McElroy Truck Lines - Cuba, Al.

were do they drop the coils from columbus ms off at a set place or all over does any one know

 

Hey Promod,

Not all McElroy drivers haul steel. They pretty much decide in Cuba during your final week if your truck will have chains or not. I suppose it may have something to do with where you live, but rarely do you haul product to to the exact same place every run. I don't have chains on my truck, so no steel for me. I'll ask some other drivers this coming week and see if they know more.

 

This guy is in Phenix City, AL. More than likely steel is on your menu. When I worked there I had many a coil go to some lil s-hole NE of Atlanta, once to another hole west of ATL, and a few times to a place in KY just over the TN/KY line, Middleton maybe?? Can't recall, still blocking McE days out. LOTS of shingles fron Tuscaloosa for ya also, look for LOTS of wood products, 2x4s, 4x8 sheets of anything you can imagine, mostly from mid and South GA, but the WORST will be the "pre-tarped" loads of sheetrock from Bridgeport,AL. "Pre-thrown over" is what I called it. They can't stack a load for nothing. You can't get on top of the trailer to fix anything with anything, if you are seen you are either fired or written up, depends on if they like you or not. Also, the wait times there are RIDICULOUS. (SCENARIO) More often than not, when you are done with load "A" at 08:00, if there is nothing for you to do, you sit, wait, until you JUST THINK you gonna get some pay for the lay-over (it's 16:45 now), "BEEP", Qualcomm msg, head to Bridgeport for load p/u at 09:00 next day. Get to the S.Pitt, TN McE yard at 20:00, wait with the other dozen drivers getting screwed that day too.("But wait, it was 25 hrs between loads" you say. "We dispatched you same day you dropped off, NO LAY-OVER" they say. Who wins?) Do the math, you realize that for the week you will miss a load.
For me this was worst case scenario, ticked me off more than any other dispatch, but remember, low man on totem you are. KISS your dispatcher butt. I didnt, I just was NEVER EVER late for a drop-off, no matter what. They "push" logbook rules, "we will catch you" with our computer if you don't run legal. If they really cared, hmmm, I will plead the 5th Amendment here. Last, not least, 64MPH sux.

 

i see you live in va beach? i live in richmond west of 95,i finished school in may do you know what time frame they give you before you have to take a refresher?,i did talk to one guy from mcelroy and he lives around me in powhatan county and said recruiter said he could see home maybe one or twice a week?do you run a lot down 360? but are the miles good for you? thanx for any input......

 

Perhaps I was unclear, but McElroy doesn't require anyone to take a "refresher", I was merely suggesting to the other poster that if he felt uncomfortable taking a road test because it had been several months since he had driven a big truck that he might want to go back to his school and ask them for a spin around their yard. The reason being that if you feel so incredibly "rusty" when they take you out the first day or two that you stall the truck or are any way putting yourself or others in danger, you are likely to be sent home. All they want to see during the first "road test" is that you can shift, steer, and brake (and, of course, follow all the laws of the road). You are not asked to do backing manuevers or anything bizzare trust me. It's kinda like "around a few blocks" and turn here and turn there and then park.

Now the second road test during week two of orientation is a bit more involved, but by then, you will have had more time in the truck and you will have been trained in the "Smith System". In other words, McElroy isn't looking for "students", it is looking for graduates.

As far as getting home during the week, I wouldn't count on it. I drive 360 quite a bit, but usually only to pick up, not deliver. If you live near Richmond, you will likely run more North than South. As for me, I usually pick up in NC and run up to MD, PA, NJ, or occasionally NY. Then, I will pick something up in PA or MD and run it back down south.

You will take 360 to get to Gladys, VA or Crystal Hill, VA, and you might occasionally run 360 to deliver to some Lowe's store or to a consignee in Appomatax, VA (for example - 360 to 460 etc...), but you can count on getting home Friday and leaving Sunday. It's a trucker's weekend, but it beats the hell out of two or three weeks away from home at a time for me

Best wishes!

 

Apparently they don't screen too closely. One of their drivers hit me and sent me across all 3 lanes of the interstate where I hit the cement barrier and flipped. Driver admitted fault and didn't even have the guts to come back to my car because he thought I was dead! I was out of work 3 months and couldn't drive for 2 1/2 months. Mentally and physically I am a wreck and McElroy didn't even offer enough to pay my medical bills!!

Needless to say I'm not a fan!!!!! The driver could have at least checked on me!!

 

.....I've not heard of this. Usually, whenever there is any kind of incident with one of the drivers, all of us receive a Qualcomm message about it with reccomendations on how to avoid or prevent such events. The last time I heard of any McElroy driver having a wreck was about 3 months ago. He was hauling rolled paper and took an off ramp to fast and flipped over. No one else was involved, however. If your story is true, however, then I'm sure you've hired a lawyer and I'm equally sure he/she will try to sue. If your case has merit, then I'm sure you will prevail.

I can still add, however, that this incident doesn't seem normal or typical for McElroy drivers as a whole, or I would be hearing about it from fellow drivers and/or Management. Do you have a web link to a news story about this? Just curious. Best wishes and good luck to you in your recovery.

 

They are self-insured up to the first couple million BUX, remember that!! Comes out of their pockets DIRECTLY. So of course they are gonna lowball ya.

 

I'm not really sure about their drivers as a whole. All I know is that this happened March 13, 2008 and I have no reason to lie about it. Thankfully, no I do not have a link to a news story b/c in Greenville SC in order for a wreck to make it in the news there has to be a fatality involved. So I am thankful that it didn't make it in the news. The only proof I have is the police report charging the driver for McElroy with improper lane change, pictures of the totaled 5 month old car I was driving, thousands of bills that the health insurance company would not pay and the money they left me owing on the car. Also the letter where they offered me next to nothing as a settlement.

There was also another wreck I found involving a McElroy Truck Driver where he was going too fast in the rain, hydroplaned and hit a Ford Ranger, killing a small child. I think this was in 2006. I know there may not be that many wrecks for this company, but when you are in my shoes and faced w/permanent problems it doesn't matter how many have been involved in wrecks. The only one that matters it the one you are going through.

And yes, I've hired one of the best lawyers in South Carolina who says we definitely have a case and a very good one at that.

I really didn't come on this website to defend myself. I just saw that a lot of people seemed not to think very well of this company and thought I would get some positive feedback and not be accused of lying. But thank you for letting me know your opinion even though it is not correct.

I would much rather change places with the drive and pay the $200 fine he received than the several thousand dollar charges that I had to pay from what my insurance company did not pay.

I just thought that since most people on here seemed to have an issue with McElroy that it might be a good place to vent what I'm going through, but since it seems I have to prove myself I guess not.

 

Thanks for the advice. I knew they were self insured, but I'm going to let the atty fight with them on that one I guess.

At least you didn't say you don't believe me!!!!