Cassens Transport

[steelhead]

I am wanting to know any information from someone who has driven for Cassens. The pay seems to be very good but knowing there is no free lunch, it has to be very labor intensive loading and un-loading. It is a teamster company so benefits appear to be top notch. I have an interview with them next week after a very extensive background check.

I Graduated from CDL school a couple of months ago and was with US Xpress for 2 months and had a very sour experience with them and parted ways.

Thanks

[lifeinatruck]

steelhead,
Cassens seems to be a good company to work for. I worked for 20 years with Ryder/Allied Systems hauling cars. Carhauling is a great paying job if you don't mind the work out you get loading and unloading. Cassens is a Teamster job and the pay and bennies are top notch! I wrecked my body doing that job and wish I was still doing it, but if your'e young then go for it! Just remember the pay rate is real good and you get paid the same rate as a 20 year man, but it will take you longer to load and unload and you'll get the lousy runs but the pay and benefits can't be beat!!

[steelhead]

lifeinatruck,

Thanks for the info! I am not young by anymeans (41), but I am tired of working middle management low paying jobs and this sounded like a great opportunity for me even if it means busting my butt.
After my US Xpress fiasco, Cassens didn't seem too bad.

[Jibs]

A guy I used to work with has been with Cassens out of Detroit since last July. He has been laid off more than he has worked during that time. He is not very happy there so far.

[GMAN]

Keep in mind that when the auto industry is off car hauling will also usually be off. The money is good, but you will earn your money. It takes a lot of work to load and chain down cars.

[steelhead]

I had the interview yesterday and went for my DOT. When all comes back okay it is orientation time followed by 2 weeks in Belvidere IL for training. After that it is 2 more weeks of training at the terminal. After that I need to have 8 consecutive "active weeks" and I am in the union.

I will be running OTR, out 1 to 2 nights at a time. I am a little "anxious" about all that is involved in hauling cars, but I was assured that if I put my time in it will eventually become second nature. Until then I was told that if I can load a truck in 7 hours out of school, I am doing good :shock:

[GTR SILVER]

sorry for the naive(sp?) question..... i always thought car hauling was.or looked to be easy.......i just thought you drove'm up... chain'm... and away you go....what are some of the things that make it so hard????
once again.......i'm not making lite of it....just dont' know .............lol
thanks :wink:

[GMAN]

When you haul cars, you need to learn how to position your load to balance it out to be legal. There are certain ways in which you need to position the vehicles. You need to crawl up and down on the truck and trailer. You have 4 chains per vehicle. If you have 10 vehicles that means 40 chains to properly secure the load. Most flat bed load can be secured with 10 chains. There are certain hooks you must use for certain types of vehicles. Improperly secure a vehicle and you have damage. It can be physically demanding. Getting in and out of cars on a truck can be a tight squeeze. It is VERY easy to damage a vehicle while loading or unloading. There is much more to pulling a car hauler than driving the cars on the truck and taking off. When you load or unload in temperatures in Houston of 105 degrees in the middle of summer or Minneapolis at -40 degrees with a blowing snow in the dead of winter. Care must be taken to not slip and fall from the truck. Many have been seriously hurt in a fall. The money can be good, but there are risks and it can be challenging work.

[GTR SILVER]

:shock: wow thanks gman........10 cars ............40 chains..................how long would that take to load?????????????......................lots 'o work :?
thanks again 8)

[Orangetxguy]

What I have been noticing on the car-haulers, is they are using webbed 2" strap's that go over the tires, then ratchet tight. Seen them a lot on GST, Waggoners (newer trucks) C.A.R. Transport, and a couple others.

[ben45750]

When I hauled cars with just a 2 car trailer I would spend at least 1/2 hour to 1 hour just to secure 2 cars (and it's on a flat trailer). All cars are different and you have to find a good place on each car to secure them with out damaging the car.

[Tobytob]

Orangetxguy, what you are seeing is toyota or lexus cars strapped down with a ratchet strap. This is the required tie down method of the manufacture. Usally the more expense Vehicle's have this type of tie down method, i.e BMW, Mercedes, Lexus Audi and VW.
Straps are the future for cars hauling,Seems like every foreign company requires wheel straps.

If you ask me i like it, but it takes alot longer to tie the vehicle down, but it also keeps you from twisting the frame of the vehicle.

[ronjon619]

Alot of the carhauling companies are moving to chainless truck and trailers. I just moved into a 07 pete with a JM trailer. It has no tie down chains. I've seen many companies moving to this type of truck. (Toyota, PMT, and Hadley all run some sort of this setup.)

[steelhead]

A guy I used to work with has been with Cassens out of Detroit since last July. He has been laid off more than he has worked during that time. He is not very happy there so far.

Jibs, I guess you are correct about layoffs.

I took my DOT and drug tests a few weeks ago and never heard anyhting more from Cassens. I called again yesterday and I was informed that they had some layoffs right now and can't hire during them. They told me I would get a call for orientation as soon as the layoffs were over. I am starting to second guess working for them :?

[Portable parking lot]

I have worked for cassens for 15 years now. It is a great job for the most part if the company would just let you do your job. Things a pretty slow now, just layed off some drivers friday and will probably be laying off more soon. I dont think they will be hiring drivers for a year or two. good luck. times are pretty bad right now.

[Colts Fan]

I hope the guy got a job. This thread is a year and a half old.