Celadon Trucking IS NOT a good company to drive for. I've been with them for a little over a year and have found their business practices to be shady at best. They advertise publicly that you'll make 36,000 to 46,000 a year. They have 85-90% drop and hook. Neither of those statements are true, unless you're a team driver, owner operator, lease purchase or have been with them for several years. You will not receive any raises, they have a freeze on them and have had for over a year; they also cut bonuses for drivers 40%. Your insurance premiums are outrageously high. You mileage pay is low, not average, but low. A driver with over 5 years experience and a clean DAC should make more than. 34/mile. They fill you full of best case scenarios during orientation as to put themselves in a good light, but as soon as you are assigned a truck, look out, you're in for a huge disappointment. They pay their service people so little that you receive half assed maintenance on your truck or trailer. You have to know someone in the repair facilities in order to get good service.
Year to date, I've driven 132,000 accident free miles with Celadon. I made 31k last year, before taking out my expenses. I was dispatched well over 300 days. This is not a reasonable living for the amount of hours I put in. I currently have close to 2k in unreimbursed expenses, tolls, wiper blades, etc. I wrote them off to recoup some of my lost expenses. I pay over 6k a year for my insurance. They only get me home on time about 50% of the time. They use shady tactics to keep you struggling and in the truck. You will be the working poor. The company has purchased/leased far too many trucks and have to roll you just enough to make their lease/purchase payments (that is a quote from management). Therefore, if they sit you, it's because you're close to the needed earned revenue for your truck. It's not about you as an individual driver, you are managed in a manner that best suits the company, regardless of their initial claims.
The only way to make the figures they give for personal income is to stay out on the road for very long extended periods. A minimum of 28 days per month would probably get you very close to the lower figure of 36k.
This is not a company a seasoned driver should work for, unless he loves being frustrated and poor. This company is about it's shareholders, cut and dry. You are merely a commodity that is acquired and released to suit their interests.
There are exceptions to what I've written, but in general. You won't make the numbers they give you. You will be lied to, you will be patronized, you will be slighted and most of all you will be considered a number at every turn. I would highly recommend to anyone thinking of working for Celadon Trucking to reconsider and weigh their options. You'd be better off working locally. You'll work less hours, make more money and get better home time; possibly even be treated with respect.
To those of you who chose to respond to this posting. I don't want to hear about your brother, mother, sister, dad, uncle, fiance or other people that "you know" that work or have worked for this company. Things aren't what they used to be and the management style of this company has drastically changed over the past 2 years. So save your comments for those who actually do the driving and work for these criminals.
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