Central Refrigerated Truck Stop III

anyone here on miller/coors and know if there is still an albany dedicated fleet?

 

Here's my story of leaving Swift step by step. Was at home in northern California with Swift's empty trailer like I always did (just unplugged the pigtail for hometime so the trailer wouldn't 'ping' so they wouldn't harrass me about bringing it back to the terminal for some other drivers). Applied to another company that had orientation in southern California the next week. I stayed under Swift's authority , insurance, permits, plates etc to bobtail (did drop their trailer at the terminal on the way south) to Los Angeles. Did 2 day orientation, came out and grabbed one last Swift load then bobtailed home. Bobtailed over to the Bay Area to the new company's terminal Sunday night right before midnight when my new contract would go into effect. Got a message on the QC, basically asking what am I doing driving all over California bobtail? Replied back, that I was terminating my contract with Swift immediately. They wanted me to bring my truck into their terminal to have their techs remove the QC, yeah right.

 

Ouch! Slick moves. So did you keep the QC and use it for the new company? Pay Swift for it and how much if so? How is the new company working for you?

 

Well, it was a year ago today that the assimilation process started. Anyone want to participate in a where are they now?

I'm still around, although not as a Central local. I was told the day before Thanksgiving that my last day of work in my position was going to be that Sunday. I appreciate the whopping 4 days notice. I applied for an office job, and while I went through that process, I did part time local work, since we were still busy.

Then a position opened up, doing the closest work to local that Swift has. I'm in a day cab now, doing what I think they call shuttle work. Pretty much I work afternoons into evenings, taking a load somewhere, dropping it, and bringing a load back to the terminal. I slip seat the truck, and my day driver is a nice guy who starts early, so I don't have to be at work at 2am.

It's not an ideal position, but it's better than over the road. I don't intend on keeping it forever, but for now it works.

So where are you now?

 

still here. and still local. same fleet, same dm same ol same ol. otherwise id prob be out.

 

Yes I kept the qualcomm, they charged me $3000 for it. They did write it up as a Repair Order so I wrote if off on my taxes as a business expense.

New company uses paper logs. Will say the QC has faked out the DOT a few times rolling through weigh stations; they see it bolted to my dash set on the brightest setting (at night) and wave me on through. A few months ago I had to unplug it because it kept rebooting over and over or something and affecting the radio speaker which was really annoying. I think it had to do with QC headquarters somehow realizing the unit is moving around the country without an active account? Anyway when/if they ever mandate ELD's all I would have to do is open an account and activate the unit. If nothing else I plan on keeping it for the Antique Road Show lol.

 

I'm still here and will be at least until my lease is up around a year from now. My plan was always to lease and train and that is what I'm doing. Its is both difficult and rewarding.

I think back to when I was first investigating Central and the warning I received about leasing. I was told there was no money in it even when training. I must say, after training 3/4 of the year last year I cleared nearly $70k and I'm shooting for $80k this year. For all the warnings that told me that I just didn't understand what I was getting into, it has been exactly what I expected. And, I want to thank those who originally encouraged me here.

 

Nice to hear you are doing well Lady K. Care to share those pages you mentioned?

As far as an update from me. I left Central about 2 years ago and became a fleet manager at a regional company, and I hated it (turns out from former coworkers it had much more to do with the company than with the job). Anyway I am now driving again, this time with Ryder, running a 26' box truck and driving local. I'm not a big fan of all the warehouse work I do, but hey I'm paid hourly so if it takes me 3 hours to unload and breakdown my pallets, and stock shelves, that's just more money in my pocket.

One concern I have is the company I am contracted with has merged with another company and I might be out of a job come April. So you all might get to see me kicking around out on the road again this year.

Any recommendations for companies?