Central Refrigeration Service, Inc. - West Valley, Ut.

Dont think so--I started in april 07 and was gone by Sept...Extremely poor
service to there trucks. Had 2 trks 1-07 &1 06. Equip Manager
needs to be REPLACED NOW...

 

I'm more then likely just going to do my year of slave work then I'm off to look for something better, but if I like it I might stick around.


But I don't think that will be the case.

 

So far I have had a good experience with the company and my fleet manager is the greatest. I have had a few problems with the shops for repairs but other than that its been going well. today Jess saw a truck at the Wal mart d/c in bedford pa roll out from its unhooked trailer and run into a parked pickup pushing it thru the fence. I guess he will have a lot of explaining to do. sucks to be him. We are currently at the breezewood TA with a little down time after running like a bat out of hell since last Monday. I figured we have gone almost 5000 miles since the 7th of April. Jess has seen 14 states and took some pictures for her My space. She is a little disappointed because she has yet to see any Amish people. they can be pretty allusive creatures like the WY jackalope. hahahaha. J/K any how we are doing good Jess made the comment that i run like Forrest gump when we had a foot race in a pickle park in WV. a Female sneider driver declared her the winner and of course in Ohio they had Bear fest 08 going on. some time you will have to ask her about fat Albert at the buffet in Carney's point, NJ. just looking at the guy made Jess go back to the truck and do sit-ups. well that's it for now we will write more later take care John AKA JJ Ranch.

 

The most frustrating thing that I see is hearing all these people who talked to their dispatcher instead of going straight to otrm with their tractor/trailor problems. That seems to be the main complaint from most former drivers. That dispatch wouldn't do this or kept trying to get them to run with a bad truck. Here's a tip...just don't do it. Get with OTRM and then let your dispatcher know what is happening. If the repairs are going to take awhile then your dispatcher can get it repowered. I've had to have a load repowered once due to repairs but i've had numerous repairs on my truck or trailer but they usually didn't take that long. Worst thing I've had go wrong was my EGR Valve which I thankfully got that fixed over the road in Indiana instead of at the terminal. If I would have gotten it "fixed" at one of the terminals it would have taken 5 days instead of one day.I'm just thankful that I don't go through their terminals all that often because my recruiter keeps me in the midwest or virginia or the carolinas (which i love). Also, they have to ask you if there is anyway you can limp your truck to the stop . Litterally, that is what my night dispatch told me when my EGR Valve went out.

 

For the Amish people, go to Moberly, MO. Which you will one of these days as there is a Walmart DC there. Amish people everywhere in that walmart (which is conveniently located next to the Walmart DC) and the downtown is pretty good as well. You can park your truck (if you're bobtailed) at the old abandoned school on rollins st. I live...well lived...right across the street from the school and I always park my truck there. The guy who own's it doesn't care. Several good shops downtown and even more amish people.

 

and to answer all the questions about age. I am only 21. Got my CDL from them 3 months ago and drive for them.

 

Thanks for the info. Jess told me to contact my FM and request to go there so she can see the Amish people. LOL have a good ride. John AKA JJRanch.

 

I try not to have any maintanance done at the terminals, if I can help it. If you notice something that needs fixing OTRM will normally send you to the nearest Volvo or in the case of some of the trucks a Cummens dealership.
The facilitys at many of these are nice, and they will get you in and out quickly as they can.
Things I have had fixed at shops include. Starter, EGR ( 2 times), radiator, water pump, thermostat, exaust at turbo.
None of these had me down more than 16 hours. And that one was the water pump, and we had to wait for the part. But I got a nice free hotel room and a good dinner. It was out in the morning and I was on another load.
Most of these things would have taken a day or more at the Central shops. The guys in OTRM know this and will get you to a shop if you are far enough away from a term when you report the issue.
Also they have national accts at a few major truck stops for service. So dont ask to get routed to a terminal for A and B services, when you are due, just tell the shop where you are and that you want to do it there.

 

Thanks for all your information here it has helped a lot. I have a couple of questions about anyone based out of Washington State and what kind of miles you get, and what kind of home time.

I just started talking with a recruiter and just trying to get a better picture of what to expect from the company.

Thanks for any of your information.

 

I had the same experience. Was with Central for 3 months. Had a good FM, and pretty good miles...when the truck was working.

Had an '05 that ended up in Salt Lake with NO LESS than 8 Out of Service Violations. They said it would take 2 weeks to fix.

So they flew me to Chicago, and gave me taxi money to get a 6 month old '06 truck from a dealer. Drove the truck back on a load to Salt Lake, and the fuel tank started leaking - bad enough to call the Fire Department HAZMAT unit out. I spilled BOTH FULL TANKS on the ground.

Volvo said it was a defect in the welding joints, and Central said THEY KNEW it was a defect (you would think either the Chicago dealer or Central would do something about it). They said it would take 1 month for new tanks to come from the factory.

So they gave me a "loaner" truck (3rd truck in 3 months). A beat to crap automatic Freightshaker. The Freightshaker overheated on a load OUT of Salt Lake, and shut down 20 miles from the terminal. It took 24 hours (sitting on the side of I-80 with my triangles out) before someone came to fix the fan clutch. 2 weeks later, I got a call that my Volvo was done early. I got back to Salt Lake to find my Vovlo with only ONE fuel tank, and the OLD leaking fuel tank in my BUNK, where fuel had ruined most of my belongings.

Since all 3 trucks that they ever gave me were now in Salt Lake, I quit on the spot, and rented a car to drive home.