Canadian American Transport (CAT Trucking)

I have worked for the American arm of CAT trucking (Canadian American Transport), Concord, NC for over a year now. We haul loads into and out of Canada and also haul place-to-place within the States. Loads in Canada usually deliver around the major southern Canadian cities (London, Ontario; Toronto, Ontario; and Montreal, Quebec). Canadian entry is usually made from Detroit, MI via Windsor, Ontario; Buffalo, NY via Fort Erie, Ontario or at Alexandria Bay, NY via Lansdowne, Ontario (and the reverse for Canada into the USA, passport required for US entry after June 1, 2009). Main company headquarters are located near Montreal, Quebec. A 2-day orientation at Concord, NC paid at $50/day, lodging and a meal/day arranged at Concord, NC. I like my work at CAT because the dispatchers are (generally) reasonable, pay is mainstream and hometime relatively easy to arrange. I would not say it is the perfect company and some of our drivers have had different experiences. CAT employs teams, O/O's and company drivers. I believe they mainly recruit out of the southern US and have operations I know of in TN and NC. Company drivers drive late model Freightliners, Kenworths and Peters. Loads are generally good at 400-1,000 miles/dispatch, the routine (lately it has been 400-800 miles/dispatch, the economy, I believe). NAFTA cross-border freight remains strong and has grown approximately 7% over the last year, based on latest transport publications I read. I feel well-placed to bear the current economic slowdown and should keep getting good miles (my experience over the last year was 3,000+ miles per week). The one thing I like most is when I call my dispatcher I get someone immediately (one of three that work the Concord board). I am never put on hold or wait an excessive amount of time on the telephone waiting for dispatch to pickup. Occassionally (once in 25 calls), I get their answer machine, which I leave a message and dispatch returns the call or queries the QualCOMM within a short time (5 to 10 minutes). One of the best things about CAT is that they maintain their trucks/trailers in very good condition (my experience) and when problems occur they have them fixed on the road at TA's, Petro's or dealers (without delay, or cycle you into their terminals directly, ASAP - no long waits to get things fixed right). Cross-border work is a pain sometimes: winter driving conditions, crappy customs brokers (rare but real), border agents that ask you some of the weirdest questions (like: what did you do before you drove truck for a living?, or, are you leaving anything in Canada?, Answer: this trailer, I just told you I was dropping this trailer at our yard near Montreal...AYE?!). LOL! All in all, I like CAT trucking because it is a smaller company that still has respect for the driver and listens to what the drivers have to say. They don't always agree, but, I feel that they listen and do all they can to help the driver in all cases. Negatives: this year we (company drivers) were reduced to 62 mph from 68 mph because of fuel costs (O/O's still at higher speed, I think 65 or 70 mph), Quebec road conditions (terrible infrastructure) and some road names (Quebec and Montreal only, Ex: Rue Coteau-du-lac or Boulevard Saint-Laurent...frenchie...ya know). Positives: no NE USA or NYC freight, company trucks are equipped with ThermoKing generators with interior cab heat and AC controls (no idling necessary), truck cabs have 1,500 to 2,500 watt DC-to-AC power inverters (company supplied and installed) and two-thirds of the fleet of company trailers are late models 2004 and newer (these have air-release for trailer tandem adjustments, these handles pull very easily and the tandem pins retract by air pressure...no more hurtin shoulders or fightin with pins that stick and will not retract...YEAH, BABY!).