Central Refrigerated Truck Stop

"The more I know, the more I know I don't know!" I think it was Abe Lincoln who said that...I don't know, I can't remember!!

I saw a bumper sticker once that said: "Learn all you can from your teenagers, while they still know it all!" ####, I guess I should have taken notes before they all grew up.

Oh well, not to worry though GW, because somewhere in the vast expanse between adolescense and geezerdom we gain a lifetime of experiences that gives us a serendipitous kind of wisdom that rises to the surface just when we need it most. One of my favorite sayings: "The older the violin, the sweeter the music."
Best wishes to you and yours.

 

sigh... so much for the nice weather. Crossed the border from Oklahoma into Kansas and there's all this grey stuff on the ground. Got to Dodge City and found a temporary space to park and the lot is covered with ice... this is what I get for talking (bragging?) about the warmth in Florida. No big deal, I knew it had to happen anyway.

Now I guess I can begin to wonder where I'll be on Christmas?

 

GW- theres just one rule you have to follow on this forum. No teasing us poor, single drivers with the tantalizing images of good food. Widow does that job already and takes great delight in it.

I've known Widows and 1 Bads name for awhile tho but haven't used them here since I didn't know if they wished it or not.

As for using names and being worried bout whether the company is reading this or not....I operate under the principle that "just because I'm paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get me!!!". lol

Am still enjoying my hometime but now need to start thinking about hitting the road again. That means shopping and blah, blah, blah.

 

I have posted my name, truck number, home location etc on here several times.
I care less if a company knows it is me.
I am always honest and give all the info I can when there is a problem. If they do not like my honesty then they can kiss my rear.
BTW.
My name is Jon Butler. I am a driver for Heartland Express. Truck number 3590.
Drove for Central for a little over a year and a half. Several trucks there. Was in Tamala's fleet out of Conley, then Kraft Dedicated.
They can look me up all they want. lol.
I go by Jon, Chrome, or Pete (as in the dog in the little rascals)

I finally got home. Took a tour of the Northeast the last few days. Up around Mass and NH. Now in the snowy section of NY. But 90 and 86 are open again so all is good.
Headed to IL tomarrow.

 

Talk about feeling sorry for my nieces and nephew!!! Do you know that they are going to be forced to celebrate 2 Christmases? Yep, the 1 st will be tonight when we exchange the presents I bought, then they get to it all over on Christmas day. Gotta tell ya, my brother and his wife sure do have some strange ideas. lol

 

Well it is 31 degrees and sleeting in Atlanta now. Oh boy. God it is never this cold this time in the season! We live in the south to avoid this ####! Have fun tonight handle it will be fun I'm sure. Hope 1bad makes it back so he can see the girls opening their gifts.

 

Poobah-What a nice way of looking at losing ones mind. (Ha) I think I'm more of a fiddle than violin. You are right though; I just hope things come to the surface as the need arises.
Panhandle- No need to worry about good meals being mentioned from us. Our truck driver wasn't home for the holidays, and the girls and I don't like sweet potatos etc... so we made homemade won-ton soup. Plus we were sick and the chicken broth helped. Christmas might be ok. The truckdriver should be home so we'll have the usual turkey dinner, although more times than not, I over-cook the turkey and it comes out flat and dry. I'll really try hard this time. He mostly eats canned soup that he warms on the engine or somewhere. Also, since I've known him, he is happy with anything. I can microwave a bag of frozen veggies, and he's thrilled. I'm more of the pig. Give me prime rib, seafood, and chocolate.
He's heading to PA now. Everyone drive extra safe with this crazy weather! It recently snowed here (1500 ft.) and I'm in CA. I think our road crews sleep late and I had to drive to work at 4:00am, up mountain roads with cliffs. More gray hair.........

 

How is Heartland?

 

Ok with me so far.
They are very regionalized though. Some drivers are system, but most choose to work out of a particular terminal and do regional. Though the regions are large, and I have driven into several of them.
They are a short to Med haul company, not long haul. Though some 1000 mile loads come around they are not common. Most are 400-600 mile one day runs. 70% or so drop and hook. Regional drivers are home most weekends, though they may ask you to stay out one weekend a month, or if freight dictates you may be out more.
System drivers are there road drivers, they operate within the full hauling area and get dispatch from the main terminal, pulling from all terminals boards. They are home one or two weekends a month.
They take drivers with clean records and 1 year ++ OTR exp. Plus they will not take drivers with more than 3 jobs in 3 years, unless laid off from one or more.
Miles are around 2200 a week average for regional and home every weekend. Pay starts at .36 for 1 year exp and goes up from there. An additional 1 cpm for all miles if you have hazmat.

That is my breakdown of them so far lol. Only been with them for a little more than a month, but so far so good. Got really good miles this last week and a half or so. I will probably average 3000 or more miles for this 2 week turn.
Any company is what you make of it though. They have there quirks too.
No inverters, stripped trucks, Inspection bays at all terminals that you must wait in line for if you are in while they are open. Things like that that just piss you off lol.

 

I passed my road test today!! Since there were only 3 of us in class Monday is going to be an easy day of playing cards and helping the newbies out like the previous class did for us.