These flatbed outfits....

talked to the drivers at gypsum a few times, seems like kennedy has lowered their standards to the same as gypsum express. not great, not horrible, definetly a better paycheck than dry van, just not as good as it should be. also a big paper log user...

kennedy has not closed their terminal at aliquippa, they ran the union drivers out there(illegally) and are now in losing in court over it. the terminal is (supposedly) up for sale, as is their stony point terminal, since so little sheetrock is moving compared to a few years ago.

I have no clue what kennedy is doing in court, but i know they have been sending out letters to drivers stating how much better the company is doing over a year ago, but then i am rolling around in junk equipment and they cut pay to go home and cut the pay from 43 cpm to 40 cpm, along with paid benefits and cutting the 401k match entirely.

 

Have you looked at a co. called Ronald Gross Inc. Last I heard they paid for drivers bennies also. Her is a link. www.ronalgrossinc.com

 

here is a better link. http://www.ronaldgrossinc.com/pages/history.asp

 

the drivers definetly look like they stay busy at gypsum, they always have just as many trailers at usg as we do, but i dont see them at the other usg plants. they probably have accts with other rival gypsum companies, as well as them doing some light steel hauling(they have chains and binders on some trucks, as well as headache racks and conestoga trailers) and beer in new york. I always see daycabs with budweiser trailers around rochester and syracuse.

skinnytrucker, i have not talked to any ron gross drivers, although i am not suprised they pay for the benefits, they have to compete with other steel haulers in their area that are union with paid bennies and a pension(yourga, strimbu, pi&i).

skinny, if you are a "yooper", have you checked out ken graham over by st saint marie? i was up by there a couple of months ago, and i noticed them, it looks like they haul steel on b trains out of the steel mill in ontario. just a thought, I noticed them for the first time then, and have actually started seeing them more now that i know what their trucks look like.

 

Never heard of them already gone. I live in the western part of the U.P. There is another Graham trk. out this way in Spalding, MI. and I think there is a couple of brothers that have there own trks. up here. Sorry I couldn't help more.

 

oh ok, well, if you are in the western part, at least you have a few more job options available than in the eastern, it seems like slim pickings over there.

is it feasable for you to drive into wisconsin for a job?

 

Not very many jobs up here at all. If I were looking for a job my only option would be driving into WI. for work. Thankfully right now I am gainfully employed at YRC and will probably retire here if they'll have me that long.

 

oh ok, well you are definetly lucky, i hope yrc holds out for all of the employee's!