arnold orientation

I just quit this company! They are so disorganized there. Weekend dispatch is a joke. And so is the regular dispatch. The right hand NEVER knows what the left hand is doing. When they tell you they will do something, and the never do, you call them on it and then they play stupid. They have the worst up keep on their equipment. ALWAYS check DOT inspection stickers on trailers and for registrations. There was a solid month that 2 out of 3 trailers I'd pick up would have an expired inspection sticker. If you breakdown, they want to dictate what gets repaired on the truck instead of repairing the truck properly. There's been 30 plus accidents this month and I guarantee its from equipment failure or new drivers out on their own with not enough training. 150 hrs is NOT enough training to make you qualified to drive an 80K pound bullet down the road. A drunk monkey could pass their upgrade tests. They preach safety but all they care about is getting as many drivers in trucks and putting them on the road to run freight. This used to be such a respectable company to work for. Now you do good to get paid for the pro# you do without having to have a huge fight with them. RIDICULOUS!

 

Tell us how you REALLY feel!
I hear ya. I put in my notice last week, to Ben Smith by e-mail. He didn't even reply. No worries. new job starts this week.

 

Yeah isn't it funny how they blow up your phone and the driver tech when they want something but if you want or need something, you get ignored. I won't miss this company. The only reason I even got a response from Jimmy is because I told them they could come get the truck from my house. He's gonna pay me to take the truck to Austell and for my gas in my personal vehicle home. I'll probably have to fight them for that money too.

 

Let's just say that I've seen the same truck NOT move since early Friday afternoon (and I'm at home where they think I wouldn't notice that the truck across the street hasn't moved unless they REALLY paid attention)...and now it's Monday night. When I would ask for hometime, I was told "48 hours is all the planners will allow..." regardless if I spend 2 weeks or 20 out there...

Well guess what?

I DON'T DRIVE FOR THE F***ERS ANYMORE!!

But have they heard the last of me? I support the drivers, NOT the companies!!

 

I drove for arnold from January to march of this year..good training company. ..that's all I can say positive. ..oh and a cool dispatcher. .

 

Hey tl385, I'm laughing because I'm wondering if that was my truck you saw sitting. Probably not but it hasn't moved since last Monday afternoon. After all the BS they have given me since day one, I was out for 3 months and told them, no if's and's or but's, I was going home w/o a load for 4 days. And I'll be ###### if they hadn't dispatched a load to the truck the very next day. I refused the load and they tried 2 more times to give me loads on my home time. I finally had enough and told them very politely to stick it. And of course they ignored me until I sent them another email saying they could come get the truck themselves. Jimmy D called me himself to inform me that it would be considered abandoning equipment ad would go against my record, they would charge me for recovering the truck and would take me to court if I didn't pay the bill. I told em I didn't have a problem bringing the truck back as long as they paid for my time going to Austell and my fuel for my personal vehicle. He agreed to that but the shop was closed yesterday and I'm going to take it back today. I don't really care if it goes on my DAC since I'm completely done with trucking. I have health issues I cant get taken care of on the road and I'm just tired of the stress of it all. Ever since Link bought 51% of the company its gone to hell. I don't think they'll ever get it together. To many dumb chiefs and not enough intelligent indians. This company doesn't respect their drivers and its the drivers that are making them all the money. Stay safe out there Driver and keep it between the lines!

 

I guess since my thread has become a bash and whine fest, I'll make this my final report. When my wife had cancer surgery 3 weeks ago, Arnold made sure I got home an extra day(3 total) and I just got off having a 3 day Memorial weekend. Over 2000 miles even with the extra day off. Their tuition reimbursement program paid back every dime I spent to go to school. My Pete hasn't broke down once. Either I'm very fortunate or doing good PTIs works. There have been a few times when someone in dispatch has tried to pull something. What place have you worked where someone hasn't? And anytime large companies merge there is going to be problems and growing pains. Roll with it or roll out. They'll always find someone else to run that waterload to the DC or those recycled paper bales to the mill. For me, it's been and continues to be a good deal. I was able to rent a larger house, get caught up on all our medical bills, get good benefits, drive new reliable equipment, get doubles experience and be home weekends with my family and friends. Everyone's view of life(perception) is shaped by their education and experiences. I understand other people's path has been different than mine and I wish everyones experience with Arnold was as positive as mine has been. But ultimately, it will be up to you and where you are comfortable and what you can deal with or make work in your favor in life that will determine your ultimate happiness. Eyemout!

 

Actually, no, wasn't your truck I saw sitting. I saw this truck come in for a few minutes down the street from me (in TX) Tuesday or Wednesday and leave an hour later, then came back Friday night. As of last night (Monday), it was still there. About a week and a half ago, he was home for 2-1/2 days (Real-life days, not Arnold days). Yet I was told "48 hours hometime" no matter how many weeks I was out. Simply amazing!

 

I'm glad that Arnold has worked out for you...I'm always glad, regardless of my differences with any company, that a driver is happy where he/she is at. You share the same happiness with Arnold that I had with LinkAmerica. I wish things could have worked out better, because I know I will miss my FM...Allan is a great guy, and I made sure I mentioned that in my resignation letter that went not only to him, but HR, too.

I think a lot of the issue had to do with the merger...Link's drivers came in at a higher pay rate. Many of Arnold's pre-merger drivers were (and some still are) jealous of the guys making 3 to 6 or more cents more. Companies will do what they have to do turn turn as much profit as they can, and I think that's why I appear to have been squeezed out.

I never turned down a load unless I couldn't do it legally. I was always on time and complied with the customer's needs because I knew the customers on multiple levels, and other than an argument with a CSR one night, everything remained on a professional level. I don't think that argument had anything to do with the "squeeze" -- that was happening before the little spat.

Regardless, what's done is done, and I'm happy to know that there are Arnold drivers who are happy with their choice of company. Just like there's a seat for every butt, there is a company for every driver. A perfect company for me may not be the same as what's perfect for you. But you're happy there, and that's what's important.

Not sure if you're the "prayin' type," but I am, and I pray for your wifes recovery and healing, and safe travels for you.

 

do they have any Automatic "Ishift" or similar trucks?