My Experience with Lone Star Transportation

Still have not heard anything back from Lone Star not sure if I'll pursue this any further or not...

KEEN shot me down today they now require 2 years step/flat/RGN....They no longer train because the guy who did load securement retired...

They mentioned Cressler for some experience but they tarp way too much for my taste..

Not sure what my next move is..

 

Hung out with my DM at the 2nd table. And also with DJTRYPE. Everbody here has been great. Houston is a cool yard. Hung out on Sunday with a bunch of HH guys. In trk 206 on my 2nd load.
Roll on!

 

mystikal would you and/or anyone else working for ls tell me what you dislike about the company I am thinking about going flatbed from reefer it will be between april and july before I can make the move and this sounds like a good company to start flatbedding at thanks

 

with no flatbed experience and having to go to flatbed securement training how long can I expect it to take to get my first check? Just trying to plan for the future when/if I make the move to LS from reefer thanks

 

@AZS.... I know, right? I was sent from San Marcos to Pharr for a load.. I got my permit two hours later permitting 13'. My largest load to date! Its set for a next monday delivery but i'm hoping I can get there Wed and they unload me. If I sit in El Paso for the weekend i'll go nuts!

@Flip Flops... give it some time bro. If you have a lengthy job history it can take a bit to get them all back.. it took 9 business days before I was called. There are only 2 ladies working recruiting so you can imagine how busy they are.

@Keebler.. I only have 2 issues...

1) You can't bank days per se. No matter how long you are out they want no more than 5 days off. If you need more I guess you have to get special permission. I haven't taken more than 5 off so I don't know how that goes. Vacation is also only 5 days off.. period. And, if you have multiple weeks, you cannot combine them either to get more time off. If you ask me it seems it would be hard to plan a good vacation with only that little time off. I've heard you can get around it by doing a mon-fri thing and requesting the weekends before/after off... but its DM dependant. Again, I haven't taken a vacation here so I don't know how that actually flies either.

2) this one is a preference... they prefer you call twice a day during the week. I prefer to call never. My previous companies never wanted you to call but rather use electronic means to communicate. Combine that with my desire to be left alone thanks to 5 bad years in law enforcement I now have a bubble and prefer not to have human interaction... nor do I ever want to contact or be contacted by anyone. I've built up a good enough reputation that my DM trusts my judgement and work ethic and I try to maintain communication via email or XATA at least once a day first thing with a check call so hes cool with it now, but it was a rough start getting to this point. But the general concensus is that you need to call once or twice a day depending on who you get.

Other than those 2 things I have not a qualm with this company.

 

thanks mystikal gives me something else to talk to a recruiter about because my one vacation a year is i come home on 6/27 and i dont go back to work till 7/6 but i stay out from the end of may first of june so there arent any problem where i work currently just use time off they owe for staying out combined with vacation since our vacation is only 5 days as well

 

From what I've gathered, they only pay on the 10th and 25th of each month. If either of those days falls on a Saturday, you'll be paid Friday and if on a Sunday, you'll be paid Monday. Now, any miles or work done between 1st-15th is paid on the 25th and 16-EOM is paid on the 15th. The lady who does payroll, which you'll meet, stated to have everything in at least 2 days before payroll goes out and you should get paid for it on that specific payday. They use TripPak here, so depending on where you are, it can take a couple of days to get to them. They stated if you need to overnight it, they don't have a problem with that either. But you'll foot the overnight cost.

Like for me, I did orientation all last week and now I'm doing securement training. I'll be back Monday to finish, so I'm thinking I'll only get paid for 4 days on Monday and the rest will be on the December 15th paycheck. That's a long time to get paid, but I'm OK with that because I'm not in a bad spot. Hope this helps.

 

I remember it taking forever to get that first check, you can do advances with your fuel card once you get that which is what I had to do. Also advances are a good way to get money for tolls so you don't have to pay atm fees.


Mystikal - I had to get through San Antonio before the curfew, only way I was going to make it home tomorrow was if I hammered it. Where did you end up?

 

I would have responded last night but trying to catch a good signal in west texas for me is like trying to herd a flock of chickens.

No problem man... I was fighting curfew as well. I got out just after curfew by I think 20 min... man and we thought the people in Pharr drove bad... the 1604 was TERRIBLE! I even got a complaint called on me... lol. Apparently I was changing lanes too much and following too closely... I cant count the amount of times I was cut off and 1604 goes from 3 lanes to 2 lanes and back several times with no notice on-ramps in the left 2 lanes... we're required to stay in the right lane on O/S the last I checked & I was doing just that. I don't see where the problem was... but safety was cool.. just reminded me on how to drive safe was all.

I made it to x465 before calling it quits and rolled at 0615 this morning. Made it to El Paso at 1330 today.. not too shabby for how late we left yesterday. Was great meetin' ya btw.

They ended up not having anything for me after I delivered so i'm deadheading home until monday. Not too shabby... and at least im not sitting 4 days!

 

Yeah man likewise, great meeting you. Yup the 1604 on that side of town is no good, My tactic is usually to stay in that right lane until I just have no choice to get out, for instance another truck coming on, I just alternate my speed up and down trying to fit in like a puzzle. Slowing down a bit for cars in front and speeding up a bit for the ones halfway down the trailer or more. I got to exit 372 last night and rolled about the same time as you, I didn't get through El Paso much earlier than you. That's cool they sent you home, I'm there as well (mine not yours lol), enjoy.