Central Transport International - Warren, Mi.

Actually Mack, they pay every week. Yet it still takes at least 3 weeks to get your first check- go figure. Also, while you're definitely correct that OTR/linehaul drivers are paid mileage (no overtime) the amount you sit around waiting is ridiculuos. On an average day my hours would be something like this- report for work at 1900; If I was lucky, a decent truck would be sitting there, otherwise procure truck by 1945-2000; get empty (or loaded trlr) and rollout around 2030-2145; arrive Indy 4.75-5.25 hrs later (from Romulus MI). Sit there till 0330-0400, and then head back -sometimes with the same MT trlr I brought down (because the relay freight from Nashville,KC/St Lou never made it).On a really good day, I might have worked less than a 12 hr shift- typical shift was 14-16 hrs.

 

you talking about CT, the company with the yellow Sterling/Freightshaker Rigs/Trailers? I see a ton of them on the road here in OH, and know that they have a big contract with the chevy/ford plants up around cleveland

 

Yep- that's them. They have contracts for them to haul parts from those plants in Mehico up to here. Apparently, if you live in a state that allows highway doubles or triples, you can make some seriously good cash. But they do have serious freight issues- some of it was stacked so badly I knew it would get damaged before I even left the yard.

 

Mack-I started doing something like that- whatever time I walked out in the morning, I would show up ten hours later. They did not have a problem with this, however, the waiting around for a truck and then a load/MT trailer would still continue. Example- I would head home around 10am, come back to work at 8pm, but I still wouldn't leave the terminal until 10pm some nights. All in all, it was an unsavory experience.

 

If you would abide by your CDL training you would not leave the yard with a bad load,if dispatch doesnt like it then go to safety manager:smt100 :smt100

 

Believe me, the first time I saw how poorly they would load freight, I went right back inside to talk with dispatch (and the loaders). After I was informed that it would take too long to reload,making the load late to Indy, I replied 'fine', took out my accident camera and began taking pictures of the load. When I was asked what I was doing, I simply replied 'CYA'- and that was that.