Carolina Cargo is everything you've heard!

CRE primarily runs teams. It's also a reefer operation, lol.

 

You're absolutely right but I'm doubting those teams are running as many miles as Carolina Cargo....I just don't understand why people are making comments about Carolina Cargo when they obviously don't know how they operate. I am not suggesting this company to the average person by any means but for those that have backgrounds or screwed up mvr's this could be a LAST resort to get that individual out of there slump. Again Carolina Cargo will run you as much as you can handle and that's how you will make money.

 

And I'm not arguing with you about Carolina Cargo being a Hail Mary company for drivers with nowhere to go. I'm just saying felons don't fit into that category unless there is something else going on with their past.

You don't have to tell me how CC operates. I've been there, done that. The most aggravating trip I had there was when we loaded at Sara Lee in Virginia (hand loaded boxes of cakes top to bottom, took hours), then went to West Covina where we had to sit for 2 days while they lined up our reload. When I got to the shipper in West Covina, I had to back into a spot that was built for a straight truck 1/3 the length of mine, dodging a dumpster with my trailer and a shed with my cab. That was no joke considering it was in an alley.

Fun times.
.

 

Here's something to think about. First, I know for a fact that Carolina Cargo's CSA score is a 99 because I work for them and had a Level 3 DOT inspection in Oregon. The female inspector (who was very nice and professional) printed out their score sheet and gave it to me. Second, I had applied to Western Express and was nearly hired until I told them who I currently worked for. The recruiter said they had a "no hire" policy for anyone who currently worked for CC. She said there are several other companies (she didn't mention names) who had similar policies. So it seem that if you do work for CC you have to work there forever, or sacrifice your driving career. That's pretty bad!

 

Carolina Cargo is the absolute worst bottom feeder of them all. And I yell at Chinatown every time he puts them on his lists. Nobody, not even hardened felons should be taken advantage of that way, and the company shouldn't even be in business. .10 per mile in old junk trucks with old junk trailers and barely a training program for these people. I would never recommend Carolina Cargo to anyone, not even an enemy. Some people think that it's ok to recommend them as a second chance company. Absolutely not. If you work there after reading the NUMEROUS posts about them then there is no help for you. I really think the mods should put an asterisk by their name or have a disclaimer on the Carolina Cargo threads. I really mean that. The worst of the worst and it's only a matter of time before something really bad happens or they are finally shut down by the FMCSA, and I hope their shut down before anything happens.

 

I really don't know how they have managed to stay afloat as long as they have already. This past January two trucks flipped on their side on exit ramps...in the same week! They were not the same drivers. How does a company with a 99 CSA score stay in business after that? Get this, both trucks were patched up and placed back into service from parts off of other trucks in their boneyard. I really feel as though Jim Crowder is paying off someone in the FMCSA. I sat in my office at home one day trying to figure out how to get better equipment affordably in this company. Finally I had a suggestion that I ran past the driver manager. We have a handful of 2012s on the road. They get about 3.3 mpg better than the rest. That equates to about $40,000 in fuel savings per year. That's a good portion of the cost of a 2012 Freightliner. They can't do it. Because of the 99 CSA score they can't afford to put full coverage on financed trucks, even for only 12-18 months. That's why they keep gluing trucks back together and keeping them on the road. But they have been losing contracts because they keep breaking down. They try really hard to put the blame on their drivers. Accidents usually are the driver's faults. But most of the breakdowns happen due to faulty equipment. I've notified our shop about an air line issue on a trailer once. When I found it it was only a $200 problem. 1,800 miles later it became a $6,000 problem when the trailer brakes caught fire and lack of trailer brakes made the tractor brakes severely overheat. They tried real hard to blame my co-driver for it. $200 and 30 minutes in the shop could have prevented it all. They won't tell you to drive on with the problem but, if you make a big issue out of it, they will suddenly make you wait a week or more for loads to get even. It takes hours to days for maintenance to respond to you. Trying to get in touch with anyone else at the shop is about the same as trying to hit the lottery. The more important the reason is that you need someone the less likely it is they will respond to you.

 

It looks like a lot of people are saying a lot of crap about Carolina Cargo, and im sure it's well deserved. But im not seeing anyone recommending another company. To many companys are looking for the perfect person, worried to much about the persons background instead of being concerned if the driver and do the job. I have 6yrs driving experience with a perfect ontime record, and no accidents. Got into trouble in march 2004 and just got off parole. Having a very hard time myself finding a company that will hire me based on my former experience. But no, they want the perfect little person regardless of their experience. thanks for the venting session and you peeps have a good and safe day.

 

Good luck driver they all get in your bizness and dont care about privacy they aint saints so why do we hafta be

 

I agree completely. Fuel prices started that trend. To offset fuel costs companies made deals with insurance carriers to hire only those who have experience and a perfect background. In exchange the insurance carriers gave them greatly reduced insurance premiums.

 

Not even my former company Knight Transportation would hire me back and that's sad. I was with them for a year before my arrest in march 2004. My only hope now seems to be Central Refriderated fingers crossed. Otherwise I may have to go to Indiana to Celadon Trucking. Gotta get back in the big seat.