Central Refrigerated Truck Stop

Man, I feel so stupid. I need to be more pro-active with what I'm doing. I initially was going to call and try to do that. But then I thought my DM knows, he'll handle it. I didn't want to step on anyone's toes.

I've got to remember it's easier to ask for forgiveness than it is permission.

Thanks for the insight.

Hey, if Central finds out I learn stuff on this forum will they charge me for additional training? And if so, how many cents a word will you guys get to keep?

 

I'll have to try that. But the more I think about it, I'm getting pressure to mac11 right away. My DM has told me it looks good and if I don't mac11 soon I'll lose the load.

Like you said it's hard to trip plan while your driving. Unless I break down, I seem to have a harder time with getting to the 01 on time. But each time the magic "you have a window" for pick up comes across the QC. I've had 4 loads in the last two weeks that had anywhere from 120 to 380 dh miles to get to the 01. That eats up time. I always figure for my breaks when I mac6. I just dont think whoever looks at them, really looks at them.

But you guys are right. I just need to push back, do it the right way and tell my DM what I can do.

Thanks for the help.

 

I'm in a 2011 Freightliner Cascadia. Been doing good on miles average around 2300. My DM is great I like her and once she started trusting me she has been giving me better runs. She even sets me up for the weekends before she leaves on Fridays so I can run all weekend long. I was told before that I might loose a load if I don't mac 11 it but haven't yet. If I'm driving I'm not going to stop just to send in a mac 11. If you always know what your recap is then you have a good idea if you can do the load. I have had times when I was driving and the next load came in. I listened to it and knew that I could do. I didn't stop to send in a mac 11 but when I got the message from DM that they need mac 11 on preset I justed called her on the phone told her I could do the load and I would send mac 11 when I stoped. I think they get pressure from the planner for the mac 11s so they pass the pressure on to you. If you still can't work it out then call KC and he will help you out. He's a great guy and will work with you.

 

wow that deoenst seem like to many miles to me. hopefully it picks up. You must of done the lease program then huh?

 

You first mistake was thinking that the DM will change it .... LOL... They only send a request to C/S and ask them to change it. Some will but most will not because it is not worth there time.

2nd. Central Management is too self centered to even come on here... Most are too busy spending time kissing butts of their bosses to be bothered with us lowlife drivers....

Case in point: Got tired of the run-a-round I was getting from the DM's Manager. So I sent in a "Comment to Management" Mac on the QC. I get a phone call from my DM. She just got dumped on by her boss and was told to call me and clear it up. So I hung up the phone and called him directly. And of course being 'just a driver' he never answers the phone and I leave him a nice LONG voice mail message. An hour later he calls me back to tell me he has checked into the issues that I told him about and is jumped it onto another Manager....

LOL... Really, Managers of today, all they care about is kissing butts and climbing the ladder... You got to really feel sorry for them.

 

For a new driver I think its OK they don't give out the best to newbies till you have proven yourself. I'm fine with that is the same in any job. No lease company driver if I ever do become o/o will be in my own truck I bought with my own money not a lease to central

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I think a big part of the push to lease comes from the lease dept. Those guys are glorified car salesman and keep in mind, work off commission. So their only outlet or potential customers are company drivers and well current lease ops looking for a new truck. Therefore there seems to be a feel for being pushed to lease. I think it is just aggressive sales tactics to a limited audience. Plus who knows maybe Central has plans to become just a brokerage company.

 

The problem over at Central is that they "run as many loads as they can - period." That is their motto. Only mac 11 will make you responsible and libel. Another problem with this mind set is that the more experienced drivers DROP their loads at the yard (esp. in SLC) and PU "better" loads and run with them. This leaves the newbies and their DM's the problem of cleaning up after them. There is more to OTR than I-80.

 

When you have a company like Central that over hires and has trainees walking aimlessly around the SLC yard for a week or two without sufficient funds to eat excepts nab crackers and soda pop because there are not enough trainers (much less competent none abusive trainers at that) to take them out a training, what does this tell you about the connection between the office and the road?

 

The problem is that the majority of trainers are lease operators who unscrupuously use the trainees for their own profit. They make 88-90cpm for all miles the truck moves and are pleased as punch if they do 4200 miles per pay period. Man they are rolling! Actually, they are not. 6-7000 miles is average for a decent team.

When I was at Central in three short weeks I outdrove my trainer 9330 miles to 5383 miles. During this brief period we had two 34hr resets. I even passed a DOT level 1 inspection in Wisconsin.

There would be days my trainer would not even drive but would park the truck while I was asleep! We were never late and even had one rear trailer tire blow out that cost us three hours driving time in Nebraska waiting for the TA to come out and fix it.

Needless to say I don't work for Central any longer.