Star Transportation

Any info on the benefits? (medical, dental, 401k, etc...) Any info on per diem pay that I keep hearing they push on you? I filled out my application today and I like to be informed on where I will be going.

 

To answer your questions first Stangman. They have Cigna insurance which really surprised me. Several different options to choose from and also depending on whether you are alone on the insurance or have kids or family, as to how much it will cost. But fairly inexpensive compared to a lot of other insurance out there. Dental and vision are through other companies, but I can't remember them right off the top of my head. But overall good insurance that kicks in at 30 days. 401K is optional and you can put whatever amount in you want from your check, but I don't know a lot of details about it. The per diem is 100% optional whether you want to take it or not. I did. If you need more info on that stuff let me know and I will get my paperwork out of the truck to try and give you more details.

 

Update!!!
Started with my trainer today. I mentioned previously about the Nissan account that Star has. First off, they have home daily routes for Mid TN drivers. I didn't know that until today, if you want home daily and are fortunate enough to get it. And the Nissan shutdown I mentioned actually happens twice a year, once in July and once in December two weeks each. So for those two weeks if you are on the Nissan account, you would either have to just take the time off or see if they can find you other loads for that time. They run a day shift and a night shift.

 

Thanks for the info. I think I'm gonna run with it in a few weeks. Seems pretty good. What kind of equipment y'all using?

 

Freightliner Cascadias, no more than about 2 - 2.5 years old. And they have a ton of brand new ones out in the lot now to be distributed. I highly doubt a new hire will ever get one, but their trucks are all pretty new. So far I have seen a good mixture of new and old trailers, but they keep all their equipment well maintained.

 

Run!

 

Why?

 

No personal experience with them, but a buddy of mine went to the company and was not happy with any aspect of it. Stayed 3 weeks and left. To give ya an idea of how low the pay is ( if it is 38 CPM), I started in 2000 @ 36 CPM.

Do your research, may take a few weeks,. Don't take the first thing that comes along. Lots of outfits have upped their pay exponentially,
Offer exceptional 401k/profit sharing and do care for their drivers a great deal.

Mega carriers are not the way to go. Look for small outfits, 50 to 100 trucks or less. These bottom feeder companies have created the driver shortage and its been a trickle down to the rest of the industry.

So it stands to reason you would start at the bottom ( the small outfits) In other words, the bigger the house, the bigger the problems. SRT, Star and the mother ship, Covenant, will tell you anything to get you in the door.

With all that said, its the company. Not the drivers. I have met incredible drivers from all three, and in no way is this to slam them ( some will think otherwise). Do what you think is best, most importantly, do your homework. Best of kuck .God bless.

 

Starting out at .36 cpm is not that bad for a new driver with little to no experience. Better than some other companies that start you out at .28-.32 cpm. Not a lot of people like covenant being the parent company of Star, but that doesn't mean Star fails at taking care of their own. Really it comes down to a persons attitude towards others. If you go in with a bad attitude towards a job, you will never enjoy it. But if you are willing to work and do what is asked of you, you will be fine.

 

So you said you took the per diem pay? How does that work?