Cargo Transporters Claremont, NC

All big companies have their flaws, and though Cargo pails in comparison size wise compared to many many other companies, it is ran just like the rest of them. Too many managers/bosses, too many people to answer to and too many people to ##### at you when you screw up.

You described one common issue, being dispatched late then getting fussed at for delivering/picking up late. One time I got empty in Ft Smith Arkansas around noon one day, sat until noon the next day, I was sent a dispatch for a load that "had" to pick up by 430pm, I was told to hurry and not to be late. It was over 300 miles away by interstate or 220 miles away using almost entirely 2 lane roads. How about they just send you dispatch in a timely fashion instead of waiting until the last moment? That kind of situation happened a lot.

I also had similar issues with my dispatcher, though I never did the advance, I did often have issues at shippers/receivers where I had a wrong pick up number or issue with paper work or other things that were out of my hands. I would send a message in over qualcomm, wait as long as 30 minutes, call my dispatcher, if I was lucky he would answer and if he did he sounded pisses that I bothered him and then tell me that he was waiting on customer service to tell him something. At my "new" job at Zenith if I have an issue I contact customer service directly and usually have an issue resolved in a minute or two.
I also got fussed at because I contacted a customer to tell them I was running late, instead of sending a message to my dispatcher and waiting for him to act as a middle man to customer service.
To be exact, on that load (same load that I got empty with in Ft Smith), I had my first stop in Jackson TN scheduled for 9am, 2nd stop also scheduled for 9am that same day in Hot Springs AR and final stop in Ft Smith the following morning. I was late to Jackson TN because my load wasn't ready until almost 5pm. I took an 8 hour break some where along i40 in TN and got to the job site (vinyl siding) in Jackson as quickly as possible. I was first #####ed at for not parking at the job site (the kind of place with the kind of people that would love to kill a white boy) and then #####ed at because I called the Hot Springs stop and told them I wouldn't be there until the next morning ( I could get there about 5pm but they closed at 4pm). They told me I wasn't scheduled until the following day and it wasn't a big deal, when I sent a message to my dispatcher informing him of this all hell broke loose. Cargo doesn't want drivers talking to customers ahead of time, but yet theres a major hick up between certain dispatchers, drivers, and customer service so often if you tell your dispatcher of issues the customer never hears about it ahead of time then gets pissed when you arrive late. I don't have that issue at my new job.

I also had issues getting reimbursed for stuff, I never did get reimbured for fuel additive I bought when it was -20 out in Ohio one trip, head lights and other things like load straps took FOREVER to get reimbursed. I got fussed at because I bought load straps (had to I was picking up at Budwiser). But Dispatch a week or two before when I asked for some didn't have any to give to me. Don't get mad at me if you guys didn't have any in the first place.

But all big companies are like that and are bound to have issues like that from time to time. One nice thing about Cargo is there are likely not many companies as big or bigger than them that still have the kind of atmosphere where everyone knows everyone, if you are there long enough you are bound to become first name basis with most of the dispatchers and others in the office. Also Cargo tends to get people home a lot more than most companies which is a plus.

 

Hey Smuf 316, My name is Gypseygirl and I have been speaking with Cody there in recruiting. My thing is, I want to find a co-driver to run out west. How do you feel about being able to get this accomplished there at Cargo Freight? Also do you or anyone you know have to fight for their lay over or detention time? What about home time have you heard of anyone having any problems with getting home after they gave a 2 week notice. Just wondering these are some of the reasons why I left my last employer. I have been driving for about 10 years now and would love to find a guy to team with that has a good level head with some experience. I know it may be a choir to find because most are married. Thx for any help or advice.

 

By being home every weekend, about how many miles do you put in each week? Guess what I'm really asking, is the pay and miles decent for a week out? My husband is an OTR driver with another company and looking elsewhere, CT being in the running. He's usually out between 2-3 weeks at a time, but is thinking about trying a week out (largely to appease me)--which would be wonderful! Thanks!

 

Pay raise? I am starting June 15 over there at CT. Looking forward to it. Wanted to come over a year ago, but I needed more seasoning and I realized that it was for the better now. So with slightly over a year experience, do I start at 42cpm? Do you get your fridges for the truck at Walmart?? Inverters at a truck stop. Are the trucks Sirius ready? On board GPS? On vacation this week and then hit the road for my final trip with TransAm. Great experience there, but I was sitting too much and too much time on my loads. Realized that it was my signal to move on. Looking forward to being a regular contibutor to this blog.

 

Left TransAm and Texas Friday morning will be headed out this afternoon on my way to Claremont to attend orientation after my physical tomorrow at Catawba Valley Medical
Yeah, I am a week ahead of schedule. But recently took my vacation so need to keep the paychecks coming. Just hope TA pays me for my vacation and $175 of cab fare for recovering 3 trucks in my final few weeks there. Looking forward to a change for the better. Starting at 40cpm and then a 5 percent raise July 5 to 42cpm. Thats a 10cpm raise over TransAm. Better medical benefits though more costly too and weekly hometime. Wife is driving me, spend the night in a hotel tonite and then the bunkroom at Cargo tomorrow nite and Tuesday nite then hit the road Wed nite. I am excited. New beginnings!!

 

Goodluck at Cargo hear a good company wish you much success and safe travels