Superior Carriers and Carry Transit

[wsyrob]

Good deal! Hope it works out for ya Pete.

Wsyrob, how the condition and mileage on that old FLD you got out of?

Good deal Pete!!

I had no complaints. They did an overhaul on the engine about 13 months ago right before I got into it. Has close to 740,000 miles on it. It had some suspension issues when I first got it. The springs have been replaced down the entire right side. It leaned to the right when I got it. Don't know what caused that initially. Only repairs I had were:

coolant leaks various hoses
windshield washer motor
broken u bolt and spring right drive axle
air conditioner compressor

The last 2 happened in the last 6 weeks. You looking to go OO again? They will probably put Pete C in that truck.

[Orangetxguy]

Good deal! Hope it works out for ya Pete.

Wsyrob, how the condition and mileage on that old FLD you got out of?

Hey Slick! I saw a group of FLD's sitting at Morrow terminal on thursday that actually looked in pretty decent shape. They were about half way decommisioned, from the looks. Was only there 30 minutes, so did not look closer.

[Cyanide]

Good deal Pete!!

I had no complaints. They did an overhaul on the engine about 13 months ago right before I got into it. Has close to 740,000 miles on it. It had some suspension issues when I first got it. The springs have been replaced down the entire right side. It leaned to the right when I got it. Don't know what caused that initially. Only repairs I had were:

coolant leaks various hoses
windshield washer motor
broken u bolt and spring right drive axle
air conditioner compressor

The last 2 happened in the last 6 weeks. You looking to go OO again? They will probably put Pete C in that truck.

Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyybeeeeeeeeeeee Just waiting to find out about several different options I'm working on actually. Depends on what is available once Dave gets back with me in a few. Hell, Markham has an FLD that if I heard correctly, has under 500k miles on it! But knowing my good luck LOL it probably won't be on the trade list yet.

[geargrinder]

Beginning real soon logs are audited 100% against the GeoLogic. Combine that with disappearing company motels, the Blue Beacon Ban and snipping at accessorial pay - and it has been a year of CHANGE! Can prescribed routing and mandatory fuel stops be far behind? We are becoming eerily like the other companies we once felt superior to!

FWIW, we are about 6-months late to the party. In December the FMCSA ruled they will use GPS records as supporting documentation for HOS audits.

Under the new policy, effective immediately, if a company uses GPS, the FMCSA has authority to request the
records and use them during the normal course of an investigation. The FMCSA considers the records as
supporting documents as they record the time, date, and location of vehicles and drivers. All supporting
documents, including records from
GPS and other advance technology
systems, must now be kept for a
period of six months under 49 CFR
395.8.

[wsyrob]

Combine that with disappearing company motels, the Blue Beacon Ban

I haven't heard anything about this. Just last week I stayed in the company hotel in Pasadena. Dispatch there suggested it. Got my truck washed at blue beacon before heading into California a couple of days before that. Has a memo come down to that effect? Terminal specific maybe?

I log it as I do it so qualcom isn't a big deal.

[pete c]

Well, my desire to go back to work at SPCR through High Point has been turned down by Oak Brook.

Had a good chat with Mac yesterday and he said they made the decision based solely on the basis of how far I lived away from the terminal and, if the decision was his alone, I'd be there next week no problem. I was disappointed, yes, but not too surprised, because as anyone who has dealt with Oak Brook before knows, there can sometimes be a pretty severe disconnect with how the head honchos perceive things and what actually goes on where the rubber meets the road. Mac, firmly tongue-in-cheek, suggested getting an address just a little closer, wink, wink if you know what I mean but I want to keep things simple in regards to how I live.

Many, many thanks to wysrob again for the tip and I would still positively recommend SPCR to any driver who is interested in the liquid tanker business. Driver want ads are OK but it's really the networking and 'personal' contacts like this that help a driver find the best, right slot for himself (or her) in this business.

So...it's not quite back to square-one for me as I've an interview on Fri for a spot coming open in May (tanker, yes!) working for a smaller Co than SPCR out of one of their terminal down in GA. I'll let you'all know who it is and how it turns out (no big deal, I'm a just a little superstitious) as soon as I know anything.

Thanks again guys for all the support.

Pete C

[DDCavi]

Yea, things are changing and theyre changing quick. I know its all for "the good" but like previously stated, its starting to feel like every other company. Also they better not cut our accessorial pay too much, im having a hard enough time living off less then a thousand miles a week.

