Central Refrigerated Trucking Questions...

Hey Guys and Gals of this thread, I am seriously considering Central after school as a company driver and have a couple of questions that I could use your help on. 1. Do they really have a forced dispatch model, and if so how does it work? As a new company driver, can you refuse a load (say into NYC)? Is forced dispatch a no bigging in the big scheme of things? 2. Do the trucks really come with a refrigerator? Really? 3. Inverters? Are they already installed and usable in the truck? What wattage? 4. Does their idle policy keep you cool in the heat of summer? If you dont use it all, can you accumulate idle time? 5. Important thing here-do they micro manage you to death or give you the load and leave you alone? Do you do your own routing or does the DM do it for you? 6. Are they fair with the pay; dentention, layover, breakdown? Do they pay for these things on time with no hassles? 7. Is the freight REALLY 90% no touch, and 70% drop and hook? 8. Anyone know how the trainers are? Decent, honest folks interested in TEACHING and HELPING their students LEARN? Or? That's it for now....all these questions arise from many conversations I had with the recruiter....and I get from TT what recruiters will say and do to get you sucked in....so real life, honest people out there, please help. Be safe! G MAN

1. Yes and no. They send you a load and you pretty much do it. If you're do for home time then your DM will give you routing to your destination. If you don't want to go to NYC just say you don't have the NY sticker so you can't legally enter NY. But honestly, as a rookie, take everything you can get. The loads are inconsistent, you'll get mostly short loads though. Make a good name for yourself and then your DM will trust you. It's all about your relationship between you and your DM. He will be more lenient about loads if he likes you.

2. They don't come with a refrigerator, or an inverter unless you're dumb enough to lease a truck. The leased trucks come with a built in frig and inverter. My trainers inverter was 1500 watt. Company trucks don't have one unless you buy one and have the company install it for you, which is like 200$ for installation. But honestly I don't even need one. I run my laptop to a small corded inverter 300w and that inverter plugs into the trucks spark plugs. Only costs about 30$ and works like a charm.

3. See #2.

4. Idle time in any form is frowned upon. Just don't kill yourself just to save the company some money, if you must idle then do it. Though for the winter cold you don't have to. The bunk heater does an amazing job. For the heat I simply hang out in the Lou yes in truck stops. Helps to get away from the truck and watch some tv to remain sane.

5. I get a load and accept it. Besides the occasionally safety message and reefer temperature verification message I get left alone. If I cannot make the load on time it's time to communicate with dispatch for either a repower or get it rescheduled.

6. Detention pay is great. I recently got paid 60$ because my shipper took 5 hours. I can't answer much of the others.

7. The only time I touch my freight is to put a load lock on. Other than that never. 70% drop and hook? Very wrong. Maybe for a dedicated fleet but for 48 states I've found it's mostly live load/unload. I'd say about 70% live and 30% drop and hook.

8. My trainer was a disturbing individual. This question is impossible to answer because each trainer is different. Some bad and some good. If you don't like your trainer then request a new one. You'll get trained, I wouldn't too much about this.

Been at Central for 4 months now OTR. My answers are just based on my experiences with this company.

4. Lou yes means lounges in trucks stops.

Stupid spell check makes me seem like an idiot, hehe.

Thanks very much Daniel.

G MAN

Hey Daniel, I was wondering if you have any knowledge about Central losing some big customers recently? If so, has this affected miles for all drivers? Also, I was told by the recruiter that it is 50/50 split btw lease operators and company drivers. Do they focus more, first on the lease operators with better loads, miles, etc?

Thanks. Be safe!!!

G MAN

Nope I haven't heard anything about Central losing customers lately. Miles are still the same for me. Though I wouldn't be surprised if they did. That 50/50 split is bogus. They focus A LOT more on anyone leasing. Company drivers get the scraps. I've had so many times when I would get a 300 mile load that was dropped off by someone who is an o/o at a yard because the o/o wanted to avoid dealing with the receiver. I've talked to plenty that outright said they would do that without me asking. If a load is due in 6 days but it will only take 3 days to get there so when you do get there you have to sit for days, I've had that plenty of times and I highly doubt they'll make an o/o do that. Most of them just drop it in a yard for someone else to do it. Usually a local driver but my dispatcher has never given me the permission.

My friend who is late much more than me signed a lease two weeks ago and ever since then he's been destroying me on miles. I know it sounds bad but it's definitely not 50/50. That recruiter is very wrong.

