Talked to Rob on friday, signed the papers needed so he could pull my back ground info. So I would assume I should hear something from him soon.


Troy

(Early) Happy Thanksgiving!
 

Hey y'all have a safe and happy Thanksgiving, I hope everyone can make it home to be with family and friends. Enjoy!!! Just don't eat too much! I'm finishing up my last load then heading home for a couple of days. So more later ;)

Troy, good to hear the ball is rolling. Hopefully it will all work out for you!

Was it the green WS or red WS?

Right now our terminal is hurting bad. Especially local guys (which I currently am). One of our biggest downfalls is were basically an inbound only state. Just saw on the news Newpage in Rumford is shutting down a paper machine for a month. This will be a HUGE blow for us. We deliver 3-4 loads there every other day, not to mention the sweet runs to Dow to pick up the latex.

Im still not going anywhere, except maybe moving when I have to foreclose on my home...

Rumford slowing down! Ouch, that one hurts you. I delivered to Newpage once. A big azz snowstorm was going on, plus 18-inches on the ground. Had to sling 3 or 4 sticks of hose up the hill to their inlet. Wasn't fun.

Auburn did turn me around quick - got a pre-loaded trailer from some place right up Route 4 on the west/left side of the highway.

What's the word on Canada and 60-mph governed trucks?

Hey Bob,
Did I miss you down in Allyns Point today? The driver you had talked to was loading in front of me. I got there and he came and told me there was another driver possibly asking about me. I must of missed you by less then an hour.

I read in the paper today sitting in customs that the law officially goes into effect on Jan 1 2009(Ontario and Quebec),but that they expect a 6 month "educational" period where they will not issue fines until June. The article did say that it needed a final approval from someone,but they thought that was just a formaility.

I started with Superior fresh out of school about 6 months ago and really started liking the company once I got out in my own (company) truck. But, I've been sitting at home now for 7 days waiting on a load. I knew it would slow down at this time of the year, but this is way worse than I could have imagined. I'm told that maybe they'll have something by Monday or Tuesday, which will make it almost two weeks - sheesh! That includes the Holiday which I had requested to be home for, but I really expected something to be offered by now. Is my experience unusual, or are others getting this unwanted hometime? I run out of Atlanta which I didn't think was too much of a deadzone. I would appreciate hearing other Superior drivers thoughts on this.

Yea I'm outta Atlanta too. I have been home since Wednesday. Ken told me I might not go out till Sunday or Monday. Yea it kinda sucks, but what can you do? If he had it we would be runnin it.

It will pick back up after the holidays...The whole country is messed up. A lot won't have any work for a long time. I'm just thankful I have a job.

My dispatcher told me "the system is slow right now" That sounds like a bit of an understatement reading whats happening in Atlanta. He also said the historic slow period is from Thanksgiving to the end of Feb.

I got home Wednesday before Thanksgiving by request, was given a dedicated load out and back Tuesday and got home Thursday with about 1500 miles for the week. I asked to take some personal days Monday12/8 and Tuesday12/9 hoping to run through the weekend. Didn't happen so I am to call Tuesday and hopefully go out Wednesday 12/10. High Point seems to be insulated somewhat from the slow down due to all the dedicated freight we run. There was only one other truck on the yard when I got back last night so they are out doing something.

Thanks for the responses BHG and wsyrob, it's helpful to know I'm not the only one sitting. I like this company and will be sticking around. I got some good weeks in over the last couple of months and look forward to that kind of a work load again . . . I just hope it comes sooner rather than later.

I was warned today its going to be real bad for us next week on (its already been bad), especially day cabbers. Rumford closing the paper machine (hopefully for a month) is going to kill us.

Slow down...
 

