Arrow Trucking

[married to the road]

our company has picked up at least 3 or more accounts from arrow in the last month alone in the houston area.partly due to getting the head o/op guy at arrow and him bringing all or most of the o/op's out of tx with him,and quite a few acct's also.one place i piicked up on mon was a place that sandblast's and paints process piping and arrow was the main hauler out of there for years,not no more. i asked the shipper about and they said arrow was alway's late on del times,and their trls were total JUNK and wouldn't even load some of them.the writing is on the wall,and for your's and your family's sake i hope you have a plan b and don't get blindsided.good luck to all at arrow,ya'll need it...

I was down at the port of Houston picking up pipe last Nov. I think (while I still worked for Arrow) waiting to get loaded, as well were several other drivers, and this o/o was there saying that Arrow had just bought a bunch of day cabs (think he said like 20) just to run local around Houston hauling pipe and that Arrow was going to "take over the port" and start hauling basically all the pipe coming out of the port.
He also told the 3-4 otr guys in front of him when he arrived that since he was local, he had priority over us and we had to move. He sat there and was telling us that and how Arrow was paying him $250 for each load that he pulled out of there and how he did 3-4 or more loads a day making like a grand a day only running 100-200 miles. While he was out there telling us all that, a truck pulled out and I quickly hopped in and pulled up, got loaded and got out of there. Waited to get a message from my dm that local drivers have prority over us, but it never happened. Guess that was why he didn't say anything when I pulled up.
But if Arrow is losing their pipe accounts in Houston, They are in trouble unless they get something quick to keep drivers busy. Usually had a hard time getting anything out of Dallas or Laredo, was almost always dead headed to Houston.

[married to the road]

one place i piicked up on mon was a place that sandblast's and paints process piping and arrow was the main hauler out of there for years,not no more. i asked the shipper about and they said arrow was alway's late on del times,and their trls were total JUNK and wouldn't even load some of them....

The trailors at the Houston yard were always terrible. I don't know why Arrow would never send some decent trailors down there, but you had better hope that you didn't have a step deck when you got there, because you would almost always have to drop it and get a pos laying around on the yard, if you could find one at all.

[ELGAUL]

sorry so long to respond...been running my butt off lately,i run for paul trans out of ok.i live in houston also.i am by no means saying that they are losing all their local acct's but they are slowly losing quite a few.i have never seen a arrow daycab in houston and if they were here i would see them..as far a trls go,our worst trlr is better than arrow's best trlr's as i have been seeing more of them at place's i p/u.we have stacks of new trlr's waiting to be unloaded and lettered every week at the ok city shop.ran into an arrow driver at the pilot in huntsvill tx last week waiting for the hou shop to bring a tire because ya'lls road serv said they didn't have the money to pay for a new tire..this was in the am mind you,i came back through in the late afternoon and he was still waiting and missed his del appt on top and had to sit on his load until mon to del.the writing is on the wall..no credit and run down equipment and no new equip anytime soon foreseen in the future???oh well form your own opinion on that..as far as regional work,no they do not if you live outside of ok,tx..

[married to the road]

sorry so long to respond...been running my butt off lately,i run for paul trans out of ok.i live in houston also.i am by no means saying that they are losing all their local acct's but they are slowly losing quite a few.i have never seen a arrow daycab in houston and if they were here i would see them..as far a trls go,our worst trlr is better than arrow's best trlr's as i have been seeing more of them at place's i p/u.we have stacks of new trlr's waiting to be unloaded and lettered every week at the ok city shop.ran into an arrow driver at the pilot in huntsvill tx last week waiting for the hou shop to bring a tire because ya'lls road serv said they didn't have the money to pay for a new tire..this was in the am mind you,i came back through in the late afternoon and he was still waiting and missed his del appt on top and had to sit on his load until mon to del.the writing is on the wall..no credit and run down equipment and no new equip anytime soon foreseen in the future???oh well form your own opinion on that..as far as regional work,no they do not if you live outside of ok,tx..

