, the boss liked me, we got along great. i went in early, stayed late, worked on the weekends, for straight time, no time and a half......heck, i didn't even get health benefits or paid vacations....or paid holidays....

then "out of the blue", people started coming over that i never had seen in my 7 years, to ask if "is this the place up for sale"?

i said "you gotta be messing with me" (although, i used an entirely different word).

i went straight into the boss's face and asked him about this so-called sale...

he said yeah, by December 31st, we will be closed...

here is was, December 10th i think, but not too far away...Thanksgiving Day had already passed.

i vowed from THAT DAY FORWARD, to NEVER have any company loyalty again.

"sneaky bustaro" (for lack of stronger wording here), and i never trusted another employer ever again.

so this is why i will always try to say, "park it, where ever you are, and get home, screw them and thier equipment"

now me being retired, i am SO GLAD i lived by that mantra..........of..."trust no company, to do the RIGHT THING for YOU"...!!!!!!!

 

What's the plan with these trucks? Why wouldnt they be full speed to a terminal so they arent stuck somewhere when the fuel cards do get shut off?

 

I'm sure walmart transportation in gas city and Seymour, IN. Will have 100 apps in monday morning.

 

If it were me, Id deliver that last load and start deadheading to the closest terminal to the house to turn in the truck.

 

Possibly load the tricks for one last run before everything shuts down, even if it means the trucks will be loaded after the insurance shuts off? Thus far, that has been pretty common when these carriers shut down. Grab the last of the cash they can before the auditors show up.

Celadon drivers, please understand that if you choose to drive after the "cease operations" order is officially released, you will be driving UNINSURED! AKA illegal!

I understand. If any other Celadon drivers feel the same level of loyalty that @laaylor has demonstrated over the last couple of years, you may feel the desire to deliver that last load after the doors close for good.

But ask yourself this: Has the current upper management of Celadon shown you loyalty? Have they made a genuine effort to save your jobs? Because it looks to me like many of them bled the company dry financially while lying to you all, fully expecting to hang all of you out to dry once the money well dried up.

DO NOT risk your license, your career, and possibly your freedom! If what remains of Celadon's operations staff cannot provide you with a proper (and legal) plan to get you and your equipment returned, then you are on your own. DO NOT accept a load that may potentially have you running after operations cease. You do NOT owe that to the company.