New CDL in Denver- where to go?

Denney Transport, LTD | Interstate Freight Carrier

 

Actually, I am not sure I agree with that at all. I didn't look at "driver's" reviews, but their customers. If they have a terrible track record with customers like those companies I mentioned, I think it's fair to assume they won't take care of their drivers if they don't take care of their customers. Any company that has a 2.3 rating with customers kind of speaks volumes about what they are really like. Good companies will also reply back to all the negative company reviews and that can be mitigated properly if you (the company) isn't truly at fault all the time. I am certified in Social Media management and can tell a bit more based on reviews from customers about a company and more importantly, how a company responds to such reviews. I have seen some companies challenge their negative reviews to weed out the people that are truly just vindictive people, butt hurt, whatever, and that speaks volumes too if it's just not a generic response. Generic responses also give insight into how the company really deals with things if you can discern properly. Bad customer reviews coupled with bad driver reviews says a lot to me. Besides, if they are a good company, they can simply ask their drivers to leave honest reviews about their experience and that could counter the negative reviews if they truly are a good company. You don't need to beg folks to do if you are reputable and treat people decsent.

I thought of doing this about the truck stop thing. I might actually do this if I get some free time. My schedule is limited and I don't live close to one, but I might do this. I currently walk up to Drivers now wherever I see them and ask them for insight, advice, and the big question, "if you had to do this all over again, would you still go into trucking? Why or why not?" That usually opens the door to some pretty good conversations. That's how I actually ended up getting my CDL. I have heard both good and bad stories from folks.

OK. Thanks for all the good info and insight.

 

It says this on their website:

"Must have a minimum of 2 years verifiable experience (Class A CDL)"

Do you find this to not be necessarily true? I haven't been applying to anywhere that uses the word "must" in their job posting as to not waste their time or my own. I do apply when it says, "preferred X amount of time driving," but not when it says "must."

Thoughts?

 

Customers complaining about trucking companies don't mean much if anything. You'll learn that after you start driving. They all like to complain about truck drivers and won't hesitate to lie. If we truck drivers believed Google or any other reviews, there wouldn't be any truck drivers. One company complained about me because I wouldn't steal a case of orange soda off the truck and give it to the guy helping me unload. Lots of nitwits in the USA that think they're special. If you let reviews guide you, you'll be a procrastinator and never be satisfied in this profession.

 

Yup. Within our reviews, we have 4 average to bad ones on Google. The complaints? One gave no info, other than 1 star. One complained 3 years ago that our washout in Ohio took too long for someone to come wash his trailer out and the yard jockey wouldn't do it (not his job). One complained 2 years ago that his assigned truck smelled like smoke so he quit after 14 hours (we would have kept him here an additional day and run the ozone machine, had he asked) and his fuel card wasn't working for the CAT App (we tell everyone to test it at the scale down the street before leaving on their first trip to ensure its working before they hit the road). The final one? A complaint 2 years ago thinking one of our drivers was taking his 30 in front of a fuel island a couple years back (maybe, maybe not, don't know the specifics).

The funniest review was that the contracted cleaning company had an employee write a review 3 months ago saying the cleaning ladies do a wonderful job!

When you search our company here, the only complaints you find is a driver left for medical reasons and when he wanted to drive for us again, we didn't have a truck available for him (in 2009) and then my ask me anything thread. Oh, yeah... there was also a driver who got terminated for safety violations bad-mouthing in a couple threads in 2008. Can't get 2 OOS orders within a year, you're going to find yourself headed to your couch.

That's why I said not to look at online reviews for trucking companies, you will always find negative, whether true or not.

 

One time there was a complaint about me being lazy and refusing to help unload the truck. Almost was fired over it.
Supposedly, the store manager told the terminal manager how lazy I am and all I did was stand on the dock and smoke cigarettes. I had quit smoking about 20 years prior to that.
I was sent back to the same store again, so I confronted the store manager. He had no idea what I was talking about. Found out some effeminate guy in the produce department made the complaint and identified himself as the store manager.

 

I don't read reviews and couldn't care less what reviews have.
I don't ask too many questions either when changing companies. Main interest is pay structure and freight lanes. If I like those two, then I'm good to go.

 

I don’t know on city drivers? Do have some places that are a pain to get in and out of the dock. So need to be good at backing. Even with a day cab. I rationalize only 2 for city?
We have contracts with companies hauling out of Denver.
I was hired requiring 3 years of experience OTR. You need it. Deal with all kinds of deliveries. From old plantations (absolutely beautiful) in Loosy Anna. To downtown Boston. To a building under construction in Brooklyn. To the top of a mountain in Ca. (Water tanks) … Then the backhauls from all kinds.
Have to deal with… just had a “problem” with a “woke” generation Z-er at a major chemical plant. Pulled his chain by asking him if he wanted me to unload it too? When the problem got back to the office. Am sure they were very happy I offered to unload. Even though I’m required to do nothing but hit the dock with open doors.
I’ve had a cherry picker run his boom into my trailer. Pick something up. I drove out from under it.
All kinds of stuff. Really like my job.
Yes sometimes have to go to one of those store DC’s. Deliver in middle of night.
So yes… you need experience. They won’t hire you without. Need to know what you’re doing with a minimum of hand holding.

 

When they require experience. They expect you to handle things because of your experience.
My very first run with this company. The toll booths weren’t working in Indiana. I rationalize they were frozen. Below zero. Electronic payment through cab, no. My own credit card at booth, no. Pushed button to talk to their main office. They took my credit card verbally. At least the receipt printer worked. I came back on US20 to avoid toll. Thievery $34 for 80 miles. I knew company would just refund me. I took care of it.
Then… I was called one time to re power a load. Sit in Ohio and wait. This guy had a problem with automatic payment at toll booth. He couldn’t handle it. Called the company. Wasted a bunch of time. Wasn’t going to get the load there in time. This load has people flown out to unload and receive it for the customer. So they were hoping to get it there in time. He was way later than expected even to me. This guy didn’t keep working there.
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You’ll also get some cute ones. Pulled up to a agriculture inspection station. Gal asked what I have? I said: Carts. She said: What? I said: Carts. She sarcastically said: Give me your BOL. She looked at it and said: Carts!? Ok go ahead.

 

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