Penske Trucking? Any feedback?

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Six9GS, May 28, 2021.

  1. Six9GS

    Six9GS Road Train Member

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    Friend of mine, guy I went to Swift Academy with, is looking to go to work for them. It's a local gig in a day cab paying hourly wage.
    I told him I'd look to see if I can find anything on them from here, But I don't seem to find anything on here about them. So, IDK. Anyone got any experience working for them and were they any good to work for?
     
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  3. Studebaker Hawk

    Studebaker Hawk Road Train Member

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    The info is a little dated, but as far as I know nothing has changed.
    I went to work for Penske Logistics in 1997, first as a driver, then recruiter and was promoted to supervisor. They do contract logistics, trucking, warehousing, supply chain management, and have been doing it for a long time. They are one of the largest and most stabile in the business.
    They were always fair to me, and I left them for personal reasons, nothing to do with them. I considered going back to them several times.
    Lots of opportunities, they have operations all over the country, even overseas. It is a conservative company, they expect performance from their management and drivers. Meaning operations are by the book, kind of like Walmart in that respect. Pay and benefits are above average. I would not hesitate to recommend them if you can accept working by their structured rules. If you are independent minded, look elsewhere.
     
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  4. Six9GS

    Six9GS Road Train Member

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    Thanks for the info. I could deal with the by the book and structured stuff, but my friend's a young kid (24) and I pretty sure that'll be difficult for him. He's a good kid, kinda why we stayed in touch. But, still trying to find his way. He's a good driver but being on the road is difficult for him because it's almost impossible to have a social life. At 61 I prefer not having a social life. But, when you're 24, a social life is kinda important. So, he's been looking to find a local job and get off the OTR stuff. He found this place, asked me my opinion and I told him I'd see what I could find out about them.
    Thanks for your feedback. I'll pass it on to him (FYI, being 24, he's more of a Instagram, Tik Tok person than "old school" forums like this.
     
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  5. buddyd157

    buddyd157 Road Train Member

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    i'd be very careful of such companies as Penske logistics, Ryder Logistics, Ruan Logistics.

    at Ryder, they had the CVS account. when you finished ONE trailer, you had to go back and get a second one. a third one was optional.

    after dealing with some of those dedicated accounts, trying to find the freight for each store, in a mish-mashed loaded trailer, you were done at half way thru the trailer, and wanted to go home.

    wanna know what happened to Ryder and CVS..??

    the job at CVS was so horrible, Ryder had a constant job ad in the local newspapers DAILY..!!

    then someone else, Cardinal Logistics took some of that account...it is NOT a job for the faint of heart.

    his best bet would be a driver-leasing company, that he can work ONE job and if he likes it, stays there, or goes to another. at those other companies i have mentioned, it is NOT always easy to say you don;t "like" that account, as they may (or may not) have another driver to take the run, they put you onto.

    so what does that mean?

    he's STUCK...unless he walks off the job, then he's FREE of the BS.

    i worked dedicated jobs, but not for any of the above, and i was MUCH happier.
     
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  6. Studebaker Hawk

    Studebaker Hawk Road Train Member

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    You are absolutely correct, and the rest of your explanation is accurate. When I was a recruiter for Penske there were certain accounts we simply could not service, turnover rates high, customer demands unreasonable.
    On the other hand, the main account I worked for, a dedicated GM parts supply chain with 120 drivers in 5 terminals in 5 states had a waiting list for drivers who wanted to work there.
    I asked upper level management about it one time. The guy was very honest. He said: "The customer doesn't always show us the weenie". In other words they negotiated a contract in bad faith, and it wasn't until Penske ( or Ryder, Ruan, or any other dedicated contract carriage outfit) actually took over they discovered "the weenie" . So they were stuck with it until the end of the contract, or someone renegotiated and figured out how to solve the problems.
    So I will add to the discussion, find out how long the 3PL (third party logistics provider) has been at that account. Less than a year, tread carefully. If they have been there for several years, probably much better.
    Not much different than going to work for any new employer. There is a level of risk and chance involved.
     
  7. ncmickey

    ncmickey Road Train Member

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    I think @RoadCall used to work for them….
     
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  8. Eldiablo

    Eldiablo Heavy Load Member

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    Depends on the account. Some suck some don’t. Pays about the same way. I worked there for about 1.5 years. They asked me about going to another town to help out and I said sure for x amount a day plus motel. They didn’t need help to bad. I left for a better paying job.
     
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  9. Rideandrepair

    Rideandrepair Road Train Member

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    Penske started out, when GM spun off their Trucking. Like many other Subsidiary’s . Delco, American Axle, Detroit Diesel, etc. They always hiring around here. Pay could be better. Never interested Me. Which I knew more. I bought a Trailer from them. Good maintenance program.
     
  10. rpad139

    rpad139 Heavy Load Member

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    company i work with has a fleet of penske sleeper cab trucks. penske does not service their trucks, poor equipment maintenance program. they have no business doing commercial vehicles.
     
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  11. Dennixx

    Dennixx Road Train Member

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    Worked for Penske back in the 90s on the Chrysler account. Weekend work to supplement my fulltime job. No supervision or oversight and before HOS rules. Would stop at the shop after work and pu a sleeper tractor, different one each week, and bt to warehouse to grab trlr, keyring w 300 keys and a 2 inch stack of bills. Run off 25 to 30 stops at dealers in NE or SD or ND w a lift gate single axle trailer. As long as paperwork was correct and matched the logs and returns nobody ever said a word. Would make around $900 for the trip.
    Lost the gig when Exel took the contract.
     
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