My new experience with Gordon Trucking, post-buyout

I did two things today, one good, one absolutely stupid.

THE GOOD

I made initial contact with a local, mid-size OTR company about driving for them. 3,000 miles a week if I want, Kenworth T600 or T680 power units with EOBR and APU, and a reasonable pay scale. It might work, so I'll stay in touch with them after March 7.

Edit: My situation was not immediately disqualifying; it all depends on a road test they give to all applicants.

THE ABSOLUTELY STUPID

I made an appointment online - and it was confirmed - for a visit to my local Secretary of State office to inquire about what I have to do to lift the suspension. After driving 30 miles, I discovered that the office is closed today, Presidents Day.

Leaving aside the obvious point that I didn't call first (I didn't realize today was a holiday -- retirement can do that!) why, oh why would they confirm an appointment on a day they are closed?!?

 

I had a nice chat with the fellow who does the prehire processing. He's a jack of all trades, doing the advertising, recruiting, employee in-processing, and even some local door-to-door sales. He admitted they had a pretty sour reputation for a while but getting smacked around by the FMCSA (and former drivers!) helped them see the light. So they broke out the checkbook. Out go the old trucks, in come new ones (they keep nothing older than 2012), an APU gets out on each one, and the drivers can choose paper or electronic - I'll take the box, please. Best of all, he had nothing nice to say about non-commercial vehicle cops and the tickets they write.

Oh. His own most recent employer was Big G, so Tow might even know the guy, depending on when be left.

 

The interesting thing about this industry and the people who drive the trucks is how really stupid some of us are.

As I do with any trucking company I think about joining, I look at the SMS page and drill down to the individual citations issued in the past 12 months to get a feel for the safety culture. One thing never fails to astound me...

How can a driver knowingly drive a CMV with a suspended CDL?!? Many do. It's not like one wakes up with a cold and continues to drive. No. Unless a driver is between the suspension event and getting home to learn of the suspension, how in the world does that happen? And how does a company even allow it? I guess we don't take responsibility for our own actions much anymore.

 

I can't answer that. I never used them because I have better insurance from my previous employer. Give them a call.