I always said I would be honest

Optimus you have shown you have character and that is something that seems to be lacking these days. Just wish you could have been at Arrow a few years ago when times where better. Best of luck on your career.

 

I dont believe Arrow will be out of business in a year, but I will tell you that they are definitely doing things on the cheap. I just finished orientation with them last week and delivered a load on Monday. I took two days at home and I'm back out now.

Why do I say they are doing things on the cheap? Trying to save a buck anywhere?

1. REALLY old trailers with portable winches. My advice: step into the 21st century and buy aluminum split axle trailers with coil packages and SLIDING WINCHES.

2. Stop making drivers buy winch bars, bungees, 2-inch straps, etc. This is beyond cheap. It's rediculous.

3. The insurance is absolutely garbage. $1500 deductible per person or $4500/family per year. That is absolutely rediculous. Obviously, they dont want to pay for insurance. If you buy it, your either desperate or cannot read. Thank God for Tri-Care.

4. The truck I'm in (Freightshaker) is a piece of junk. 506,000 miles on it and it's falling apart. Literally. The interior had to be detailed (by me) because the last slob who lived in it didnt bother cleaning up after himself. This truck needs to be replaced. Now.

5. There is NO direct deposit. It is more like "Indirect Deposit". They pay you to the Comdata card, then you have to call every Friday morning to transfer the funds to your bank account, which will usually take place on the following Monday or Tuesday. Your just screwed for the weekend unless you want to use your Comdata card for expenses.

6. Only ONE Person was sent home from orientation because of hot drug tests. One former van driver wanted two weeks of orientation to learn more about securement because he was unsure. They forced him to take a truck and get out on the road. The training is ok, but leaves out a lot. They do cut corners during the test out for securement. In other words, if you show that you have a clue, your going to pass. They want you on the road. BTW, the food served at Orientation was the most disgusting food I've ever eaten, and I say that after having been in the Marine Corps for 10 years.

7. The hotel for orientation smells like pee and is a dump. The desk clerks at the hotel are rude and unprofessional. The hotel is about a half mile from any food, and that food is only fast food. If it's cold, it's gonna suck walking there. One desk clerk told me that one of the cab companies I called to go to Wal Mart will not come to that hotel because Arrow owes them $8000. The cab you get from the airport to the hotel smells, has laundry detergent sprinkled on the floor of the rear seat (because of puke presumably), and has a driver that desperately needs a shower. (he has stains on the drivers seat that appears to me to be from him peeing himself instead of stopping to use the bathroom). No tip for him.


We'll see how the pay is. I'm on SW Regional on 26%. The loads are definitely different than I'm used to hauling (TMC, Garero Trucking), so I'm also learning new securement techniques for the odd loads that they haul. I'm going to run hard to make some bucks.

 

OK ... So I'm supposed to be going to Arrow's Orientation on the 24th. Should I be considering a different route?

 

Depends on how much experience you have. If you have some, I would go elsewhere.

BTW, there is no such thing as 7 out, 2 home like they advertise for SouthWest. "It's just a guideline". Likewise, my adherance to their fuel and routing policies are also now no more than a "guideline".

I'll be hanging out for another month or so, then I'll be turning in this POS beat-the-crap-out-of Columbia. They ran me to Dallas from NC, nice load, then I spent three days running crap local runs for next to nothing. When I told them it was time to go home, there were "no loads".

One of my little runs included routing that took me 90 miles away from the consignee in the middle of nowhere. Could have been a same day delivery, but I got lost instead. Dont EVER trust their routing or fuel stops. Top off your tanks at every authorized fuel point you can. There is nowhere to fuel in East Texas and you'll end up running out of fuel. Trust me.

I finally got a run from Lone Star to Wheeler TX, then from Dallas to Laredo, where I'll sit and wait for a Freightliner Frame Rail load home to NC. I'm going to put pressure on them to get me to Laredo regularly. That account pays very well.

Shoulda stayed at TMC. I'm an idiot and I'm paying for it.

 

Man that musta been some really nasty stuff.

I know my wife and cousin flat REFUSED to eat the meal served during graduation ceremonies, when I was in the Navy and I was like...give it to me. LOL

I learned to eat stuff I never touched in my life, thanks to the Navy.

 

Get this.

They pay for idle aire, but only for 8 hours per day. Now, I know thats more than most companies do, but think about it for a minute........

Pull in, hook up to Idle Air, or just pull in the spot and go grab something to eat and get back to the truck THEN turn on Idle Air....... Then you have what, 9 hours left on your 10, right? Guess what happens at the end of 8 hours? Yep..... everything shuts down. Heat, air conditioning, electricity, everything. If your on a 34 hour reset it sucks that much more. I watch TV Saturday night until the wee smalls. Wake up around 9:30am Sunday morning freezing my jewels off because Idle Air shut down at 5:30. So, I guess I have to get up and move the truck somewhere I can idle, right?

Screw it. I no longer plan my driving day by where idle aire is. Yeah, they are going to pay more for fuel for this barge-jockey. Sorry. Just bought a nice TV antennae for the tv. Unfortunately, I'm going to burn through fuel like a maniac during a 34. Fortunately, I wont have to pay for it. But I wont have to wake up and move the truck or pay for idle air myself.

 

no, i dont think arrow is going out of business, just making some bad choices right now. yall are right about the trailers not being dropped at customers in tulsa (valmont, aaon). however, picked up a preload outta new holland pa monday, and guess what? 17 empty spreads where sitting there. and only two loads came outta there. doesnt make much sense too me to piss off accounts that have been your bread and butter for years, just to land a big name account that aint gonna help ya that much.