Comments By Nolaman

Big Scott... you ought give your truck number as well since it's larger and easier to see, especially while driving. -Done Gone

There are 3 kinds of people in the world.... those who are good at math, and those who aren't!! haha. It was a nice day. Nice to have met Errol and you. Good luck with CFI and in your driving career. BTW... Blueberry muffins ARE good!! Be safe.

I was saddled with a Trainer, who is Rude, has less knowledge than me, & is your steriotypical "Super Trucker"

If you're at C.C., I was there too. I was a much better driver than my trainer, and he asked me to teach him how to back!! I knew I had to spend just a few weeks with him, and I ended spending several months with him because, as bad of a driver as he was, he was not too difficult to get along with, and he was clean and he was neat. I did start training new guys later for the $300 training bonus, and most of the people were just fine. I didn't care for one, but, as I said, it's just for a few weeks. C.C. is a way to open doors for you into other companies. Believe me, they did so for me. A lot of companies that told me no before I went to C.C. told me yes after 6 months at C.C. As you said "dues must be paid", and they will be, and they will be worth it!!

Tyler... Good Luck. C.C. gave me a chance, and I actually loved working there. If you've been there, you know the good and bad things about C.C., but I'll tell you that working there gave me a lot of experience quickly. I worked harder there, and I had to do more weighing and tandem sliding than I can remember, but I got a lot of good experience. I believe I got years of experience in just one year with C.C. When I moved to another company, people would say things like, just wait till you go here or there, or have to do this or that, and I had already been to those places, and done those things, because I worked for C.C. Anyhow, as you said... dues must be paid. They gave me a chance, experience, and opened doors for me. I am also very thankful for Carolina Cargo, and I keep in touch with several people whom I became friends with there. Tell Samantha, Curtis, Jeff, Leah, Wendy and Corey that Tony says hello and that he misses them!! --Done Gone

That goes to prove that the TT theory about how the name on the side of the trucks doesn't matter. If you have what it takes to do this job, you can be successful anywhere.

I know CC is generally known for accepting drivers that other companies won't or can't. It's good to know they're an OK place to work. Thanks for sharing.

I truly enjoyed working at CC. I was and am very thankful for CC. The dispatchers knew me by name, and after they got to know me, joked around with me and cared about me as a person. I was constantly rolling, and they thanked me often for my efforts. Their name causes people to look down on the drivers, but I believe I could have gone up against anyone in so many areas of driver responsibilities and skills. Some of the "docks" we had to dock to were in muddy fields and spots where a 53' trailer couldn't fit without the driver being "creative". I would put my backing skills up against anyone. I've had drivers with 20 and 30 years of experience who didn't realize that I was a new driver at the time tell me how impressed they were with my backing skills. We'd have to make 5 pick ups. It was our responsibility to schedule, coordinate, and make them. We'd have to scale often, then maybe have the load reloaded or have some product removed because almost every broker used us to get every ounce they could on the trailer. Many times I had to have a couple of pallets removed because I was over 80,000 lbs!! In spite of the hard work, I LOVED it. It was a challenge. I knew some drivers made snide remarks about us, but I didn't care. They were not paying or providing money for me. Carolina Cargo was! I'd see other trucks that had lost control and ended up in the median or shoulder as I, a lowly Carolina Cargo driver, continued past them. Bottom line is... You're correct... anyone can succeed irrgardless of the name on the door IF the driver fits there, has a good attitude, and put forth the effort. "Gratitude is an attitude, and attitude is everything."

I drive for CFI. I don't know how the school training is done, but I spoke with students who said they stayed in a different place than the LaQuinta hotel in Joplin where the new recruits are while going through orientation. The hotel is very nice, and the breakfast is VERY good, with coffee available 24 hours a day. They pay only $25/day for orientation, but it's worth it as it's only for 4-5 days, then you get your truck and first load that does show up on the next check. However, they are changing from weekly pay to pay every 2 weeks in March 2017...something I'm NOT looking forward to. The students I spoke with said it's not as nice there as the LaQuinta, and that it's boring there with not much to do on the weekends. The only student I spoke with at length said she rented a car from time to time to get places, and that the school isn't in Joplin. She also mentioned that after you graduate that you have to go home to your state to obtain your license!!

Big Scott... I did respond to the email address you gave. I gave you my contact information.

Hi Susan. I truly enjoyed Carolina Cargo. One has to do so much there, and go anywhere. Deals with brokers, driver managers, other drivers, time management, etc... Actually, the training, situations, trips, etc... at C.C. caused me to be a much better driver than people I've met who have the same experience as I, but I've seen a lot more situations than they have. When I posted my first post about C.C., Brett actually responded by saying I have already learned an important asset...ATTITUDE!! He said I'd be successful anywhere with a great attitude. I try daily to have the best attitude of anyone I may meet. I LOVE driving, and I'm at a good company, but it was more like family at C.C., whereas it's more like a job here. Don't get me wrong, I like it, but it's just different. That, plus the fact that I have a sincere appreciation for the opportunity C.C. gave me, and I am a very loyal person. I feel a sense of loyalty to them. They are a good company, and they do NOT cheat drivers.

I worked for Carolina Cargo for almost a year before I had to move to a company that could guarantee me home by certain dates... (legal reasons). I really liked it there, and I miss C.C. Being a team driver company, it wasn't easy for them to get me home when I was required to be, so I had to leave and get a job with a company that guarantees home by a required date. I won't say the name of my new company, but they are large, solo driving, and let drivers take their trucks home. I NEVER worried about my truck at C.C., and it was often gone over with a fine tooth comb by the mechanics, as required by Randolph. I am always having problems at my new "better" company. As a matter of fact, I'm sitting in a hotel room as I type this because of truck problems... again! If you find yourself "having" to go to C.C., just have a good attitude, apply yourself, drive, prove yourself responsible and dependable, and appreciate the opportunity. The "terminal" sucks, and there is no shower or driver lounge. One warning... the 1st month is the toughest to make it through financially. They pay per trip, and it takes 3 "legs" to make a trip, so you will need to squeeze every penny for the first month. Try to have a couple of hundred bucks on you if at all possible, even if you have to borrow it until you get rolling. After that, you'll be just fine. They pay little, but there are bonuses and incentives that will raise your pay considerably. Actually, I'm not making much more here than I was at C.C. It doesn't matter how much you get per mile if the miles aren't there! Anyhow, I really enjoyed C.C., and I keep in touch with them as I made a lot of friends there, both with other drivers, and with the office people. It was like family there. It's a job here.

G-Town.... very kind answer. I would say Swift and Carolina are more like oranges and melons...very different. Carolina does offer solo driving after 6 months, but orientation and training are very different. One could be trained by another driver with only 5000 miles of training himself. I was already better at backing fresh out of school than was my trainer!! Carolina has only one terminal, and it is more of a repair shop/office. There is no place for drivers to relax except 2 very worn out couches. Carolina drivers sleep in their trucks while their truck is being worked on, or awaiting a load. Carolina is small enough that you'll know everyone soon, but too small to have any frills. -Done Gone