Van Wyk Inc.

Tyson does that sometimes....its freaking annoying to try and lower a trailer that is loaded to the gills and crank her down....or up(i have had to do that too)....and on top of that some of the spotters must think we are all as thin as paper in some places....I have had to drag a trailer out just to crank its gear up because you couldn't fit a hand between the trailers.... I think they do it to screw with us sometimes...

 

Tyson yard dogs crank them up quite a bit to slide the nose jacks under. I've voiced my displeasure to a few of them since it's far easier to adjust the stand rather than crank the trailer especially in the winter when the grease is stiff as concrete.

 

Swift & Co in Worthington is consistently reliable when it comes to over-high trailers, and every trailer I ever dropped there I dropped with a 1/4 inch of air between the ground and the pads.

One time, while trying to manhandle the gear crank to get the loaded trailer to land on my fifth wheel, the cross member between the two legs broke. I had to get under the trailer in 85 degree heat and turn the cross member to get the passenger leg up. Of course with the handle broken, the crank defaulted to low gear. This was lucky to get the weight off, but sucked to get it all the way up. Imagine my irritation with the yard jockeys that day.

I may have even posted about it in this thread.

 

He's probably grandfathered in? Didn't Hawk want to lease on with VW inintally and Tim didn't want to budge on the age requirements?

You weren't kidding about snowpocalypse 2013! We're about to get our 3rd winter event here in PA before Christmas?!

I'm sitting here at Nexus for my SECOND rework! JB hunt is now insisting that we scale (something we never do) these beer loads from Nexus, bound for CA as I'm sure the California intermodal drivers have inherited some clusters thanks to us!

However, citing our ludicrous "activity based" pay policy they are also refusing to pay us the $10 for our extra trouble of scaling! "This item is paid only if a loaded container is taken out of route (more than 20% variance on miles) to a scale before departure from a rail yard and/or customer facility." Now my boss, who does my payroll (billion dollar company, hmmm...) figures this on short miles, even though we get paid hub miles. Whatever. The fact that they only pay us if we go out of route is ridiculous. It still takes the same amount of time at the truck stop, and we get more hub mileage going out of route. I probably sound crazy talking to road drivers. You don't and don't expect to get paid to scale loads. But as a local driver, getting "activity based" pay, and not getting paid for an activity...doesn't make sense. On the upside, I get an extra full live stop ($44 :-$)every time I come back to rework!

 

JB Grunt didn't get to be that size by throwing money around willy nilly! But I see your point, hell I'd love to be paid for every "action" performed. I would hate to see some of those loaded cans you guys pick up I'm sure they are just a mess. The "it's someone else's problem now" mentality it about at the top of the list that make me blow my top. Especially brake issues since they don't manifest just all of a sudden.

 

That is correct.... I initially wanted to, but Tim told me that the truck had to be 5 years or newer. Didn't had the funds to buy a newer trucker. Would of loved to buy a old Pete or KW but it just wouldn't of worked out with VW. I think Rob & there is another guy with a old navy blue Volvo who was grandfathered in.

 

Well I'm getting unloaded in the tundra of Sioux City this morning and then beating feet for the house, looks like I'll be off until Thursday morning. You guys be safe if you're out working over the holiday & have a Happy Ho Ho Ho.

 

Hey drivers, I am currently in the application process and just wanted to gather y'all's thoughts. I live in VA and would be running out of the Waynesboro terminal. I live between Richmond and Fredericksburg on the coast. After talking with Jeanne in recruiting she said I would be home 1 to 2 days a week, with the possibility of weekends but not guarunteed, I would be making 20%, and I would be able to take the truck home for my time off. I was curious about the average weekly pay and the consistency of home time. It sounds like a great opportunity since I have less than a years experience and I have been off the road for the past few years. I was hoping y'all that are doing the job every day could shed some light.

 

Keep in mind that I've been away from VW for about 16 months now, but in answer to your questions, insofar as I can answer them: 1-2 days a week is fairly accurate for home time. I was generally out for 10-12 days and home home for 2-2.5. The home time can be quite consistent if you keep up good communication. Average weekly pay depends on what you're doing, but at 20% (correct me if I'm wrong you current VWs) I would imagine that 750-800/week is a good, reasonable not-too-high-not-too-low average. I don't know where the rates have gone since I left, but since it's been 14 hours since you posted, I figured I throw out the beginnings of an answer while the regulars settle down to getting a chance to respond.

It is a fairly low-BS opportunity for somebody in your situation, especially compared to some of the megas that you'd be looking at otherwise.

 

Well everyone I have read the whole Thread and will be going to Van Wyk on Monday the 10th. I have been working with Tim out of Sheldon the whole time and seems like a great guy. I am out of the the Virginia Beach area so of course the Virginia Terminal is going to be my home, I am from I Iowa so looking forward to making those runs out to the mid-west, I have to admit it was a hard choice to pick a company but from what I have read here I think I have made the right decision. Looking forward to meeting all of you some time in the future. By the way I am Scott, already did my pee test now have to do the company PT test fill out paper work. I guess do a local run or two and then pick up my trainer. I am really looking forward to coming to Van Wyk and getting out and doing the Job. In fact I Take my DMV CDL test tomorrow then head up to Waynesboro on sunday. Again looking forward to meeting you all in the future stay safe out there and keep them rolling.