I had plenty of times like that guy did. My truck cut off on me while going down the road. Called and they said they wouldn't have it looked at unless it was an emergency (I guess only the people whose truck wasn't runnig at all got any where with them). Brakdown dept. got more and more of a pain to deal with. Kept have to wait longer and longer each time for them to answer the phone. When I first started, I got upset wainting for 10 mins., at the end 10-15 mins was expected, and sometimes I waited for 30 min or more.

Arrow said they were going to replace their fleet in the next 5 years, but I noticed that they didn't say how many a year or any thing like that. Some people maybe waiting for the full 5 years, if they get a new one at all.

I didn't see any day cabs in Houston, I did sit up in Tulsa over Thanksgiving and saw a few rental trucks from Bright, which I thought was a company in Houston. Not sure if that was what that guy was talking about, just renting a some trucks. He may have been lying all together.

[carterbeauford]

I talked to a Paul driver in TX not long ago, NICE equipment. he had a red Pete 388 and a Retnouer stepdeck. I was jealous lol. glad they are keeping you busy.

I would never pull a 10,000+ lb steel trailer for anyone, let alone one in the condition that some of Arrow's trailers are in. nothing personal against Arrow. I had an Arrow driver looking at my 5 year old aluminum Benson like it was a spaceship at Alcoa in SC.

[devildice]

I talked to a Paul driver in TX not long ago, NICE equipment. he had a red Pete 388 and a Retnouer stepdeck. I was jealous lol. glad they are keeping you busy.

I see them damn nearly every place I go and they do have some nice equipment. I have spoken to a couple of the drivers in the past and they seem to be happy.

I had an Arrow driver looking at my 5 year old aluminum Benson like it was a spaceship at Alcoa in SC.

now that's funny

[carterbeauford]

another thing, not slamming Arrow, but I picked up a load of pipe at Wheatland Tube in western PA and it says right on the BOL "do not use Arrow Trucking unless absolutely necessary, with customer's permission"

is their rep really that bad? doesn't matter to me, even if a flatbedder doesn't want to put up with TMC, I don't see why they wouldn't try Maverick or Melton or a local outfit before Arrow. there is a commercial on Sirius proclaiming how awesome they are, doesn't appear to be the case from what I see. nothing personal, I just would not touch their equipment. ever.

[dewercs2]

I was down at the port of Houston picking up pipe last Nov. I think (while I still worked for Arrow) waiting to get loaded, as well were several other drivers, and this o/o was there saying that Arrow had just bought a bunch of day cabs (think he said like 20) just to run local around Houston hauling pipe and that Arrow was going to "take over the port" and start hauling basically all the pipe coming out of the port.
He also told the 3-4 otr guys in front of him when he arrived that since he was local, he had priority over us and we had to move. He sat there and was telling us that and how Arrow was paying him $250 for each load that he pulled out of there and how he did 3-4 or more loads a day making like a grand a day only running 100-200 miles. While he was out there telling us all that, a truck pulled out and I quickly hopped in and pulled up, got loaded and got out of there. Waited to get a message from my dm that local drivers have prority over us, but it never happened. Guess that was why he didn't say anything when I pulled up.
But if Arrow is losing their pipe accounts in Houston, They are in trouble unless they get something quick to keep drivers busy. Usually had a hard time getting anything out of Dallas or Laredo, was almost always dead headed to Houston.

From what I have heard there is a few guys that are hooked up to chassis and are starting to haul containers out of the Port of Houston. I was told that we might start doing the same out of CA. I and another driver said then we should get chassis to put the box on and we can do that for awhile. If we have to haul containers I'd rather have the right trailer.
In December I had a container that I hauled out of Long Beach up to Albu, NM. When I got there the customer said bump the dock and we'll open the doors. When I was stopped they asked why is this on a flatbed we can't get the dockplate onto the container.... We had to hook a tow strap to the pallets and drag them out.