Yes, this is when we as chemical tank drivers generally start slowing down for awhile. There obviously are exceptions, as with our High Point yard and mine in Westville. Heck, we usually have so much stuff to run from my yard that we farm out the excess to system drivers. As for slow terminals, Atlanta, Louisville, and Memphis seem to take a pretty good hit with the annual freight slow down (based upon my observations over the last couple of years here). But IF you can weather the slow season everything pans out in the end. I say if because there have been several drivers that I've come across in the past that said they were previous drivers here and simply could not stay with the company through the slow season, and moved on due to lack of work. Most also added that they only wish they would've stayed put. But hindsight is 20/20, and each individual must make their choices dependent on their needs. So I stand by the old "To each their own...". But I also stand by my (quiet) opinion; I'll never pull a van, reefer, of flat ever again!

Y'all be safe and have fun!

;)

This time of year is a little slow....and maybe this year is a little slower. The overall financial situation has some effect on it. But...before one jumps ship...from anywhere to anywhere....one needs to think about this: If tankers that deliver raw materials are slow....are not the vans and flats, etc..that deliver the finished products going to be slow as well? I think that one should not jump to conclusions and automatically think that the grass is greener elsewhere, when it may just be quicksand that has thin astroturf over it.

Me, I'm not going anywhere....and like Cyanide.... I ain't pulling no box, reefer or skateboard. Only one job will take me away from here....and that would be as a Lottery Winner...and in a big enough way that I would no longer have to worry about money period!!

No I got a load to Tx. and just got back today. I was infact at your yard though Monday talking with Roland. I took the load to Lincoln Maine. Got a good run on the treadmill, long hot shower then out. Took 4 hrs. to unload.. PM me with your number if you want and I'll give you a call next time I run up there.

Damn. Then who in the hell was in Allyns Point last week asking about a day cabber from Maine thats only been with Superior for a few months?

I still have your number Bob, but resend it in your reply. Also truck number, think its 3220?

It could have been me prior to the first of the month. I was sitting in the front lot with another drive b.s.'ng. I was down there alot. Two trucks went ahead of me. I'm truck 3320

I have googled this subject and can not find anything definitive. However, I believe that the reg will not apply to foreign trucks. Reading all the BS on the studies conducted by Transport Canada, it seems they are modeling the program after the EU (big surprise). The EU model excludes foreign trucks. My money says the Cannucks will not require USA trucks to comply.

From "google":

Ontario Trucking Association

http://www.safety-council.org/info/traffic/CTA.pdf

From here: Profile

Q: What about trucks from the US?

A: North American jurisdictions already have a variety of laws governing the operation of commercial vehicles and truck drivers are expected to comply with the laws of the jurisdiction in which they are driving. For example, any Canadian truck driver who drives in the US is required to follow US law on drug testing, even though no similar law exists in Canada. We must follow their laws in their jurisdiction; and they must follow our laws in our jurisdiction. In the long term we hope that all North American jurisdictions will follow Canada’s lead and institute similar laws.

My comment: You can realistically expect that ALL trucks originating in the US, regardless of ownership, will be required to adhere to the letter of Canadian Law. So, if you are dispatched into Canadian and the law is in place....your truck has to be set with a top speed of 65 mph, or 105 kph. If its not, and the truck is checked...someone, the owner or driver, will be cited.

Yeah, I saw that. But, I was looking for something from the government, not a trade association. Like anything else, the devil is in the details. Enforcement looks like a nightmare, and the requisite bureauacracy that misguided governmental "meddling" always leads to. Interesting that Quebec hasn't thrown a monkey wrench into the program. The Frenchies agreeing with Ontario in particular and parliament in general is a bit odd!

I think the issue will go beyond DOT. You have a three party trade agreement. Someone can argue it is a restraint on trade. Who knows. I don't pretend to be a lawyer.

So how's freight - cross border and otherwise?

I searched pretty hard...but I couldn't find any "Official Canadian" links to government sites with anything on them....

I'm in Karns City at the terminal right now....and I was looking at a "Trucker's News" and it would appear that the ATA is getting on that 65 mph bandwagon....so it may come to pass...here and there....who knows. Its a "hide and watch" thing. I'll probably be retired before it all gets sorted out. And you're right, its a 3 party gig, sooner or later the French will get into it all, and then the court battles, and it will end up going on and on and on....the the BS over the HOS.....go figure.

