I decided to go with Celadon. Here is what is happening so far. Orientation is supposed to last 3 days.
There are rooms provided at the terminal in Indy. They look small, and it is 2 to a room. What they are like inside, I dont know. You also have a choice of getting a hotel room if you want a room to yourself. You get $150 orientation pay, and an option of a $100 advance to get you started after orientation.
If you want the motel room they will provide it for free if they have no dorm rooms available, or you can have the money taken out of orientation pay (they give you a voucher), or you can pay for it yourself.
The Knights Inn at the 465 x4 down by the J. It is not worth the $50 per night, imo. They do have wifi access in some rooms and you have to ask for it.
There is also internet access at the terminal, but I havent hooked into it yet.
Orientation starts at 7am. all meals are provided in their cafeteria. The food is OK. No complaints, it's all free.
Day 1 is physicals and drug screens 1st thing in the AM, on site, and road tests afterward.
There is a little paperwork, but so far everything is already filled out for you, you just sign and date after you verify their info. That is nice.
There is also a joke (IMO) of a hazmat test.
From what I have seen of their terminal, it's nice. They do take care of the equipment. Driver facilities are nice. Roomy showers, cafeteria, game room, 2 TVs with cable, laundry, 4 computers w/ internet, 2 coffee pots, and probably other things I haven't seen yet.
Everyone there seems OK so far. No obvious problems with the corporate culture yet.
On the down side: Drug screens and physicals took way too long. There was too much dead time. If there is a good reason to have to wait 2+ hours to piss in a cup, I haven't come up with it.
orientation sucks, no matter where you are.
Good luck with the job at Celadon once you get through all the orientation nonsense. From what I have seen regarding their company, it seems like a decent place to work. The look pretty flexible in regards to hometime, depending on your needs there.
Tell me about it... I dont see how the job hoppers do it.
Just talking to drivers away from the corporate types, they like the company.
I'd like to not make this a "I picked up here and delivered there, did this, that, and the other" kind of diary, but just unbiased info of the kind I was not able to find on some companies I was interested in. It's my duty to posterior
You will get to know Laredo, TX very well, I am sure. Celadon hauls a ton of Mexico freight, and unless things have changed, I am pretty sure they have a Mexican division of drivers (I remember I used to see a Mexico Flag on some of their trucks).
Been years since I have driven in the Laredo area, but back when I did, the area was swarming with Celadon trucks. A whole lot of I-35 corridor driving.
Mexican and Canadian divisions. There is a lot of freight going from Laredo straight into Canada. The NWO is alive and well, for now...
Why do some people not have the ability to KTFMS? In other words, STFU?
I swear, in every group of people there is a vocal minority that will constantly ask stupid questions. For crying out loud, this company hires experienced drivers, and some were asking basic questions that they should have learned in school. If I was in charge, I'd have kicked them out.
Seriously, no one wants to spend 1 extra minute in orientation. If I was in charge that is what I would say to everyone. These idiots waste time. They are time thieves. They should just go away for the benefit of the sane people in the room so everyone can get out and make some $$$ ASAP!
The plusses:
They have what sounds like a great health program with nurses on staff. This could be why we had to wait 2+ hrs to take the drug test. The nurses were busy with exams.
Exams are free. THere is a blood test that is also free.
Free financial info and advise. It doesnt have to involve Celadons stocks, etc. How good that advise is, I dont know. But anyone that recommends "buy" has questionable judgement, imo.
There is no seniority or playing favorites when being dispatched. It is all done by computer.
The negatives:
You have to be willing to go to Canada
Only pay 1/2 for Idleair
Idle < 40% governed at 65
Idle > 40% governed at 63
Governed speeds reset after refueling.
I found out from the CEO that Idleair is going bankrupt but will restructure. That may be common knowledge but I didnt know that. I never bothered using it.
Trucks are in short supply. The last weeks class still has some that have not received trucks yet. So I will probably have to wait too.
One told me he was asked to take a bus to sacramento to pick up a truck. He told them no. They better not ask me the same question and not expect me to say no too.
I must be livin' right. I got a new 2009 Prostar. I didnt have to wait. The truck is nice.
They are all going to be this model in the near future. There is plenty of storage, even if you drive teams.
Detention pay is automatic. If you wait beyond 2 hrs of your appt time, you get paid for it. IIRC it is $20/hr, but dont quote me on that.
They have the new touch-screen qualcomm. I like it. There is a remote mounted on the dash to where you can get the messages read to you thru the speakers. The audio can also be turned off if it gets on your nerves.
I have only been on 3 loads, so all I can say is that all is good so far. They have trip pack scanning, and that does save some hassle, IMO. Pay is 1x per week. They use comdata. Get your paperwork scanned in by tue midnite and get paid friday.
There is also a $100 advance put on your card every Sunday midnite. It's there whether you need it or not. But it does not add up if you dont take it (obviously...)
They tried to get me to go to Canada, but unfortunately
That is about all I can say, for now. Any questions, I'll keep an eye on this thread and try to answer them the best I can. Just keep in mind that I am new here and dont know all, yet.
If it keeps up like this, I might retire with them.
Sounds like you found a winner
Sounds good. I just went through a 5 minute orientation that took much less time than a pee test. I started with Indian River Transport/North American Tank Lines today, and after my pee test results are in on Friday, I'll get into the 08 Peterbilt and start rolling.
I thought having some time off would be cool, but after the first day, I've been going nuts...add 10 more days and a 38 hr bus ride and I was ready to kill something.
Good luck at Celadon, I've heard good things about them - I chose Indian River because I went back to driving solo, and they go right by my house, my oldest son's (and daughter's) in Ok City, and my youngest son (and grandson's) in PA.
sounds like it's good for ya, good-luck.Originally Posted by Grinder
I must be livin' right. I got a new 2009 Prostar. I didnt have to wait. The truck is nice.
They are all going to be this model in the near future. There is plenty of storage, even if you drive teams.
Detention pay is automatic. If you wait beyond 2 hrs of your appt time, you get paid for it. IIRC it is $20/hr, but dont quote me on that.
They have the new touch-screen qualcomm. I like it. There is a remote mounted on the dash to where you can get the messages read to you thru the speakers. The audio can also be turned off if it gets on your nerves.
I have only been on 3 loads, so all I can say is that all is good so far. They have trip pack scanning, and that does save some hassle, IMO. Pay is 1x per week. They use comdata. Get your paperwork scanned in by tue midnite and get paid friday.
There is also a $100 advance put on your card every Sunday midnite. It's there whether you need it or not. But it does not add up if you dont take it (obviously...)
They tried to get me to go to Canada, but unfortunately
That is about all I can say, for now. Any questions, I'll keep an eye on this thread and try to answer them the best I can. Just keep in mind that I am new here and dont know all, yet.
If it keeps up like this, I might retire with them.
Canada is nice this time of year, and hey at least u can drink the water....lol
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