[dewercs2]

The trailors at the Houston yard were always terrible. I don't know why Arrow would never send some decent trailors down there, but you had better hope that you didn't have a step deck when you got there, because you would almost always have to drop it and get a pos laying around on the yard, if you could find one at all.

We've had a few guys go to Calexico and pickup trailers. Anytime I have to do this I will only pickup Aluminum trailers and bring back to the Phoenix yard. What gets me is the the trailers are located in one yard which we'll haul to another yard 15 miles away and drop the trailer. We have to do this twice so we have a total of 3 trailers.
Now we also need to have 150 in cash for the forklift driver so he will stack the trailers for us. I know of 2 drivers that have pulled the money off there cards and they had to fight to get the money back from arrow.
As far as trailers... I will do some slight work... change a light or fix a broken wire. What I don't get is when a driver drops a trailer at the yard knowing that it has a blown tire or sometype of defect and grabs a different one.

[dewercs2]

sorry so long to respond...been running my butt off lately,i run for paul trans out of ok.i live in houston also.i am by no means saying that they are losing all their local acct's but they are slowly losing quite a few.i have never seen a arrow daycab in houston and if they were here i would see them..as far a trls go,our worst trlr is better than arrow's best trlr's as i have been seeing more of them at place's i p/u.we have stacks of new trlr's waiting to be unloaded and lettered every week at the ok city shop.ran into an arrow driver at the pilot in huntsvill tx last week waiting for the hou shop to bring a tire because ya'lls road serv said they didn't have the money to pay for a new tire..this was in the am mind you,i came back through in the late afternoon and he was still waiting and missed his del appt on top and had to sit on his load until mon to del.the writing is on the wall..no credit and run down equipment and no new equip anytime soon foreseen in the future???oh well form your own opinion on that..as far as regional work,no they do not if you live outside of ok,tx..

Thanks ElGaul,

Yeah I have had to wait for a few hours to get a tire paid for. In fact I was in Coachella TA a month ago and had to get 2 tires replaced because DOT had checked and they were about 1/8-2/8ths.... I called Breakdown and told them I had a DOT inspection and I was able to get 2 all posistion tires placed on my drives.
After about 3 hrs I was told to take off by the manager of the TA. He was a little pissed with his shop guys when they kept coming into counter area and making calls. What they didn't know was that the counter guys were on hold with Arrow trying to get paid and they kept disconnecting the call.
Don't know how long it took to get paid but I was moving finally.

[dewercs2]

I talked to a Paul driver in TX not long ago, NICE equipment. he had a red Pete 388 and a Retnouer stepdeck. I was jealous lol. glad they are keeping you busy.

I would never pull a 10,000+ lb steel trailer for anyone, let alone one in the condition that some of Arrow's trailers are in. nothing personal against Arrow. I had an Arrow driver looking at my 5 year old aluminum Benson like it was a spaceship at Alcoa in SC.

Arrow steel trailer.....try 12k with no sliding winches and the rub rails so badly bent its hard to get a hook through..... We have to put portable winches, hand tighten and then a bungie to make sure the winch stays on... Then your asked why does it take so long to strap down a trialer..... Your right.... Get decent trailers with sliding winches you cut down the weight...

[dewercs2]

another thing, not slamming Arrow, but I picked up a load of pipe at Wheatland Tube in western PA and it says right on the BOL "do not use Arrow Trucking unless absolutely necessary, with customer's permission"

is their rep really that bad? doesn't matter to me, even if a flatbedder doesn't want to put up with TMC, I don't see why they wouldn't try Maverick or Melton or a local outfit before Arrow. there is a commercial on Sirius proclaiming how awesome they are, doesn't appear to be the case from what I see. nothing personal, I just would not touch their equipment. ever.