I haven't been into Canada for quite a while....seems they only send me there when a blizzard is gettting ready to happen....but since its winter again... I'll probably end up there pretty soon. Haven't been there in warm weather in ages......

I've been busy enough not to complain....slower than I like, but I'm not worried....it'll either get better or it won't. Worrying about it won't help me at all......

Greetings and Hello All
 

I went through National Training down at Green Cove Springs.....many moons ago. I can't really speak too much about them now...its been almost 16 years, but the training was good.

If you cover the cost of your own school, you might get on with someone who will "reimburse", but the advantage will be that you will not be an indentured servant. With many of the companies, they will provide the training to get the CDL, but you are bound to a contract. If you leave before that contract is satisfied, they will come after you like a pitbull on a steak for the money, and probably demand more than the training was worth. If you don't pay them back....they will go after you, and make credit reports on you.

I paid for my own, and as a result, I was beholden to no-one. Worked out better that way.

Happy Holidays to Superior Bulk Logistics
 

Here's a Holiday Cheer to all employee's of SBL. A Merry Christmas and a Happy, Prosperous New Year.

Happy Holidays!!!
 

Hi to all you superior guys i was on the L.I.E. yesterday and i saw a superior truck # 520 mosing along in the right lane the weather was kind of sloppy so he was driving smartly but he looked like a very content over the road driver the reason why i'm posting is i tried to get a job out of the n.j. terminal but i hooked up with metro fuels out of brooklyn a local gig but still yernning for the open road its the family thing that gets me i also thought it might have been cyanide anyway im always enjoying all you superior guys post

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL .....ENJOY

Not I...
 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Definitely wasn't me! I've been on vacation since the 22nd and also, I haven't run OTR/system in well over a year. Good luck with getting on at in Jersey. I don't know anything about the staff or facilities up there, but sure that some of the other guys here can offer some advice and/or suggestions on it. Y'all be safe, I'll be back with more later... :D

Anyone know what the Carry terminal is like in Lafayette In. We run a dedicated load up to N Chicago from High Point alot. I usually stop at the Petro at the 205 exit off I-65 for my break. Just noticed we have a terminal about 30 miles south. Do they allow non food grade trucks to stop there and is it one of the nicer terminals with decent showers and driver rooms?

I'm not certain, but I believe we can stop at all Carry yards as long as we are not Haz-Mat.

Carry's Lafayette yard...
 

Rob, I stop by that yard frequently and am always placarded. All they ask is that you park in the back corner of the yard by the flatbed. The terminal is nice for only having seven or eight drivers running out of there. They have fuel, a decent shower which is separate from the bathrooms, a small shop, and a driver room with a t.v. (unsure if the cable has ever been fixed in there though), drink machine, snack machine (exact change only!), microwave, sink, and couch. It's a very quiet facility and a good place to get a night of restful sleep. Also, about three miles away is one of the gyms I frequent on my route so if you ever want to go there it's available. The plus about the gym is that they have just enough room in their back lot to park truck and tank while you work out and shower.

The only other Carry yard I'm familiar with is the one at my other home in Jacksonville (FL). It's located off of Alta Drive, about five miles north of Southern Tank Wash there at Pulaski Road. That one DOES NOT allow placarded tanks in the facility, and has but a bathroom only in addition to Tony and Christine's offices (terminal manager and dispatcher). So if you need a shower while there you would need to use the one at the tank wash or, stay at one the crummy truck stops in the immediate area. Yuck!

Carlo.........I was talking with a few drivers at the J at Whiteland yesterday. 3 of them were Indian River drivers and 2 were with Opies (?)

After we were all done telling lies to one another, I began to wonder about those two carriers, Indiana River and Opies(?). How do they compare with Superior and the tanker OTR industry overall?

I'm still happy!
 

