Central Refrigerated Truck Stop II

Two part post here

Part 1
Yesterday after my 10 hr break I started driving. I was up early so was waiting for the clock to change to start. It changed to 0815 and my 14 and 11 changed now I could start driving so I did. Had been driving for 1 1/2 hrs and while still driving all of a sudden the qualcom says you have 1 hr left of drive time. So I pulled over at a the next rest area and looked at the logs. They now said I started out at 0814 so only had a 9hr 59min break. Called safety and they just had an update from qualcom so it probably changed the time also. So now had to sit at the rest area for 2hrs to get drive time back. Has anyone else ran into this problem before? Would have been okay but I forgot to log on line 4 for pre trip before starting out. If I had done that could have changed my log in time.

Part 2
Just wondering I'm delivering in Mira Loma CA tomorrow and I live in Corona CA. I have been running the recap for the last month and have not been home since Thanksgiving. So was wondering can I drive back to the Fontana yard after delivery and go home for my 34hr reset?

 

For part 2... Put your Mac 6 out... And let your DM know you need a 34 BEFORE you get there and they put a load on you... You can leave your truck there in the yard (I would use the gated side)... Just make sure you put on the QC that you will be away from the truck and your contact info... Also the day before and the day of your return call your DM for any possible load info.

 

And this is a perfect example of the HUGE problem in this industry, not just Central. The pay structure makes a frustrating situation even more frustrating because not only are you having a bad day, but you are not getting paid during your bad day.

The solution? Look how the tanker companies handle this: A split pay system of mileage pay and hourly pay for non driving time. This way you get paid to deal with the truck problems. Its part of our job to deal with these things so we should deal with them like professionals and get paid for it like everyboy else. A split pay system works well for situations like this. After seeing it work in person, I can't believe we don't have it on the refrigerated side yet.

I don't know if we are going to lose BolloxReader over this, but if we do we need to ask how much is it going to cost to replace him? To recruit, hire, and train a new driver. Would it not be cheaper (not to mention more fair) to have a pay structure that pays him for time spent working out the problems with this truck than to have him get frustrated and leave?

 

As a company driver... Yeah, it would be nice... However... Central is a 'starter' company, and IMO they make money with new driver turn over... Students still have to pay for their schooling and if they leave early, Central doesn't have to pay their portion... They talk about retention, and if you do good and don't complain and make it past that first 6 months or so, they will work with you... But if you toss your towel in, they won't try to talk you out of it... It is the business they are in...

 

when it comes to money.

produce can't compare to liquid.

 

A while back I posted about how I had been out for several months at a time without home time. I clearly stated that this was my option to do so, however it has been brought to my attention that some may think this is Central's policy. IT IS NOT. They will get you home when you need it. I'm not sure what the official policy is but is normal for most trucking companies. I have never had a problem getting home when I want to. I have no wife or kids to take care of or see so I stay out until I need a break and request to go home for a couple of days. If my mind and body could take it I would stay out 6-8 months at a time. I stay out because I can and because I like it on the road. After 2 days at home I'm ready to go back. So if I mislead anyone I'm sorry was not my intention to do so. I was simply stating that if you can stay out for longer periods of time then there is more money to be made. If you need to get home for the family's sake you can do that also Central will work with you that's one of the things I like about them. Like just now I had a load that went by my home town and had been running the recap so asked if it was fine to take a 34 hr restart at home. Had no problems and I count that as my home time so next home time sometime in June or July. Anyway once again I'm sorry if I mislead anyone Central's home time is the same you will find anywhere for most of the OTR companies and they will work with you when you need to get home.

 

That is the normal SOP for Smithfield. Those idiots can't tell their blow holes from their bellybuttons. I've seen O/O's get pissed and just pull out of the lot with their middle finger out the window. Guarantee if you go on their lot, you will find at least 10 trucks that have been there close 24 hours.

Oh... and they DO pay detention.

 

good company I have been told but who knows

 

I am sure that you and Snowwy are both right, LadyK. And I guess that just makes me sad because I remember the good old days.

Its hard to imagine now, but not that long ago we were a big company that felt like a small one. It felt like we were all in this together and it was us against the world.

Kinda miss that...

 

KNOCK KNOCK,,, just put in my application with central. Fresh out of 220hrs of tech college in south georgia. newbie at 46 years of age. Just live 90 miles south of orientation. I've seen a central truck in Buena Vista Ga. everyweek while I went to school. Anyone know who it is? Anyone tell me about orientation and driver training? Will they let me take the wife after training? Thanks for any responses.