Which car hauler would choose from these 3?

Reading thru some post's I'm moving to Georgia from Colorado looking to stay union jack Cooper keeps popping up . hauled cars before on flats not the even the same I do reliaze but you have to do what you have to do to stay union any tips I would appreciate it

 

If it was me, and this is JUST going by the guys I have run into and what they were driving I would go with USAL, ALL nice equip, and the guys that I talked to all seemed happy.

Have meant some nice guys from JC, but some of them seem to have a real chip on their shoulder, that and some of their equipment is pretty rough.

Again, JMHO from talking to guys that I have bumped into, take it with a grain of salt.

 

If you have good experience there are better car hauling companies than all three of those. I would stay away from USAL. I knew a few drivers who were there for several years. They used to be called Gulf States but since they changed names they have gone down hill. In fact the guy who used to manage one of the Cooper Terminals manages USAL now. They are barking at your heels at every chance now I heard. Both United and USAL have training programs which means they have more and more drivers starting out at lower wages and like weeds are squeezing the experienced drivers out.
Welcome to truck driving!

 

Um basically every car haul company has training programs. That's not to push out the experienced guys but is due to ALL the companies and these brokers that have been cutting rates down for years. That equals people not wanting to do the job due to risk not equaling the reward.
As far as wages, the individual pretty much sets themselves up for what they make by how they work. I'm pretty sure USAL pays by mile where as URS pays percentage. Cooper is also by the mile with skid drop pay and loading pay. I say that but I do know different regions are different with the union companies. Cassens is another union company but I think their closest terminal to ATL would be Smyrna TN.

 

Oh and just curious....if none of those three listed are good companies which ones were you thinking about? Sorry I just had to ask.

 

I'm not saying they're bad companies. But not all of them have training programs. Not yet anyway. Not too long ago it was much harder to find a CH co that would train you but they seem to be following the rest of the industry by lowering their training standards. Like you said, the rates are being lowered and so drivers are slowly moving elsewhere. This has created a gateway of opportunities for new drivers who can make better money than they have been but way less money than their predecessors.
Cutting rates and lower wages go hand in hand. Personally, I wouldn't go with any Union outfit. I've been screwed by the union and I know several others that have too. They get a pension or are supposed to anyway. That usually means lower wages than the rest too. The money for pensions has to come from somewhere. I've seen people living with a false hope for that pension and ended up with nothing because of bad management and dishonest unions.

There are 2 kinds of CH companies. Those that will train you and those that hire experience only. It has been my experience that the latter pay the best. Hanson & Adkins has a great reputation for high wages and benefits. I'd have to research but I know they're out there. I've been doing piggybacks since 2013 but it has slowed down, probably due to a failing economy. I have considered returning to car hauling but not sure yet. I used to make $100k a year driving a company truck but those days are long gone.

 

I work for USAL and we do have a training program but it's a pretty good one. I don't know where your getting that the 100k days are gone, every driver that works hard can easily break 100k a year here and the highest paid driver last year made 145k but probably worked every weekend. You can be home most weekends and do 100k as long as you work hard

 

Do you guys hire north east of Atlanta

 

We have two terminals in GA, one in Nashville, and Birmingham. All of those have freight going to GA to get you to and from home. Fill out the online app or call our recruiter and see if we're hiring in those areas.

 

Thanks