Running with JCT

A lot of companies with big Company fleet use L/P as a way to off load the trucks they couldn't sell in bulk after they are done with them. Knight's Volvo's for instance - they would sell the bulk to Arrow Truck sales but the one's Arrow didn't want went on the lot for private party sales and lease purchase, guess what condition those where in.

I think the way JCT does it is maybe the best in the business. 90 days is about the right length of time for the driver to decide if he likes the truck he got or wants to switch to the one he wanted in the first place.

 

About 80% of our freight goes in and out of cali to the Midwest. Not very many east coast freight

 

Hi everyone. Just checking in with a few notes on my JCT experience thus far.

Trip to OK from CA via Greyhound - Not groundbreaking news here, but 44 hours on a Greyhound bus is about 45 hours too long. I mean how does Greyhound look at you with a straight face without chuckling while taking your money? Between the Cold War era bus, the endless stream of loonies riding the bus (myself included), and the stained, gum smeared seats occupied by disease/germ carrying passengers, it's really blind luck anyone survives. Hindsight, yea I should have bought a plane ticket.

Orientation - Accommodations at the Super 8, not too bad, room to yourself, no crack of dawn wake up call...nothing to complain about there. As far as the overall orientation, just a few pieces of advice.....first, make sure that if all possible, you complete all of the training modules you will get a link to prior to arriving. As well as having all your paperwork squared away. The people who had everything completed and in order their first day, went right into selecting a truck that 1st afternoon. And speaking of trucks, while I cannot obviously speak for what trucks they have to choose from tomorrow, or anytime else, my group of drivers in orientation, we had about 16-17 trucks to choose from. Of those, I believe only 4-5 were used. All the trucks were Cascadias, with 1 used T-660. Of the Cascadias, probably 3 or 4 were automatics. And as was posted previously, you can upgrade at 90 days into a truck you want, if you didn't get something you truly are happy with in your initial selection. And from what I've seen with other drivers that I spoke with, it's often quite sooner than 90 days. One final thought on orientation. It probably helps to pay attention to what is being presented to you, so as to not be standing in the yard asking other new drivers questions on everything from qualcomm operation to paperwork. Although orientation is very fast paced, if you're professional enough to give JCT 100% of your attention, by the time you get your truck and are on the way out the gate, your questions will be limited.

First impressions of JCT - While perhaps in time the shine might wear off of JCT a bit, at this moment I couldn't be happier with my choice to drive here. Everyone has been helpful and positive. You'll see right away the feeling from the employees is that it seems most people like to joke and have a good time. Not that they don't take their jobs seriously, just a very laid back attitude. And one quick story....one of the ladies in my orientation (husband/wife team), found out a few hour before being dispatched on their first load that one of her close family members had been killed in a vehicle accident. She was obviously distraught, but was immediately reassured by several people at JCT that they'll get her home. Just let them know when she wanted to be home for the services, and they'll get her there. Speaking from experience, I've been a position where freight trumps getting a person home. So hopefully they'll get them home quickly....but from their reaction and comments, I have no doubt JCT will do just that.

Conclusion - On my first load as I type this, 1600ish miles from AR to CA. JCT is getting me by the house for a day or 2 so I can grab my stuff. I'll post here from time to time my progress and hopefully add another informed opinion of life at JCT. That's it for now...be safe all....or live on the edge and don't lol.

Oh yea...and thanks again to Sharpp for this informative thread and his continued guidance.

 

Anyone got a count for how many drivers are going jct because of this thread? I know I'm seriously considering it and I love where I am now!

 

JCT just let a guy go (fired). Don't know the whole story but I Do know that they left him stranded at a bus stop without a penny to speak of. He was close to payoff on his truck and they started to give him the run around on miles and his pay.pretty sad.

 

Well, at first, breakdown wanted the body shop here in Salt Lake City to just get me legal and road worthy, so they could get me back to Sapulpa...where they could control costs better and get me a loaner/rental truck. They decided to have all of the repairs done here in total. So now I won't get out of here until probably Saturday. The other option would have been to find a recovery truck out here to use, but no guarantees on when I could be routed back here to get my truck, so sticking it out here made the most sense. I just spoke to Lisa Radford again though, and I found that even my hotel stay will be covered...I just have to send her the receipts...thank God for insurance! Thanks to all of you for your concern and kind words...it is greatly appreciated.

 

I'm not questioning what you've been told but I'm detecting a wiff of cattle.

 

That is sad...to a certain extent. Like you said, you don't know the whole story...and neither do I. I do want to remind everyone that although we all may hear sad stories of mistreatment and such, unless we do know the whole story, it is all hearsay. In my experience, so far, what I have found is that anyone can find something bad to say about any company. What we have to also remember is that a lot of those drivers/employees contributed to their experience with that company. I'm not in any way saying that all of the companies are innocent, or that all of the drivers/employees are despicable, but in the name of fairness, we do have to allow the blame to be potentially shared. I'm just sayin'!

 

TT That is some kind of good news, The insurance is covering the expenses as you sit and wait for the truck to be properly repaired, Then you can be on your way, I'm with you on who said what where, on the driver being let go in the maturity of his purchase of a truck. I did not hear all of the story either nor will we! So we have to assume, thee was more to the story then meets the eye! Take Care TT I'm sure you are board! Catch up on the rest and come back out and run hard! Good Luck.!