Has anyone driven with sudbury transportation?

I was thumbing through a Land Line mag and I found them. I was wondering if there advertisment is true.

 

I found there advertisment in a Land Line mag. I was wondering if there is truth in there advertisement!! Thanx

 

This post needs moving to another section..

 

Thanx

 

They're a very good o/o company. Very nice to work for.

 

After driving for them for a few months, I knew It was a mistake. Their best dispatcher retired and the remaining one is simply lazy. Her attitude includes avoiding your calls and sitting you down for days ......costing you money!!! Apparently, the owner/manager looks the other way and will not do anything about it. I've tried to hang on, but there's no other choice but to move on. You can always try them, but I'd not recomend them. Good luck!

 

Sudbury Transportation is a poorly managed (weasel) company caught in a desperate need for drivers. The manager/owner will charm potential drivers with a "well prepared" harmonious mid-west speal and promises of succes which never materializes. By the time you end your tour you'll feel like you've known this creep all your life. The legless lizard works in coordination with (his partner in crime) a disfuntional wide-load dispatcher which you cannot miss when you enter that office. Mind you, this is a stranged relationship not to underestimate ...if you decide to stay. This odd-couple have schemed together for many years and have succeded in decieving drivers of their $500 sign-on bonus (as advertized online) yet keeping drivers until they're ready to spit them out (by not giving them loads) The goal is to keep Sudbury in business until is paid for.

Sudbury Transportation is a bad situation for any driver under 65, specially if with family, bills, and still eager to work hard and hustle. Their main forte are older drivers, almost retired individuals who will not make the dispatcher sweet (god forbid) or work too hard. However, If your truck is paid for, you have no bills and you don't like to work too hard, this can be the company for you.

a) Sudbury's website is bogus with no information and no interaction. This alone should have been the red flag.
b) Sudbury's Website does not mention anything about their 65% rate of pay. Why? They concentrate their efforts on persuasive techniques bringing the potential driver to the office in Wichita, KS for a dazzling tour filled with stories about previous bad drivers and promises of future success and instant gratitude.
c) FYI, the manager/owner never drove a truck beforenor does he have a clue about anything except keeping you calm and taking your money. Go visit and ask him a few questions and just listen. His job is to attract potential drivers, make them feel good throughout the visit and win them over to stay for a few months...until the Honeymoon is over!!! often decided by a disgruntled dispatcher. If you aren't her pet you'll not move good loads until you fade away .....and join me in this discussion. LOL!
d) Sudbury has no customer base even though it has been in business for 34+yrs. What does this mean to the driver? No customer = no calls asking for drivers. Sudbury must get loads from the internet as the only resource. The driver gets 65% (minus fuel surcharge, etc) of a Flat Rate which likely would be higher had the loads were from Sudbury's own customers. Get used to low rates/per miles as well, that's all tha's available Bud. They have every excuse in the book and again, if you get her mad.....you'll not make money.

Sudbury is nothing short of a miracle to be in business today except they're very fruggal when it comes to pay for anything. Their office does not even have a secretary and they think is funny. The dispatcher will do it all (permits, driver logs, etc) which may explain why the driver is often ignored. After 34 years they are still clueless about getting simple wide-load permits or general knowledge about the industry. The dispatcher is also lazy to get you loads and has grown bigger than her desk. She's training someone new but only time will tell.

The driver will never get paid Detention or payment for an Order-Not-Used nor Deadhead miles over 250mls @ .50cts per/ml as explained during the interview so forget about it! However, it can happen in the beginning to keep you happy and running so make a note of it and document it.

Sudbury means 65% - off the Flat Rate less the FUEL SURGE CHARGE which is also deducted from the same Flat Rate. They claim to pay you 100% of fuel surgecharge and avoid talking about it until you go to their office and interview. They all will repeat this: "that way you make more money." Just check for your self and decide. They'll explain it several times, but will have to decide to trust them. Sudbury also claims to have 14-19 drivers and will pump-you about every one of them you meet on the road. Be wise, be careful they love the gossip.

Sudbury claims 14-19 drivers at any given time. This is clearly more than Sudbury's dispatcher can handle or find loads for. May be one more reason she can never keep you loaded nor can she add a partial on your trailer as you drive across the country with 25' of empty space. Do you know how many drivers do other dispatchers handle simlutaneously? Make no mistake, as disfunctional as it sounds, that's they way they like Sudbury to be..!!!

 

According to Sudbury their average owner-operator made $17,000 last month? (See Land Line Magazine August/September issue Page-136) Did you believe that? This is a game played by Sudbury, masters of deceit bragging their o/operators make a ton of money.

The ad should have disclosed it was gross revenue but clearly avoided to mention it. Although seemly naive, this ad was a classic hook-n-reel aimed at the reader to react at the $17,000 p/month asumed average take-home. This ad is an example of devious practices by companies who still see o/operators as stupid and renewable comodities. This was a poor attempt by mediocre management/owner exposing Sudbury's true identity. Beware, it's not a rubber shark!

Interested o/operators should ask Sudbury to disclose the average net revenue per month (after fuel) They have these figures, but I suspect they'll answer something like: "we don't know, every driver situation is different."

Below is a more realistic posibility of the same "average owner-operator."

Let's say he drove from NY-to-Los angeles 3000mls and got paid $3500, a trip he could do in 4 days. This is a lot of money for a 4 days trip. It was also a 5 week month. Asuming his truck consumed 5mpg and fuel was only $3.75 p/gallon follow the simple math below.

NY-to-LA.. $3500 (gross revenew p/week) $3500 x 5wks = $17,500
Fuel.........-$2250 (3000mls / 5mpg = 600 gallons @ $3.75 = $2250 x 5wks = $11,250)
Sub-total: $1250 Net Per/Wk. ($1250p/w x 5wks =$6250 Net per/month before taxes, food, cigs, cell..)

What Sudbury doesn't tell you is how much its owner-operators are Netting per/month after fuel. Nor how much are they getting paid per mile. ..."every situation is different..."

Still curious about Sudbury?

 

Update: #We knew that Sudbury never payed drivers the $500 sign-up/$1500 referral though advertised on their own website. However, they just removed the offer to avoid any further#public embarrassment and any potential legal issues.

Sudbury also introduced the#new Dispatcher (finally) believed to be at the brink of being swallowed by the much larger bullfrog#dispatcher and being kept in the dark for weeks without any training or support. It was always rumored that the abusive situation could get out of control. While some#brokers and shippers found out, the owner/operators continued to pay the price of the power struggle being neglected and without good paying loads. #

Ironically, the new dispatcher may end up saving Sudbury from extinction. The aging and less energetic staff cannot keep up with the demands of a handful of drivers.

 

#"Heavy Haul Operations" department, #........?

Didn't#he quit too? #