2008 Totals
Taxable Gross: $55,687.16
Hub Miles: 113,514
Avg.: .490/mile
Days Working: 218 (60%)
Days Home: 148 (40%)

Thanks Cyanide. Next time I get one of these loads I will check it out. I would always be empty with a dedicated dirty tank that they top load. Its either dry bulk or one of those rubber lined liquid tanks not hazmat.

I see Carlo hasn't answered.....he's probably still snickering about what he's going to answer with..... So I will answer it as simply as I can: There is no comparison. I would not drive for either of the others. I would probably do do better panhandling on a street corner or scrounging for aluminum cans on the road sides.



I'll leave it to Carlo to fill in the blanks

I spoke with Carlo this afternoon.....He said that he drove for Indian River for a while, but only as a stepping stone, had little good to say about them..... He had nothing negative about Opies....and frankly I have never heard anything bad about them.....

When I spoke with IR's recruiters a few years ago.....I had to laugh, two big reasons: 1. The cost of the health insurance back then was way over $200 a month for my wife and I, and no matter how many weeks you were out on the road....they didn't want you to take more than 2 days off....:eek1::angryblue: For me thats an immediate "KMA", and the cost of the health insurance was a joke.

Carlo mentioned getting home....parking the truck at IR's Winter Haven location, then driving home to Jax....on a Friday evening, and then they called and tried to make him return to work that Saturday.... Carlo was not a happy camper then, but then he says he didn't go back until the following Wed, which he says upset them slightly, but then he adds that they are a company that thrives on threats to the drivers and intimidation, and he seemed to heat up talking about them..... but I'll let him fill you in on the details.....:smokin:

Wow, now we got some "cute" emoticons".....like these:

:smokin::bow::ranting::drunk::oops::brownnoser::ba nana2:

Oh, BTW....Carlo says he is like me....he is not leaving Superior unless he wins a big lottery winning or something actually too good to be true actually happens.....but I know he is smart enough (like me) not to hold his breath waiting for that to happen.....

hey guys..

Thinking about joining superior carriers out of either Memphis tn or Nashville tn which yard do you recomend? I think Memphis is a tad bit closer but were only talking 15/20 miles
I want to run system or out 5/7 home 2/3 or whatever 8/10 3 home within reason.

Think I can get in either terminal talked with both managers at each . Said they would take me just when did I want to come. 2 week notice and all that stuff done I can go to Kingsport for orientation jan 26

Have a few questions for any of you superior guys ...

Uniforms ? ( hope so)
Fuel stops? ( pilot, loves etc)
Insurance good ? ( health family covg)
They say mileage pay is 41.5 ?
Drop 20 birth 10 hr pay 13.??
Logging ??? Hopefully they don't try to kill you do they give plenty of time from point A to B ? ( not a truckstop junkie just like to stay compliant)

Assigned trucks ?
Showers? Terminals ( do they have. Any)
What's your over all view of company ( positive or neg)

Little on me ...
10 plus yrs
Last job / Walmart private fleet
Income $ 69,954.17
Left walmart due to company cut backs on the general merchandise side and me with 5 yrs with company was 123 out of 125 drivers with 5 yrs but anyway bottom seven were sent packing or take a transfer to Lewiston Maine to pull dry grocerys ( no biggie except it is over 1800 miles to relocate at my expense. Thought about it now I have 3 girls 13,8,7 I couldn't uproot them I talkedto them they wanted to stay home. Walmart offered this position for they knew no one would move that far by law if they offer you a comparesble position for same pay (which it was) and u don't take it u RESIGN which relieved them of having to pay out benefits (unemployment) to u.
Anyway I resigned took local job just can't make ends quiet meet .

Enough of my sob story....

Can I make close to 60/63k at superior or more?

No tickets
No accidents
Hazmat
Tank

Thanks guys ....

cyinade

I was in the CORP too...

Small world devil dog ...

0341 94-98

Marine barracks Washington DC
95-98
A Company 2nd plt (earthpigs)

U go to
Sandiego ( I went Hollywood)
Or the island

Semper Fi

Should not be a problem....

