Atlantic Bulk Carrier, Corp. - Providence Forge, Va.?

From what I know, they tend to specialize in non food grade and plastics in pneumatic trailers. They may be doing some food grade products, but I have never encountered one of them at the same places I unload, so if they do it's a very small part of their business.

A lot of bulk carriers won't take new drivers, but if you can get in to someone like that, it's usually a pretty good deal. You'll have to be trained on operating the equipment. A lot of what you may make in income can come from detention pays and hourly pay for work you do, and the bulk industry seems to pay more attention to these issues than the van or reefer world does. Most bulk deliveries unload immediately, so waiting times are minimized compared to van work.

Look carefully at the extras of the job, because that's what will make the difference between a good deal and just a fairly good one. My 02.l

 

In extras, I am referring to things like their detention policy, or what they pay ypu when you are detained somewhere, whether by mechanical problems or because a customer can't load or unload you in the expected times. Where I work, if I load the trailer myself, either vacuuming plastics or loading by pressure off of railcars, those acts have a set price and value. Typically I get between 25-30 dollars for the effort of loading my own trailer, apart from what the hauling and delivering of the load brings. If I pick up a pre loaded trailer, then those fees don't accumulate to me.

If you have to have a trailer washed out, you should be paid for the detention time of doing so. If you pick up a trailer and it has been washed but is not fully dried, you dry it yourself and should be paid for the time spent doing so.

Essentially, the extras are all things that you should be paid for doing in addition to actually driving the truck and delivering the load. This is an area where a lot of companies try to get you to perform extra labor for free, and that's not the way things should be done. My time is valuable, and when I am not making the truck go from point a to point b, then I should be compensated for my efforts.

I've never had a problem where I work, but there are many companies that try to make their profits off of their drivers, not from charging the customers for the drivers efforts. There are some diferences in bulk products from vans, and a decent company will recognize this and pay you accordingly.

 

In my experience, the company will tell you right at the front what they pay and when they pay it, though you will have to submit whatevr forms are needed to document the payments. In my case, it's fairly simple, and I rarely have any problems with them paying me, but various companies have their own policies. I don;t know enough specifics about ABC to know for sure. I see them on the road in the midwest, but assume from the name that they are bigger on the eastern seaboard somewhere.

If you need any info, feel free to ask. I made the transition from the flight deck of aircraft carriers to the steering wheel about 10 years ago, so I have some background in what you are doing.

 

Hey burky--whats bulkmatic pay for vacation ,personal day etc..I have been looking at you guys alot. I called Winston Salem NC the other day to get some info and the woman I talked with was really rude so I hung up.