CTL or Groendyke?

Groendyke has been in the industry longer than Ive been alive. You would think after decades of ever increasingly destructive regulation (Or tossing of via deregulation etc in the 70's) would have wiped them out long ago.

That sign on bonus isnt bad. Take the money and bank it. It's there to build on so you never have to borrow again if done right. And maybe when it's time for you to hang up the keys you would have added to it enough to buy a farm anywhere in the USA to retire to debt free.

I don't know or remember much about CTL. (Central Tank Lines maybe?)

Being loaded is better than being empty. And having own washout is a plus etc. That tells me many trailers go there to be washed out at the company yard. That has to be worth something.

 

CTL is a great tanker division to start out with. In the beginning I was making .45cents a mile loaded/unloaded. I'll make a year in June and I'll be up to 50cents a mile. Not to mention, you won't be sitting long. They always have loads.

 

..

 

I haven't been driving long. I started with Schneider dry van doing teams and only lasted 3 months before I had to give up that miserable existence. I've been with CTL out of Jacksonville FL terminal for a year now. Started as a "recent grad" and CTL trained me on everything. Although Schneider gets a lot of praise for their training program, I think CTL's is better. It lasts 4-5 weeks doing OTR with another driver. You do everything from trip planning to loading and unloading. The trainer is there to answer questions and keep it safe.

CTL is a medium sized company with terminals in Houston, Mobile, Jacksonville, Tampa and Gabriel LA. I may have missed a few. They have what they call smaller "terminals" all over the east coast and southeast but I think they are really just leased space at tank washes for local dedicated drivers.

I have to say, I really like it here. The people are all nice, the equipment is good and the loads are even better. CTL doesn't micro manage the drivers. Just be on time and safe is all they care about. Starting pay is 65 cents per mile loaded and empty. Breakdown and Demerge pay is 19 dollars per hour and it starts from arrival to and departure from plant or tank wash. Every minute you are on-site or broke down is paid. 100 dollars per day layovers and 34 hour resets. If you are sitting idle for a 24 hour period, you are paid no questions asked. I did not get a sign on bonus so I know nothing about that. My Schneider recruiter lied to me about everything but my CTL recruiter was honest.

All the trucks are Mac with automatic transmissions and Tripacs with 1500 watt inverters. They say we are getting new trucks this year. I have 350,000 miles on mine now. The trailers are old and in bad shape but they are slowly being replaced. Do a good pre trip and don't hookup if something ain't right. I got a ticket for "dog legged" trailer and CTL paid it. REPORT all spills. Whether it's your fault or not. Just report it and you will be fine.

Sorry for the long post but I think CTL is a good company that is trying to adjust to retain drivers and they are not given enough credit. Where did you hear $10000 retention bonus? Please provide link. I know nothing about that. This month is my 1 year anniversary. Although I like CTL, the oil fields have been tempting me. A nice bonus like that would seal the deal for me.

 

That bonus is for a very specialized section of CTL only. Very dangerous and hazardous section and the bonus reflects the danger. I drive for CTL and the pay is everything they say. The only problem is very low miles. I’m sitting and waiting for a load now, and it happens a lot lately. The only reason I have not walked is THE MONEY. Other than that they do what they say, very rare in the trucking business.

 

from what I have heard from some of the drivers they aren't doing too good, they sold their container division to jim bender and closed their Brunswick terminal and also the flatbed yard in savannah/garden city is looking pretty full of empty trucks.

 

Any current Groendyke drivers with input...I know they just bought out Mtl