Central Refrigerated Truck Stop II

Only time will tell many have been starved out of there trucks in a lot of companies. A way to view it is if the company is always bying new trucks then staying company would be a good thing but if not they would need to make room for new drivers by using company trucks. The lease allows Central to keep company truck available this is why they push the lease.
My point when I drove for them company I was allowed to train in 2009 late they decided the only way you could train was if you leased a truck if you were a company trainer you could be grandfathered in a kinda if you want to make money you gotta pay money. I was making .30 a mile plus the .30 a mile my student drove not bad for a company driver. I paid nothing just made money plus they did my FICA and such. This is just one of the many changes Central has gone tru.

If your single I'd run company for a year get a taste of the 4 seasons then decide that way you will no if OTR is your thing if not you have the experience to land a more local job with no obligations to any company.

Just my chunk of change

 

I'm not single, I am married with two kids one already on his own the other two more years away.it's something I have always wanted to do now I am ready to do it. i would like to stay company make some money then see where it takes me. i am not much on job hopping I have been with my current job 16 years. The only way I know to make a go atsomething is to get in and work hard. Thank you all for the information.

 

i have never been a as you say a butthole and never will plus I have had the opportunity to watch people come and go. Back in early 2009 Central hired experienced drivers such as yourself funny thing none of them stayed if it wasent the Qualcomm pissn them off it was lack of miles. Let see howed they put it they came to make money not babysit a bunch of newbies. In late 2009 that ended and Central went back to focusing on ther schools. Your so called Has Beens still drive some even OWN THERE OWN TRUCKS and make more money then you.


JUST MY OPINION

 

That is what I told him, but again, I am dumb. He knows it all. He will do what he wants. I just hate that his kids at home have to suffer for his stupidity and not listening to someone with a little experience.

Wow, 6pack, I am a great driver???? I mean I know Lextec is, but, was not expecting that high of praise from you. No, that is not said facetiously. I am honored that you paid me that high of a compliment. You were an awesome trainer. I really think three of us in the truck was just a little too much, and am glad we can be civil now. You are a great man, and I miss seeing you around.

Now, what 6pack did not tell you, is if you look back on the thread, we were even going to buy the truck with the issues. Why? Because we loved the truck. We leased it because of training in a similair one with 6pack. We knew it had what we wanted, and could be chromed up to look pretty good. We spent nearly $6k in chrome, and other modifications. We wanted to buy the truck. After the issues started, we considered, and were going to, hiring a driver for that truck, and getting a 389. We had dreams of starting a fleet within a fleet at Central. What happened? Let me tell you the rest of the story.....

So, you think the truck you lease is yours? PRAY nothing happens while you are on the road and you are injured or otherwise made "ineligible to drive." In our case, the final time the 386 was in the shop, we got a loaner ProStar from Conley. The side box doors on a ProStar open up. On the Pete they open like a door. Anyway, I was putting something in the side box, and the door came down and banged into my head really good. I saw stars. We were swapping there (Kingman AZ), so I just figured I would put ice on it, take some Tylenol and go to bed. I woke up very groggy in Los Banos CA. My head was still killing me. We were Dole at the time, and had to load in Marina. I finished the drive, but had to keep an ice pack on my head just to be able to drive. Our load wasn't ready for a bit, so I got to get another nap. I drove from Marina out to Barstow. My daughter had to keep swapping icepacks for me, and I had to keep it on my head just to be able to deal with the throbbing. (Yes, there were/are three of us in the truck.) Swapped in Barstow. My hubby drove it out, to Casa Blanca NM (I believe). I started driving. Because my daughter was sleeping, I had to keep the ice pack on, pull over, swap, repeat. As most of you know, when you get up between Moriarity and Santa Rosa (or so), the wind picks up. Bottom line, between the lights (driving somewhere between 2 and 4 in the morning) making my head hurt worse, and the inablility to feel in control of the truck because I had to hold the ice pack, I decided to pull it over near Santa Rosa (between Santa Rosa and Tucumcari). I parked. My husband called our dispatcher (btw, Ken White - the dispatcher for Dole - is AWESOME. We HATED leaving him). He told us to call Safety and he would arrange to swap loads. Safety told my husband that I was ineligible to drive and needed to get out of the truck. My husband calmly (and 6pack can attest to how much it takes to anger my husband) explained it was the end of June, 115 degrees outside, in Tucumcari NM, no taxis, no public transportation, there was no way that was going to happen. They said even if we were in the 386, it was not our truck, but theirs, and if they decide someone is not eligible to drive, they must immediately leave their vehicle. He explained about the rider policy, and they said with a CDL, I was a driver and needed to leave their truck. After doing quite a bit of yelling (again, my husband is calm by nature), he finally got it ok'd to take me to the hospital, and then they would reevaluate. After the hospital, had to do quite a bit more talking to convince them to let him drive solo to Fontana. In Fontana, I was again told to get out of their truck. I could not be cleared to work, and therefore couldn't be in their truck. (I had post-concusive syndrome, complete with right side weakness, headaches, etc.) Tried to see a neurologist in Ontario, who said she thought it best I give it just a week and then she felt confident I would be all better. My hubby fought some more, and finally gave up. I flew, on an airplane (not the best thing to do when you are still recovering from a concussion), from Ontario CA to Huntsville AL. The flight ended up setting me back on getting better by about three days. It took two weeks to see the neurologist (if I remember right) and be cleared to drive again. During that time we found out about a l/o who had to go to the er because of a kidney infection (if I remember right), was given medication, and told not to drive for 3 days. They told her she could not use "her" truck as a glorified bedroom. This experience soured us, and sealed the deal, we put our exit strategy (which I believe everyone should have) in overdrive and got our big bunk at the end of July and turned in our 386 effective 8/5/11. We were 2 days and 2 months shy of 2 years from hire date to end. At the 13 month mark, out of 54 (I believe) that started class, we were 2 of 6 that were left, and 1 of those left mid way through the 13th month.

