Central Refrigerated Truck Stop

Hey Pool... Leasing isn't a bad thing but there is a lot to learn and you should start building up your bank account now. Being a team you will be better off but it is still tough. Once you go lease at Central you cannot go back to company thats the only stipulation. For now drive your truck as if you were owner operator. Keep track of everything and see how you do. Figure about $1000 a week for your truck payment and ins. and permits. Don't forget to account for fuel. No fuel surcharge on deadheads. Keep track of your other stuff such as tolls, scales (about 3 a week), truck washes (2 a month) health ins., food, maintenance, hotels, parking when at home, etc... See how you do. Also start educating yourself on the business aspect. You need to know how to run a business in order to succeed. The OOIDA website has a lot of good info and links to help you. Another thing to consider is that you need to put money aside for truck payments when you go home for time off. Taking home time usually messes up your pay for three weeks. Slowing down going home, while at home, and slow getting back going. I am not positive but I think the going O/O rate for Central drivers is .86 or so. You are also going to want to practice refining your driving. No dry turns, go slower around your corners and curves this really eats up tires and tires are expensive. Also practice your braking. Brakes are costly too! The longer you can make these things last the more money you will make. The number one thing to work on is burning fuel. There are so many things you can do to minimize your fuel consumption. Going slower, shifting sooner, idle time, routing etc... Refining your driving will really increase your take home pay. Good luck man!

 

I try to stay away from Comifornia. The midwest is were I like to run most of the time. I am up in the Northwest right now and miss all the farm land and flat ground. Mountians are pretty, but I dont miss them when I am not in them.

 

Oh well - just a thought... however if you DO find yourself this way, keep it in mind... Hubby is with his trainer now - when I get done we aren't planning on hitting CA regularly until Aug (first grandchild due) - so not hitting CA during training isn't a biggy for me. One of the reasons (one of many) we are changing careers is to get out of CA - LOL!

 

Thanks Chompi, excellent info we will definitely follow this advice and work on it for the first yr!

 

With my current location, it would be really easy to hit fontana. I just dont wanna run solo for the next 3 weeks. I like it, but I also really enjoy training new people. I would love to be a teacher, I just cant stand being in a class all day.

 

I wad told by owner ops when I started my lease that I could go be a company driver again after the lease is completed or I find someone to take over the lease. But that depends on your service record though.

 

Hey Road, the hubby and I will be ready to go on the following Weds. (as long as we pass our tests coming up this wk). We are team training, hoping to find a trainer with a 387, we're gonna need the room considering there will be 3 on a truck!!

 

I have a 387. I really like the room they have. A guy I know has a prostar and I have seen it and did not like it. I hope you do pass. If you have made it this far, just be safe, aware, and you will do fine. The tests are not that hard. Just do like the intructors tell you on the backing, and dont do anything unsafe on the driving and you will pass. If your backing is not the best, it is the trainers job to get you good at it. I saw a few when I went through the class that the backing was scary and they passed. I also saw 2 that the driving was scary and thankfully they did not pass. Good luck to you.

 

I got a message from my dispatcher the other day because they were looking for Refresher trainers at heartland.
I have been thinking about it, but not sure if I can or not, for several reasons.
One, I have only been here a little over a year.
Two, I had an indecent/ accident last Apr. So i do not know how long after that before they would let me.
Three, I do not have e-logs yet. And I am guessing that they will want trainers to have them. So they can teach the refresher drivers.
I do not think that the trainers are paid mileage for the trainee's. But I am really not sure how it works here at all. Since I do not believe they charge the trainee's either.

I guess that is how Heartland plans to start filling some of these empty trucks. We are short drivers bad in almost all regions. So they are getting this refresher program back up and full steam ahead again. So they can fill some seats with experienced drivers that have been out of a truck for 6 months to a year and a half.

 

My husband is thinking about leasing a truck. We have heard good and bad about Leasing with Central but all anyone can tell us is that Central lies to people... ok so common sense and get everything in writing... Does anyone have any advice on this either way? Also he is looking at getting a freightliner cascadia. He has been told by a few people with this truck that it is getting about 8mpg, I assume this is high for these trucks? It looks like a nice truck from thier website... Thanks.