Wish I had more experiance, Id be flooding the local fuel carriers.

[Hicksie]

Hey PeteC, I know what ya mean there and sorry to hear that you wont be going back. I have been trying to get hired on in Atlanta but it is still to slow. Gonna shoot you a PM see if it helps you out.

[DDCavi]

Well I was finally laid off today. Im 1 out of 5 getting the ax...

[Hicksie]

Well I was finally laid off today. Im 1 out of 5 getting the ax...

Sorry to hear that man. Hope something comes your way soon. Good luck to you.

[pete c]

Well I was finally laid off today. Im 1 out of 5 getting the ax...

Sorry to hear that. Might have to start a sub-forum section for laid-off SPCR drivers...call it 'Sent to the Orpanage' or something... Just Kidding!

No great advice from this quarter except to say try to stay busy and keep yourself on some kind of normal schedule. Nows the time to catch up on all those little jobs around the house that require only time and not much money; at least you'll have the 'benefit' of having some decent weather to putz around in! Just don't let the present situation overwhelm you and then mentally start beating up on yourself; if your used to working, and being a productive adult, being unemployed is a bit of culture shock to say the least.

Good luck and let us know how things go with everything.

Pete C

[wsyrob]

Sorry to hear that. Might have to start a sub-forum section for laid-off SPCR drivers...call it 'Sent to the Orpanage' or something... Just Kidding!

No great advice from this quarter except to say try to stay busy and keep yourself on some kind of normal schedule. Nows the time to catch up on all those little jobs around the house that require only time and not much money; at least you'll have the 'benefit' of having some decent weather to putz around in! Just don't let the present situation overwhelm you and then mentally start beating up on yourself; if your used to working, and being a productive adult, being unemployed is a bit of culture shock to say the least.

Good luck and let us know how things go with everything.

Pete C

Sorry it didn't work out in High Point Pete C. Good luck with the interview today. That's good advice to DDCavi.

Hang in there DDCavi. The way things have been going at your terminal it might be a blessing. At least you have a little experience under your belt now.

[Cyanide]

.....Combine that with disappearing company motels, the Blue Beacon Ban and snipping at accessorial pay - and it has been a year of CHANGE! Can prescribed routing and mandatory fuel stops be far behind? We are becoming eerily like the other companies we once felt superior to!

Y'all know I keep meticulous records of every trip I do concerning miles, hours delayed, etc. If anyone else does this as well, start paying close attention to your paid mileages... It's dropped in the last couple of weeks. The company has changed routing programs to one that is now paying us shorter miles.



I'm willing to bet the next phase of "trimming the fat" will be to demand all drivers to have valid TWIC card possession, followed closely by a passport, regardless if you ever go into a TWIC facility and/or Canada. I'm sure we all know drivers who've said they refuse to get either or both of those credentials. Wonder how many's attitude will change if it comes down to being mandatory in order to drive here, or even at our competitors! Myself, no worries since TWIC's on the way and I'm getting the paperwork together for the passport.

DDCavi, that sucks man! I wish you the best of luck and that things will work in your favor. I'm doing my best to keep busy, but even things have slowed in Kankakee/Westville. Getting harder and harder to run through the weekend. Hope it changes for the better soon. Like I said before, I don't know about anyone else, but I've definitely got coals in the fire so to speak just in case...

[mike3fan]

I'm willing to bet the next phase of "trimming the fat" will be to demand all drivers to have valid TWIC card possession, followed closely by a passport, regardless if you ever go into a TWIC facility and/or Canada. I'm sure we all know drivers who've said they refuse to get either or both of those credentials. Wonder how many's attitude will change if it comes down to being mandatory in order to drive here, or even at our competitors!

At Dana we need both, or atleast TWIC, I'm not sure about passport I know they asked if I had one which I did already.

[geargrinder]

Y'all know I keep meticulous records of every trip I do concerning miles, hours delayed, etc. If anyone else does this as well, start paying close attention to your paid mileages... It's dropped in the last couple of weeks. The company has changed routing programs to one that is now paying us shorter miles.

Time to ask for the suggested/paid routing and run it. When you're late, oh well, I did the best I could but golly gee sure was a lot of red lights.

Sorry to here that DD. You still have the coolest avatar on CAD Go sell lobsters at Bar Harbor for the summer, beats truckin!