I repeat, we would have stayed, loved our dispatcher, but to expect my husband to just leave me on the side of the road wherever if I can't drive is not ok. We are doing better. We had a really rough 1st year as truer owner operators. We were leased to Mercer, but couldn't get the miles/income we wanted. We almost failed. Believe me, if we had, I would never have come back on here. I am sure 1bad was thankful I was gone, as he has referred to me as a newbie who thinks I am God's gift to trucking. I really did not want to hear the I told you so's and the ribbing while we suffered. We have made what I hope will be the last company change. We now are leased to Southern Pride. We haul jet engines and other airplane parts on a stepdeck. We are over 80' from bumper to bumper. Without 6pack's training, I don't know I would feel as comfortable as I do. He was great about telling me when I did something right. We made things work. Before I go any further.....

My suggestion is to ALWAYS treat it like it is your company. After all, your paycheck is your paycheck. If you aren't getting the miles, complain until you do. I have given the same advice to many, start at Central, go through their training, make it through it, and make sure you keep on top of everything. Watch your miles. Watch your fuel expenses (even when it isn't your money). SAVE MONEY!!! When you get to the year mark, start looking for an exit strategy (in some cases you can start your planning at the six month mark). If it is your dream to own a truck, SAVE MONEY until you can buy it. There are a lot of good resources to help you with the buying the truck part. If you are on top of what you have done as a company driver, you will be better able to estimate what you can expect as a l/o or o/o. There will be things you can't account for, but it will be a lot better than a stab in the dark. Just make the most of your time at Central. Use it as a stepping stone.

If we are a pencil being used up, look for a new way to use the shavings left after they use you. Trust, Central cares about themselves, not you. They have a stack, and odds are they only have to go through about 5 applications to replace you. Anyway, sleepy again (yes I'm on the noonish to midnightish sleep schedule), so I will close.

 

leat you got praise from him.

i didn't even get acknowlegded.

i must be one of the A holes.

 

So for those of you that went through Central's training, Do you all think it is right up there with the rest of the training companies ? A good place to start out ?

 

Wow what a lot I have missed while sleeping and driving. Mama mia thank you for sharing your story. I remember you posting it on the original truckstop. However unfortunately it kinda faded into the mist of my mind. I am so happy to hear you guys are doing better, I know how much a concussion hurts and messes with your mind.
Can I ask as a thread that anytime someone asks about a lease we just say refer to pages 175-183?
I am happy to debate issues, but the same one over and over ...uggg. Thank you 1bad for your substantial controbution back a few pages. That was all I was saying glad we are on the same page. And I have no God complex. I value all of your guys imput, because I know I do not know everything. Can we try to just make it about the issue like jj, 6pk, and mama did, and try to keep the mudslinging to a minimum?

 

No not at all were on the same page. Jess talks about you from time to time and its good to see you here voicing your opinion. It would be great if people would place a higher value on what you say based on your years of driving but some don't sad but true. Those of whom I spoke about are people I'm in contact with and are great examples of how one can rise from the BS of Central. There are people who's careers were ruined by Central all over a lease and a promise.

 

Tiger 4, in my opinion, and with having worked in a few other industries career wise (so I'm not a 21yr old thinking that this will be the life, and I'm also not one that is turning to the trucking industry as a last resort...), I think that the training is just fine...so far...as I have yet to go out with a trainer for my time otr. As with ANY industry...as many have pointed out, the training is what YOU make of it. I have people in the class that I'm in that think a lot of this was a waste of time and that they can't wait to get out otr...and into their own truck (read lease...I know, I know...don't need to bring all that up again). As for myself, I will continue on with the training, which I have enjoyed, and will continue to evaluate not only my performance and the new lifestyle I am getting into, but also the company. With ANY job in ANY industry, just as much as the company is looking at you to see if you will fit in with them, you should be looking at the company to see if they are a good fit for you.

Again, as many have stated (who's opinions and posts I value and will keep in mind...too many names to mention and I know I'd probably miss some...), you've got to start somewhere and get the experience. Once you have the experience, then you can re-evaluate where you are and what your needs are. For me, I will continue to evaluate through my 6 months to which I'll decide if I want to stay otr or maybe do a dedicated route. Meanwhile, I'll continue learning as I feel you can never learn too much, I'll continue to feel others out such as on this thread and such, and I'll see where I fit in.

Hope this helps some.

 

I went through training in wvc and have been with them since July 2011. So far I have been happy. I can not attest to other companies training, but I have heard bad stories that I can not verify both at cwntral, cre, swift, and prime. People with bad experiences are more likely to talk about them than people with good.
So to answer your question I was happy with thw training. Did I finish knowing everything there is to know about trucking? No, but I knew enough to do my job and thats probably what you will find elsewhere too.

Hope that helps