Lets put it this way..... We have had a QC from safety about making sure you have 2 straps within the first 10feet about 3 times now... This last one on thursaday was the best.... "What do you not get about 2 straps within the first 10 feet"? I think what needs to happen if Arrow is getting tagged for the incorrect load securement is to just fire the driver if he does it again.... Not until drivers see they can loose there job ontop of getting a ticket for not following rules will they really care.
I've been hearing a few guys ***** about this or that about Arrow these past weeks, politics and stuff. I will tell you that this stuff is pretty easy, keep your nose clean quit *****ing, cuzzing and have manners.... dang that will do allot for there fight.........
My first exposure to this was with my trainer at my previous company. We walked into a restraunt during the dinner rush. a waitress walked up asked if we wanted drinks. I said coke and the trainer wanted ice tea. She came back with my soda and told us the tea was not ready yet.... about 5 minutes later he was pissed and was saying it's cause we are truck drivers and people have no respect for us they make us wait, they cut us off etc.... a few minutes later she came up apologizing to us saying that she had forgot about the tea and that the food would be ready in a minute or two...
There's no one conspiring against us.... well unless you count the DM or the load planner....

[dewercs2]

So..... Heres my rant......... Friday I was in Culver City on Venice Blvd. I was told to DH to Calexico and pick up a loaded trailer. I was concerned that it was a long DH and that I wouldn't be paid for it. I was told to bring the trailer to the Yard in Phoenix and that I would have something to get me home Saturday.... I got to Phoenix and was pissed to find out that nothing was at the yard and I would be sitting for the weekend. I called the Boss (wife) and got the ok to rent a car and come home. So....$93.40 and Im home for the weekend. I will be back in PHX monday morning.

[DRIVER 1998]

i am so glad you made it home for the weekend you made the right choice but they might put a abondonment on your dac if your not careful

[jvnd1953]

Hey Paul, Sorry about the confusion on the phone call. I wouldn't take $150 out of my pocket for a load. I would tell them I don't have it and I've never taken an advance and don't plan to start. I like your idea about the 10 foot rule. Don't see why this is so difficult to follow. Well I got to Cali with that load of machinery from Dallas (1500 miles) but 1 tarp ripped along the seams and is now non-repairable for me, my white one took about 6 holes and my green one took about 10 holes. Some about 6 inches across. Got here Sat. afternoon and 2 granddaughters were waving at me from the bridge at the end of my street that goes across the I210. Spent the night and Sun with them and the wife. Deliver in Chino Monday am. Still thinking about regional. Will see how the next couple of weeks go miles wise. Take care

[dewercs2]

Hey Paul, Sorry about the confusion on the phone call. I wouldn't take $150 out of my pocket for a load. I would tell them I don't have it and I've never taken an advance and don't plan to start. I like your idea about the 10 foot rule. Don't see why this is so difficult to follow. Well I got to Cali with that load of machinery from Dallas (1500 miles) but 1 tarp ripped along the seams and is now non-repairable for me, my white one took about 6 holes and my green one took about 10 holes. Some about 6 inches across. Got here Sat. afternoon and 2 granddaughters were waving at me from the bridge at the end of my street that goes across the I210. Spent the night and Sun with them and the wife. Deliver in Chino Monday am. Still thinking about regional. Will see how the next couple of weeks go miles wise. Take care

I was thinking... You might want to stay. She wants 50 for regional total but I can't see where the freight will be. She did say that we'll be running a little longer distance but I and a few others aren't to happy about having to do that. feelings are that trucks are in need of repair and if a breakdown occurs how long will we be sitting and where??
If i'm in LA i can just go home. If in AZ, heck I can relax at the terminal

[jvnd1953]

you regional guys are spoiled We line haul guys know we'll breakdown in the boondocks. I had a first today, I was told to not deliver my load in Chino on time and to stand by. 5 hours later I was told okay. Don't know what the problem was. After unloading I knew it was too late for dispatch so here I sit while the wife cooks another great meal for me. Is this what being regional means? Yeah, I'll sit tight and see what happens in the next month. Thanks for the headsup though. I am told I'm being routed to Tulsa for truck repairs. I had to get under the truck 5 times today to stop air from leaking. I'm afraid I'll lose air pressure while driving and that won't be good. I need new batteries, power steering leak and some minor things. Hopefully it won't take long. I also need 3 new tarps. Should have duct taped all my padding in place but at the time it looked sufficient. The other driver suffered some loss also. Drive safe.