[DDCavi]

I'm willing to bet the next phase of "trimming the fat" will be to demand all drivers to have valid TWIC card possession, followed closely by a passport, regardless if you ever go into a TWIC facility and/or Canada.

Thats already in effect in Maine. I have my TWIC, and we were required to have a passport by June.

Thanks guys, Ill still stick my nose in this thread as ill always be interested. I ran into one of the vet drivers tonight and I guess they let another mechanic go. (Bob will know him, it was Roland.) So now theyre down to one mechanic and the foreman. I guess mechanics arent needed when the trucks are nothing but parking lot queens.

And hell yea geargrinder

[geargrinder]

Would it be cheaper to give everyone a tracfone and shatcan the geologics?

Maybe we could get rid of the safety department by having the tracfones equiped with some randonm ringtones:

Baby, your once, twice, roll over and be three points of contact;
Don't roll-over beethoven;
I bungy jump, but not at the fuel pump;
I don't want to sleep tonight;
Don't go to the truckwash.
Baby, I would slip, trip, and fall for you - but I got non-skid boots;

just a thought....

[DDCavi]

Would it be cheaper to give everyone a tracfone and shatcan the geologics?

Maybe we could get rid of the safety department by having the tracfones equiped with some randonm ringtones:

Baby, your once, twice, roll over and be three points of contact;
Don't roll-over beethoven;
I bungy jump, but not at the fuel pump;
I don't want to sleep tonight;
Don't go to the truckwash.
Baby, I would slip, trip, and fall for you - but I got non-skid boots;

just a thought....

LOL. 99% of the time I worked I was wearing sneakers, so much more comfortable to drive. And I have the bad habit of exiting the cab forward.

I dont know how many will know him, but theres a safety specialist from the Springfield terminal. His name is Abner (sp?), IMO hes a nazi. His license plate on his PERSONAL car says SBL SAFT. He came up and gave us alittle safety audit on our trucks. I was riddled with problems... 1. I had placards in my truck (from pervious owner), 2. Floor had to much dirt on it for his taste, 3. Hoses are no longer allowed on the back usless coiled into one level, 4. Apparently my gear wasnt put away neat enough in the work box, had to fold them nicely. 5. Hes concerned with the wire hanging from the mic on the CB. 6. Had bungees UNDER the steps (previous owner).

The Maine terminal has a Hooooooooorrible safety record right now. So I guess that was a start for the nit picking.

[geargrinder]

LOL. 99% of the time I worked I was wearing sneakers, so much more comfortable to drive. And I have the bad habit of exiting the cab forward.

I dont know how many will know him, but theres a safety specialist from the Springfield terminal. His name is Abner (sp?), IMO hes a nazi. His license plate on his PERSONAL car says SBL SAFT. He came up and gave us alittle safety audit on our trucks. I was riddled with problems... 1. I had placards in my truck (from pervious owner), 2. Floor had to much dirt on it for his taste, 3. Hoses are no longer allowed on the back usless coiled into one level, 4. Apparently my gear wasnt put away neat enough in the work box, had to fold them nicely. 5. Hes concerned with the wire hanging from the mic on the CB. 6. Had bungees UNDER the steps (previous owner).

The Maine terminal has a Hooooooooorrible safety record right now. So I guess that was a start for the nit picking.

I have worked with CIH's and CSP's. I seriously doubt that these "Trucker Safety Guy's" have any formal education in the field.

[pete c]

Good day yesterday. Went down to Winder, Ga for an interview with Groendyke Transport and got hired. Only knew about the position thanks to a tip from an ex-Superior driver who has been there for about 6 months now. Should start around the 15th of this month when the driver I'm replacing gets transferred to another terminal...go back down the 11th or 12th for a physical, pee test, etc.

Paywise, some things better, some things less, but, overall, should even out to what I made at Superior; the friend who works there has made 19K to the end of april and has been home every weekend lately as things are so slow. I didn't ask about insurance as I'm on my wife's full-coverage policy from where she works and I know we can't get what we have any cheaper through anyone else.

Heavy traffic lanes out of Winder to the upper Midwest and straight back down South again which is what I like to do anyway; when things are running normal 7-10 days out is the norm with more if you want it. One way commute of 148 miles which is only about 30 miles more than going to Kingsport was and, as long as there's no snow or ice, I'll be on my bike so gas is a non-issue for me.

I'll keep you guys posted on how things go.

Pete C