Starting with J. Grady Randolph on Monday.

The extra time has paid off. I applied with J. Grady Randolph before Christmas, but they said they were in a hiring freeze. The Operations Manager called me today and asked if I was still looking for work. JGR is a small flatbed/oversize company, here in Greenville, SC, with just over 100 power units and about 180 trailers. They specialize in prestressed concrete delivery, with loads up to 14' wide, 100' long and overweight, for use in building parking garages. Pay is set at a load rate, with shorter runs paying more per mile than longer ones, but it looks like a decent day could be $200, or more, depending on how many loads you pull. Drivers have the option to run locally, or go OTR, pulling flats, extended flats and step decks. Some of their drivers run OTR for a few weeks then stay local and get home every night for a couple weeks. They also have some RGN's and pole trailers. It's a family owned company and from what a couple of their drivers told me today, they really bend over backwards to do right by their drivers.

The Operations Manager will pull my MVR tomorrow morning, then I'll take a piss test and start Monday.

 

MVR checked out good. I have to take a piss test and physical on Monday, then a few days training on hauling those big concrete slabs for the rest of the week.

I'm going to ask to go OTR first, so I can make more money and get caught up on bills. Their OTR drivers make a little more than the local guys that are home every night. I'll probably be driving one of their older trucks, 2001-2003 Pete 379's. All their equipment is well maintained, at their terminal. All drivers leave their trucks at the terminal, when they go off duty. It's only about 13 miles from my house though, so that's cool.

They also have a terminal in Gaffney, SC and another one just east of Nashville, TN, if any flatbed experienced drivers in those areas are looking. They're hiring.

 

Piss test and physical today. Doc says I'm very healthy for a half century driver. Company says to expect a call some time on Wednesday, when they get the results back from the drug screen, to set up a time on Thursday to go in for paperwork and go over the companies securement procedures. Looking forward to getting back to steady work.

 

Orientation today with the head of HR, me and one other driver, took all of two hours. Monday we'll get with the trainer to go over the companies securement methods. This'll last 2 or 3 days, then we'll be assigned our trucks. The other driver wants to stay local and be home every night, but I'm opting to go OTR for a while so I can catch up on bills. The HR woman said that the local drivers would average $700-$800 a week and the OTR drivers average over $1000 a week take home. Of course, that's later in the spring, when freight picks up. She said the local drivers were only working 3 or 4 days a week and OTR guys are bringing home under $800.

They have a minimum of $350 per week guaranteed and we'll be paid $100 a day for training.

 

Never shipped out, with US Xpress. This job came up, while I delayed going and I jumped on it. This week was slow, but they warned me it would be until several new construction jobs start up next week. I worked only 3 days this past week, home in time for supper each time, except last night. I left late, at 1400, for Charleston, SC and waited over 4 hours to unload. Three hours of that will be paid detention time.

I was assigned a new Pete 387, with only 87,000 miles on it. Nice truck and it rides very comfortable. Our primary customer is Metromont Prestressed Concrete, for the construction of parking garages and other structures. We're paid for the round trip and usually deadhead back. But, if they find a backhaul, we get paid the round trip, plus the backhaul.