[dewercs2]

you regional guys are spoiled We line haul guys know we'll breakdown in the boondocks. I had a first today, I was told to not deliver my load in Chino on time and to stand by. 5 hours later I was told okay. Don't know what the problem was. After unloading I knew it was too late for dispatch so here I sit while the wife cooks another great meal for me. Is this what being regional means? Yeah, I'll sit tight and see what happens in the next month. Thanks for the headsup though. I am told I'm being routed to Tulsa for truck repairs. I had to get under the truck 5 times today to stop air from leaking. I'm afraid I'll lose air pressure while driving and that won't be good. I need new batteries, power steering leak and some minor things. Hopefully it won't take long. I also need 3 new tarps. Should have duct taped all my padding in place but at the time it looked sufficient. The other driver suffered some loss also. Drive safe.

Yep... I'm back home. Picked up a load in Phx ran to the house and have a 930am appointment about 50 miles away. I heard i'm the only one on regional that has a TWIC and my name came up about doing shuttles of containers out of the San Diego port to drivers waiting on the outside.... I won't do..... Where will I have a chance to pull my chains and straps off? Down in Otay at the Pilot?

What are they going to pay me????

I found out that the run from Calexico to Phx which continues to TX pays 1900 but that since I only do 19% of the run we only get 26% of the 19% of the line haul = 64 bucks..... I asked whats that pay in miles.... .27cents.

Sounds like your purge valve is sticking. I had the same problem, build and then loose allot of pressure. I was down to 100 psi and when it dropped below I started to worry about stopping. It would build back up to 125 and drop again... I was told there is debris getting into the air line somewhere that is causing the valve to get stuck.

I received a call over the weekend...... we have a load in PHX yard would you be willing to take to Houston? I told the guy no way.... I just realized it was one of the loads that I had brought from Calexico. The two linehaul guys that were there today to pick up the loads had to tarp in the 85 heat of AZ today. it took them 3-4hrs. I tried to talk to the one guy but when he said he wanted me to move my truck cause he didn't want his strap to hit my windows and that he didnt want the help I said ok. I asked why would a strap break my window? he said cause he throws with the buckle side.
I moved the truck.....

[jvnd1953]

That guy throwing the hook is a danger. It's Tuesday and Heather wanted me to pickup a load of rolled roofing in Calexico going to Ok. It had to be tarped. I called back and said my tarps are useless so she took the load off me. Later she called and asked if I could get some throwaways. I asked whats the load and she said aircraft parts from Boeing in Long Beach. I told her what the shipper told me last time " When is Arrow going to realize that I don't want you guys on my f****** boxes". They are big aluminum boxes (only 5 fit on a stepdeck)and I think Arrow sees "aluminum" and thinks security. I don't deliver until Monday but I know the recvr will take early delivery including Sat. Last time I didn't leave the shipper until 1500 and I figure if I get there first in the morn I can get out and be at the recvr Friday afternoon before they close at 1400. I got there at 1600 last time(legally, of course). You know, I'll offer to help another driver and if they say no then that's it. 80 degree heat? This last load had to be tarped and it was in the 90s in Laredo and this was old oily machinery taken right out of the factory and thrown on a trailer. You should have seen this monstrosity. It was a nightmare to tarp. Even trying to cover as many sharp points as I could it destroyed 1 tarp and severely damaged 2 more. High winds didn't help. It is the ourge valve. Today it was fine. Drive safe.

[ELGAUL]

unloaded next to an 8 yr driver with ya'll last week in ok,told me he was at your shop for 8 day's for a service,nothing major,said they actually missed a few things he wrote up and he was glad because 8 would have become 10 or 12.he got layover and hotel but nothing compared to what he missed by not running...pack a lunch,hit the atm it's going to be a long week...lol