Central Refrigerated Truck Stop II

you would think companies would know how to load a trailer after all day and 3 different attempts now i have to wait till 400 for them to fix it again cause for some reason they need a break

 

Hey Arkansas. Looks like you are figuring out why many drivers never finish the first year.
Even with reading these forums, talking to people, researching the field. You do not know.
No way you can know till you are here. Somewhere in the back of your mind you are thinking "it's just driving, how hard can it really be?"

Well it can be hard. The days and nights on the road can get long and grueling at times. You have nothing to do in that cab driving down the road accept drive and think. If you do not have everything inline at home and working, then you will go insane. As you saw those months after you found out about the breast cancer. (I hope she is doing well)

We come out here, give up our home lives for a small to moderate paycheck. Working 60+ hours per week, every week. Doing a job that has to be done.
Those that make it the first few years may say they love it, may say they hate it, but they would do nothing else. Unless you could pay me to fish or ride my harley, I would change jobs for that.

Keep your chin up and keep rolling.
Always be happy and friendly when you talk to shippers. When they turn the cold sholder and say "we will get to you in a few hours" be nice. "Ok, sure that is no problem, I will be in my truck."
Sometimes the positive attatude will get them to you faster. Be ready with a smile. It makes even a-holes feel better. Heck, I don't even care if they feel better thinking I am an idiot driving this truck. As long as they feel better.

For the guy looking for advice on other companys.
I would check on Swift. They are the brunt of allot of jokes. But they have more freight than any other company in the US. And they have many dedicated jobs you an move into that pay well and get you home.
I have heard there driver areas at terminals have been updated well also, and they have decent support.
Are they perfect? nope. Is Central? Nope. Is Heartland (where i am at the moment) Nope. Was my flatbed carrier I was at between? Nope, but it was pretty darn close lol.
There are some good company's around, most of those are small. Loads are short haul, most under 500 miles. So I pick up and deliver loads every day. Sometimes more than one.
But it is work and I am home weekly with an ok pay check.

I have actually not made as much money as I did my last year at Central since I left. They are a training company, but I got on Kraft when it was paying .40 cpm and always ran 3000+ miles per week. My net was over 50k, and that was at Central as a company driver.
The loads and money is there if you work for it and keep your eyes open. And it helps allot to live in the right lane. But the right lane for Central is almost anywhere on I-80, I-70, I-40, I-64 etc
Keep your nose up and a positive attatude. And keep the greasy side down.

 

Matt I don't think you will have a problem getting a nonsmoker. I get called by training almost begging me to take smokers, so I think their issue is finding trainers to take smokers.

Big rigg bought his own truck about 8mo ago and is hauling household goods in CA. He said he loved it, last time I talked to him was November.

 

I just want to say I love the sight and all the great information everyone has to offer. Just trying to pass the time until my wife and I start training in Utah in a few weeks and was curious... Are the pay periods from Sunday to Saturday and what day of the week does your paycheck actually get deposited in your account? Thanks again.

 

I've got a griddle and aluminum foil. Think that could work?

However if icetrain is pulling a dry van who wants warm beer?

 

Any of you guys carry a small grill with you for truck stop grilling?

 

warm beer??? Man where I'm at its 25 outside. Lol. I'll just open the doors for a bit. It's still winter up here in northern WI.

 

Man I'm enjoying the high 60's over here in Stockton, CA. Could be a better location but the weather is great!

 

All this snow and cold weather is about to kick this southern boys butt. I deal with this crap every year and I complain every year. LoL. Nothing new.

 

Man. My last trip before hometime I drive through snow to get there, my first trip back and it's 90-friggin-degrees out. Isn't there supposed to be a season between winter and summer?

Head from Southern Arizona to Washington this trip-- think I should keep my jacket ready.