Core Carrier Corp First Six Months

I figure its time to give back to the forum. I used this forum a ton while researching first truck companies to work for. I went to an accredited truck driving school in April of 2013... what a joke. Set me back $2900. These schools just prep you for your CDL test at the DMV. Most places are requiring school. Society being so litigious, if you go out and destroy life or property they want to say they took every step they could. On a side note, if you want to get rich just start a truck driving school. I'll save that for another thread....

School was six weeks. I used most my vacation pay and worked evenings and weekends. Worked out a deal with my boss, but he didnt know the whole story. I just said continuing education....blah blah blah. After I got my CDL. Two week notice and started with Core day after Memorial Day. Weird feeling walking away from a job you had worked comfortably at for five years. But only took a weekend off so my income didn't skip a beat.

In my research for starter companies I couldnt find anything on this company Core Carrier Corporation. They came down with all the other recruiters during school and I just added them to my Pros and Cons list I had been using to sort out the rif raff. All the usuall mega carriers sent someone down as well, and I was able to compile alot of data about each company. It was nice to have someone to probe with the questions their websites weren't answering. Any way at the end of school it came down to one decision. I only applied with two companies: Crete and Core.

There were two reasons I chose Core over all the other trucking companies. Non forced dispatch was the first one. This is huge. I wondered how it would play out just refusing loads, but its really not that bad. When I started I straight up told them I am NOT going to Chicago until I get some time under my belt. This worked out fine, then three months in they gave me a Chicage dispatch. I said no, they said stand by, thirty minutes later and I had an even better load out of Iowa. No big deal. I was also worried about being run to hard and having to get "creative" with the log. This company is still on paper logs. They have this problem of dispatching you on loads where you will deal with shippers or recievers during your ten hour break. I dont like to do that. Refused. Hour later new dispatch. They always seem to have tons of other freight. Now I dont refuse loads just willy nilly. I like to run, and yes I use the paper logs to my advantage when safe. I also run safer than most and would prefer an EOBR.

On the subjest of paper logs before I forget later. This company runs paper logs but has a satelite tracker in all the trucks. Basically you dont get any of the benefits of paper logs. I find it more of a headache to have to log it legal with a little snitch box to catch you falsifying your logs. On that note I have run over my 11 and 14 and nothing was said. I made the log look legal and didnt say anything, wasnt going to rat myself out.... I think they just randomly cross compare some logs with the satelite. I dont see them checking every log for correctness or I probably would have seen something in my mailbox at the terminal. I did hear about a DOT audit where they did cross compare here and there, but still. No way they could sit down and look at everybody for every minute. I digress. I can go more into that but on to reason two.

Reason two for joining Core over all the rest was the home time. If you want they will get you home for every reset. I started out like this. Then the new rule came into play and I didnt want to deal with that headache so I stay out two weeks now. Plus I didnt know how I'd take to OTR right out the gate. I didnt want to go with Crete and not come home for two months my first time out. I'm not saying thats always going to happen, but from what I heard it wasnt uncommon to not get home for a while.

So there you have it Non forced dispatch and home time were my deciding factors. Now, there was a lot about trucking I just didnt absorb in the beginning. It feels like everythings thrown at you and I was only worried about wrecks, DOT and 5-oh. Here are some other things about Core I didnt pick up till I got through the blinder stage. They had a pretty loose idle policy. Idle over 40% and your truck goes from 65 on cruise control 63 at pedal to 63 on cruise 60 at pedal. I dont understand the variance. I'd just assume have the cruise and pedal the same to keep drivers off cruise in inclement weather, but they should be slowing down anyway. No matter. You also get one cent per mile if you keep it under 40%. Kinda silly. Run 3k a week, thats thirty bucks to be miserable in the summer and frigid in the winter.... I lost my idle bonus first week. I didnt think much of it, except for the 2 mph slower kinda seems like a big deal.... lol. I didnt think much of it till we got a message on our onboard about high idle times. It was a fleetwide message and I havent heard anything since. Time will tell on that.

Another bonus is you can install your own inverter once you clear it with the shop first. The equipment is not that great. I run a 2006 International 9400i. Mid roof. Insulation is terrible. Super loud in the cab. I can now see why truckers always lean in when your talking to them... Lots of the trailers are pretty shady. If you need something fixed on your truck, it takes a few write ups to get fixed. Heres a quick run down of two issues I had with the shop. ABS light would not come on and go off as it should when you start the ignition. DOT will write you up for that so I requested it be fixed. I think it took three write ups to correct. All the while running it faulty. The other issue just recently seems resovled and went on for two months. Power steering seemed to have a problem. Truck was hard to steer, but was intermitten. Took a few write ups all the while running it like this, and they replaced the power steering pump. This did not correct the issue. Then they replace the gear box after a few more write ups. All seems great then I start getting this popping sound in the front end. Scared the crap out of me. A few more write ups, still popping.... I walk up with my last write up and told the safety director: Larry, this needs some of your attention. Picked up the truck after service two weeks ago, and the poppings sound is gone.... Wonder what it was but the shop guys arent there to teach you anything and let you know it.

