How is celadon?

Just curious, if you have experience, what make u choose celadon?

 

I moved over to Celadon after being with USX for eight years. I'm currently in their lease purchase program driving a new 2016 lonestar. Although costly to drive a new truck, there are less headaches in maintenance. I have a 2009 truck at the house that I lease purchased through USX and it was a costly one with constant upkeep, but that truck is now mine with the exception of getting the title straightened out (that's another long story lol).
My first week with Celadon was good then I ran into a bump with my dispatcher (driver manager) when I delivered a live unload in Laredo, TX. I was to pick up another live load the next morning and was dispatched with the current empty to pick load up. Two hours before pick up, my DM decided to tell me I needed to give the Laredo yard my empty so they could use it to pick up one of their loads. After a few rounds back and forth with him, I kept my trailer, got loaded and headed west with the load. I also have a different DM because I don't tolerate a person talking to me as that one did. All companies have thorns in the midst. Just have to know how to work around them before making the drastic decision to leave right of way. Also being careful on how you talk back, without putting yourself in a bad situation with the company in general. So far celadon has been good to work with. I'm under the 70% contract so I watch carefully the rates of loads they give me and always ask them what the rate look like in an area that I'm unfamiliar with as to avoid pulling cheap loads to keep the truck moving.

 

Also orientation is very different from any orientation I have ever been to. It is a two day orientation watching videos with very little human interaction. Bizarre I thought. Day one starts off with having credentials checked, drug test, and videos to watch, along with a road test to show your worthiness lol. Be warned, the is a sharp turn in the road test with a high concrete corner. Avoid this by swinging wide and utilizing your mirrors constantly as well as turning your head to make sure all is clear. Drive the school zone speed limit even when school is out. Don't drive too slow either when on the highway briefly. Day two is much of completing videos to watch, photo ID taken, truck assignment.
If you intend to lease, they send you to Quality lease which is next store to them for you to pick a truck of your choice (new or used-pricing depends on year if truck). Truck availability is random as they deal with all brands and many drivers constantly over there picking and choosing. It is a first come first serve bases.

 

how is that Lonestar treating you. Also how much are you paying out for the truck payment, fixed costs etc?

 

Attached is a breakdown of costs for this lonestar. At the lower left you will see my take home for that week, 1459.60 after all deductions. If I'm not mistaken after the first year with them, you no longer pay for plates and permits.
Overall the lonestar has been good for me. I'm a little rusty on the shifting since the last eight years were using autoshift. LOL but all is good. These newer model trucks have a much faster shift system to them than the older trucks I use to drive.

 

thanks so much this was very helpful. are you also a trainer for them? I am considering coming in and leasing a 2016 kw t680 and then becoming a trainer after 30 days.

 

do they tell you in the load message how much the load pays?