My new adventure with Gordon Trucking

All that "money" talk is fine and important, but I am much more interested in the person-to-person attitudes. One can get paid a whole lot of money and not get treated very well--the money just doesn't make up for it. Everyone loves drivers during Driver Appreciation Week, but what about two weeks later?

And do you or any GTI driver know if they have much of a presence in south-central Oklahoma near Ft. Sill in Lawton? I have grandchildren there and my kids are pestering me to be closer. (Yes, part of my long-term plan is to leave Michigan; I'm only here because it was a final duty station during my federal career--I have no family and don't know anybody here. The Call Of The Grandchildren is strong!)

 

I did drop a load in OKC during my 6 months with Gordon on the refer side.

Dead headed to Russelville, AR and then headed west again. Come to think of it did a few trips to Russelville....

Also Picked up Noel, Mo

Not sure if those are close enough, and not sure about dry side.

 

I have been delivering quite a bit in oklahoma the last couple months plus we pick up quite a few loads out of jenks and Muskogee. .. also go thru southern oklahoma on my way to Texas.

 

In a word, no, Gordon does not treat L/O's better than company drivers. Gordon requires six (6) months as a company driver to lease, but has... I forget... something like a million-mile warranty on engine, rear end and tranny, 100,000-mile on turbo and engine cooler. New APU. About $65K for a Columbia with new paint that hides the truck's history.

Gordon does not have a lot of L/Os but lots of used trucks through the Freightliner dealerships it owns. The last time I went by Pontoon, Gordon terminal near St. Louis, four freshly-painted Columbias sat on display up against the Interstate. Lease operators have the SAME forced dispatch and loads, including short, peewee loads that company drivers get. No difference. I met a handfull of L/O in my time at Gordon; they usually drove yellow Columbias, but not all.

The lease is also to watch out for. One L/O told me he had an incident when he rolled forward, clipped the corner of another trailer at a truck stop. Did no damage to the other rig; did minor cosmetic damage to his front left fender. (I think I still have a pic.) He was on pins and needles for a couple weeks after Gordon informed him that the incident violated his lease and his lease was subject to cancellation despite that he had mere months to go before truck paid off. His repairs ran about equal to his payments each month, and Gordon dictates his repairs.

I was interested in L/O because I could bring my dogs along, which I couldn't do as a company driver. Gordon seemed like a 'safe' place to park my CDL while getting regional and OTR experience. I didn't like Gordon's low pay, in particular, too many short loads. Add to that L/Os get same force dispatch. And after taking a Columbia from Pontoon out west to be retired, decided I definitely did not want a highly-detailed, freshly painted truck that camoflauged its history.

I think it would be possible to deal directly on a truck that has not had its 'history' scrubbed off. One L/O saw a truck up at Green Bay that no one drove, went in and asked how much. Answer? $40K. So he bought it (L/O), now owns it free and clear, no APU. Drives 55. All the time. : 0)

 

I find it interesting that there i not a single "fact" stated that is first hand knowledge.

 

How many years verifiable experience do you have that Gordon is paying you 42 cents a mile? I called about driving for their southwest division and they offered some BS lowball figure like 26 CPM.

 

Each L/O is someone I met and talked to; took two to lunch in Indy to pick their brains. Met 4, all total. Met the other two at Shasta Lake, CA. The rest result of personal investigation--e.g. how Gordon prices trucks--and my experience with a to-be-retired (and sold) Gordon truck.

 

7 years...drive us fleet and live in midwest is .40 .. reefer gets .02 additional

 

Well that settles it. If it was lunch counter talk it had to be all facts. Everyone knows there are never any tall tales told at the lunch counter.