Shirts issued, annual pants allowance of $75.00 after 1st year. I wear jeans. They provide all PPE.

ALL Loves, TA, Petro, Irving in NE as well.... 50 gal limit out of system for emergency fuel. Many terminals also have fuel....they like us to use that when available, I say that because a few of them do not have COMDATA card readers, so they are locked after office hours.

I pay $37.00 a week for my wife and I, includes prescriptions, and dental after 1 year. No complaints on their plan from me. Bills have gotten paid without problem.

Loaded is 41.5 and paid on practical miles. We do our own routing, though you can get a suggested routing from them. 34.0 empty practical miles. Necessary Out of Route miles are paid as required.

Some pay rates are alittle different depending on the terminals. I get $10 for D&H, Hourly rate is $13.30. First two hours of loading and unloading time is paid $20.00 anything over two hours is @ $13.30, figured on quarter hours.

Compliance GOOD, they expect/demand it. All runs are made legal, and enough time is allocated without a problem...if you are loaded late...and time is squeezed, you let them know and arrangements will be made. If they catch you cheating on the logs, you might get one warning...after that... buh-bye....

Yes, no slip seating. Some of the trucks are older, but fleet is in renewal.

Most do....but there are a couple of small ones that don't have showers. We also have access to Carry Transit yards and their facilities...they are our "sister company" and part of SBL. Carry is food grade, and generally we can go into their yards for fuel and parking. Some may not want you there with a hazmat load...but it depends on the size of the yard.

The only way I am leaving this job is if I win a big enough lottery winning that I never never to worry about money again. I plan on staying here until I retire. I've been here over two years...almost 28 months and the "honeymoon" is not over yet.

Bummer what happened with wallyworld!! It should be doable if you run the system and stay flexible.... by that I mean if the freight is there right now...and you don't have to keep a cut in stone get home schedule....it shouldn't be a problem. I know we have guys making that much or more....

In addition to the other pays you mentioned:

$10 a night to sleep in trk.

$50 if you get a delivery in the boroughs of NYC.... I haven't done one yet.

$15 to cross Canadian border, and if you are delayed....hourly pay applies.

$20 and higher if you stay with tank to wash.

$13.30 or terminal hourly rate is paid for all "breakdown time".

$13.30 or terminal hourly rate is paid for all bad weather shutdowns/delays.

If you are held over at an outside terminal for more than one night...company paid motel. NO fleabags....decent motels.

Layover is paid after 15 hours, paid for 8 hours, then sit 10, paid 8, and so on at hourly rate.

9 paid holidays, and 2 to 5 personal paid days per year based on longevity. 2 weeks paid vacation at end of first year (48X13.30 or terminals hourly rate), grows to 5 weeks with 24 years service.

Company paid life insurance up to $50K, company paid short and long term disability.

Automatic 401K plan of 3%....unless you opt out in writing, or you can dedicate the amount. You determine where it goes....

Me, I have ZERO problems with Superior.....and plan to be here a long time....at least til I retire.... Simply put.... I'm a happy camper!:thumbsup:

kentucky24.... I sent you a PM.

skywalker

I will call u Saturday around 10/11 is this cool? I don't have enough post to PM I stay on the board late I am at my daughters b b game at half 31/ 27 we are up

Yeah walley world suck ( they way the did of with no warning) at all I had a week well 10 days to decide.
Great job though while it lasted
Hub miles 43.75
875 drop
650 hook
42 sleeper birth( every night)

I am used to 100 percent legal at walley if u went 7 mins over vilolation
I like legal running less hassle no worries on compliance..

Which terminal would u choose

Nashville tn. Or. Memphis tn

168 miles Memphis 177 Nashville

I want the best terminal

I drove 250 each week for walmart our trucks stayed at the yard also during home time

I love it here. Have ZERO complaints about the company after 1 year of service. They know how to treat the drivers thats for sure. I'll be here as long as they'll let me stay.