CTL pay cut

Discussion in 'Tanker, Bulk and Dump Trucking Forum' started by $ilver, Mar 11, 2019.

  1. $ilver

    $ilver Bobtail Member

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    Jul 21, 2018
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    Last year was my best year ever in my short time in this industry. They told us things were going to change in 2019. The drivers assumed change for the better. It turned out to be bad but who would have thought it would be this bad. I averaged about 2500 miles a week in 2018 but after returning from the holiday break I haven't had a week with over 1000 miles yet. They changed our routes from mostly 1200 mile runs out to west Texas to short 400 miles runs back and forth to the north east. They had been promising new trucks for about 2 years and all of a sudden silence. Haven't seen anything newer than 2014 Macks so far. They laid off 90% of the mechanics. If you want any work done to your truck, you're best to get it done at Love's. The shop will do next to nothing as far as maintenance. They actually prefer you break down roadside and get it towed to a dealer. Limited our fuel stops to Love's and Petro only. They will cancel your card if you attempt to fuel at Pilot whether it's your only option or not. On top of the load changes, truck maintenance, fuel stops new equipment now they just cut our detention pay in half.

    Don't get me wrong. This was a good company. The people, the loads, the equipment and the pay was nice. I've really enjoyed working at CTL but something has happened. I don't think our new CEO is telling us everything. CTL filed for bankruptcy a few years ago before my time and we've only recently came out of receivership. For the past year we have been told how business was booming and great things are ahead. Not really sure what's going on. Are any other tanker companies doing this bad? Any tanker companies in the North Florida area hiring? As of this year, Florida now has an "Automatic Only" restriction on my CDL license and I actually like driving automatics so I just assume leave it that way.
     
    JoeyJunk Thanks this.
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  3. ChicagoJohn

    ChicagoJohn Road Train Member

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    Ahhh...... Not that I've seen. Tanker outfits are still raising pay and begging for drivers. I know when I put out feelers I got bombarded with companies begging to sign on with them.
     
    speedyk, Foxzell, Orange713 and 2 others Thank this.
  4. Western flyer

    Western flyer Road Train Member

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    Dust off the resume.
    I would left as soon as they switched from
    Long loads to west Texas to short garbage freight
    In the northeast.

    That alone would have been it for me.
    If they find somebody stupid enough to
    Stick around running 1000 miles a week in
    The northeast, then that's what there gonna do.

    Your working full time hours for half the pay.
    No trucking company has ever changed the
    Way they operate for the drivers.

    You can stay and deal with it,
    Or move on to greener pastures.

    Sounds like their just hanging on by a thread.
    If you start having problems with your
    Fuel card, you'll know it's time to jump ship.
     
  5. $ilver

    $ilver Bobtail Member

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    Jul 21, 2018
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    It's good to know business is still healthy. I almost signed up for McKenzie a few months ago because they had a terminal a few miles from my house but now that Groendyke took over the job advertisement has disappeared. I'm thinking Houston TX area might be my best option but I'm not looking forward to selling my house and moving. I don't want to make a hasty decision but I'm going on 3 months of $400 week pay. I can't do that too much longer.
     
  6. Western flyer

    Western flyer Road Train Member

    2,807
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    Mar 13, 2014
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    Where you live at in Florida.
    Are you hooked on tankers.
     
  7. Ruckie

    Ruckie Road Train Member

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    Bloom field,nj
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    Ctl has been going down hill for awhile, comcar sold the intermodal to jim bender, the flatbed division has too many trucks sitting in the Savannah yard... wont be surprised if by the end of the year they are the next going on the chopping block.
     
  8. $ilver

    $ilver Bobtail Member

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    Jul 21, 2018
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    Definitely hooked on tankers. I tried dry van with one of the mega carriers for a few months but it wasn't for me. I'd rather flip burgers. I was driver #44374. That's what they called me. Was never once referred to by my name. Tankers is a different animal. The customers are always glad to see you and the occasional unload by myself lets me stretch my legs. I live about an hour east of Panama City but my terminal is in Jacksonville. A 3 hour drive once a month ain't too bad.
     
    Mooseontheloose and slim shady Thank this.
  9. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    Mar 5, 2016
    White County, Arkansas
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    Any time money stops flowing in a dying company you drivers are the first to know.

    The smart ones jump the sinking ship. The more stubborn ones dig in and refuse to acknowledge the writing on the wall. My trigger began when your 1200 mile Texas runs became 400 mile Northeast piles of bull and trouble. I would have got out then.

    In my lifetime companies have failed or sometimes simply closed. Usually the first warning noise is the stoppage of money and maintenance etc. That's enough for me to get out. They probably will pay less to a newbie replacing me and save a dollar.

    Once in a while I did make the mistake of digging in to fight with the good people within a decent but dying outfit. The day the money stops is the last day of work.
     
    Western flyer Thanks this.
  10. $ilver

    $ilver Bobtail Member

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    Jul 21, 2018
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    Thanks to all you guys for the ideas. Speaking to some of the veterans with this company they all say it's the bad winter. The weather might explain the different loads we're getting but everything else could only be explained by fiscal projections for the coming year. And it ain't lookin good. Whoever heard of taking a pay cut because of weather. If that was the case can I expect that when spring time arrives they will bump the detention pay back to where it was. I doubt it. There's a lot of little things going on not worth mentioning but I agree that I think the company is going down. From all the cuts in equipment upgrades, terminals shutting down, personnel reductions and one after another of CEOs abrubtly resigning. I think something big is going to happen and they will string the drivers along for as long as they can.
     
    ChicagoJohn, x1Heavy and Orange713 Thank this.
  11. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

    34,017
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    Mar 5, 2016
    White County, Arkansas
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    This winter has been challenging yes, but I don't consider it a bad one. Its not a normal winter here in the south. Spring has started early with some tornado activity while snow storms rage towards the Dakotas. It's still chain season out here.

    Be careful out there, be prepared to have some savings while you are able and ready to migrate to a better company if the spring time does not pan out. You tanker people are very valuable believe it or not. It's a shame that things are not as well as they can be.
     
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