Cassen's, H&A, or JC??

If you're in the Nashville area I'd go with Cassens. There in need of 5-6 drivers.

Smyrna doesn't have junk equipment. There one of the best shops we have. And even there dispatch has good paying traffic.

If you go non Union I'd look into Hansen.

 

Ultimately the choice has to be made by you. No Carhaul job is free of issues. That said, at the end of the day Cassens/Cooper have to pay you a scale wage. Unfortunately most of the drama at the barn comes from the faction of $ hit stirring drivers that don't want to work, but begrudge anyone who does

 

I know there hiring.

I know the area you're looking at has good people there.

I don't trust that Cooper will be around as Cooper for long.

Just my opinion. Like Slant6 stated its your choice

 

Cassens is the last traditional family owned Auto Carrier left. They have survived as a family entity thru many down economy trends including the last one in 2008 that put the rest on the skids. They must be doing something right don't you think?

 

Wouldn't be here if I didn't.

 

Terry I respect your views, but will have to disagree with you here! After 30 years as a union member and Proud Teamster, I went to Hansen and Adkins to once again become an owner operator. I was tired of working for the man and being told what I was going to do and when I was going to do it. If Jack Cooper still had owner operators I would have stayed there, but they don't. There are many former Teamster Owner operators leased on here and if they can keep a bunch of former Teamsters happy, they are doing something right. I won't get in to specifics, but after all expenses are paid, and I mean everything, I bring home $2,000-$4,000 more a week than I did as a Teamster company driver, driving a much nicer rig. I don't owe one red cent on my rig, I have the titles at home in the safe, so this helps to not have to make a fortune to get by, but I promise you I didn't spend $290,000 on a new rig without expecting a good Return On Investment. I am achieving a very good return on my investment and I am happy. This company treats me very good. Happiness is more important to me than money, but luckily I am blessed with plenty of both. I don't have to ask for anyone's permission to take a day, week or month off. I can also promise you that when I am loaded, especially with 11 units I am making way more than $3 a mile. I hear drivers complain occasionally about their rates, but my day cab highrail is making me money. I have also hauled loads that sucked, but I choose to look at the big picture and realize that every load is not going to be perfect, but if I am happy with the week or month, I am good. I don't know or care what the other guy is making on a load because it's not my business. As far as a company offering $3 mile stinger loads, if you don't want to haul for them there is nobody making you. My home loads often pay me $7-$8 a mile with surcharge and I often mty out 2 miles from the house. Yes it's a only a 100 mile trip, but I #### sure make money on it since I pulled an 11 unit load 600 miles to get me to it. I will end my rant with my opinion on life and owner operator carhauling. Just because someone else can not be successful or happy with something, does not mean that I can not be successful or happy with it. This is only my opinion and if you don't believe or like it I am ok with that. I still can have conversations with you even if we don't agree on everything.

 

It's possible that I have been given wrong information but after being told the same thing by 4 different people now I am tempted to believe it. That H&A has been coming in and underbidding the Union companies and even United Road, pushing the rates down to 45¢/mi or lower per car. I have seen firsthand the $3/mi stinger loads that they try to post (really despise whoever is touching those). I guess what I'm getting at is it's in our best interest for H&A to not get big enough to take away work from the carriers who are responsible for keeping the rates where they need to be (higher would be nice). And I'm not just picking on H&A, this goes for any company in this industry that drives rates down, nobody wins when that happens except the car manufacturers and dealers.

On a side note, that's awesome you own a brand new glider stinger outright. I hope to get there one day! Mine is paid for but it isn't winning any beauty contests

 

Well said. The Louie Adkins I knew when he was with Hadley was a stand up guy. Along with the other H & A management that is ex Hadley.