Central is a good company to work for, I'm not bashing them. But that 50/50 is complete bs.

Nope I haven't heard anything about Central losing customers lately. Miles are still the same for me. Though I wouldn't be surprised if they did. That 50/50 split is bogus. They focus A LOT more on anyone leasing. Company drivers get the scraps. I've had so many times when I would get a 300 mile load that was dropped off by someone who is an o/o at a yard because the o/o wanted to avoid dealing with the receiver. I've talked to plenty that outright said they would do that without me asking. If a load is due in 6 days but it will only take 3 days to get there so when you do get there you have to sit for days, I've had that plenty of times and I highly doubt they'll make an o/o do that. Most of them just drop it in a yard for someone else to do it. Usually a local driver but my dispatcher has never given me the permission.

My friend who is late much more than me signed a lease two weeks ago and ever since then he's been destroying me on miles. I know it sounds bad but it's definitely not 50/50. That recruiter is very wrong.

Central is a good company to work for, I'm not bashing them. But that 50/50 is complete bs.

Thanks Daniel. How can I reconcile in my mind what you said above: "Company drivers get the scraps, and Central is a good company to work for, I'm not bashing them. The recruiter emailed me back saying they dont ever lay anyone off, they are a growing company and have the miles to go around. What, if anything, of what she is saying is truth, and what, if anything, should I take with a grain of salt? Your opinion is humbly requested. Thank you again. Be safe!

G MAN

As with any company, in the end it all relies on the individual. Central definitely does have the miles to go around however trucking is very inconsistent. One week you get 2500 and another week you get less than 1500. All in all, I'm happy about my miles and my paychecks. The lowest paycheck I've made was 350$ in a week and the highest was 1200$ in a week. But usually it floats between 450$-550$.

Every trucking company makes a profit by delivering loads safely and on time. They will run you. Why would they make you sit all day and not be a profit when instead they can be running you and making money. You'll be busy no doubt. But just how busy all depends on how well you do your job. Always be on time and prove to your DM that you're a safe and reliable driver and the miles will come to you. Have a wonderful personality and don't be short tempered.

Don't worry about if they fire people or not. Every company fires people. If I hit a tree ill get fired quickly. I wouldn't worry about that. Instead, make a goal to always practice safety. If you're not sure then G.O.A.L and if youre catching yourself taking a risk back away from the situation and ask yourself if you really want to do it. Personally, if I don't think I can back into a spot I don't, I go look for another one. Walking a much needed 40 extra feet won't hurt you. Like a wise man once told me on this site when I was in school, if you're not sure about something then get out and make sure of it.

If you don't give them a reason to fire you then why worry about whether they fire or don't fire people?

As with any company, in the end it all relies on the individual. Central definitely does have the miles to go around however trucking is very inconsistent. One week you get 2500 and another week you get less than 1500. All in all, I'm happy about my miles and my paychecks. The lowest paycheck I've made was 350$ in a week and the highest was 1200$ in a week. But usually it floats between 450$-550$.

Every trucking company makes a profit by delivering loads safely and on time. They will run you. Why would they make you sit all day and not be a profit when instead they can be running you and making money. You'll be busy no doubt. But just how busy all depends on how well you do your job. Always be on time and prove to your DM that you're a safe and reliable driver and the miles will come to you. Have a wonderful personality and don't be short tempered.

Don't worry about if they fire people or not. Every company fires people. If I hit a tree ill get fired quickly. I wouldn't worry about that. Instead, make a goal to always practice safety. If you're not sure then G.O.A.L and if youre catching yourself taking a risk back away from the situation and ask yourself if you really want to do it. Personally, if I don't think I can back into a spot I don't, I go look for another one. Walking a much needed 40 extra feet won't hurt you. Like a wise man once told me on this site when I was in school, if you're not sure about something then get out and make sure of it.

If you don't give them a reason to fire you then why worry about whether they fire or don't fire people?

Thanks Daniel. Im not worried about being fired. I have a great attitude, which is listen more than I speak, ask questions, respect authority, do everything with a smile and be grateful!!! Central is still looking good, I am speaking with a student in the West Valley class now. He says good things bout the company too, although he is going the lease route, which i wont ever! I emailed my recruiter, megan, to ask a few questions and lets see what she comes back with. Be safe.

G MAN

Ill be in West Valley tomorrow morning!!