Jack Cooper Transport

I don't think it will ever be a case of not liking my current job. I really like what I do. But I am always looking for new challenges, and I know that car hauling would provide a level of interest and challenge that my current job doesn't provide. That and I would LOVE to work weekdays, I work too many nights and weekends right now. That would be the only true negative about what I do.

 

Thanks Banker. I owned my own truck and the wife didn't care for me being out 6 weeks and then taking a week off. She won't put up with that schedule again. Just making sure it wasn't as bad as most freight companies where two weeks out gets you a weekend off. The Cooper drivers I have had the chance to talk to all had 5 years or more in so seniority plays into their view point a lot.

Thanks again.

 

SLANT6 - When you were with Anchor, did you know a Frank Collins who worked in the Wilmington Terminal?

 

That is basically in a nutshell why I walked away from $100,000. I liked my job, I hated the schedule of my job.

 

Thanks Banker. That helps a lot.

 

But you gotta be getting close to that or over with Jack Cooper, right? I talked to a Hansen and Adkins driver a few weeks ago that said he grossed 120k last year so Cooper has to be right up there.

BTW does Jack Cooper pay into the standard MEPFs? Central States and all that? If I worked for a union freight hauler I'd fall under CSPF and that's one of the main reasons I don't work for ABF right now.

 

I did take a pay cut at first, but not for too long. I can't speak for other drivers or terminals, but at my location $100,000 is usually not a problem. There are people making $70,000 and there are people making over $100,000. Within reason you dictate what you want to earn. I come back routinely from a 2-3 day trip at 10-12 am and load my next trip, park and go home, often by 1-3 in the afternoon. If I wanted to maximize my earnings I could go down the road several hours, but I choose to go home and leave the next day. This gives me a better quality of work/home time mix. Cooper does pay the full amount in to the pension and where I am it's Central States. It's just like freight, there are different pension funds for different Local Unions and parts of the country. In my opinion a driver at USAL making $120,000 a year with a 401k and driving a new rig is doing as good or better than our drivers. Several of my buddies work there and like it and they were union carhaulers before. One of my buddies has every possible insurance he can get there and pays $500-$600 a month for it, which I don't personally feel is bad when you make $100,000 or so a year. I said this before, but I will say it again. If you are happy with your current job situation don't leave it for carhaul because you may regret it. I wasn't happy at my last job, but I love being a carhauler and I don't plan to ever do anything else.

 

Yesterday I filled out an application in the Louisville terminal & got an interview right then. From there I was sent to do a drug test & am waiting on my driving record to come back. They said if I didn't hear anything by Friday to show up on Monday ready to train. I know that there is a pretty good size group training right now & I am concerned about layoffs. However from what I've heard, this is the place I want to retire from. I live in Richmond KY & realize I might not get home as often as some of the other drivers, but I am looking at the long term & if everything goes alright, I would consider moving closer to the terminal. I would really like more information on their health insurance. I had heard that we don't have to pay for it, but is it a high deductible? My wife has many health issues & waiting the 90 days for this to kick in might be a little rough especially having to pay for a motel as well a 2 week hold on paycheck. Any information is greatly appreciated.