A side note on Larry, Core's Safety director, great guy. He was the one that came down to our school. Very nice guy, laid back, and will go to bat for you. First thing he said when I was hired was its your CDL and your ### out there. You protect it and dont let anyone push you around. Great guy that Larry.

I feel like I'm rambling but feel free to ask me anything their company website doesnt already answer. Another thing to note. Core Carrier is like a sister corp to Sharkey Transport Inc out of Quincy, IL. Im often refered to as a Sharkey driver at places I pick up and deliver. There is another company called Sisbro, just like Core in that regard I believe. Another wierd thing is all the trailers and both shops, KCK and Quincy, are Shippers Rental Inc. All these companies doing the same thing. Kind of confusing some times. My guess is Sharkey is smart and created all the sub corps to shelter income. From what I hear the guy, Jack Sharkey, is loaded.

In a final remark. Core Carrier Corp offered me a job and an opportunity into trucking. I thank them for that and appreciate the work. I still think it was a good decision to work for them, and will probably stay the whole year unless I need more time saving up. I'm not too crazy about rolling around in the newest best equipment because I'm going the owner op route ASAP. The truck I'm in right now is in my price range. Better get used to it right??.. Every company seems to have the good and bad. I dont like some things and cant do without others. I have successfully completed six months solo OTR with Core. I'd recommend them for a first timer based on my two points above alone. If you never plan on going past company driver. Go with Crete or Roehl.

My 2 cents. Best trucking company would have:
Decent CPM on practical route miles. Core has HHG miles and sometimes they are way off. Kansas City, KS to Birmingham, AL 666 paid miles...WTF
Automatic Detention and Layover. Core No. You have to request it and it often gets denied or doesnt show up come payday..... grrrrr
Incidental pay like anything else. Core NO. There is alot to OTR work and if you add it all up your making a pretty poor rate per hour.
Good Benefits. Core has a PPO. I'm pretty healthy and dont know much about healthcare. 15 bucks a week I think. Dont quote me on that.
No forced per diem. Core does not have an opt out for the per diem scam most these comanies are running.
Non-forced dispatch. Core yes. This is pretty valuable.
Good quality equipment tractors and trailers. Core.... meh. it moves. Despite my gripes they have a good safety rating.
Pre Pass. Core Yes. Its green most days all day. Good scores.
Good Terminals. Core No. Gravel lot. Fine rock dust that gets everywhere. I can give more info for those truely interested.
APUs and Idle bonus. Core. they started purchasing old Celadon Pro stars with the diesel bunk heaters. No APUs. Weak idle bonus.
Fuel mileage bonus. Core No. This should be utilized by more companies. A driver can change the truck MPG easily just with driving habits.
Good Home Time. Core. Yes. I'll also mention they seem like the type of company that would move mountains to get you home for something. They were setting up relay after relay to get everyone home for Xmas. And they always ask me if i want off for every holiday. Turky day, New years...etc...

I'm sure I'm leaving a ton out and can add more and answer questions. First Post so be gentle... I also didnt see any spell check options... Pardon my first draft. There will not be a revised edition.

 

They have guys from all over. Dever, Chicago, and Dallas to name a few. Give em call if your serious, but I'm not trying to recruit and as much as I'd like that recruiter bonus they offer I'm not on here to be there spokesman. Just didnt see alot of info on them in the forum. Figured I'd give back a little. If i worked for Swift I dought I would have posted anything.... but who knows. Like I said not here to recruit, but if my post was the ultimate factor in your decision I wouldnt mind a few scheckles for me troubles.... lol

I went with Fort Scott. They have a school in Kansas City Kansas. Like I said about the school. Total joke. Just enough to get your CDL.

 

http://safer.fmcsa.dot.gov/query.as...70419&original_query_string=CORE CARRIER CORP

http://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/SMS/Data/carrier.aspx?enc=PzAQmO1Or87x6NvAqnuJPw==

 

I'd have to agree on all points except the forced dispatch part. They are non forced dispatch. Being non forced, you can avoid the illegal bs planning and dispatch create by trying to put you on a late load.

I haven't been charged for anything either. Just my experience. In fact, it's the first I've heard of it. They make so much off a productive driver anyway. HHG miles, and little compensation past mileage pay. I'd say they get you for under min wage, if you add it all up. But, most companies are setup the same way for a guy needing his first year OTR experience.

We are in agreement about everything else. It's obvious you worked with them in the past. I spent my first year with Core and learned a lot. I'll be happy to move on as soon as I get everything sorted with my next endeavor. If they don't upgrade their pay and equipment, I won't be returning.

I'd start or refresh with Core over Swift, Trans Am, etc... With that being said, wish I would have started with a tanker company.