Central Transport | The worst company ever

He already got rid of the union once, by hiring owner/operators. Once he got over 50% O/O's, then he was able to get rid of the union, and hire them all back as company drivers. He was hiring them back right after I started, in '06. So, you know he'd do it again, if he had to!
I remember driver stories I use to hear about Central Transport and Teamsters Local 299 back in the seventies when I drove for a Teamster company in southeastern Michigan. How Central Transport would borrow money from Teamsters Local 299. But who knows. Back then Central Transport was a Teamster company and I left the area for the southwest. Then I would read about Central Transport and it seemed like they went non-union almost over night.
 
Nothing ever changes with this company. Its always the same old tired BS. They always say its going to get better but it doesn't. I started there in '06 also and they were just putting the company back together after breaking the Union. There were so many different company names like Charlott Express (trucks were leased from them) , Platform Services (dock workers) and i was employed by one that started with a J. I cant remember the full name. Matty will NEVER allow this company to be Unionized...if you try he will fire you. The only interest the owner has for this company is to put more cash in his already sagging pockets. This guy is a BILLIONARE and he can't even do any maintenance on equipment or terminals. As a matter of fact he takes money out of your paycheck. I worked there 5 yrs and had so many paychecks that were shorted it wasn't funny. Everybody I knew had money shorted from their checks. Figure that one...you log on and off electronically and your check is shorted, that's not an accident. There are so many negative things to say about CT but I would type the skin right off of my fingertips trying to list it all. All I can say is STAY AWAY!!
 
Adding a lot of details

Rand McNally pay: .39 cpm/42K (LTLs pay 65k-95k)
*OTRs use because consignee's milage varies.
*LTLs use terminal-terminal exact milage.
Dock pay: $19 main terminals; $18 sub-terminals
*no direct deposit
*1st check held 2 weeks

Tractor/Trailer Defects
*If you get a daycab without a mechanical defect...Be sure to take a picture!
*Slip-seating not assigned. 1st-come-1st-serve, seniority, or load priority.
...heater mirror/cruise control doesn't work
...cracked/loose/missing/duct-taped mirrors
...missing door handles/knobs/locks
...doors don't open/close
...cracked/leaking windshields
...cracked panel unit, two hands to disengage brakes
...headlights held in place by clear tape
...missing clutch/brake/accelerator pedals
...ABS light on
...'check engine' light on
...interior lights out
...speedometer/odometer/fuel gauges not working
...panel lights not working
...bent/broken/missing steps
...engine breaks don't work
...bungy-corded swing doors to ensure closure
...roll-down doors, need forklifts to shut
...broken panels on placard units
...holes in trailers' ceilings or floors
...ac/heater/defroster doesn't work
...hooked to loaded red-flagged trailers
*Central's trucks not under two years.
*Tactic OTR starter companies use to get new drivers, having a 20% retention ratio.
*LTLs have a 95% rr. Explains why so few openings in small towns. LTLs value their drivers, reward them. Slip-seats are assigned, two drivers only, lowering equipment costs and damages.
*Central's 10% rr tells all. Drivers quit...overworked, underpaid, belittled...no rewards, incentives, encouragement
*Insult to injury, being paid more for unskilled dock work. Good starting place for college students, though. The professional driving took years of training. LTLs understand this logic, use it to their benefit. By doing this, they get eager, well-rested individuals, working their docks, driving their trucks. Pups set, ready to go upon arrival.
*Bonus Story: An 8 oz serving of molded mac & cheese near the accelerator pedal was staring up at me the other day. Who would do such a thing? With multiple drivers, no telling. If a lunch offering, no thanks!

Docks
...broken dock plates, months to replace
...bent/broken dock doors
...forks of different lengths/widths/heights
...not enough forklifts, drivers stand around unpaid
...uncharged forklifts, lost pay, lost production
...worn down wheels, bumpy ride
...some forklifts so aged, can't lift heavy loads
...inadequate lighting on dock, hard to read the handheld, dangerous for pedestrians
...no ac/fans/heaters on docks. May have a sweat-pouring during mid-summer, a freeze-your-:0-off during mid-winter. Fill in the blank with any body part of your choosing. Doesn't matter! It's frozen!
...handheld devices lose power, won't scan, reboots, or locks up
*Dock pay starts when a piece of freight is scanned to a designated trailer. If the first half of trailer goes to the floor, you go unpaid. Floor staging not counted in production, either. Dock pay stops when last freight scanned to a trailer. If the last part of your trailer goes to the floor, you lose pay.
*When restacking pallet or trailer, device will stop your pay clock. The stopage will not be known until next freight scan informs you you've been logged off. The next 10 minutes go unpaid as you reboot your handheld and rescale your forklift.
*Sub-terminal drivers lock down their terminals Saturday, alone, without pay, closing/locking dock doors, (un)hooking each trailer with freight to close doors. Another hour given freely to Central.
*20 handling units per hour is production goal, one every three minutes. Bulky items require recouping trailer each time to make it fit. When load is mostly crates of all differents sizes/shapes, it takes a lot of time.
*Management doesn't realize those who make production are the worst offenders for damages. They load freight on freight, cover up holes behind their piece. Next loader loses production recouping.
*LADIES BEWARE: Most terminals restrict males from using the womens restroom...but not all!

NOT DISCOURAGED? KEEP ON TRUCKIN' AND READIN'!

Managers:
*Do research! Your job is learning about loading, hazmat, DOT rules. safety.
*Big difference between being a leader (knowledgible, informative, organized, possessing a well-mannered vocabulary when negotiating between upper management and the needs of your employees wanting reliable equipment, incentives, and better wages, and then being competent enough to find answers to questions.) versus a bossy boss (Incompetent. Barks out orders just to have control, with no meaning as to what really needs to be accomplished. Never opposes or questions upper management's thoughts or requests.) But, all this was learned in Management 101. Managers at Central are good leaders when dealing with their own terminals, seeming to listen and decipher employees' concerns. The only thing lacking; courage to stand their ground with upper management about how the employees are losing faith, needing encouragement.
*Hearsay is that managers get a bonus for each piece of freight moved. Everything managers seem to say does pertains to dock production. Where's the advise for yard. road, hazmat, safety rules?
*Managers need to get off dock, check yard. Why? See below:

Minor infractions with write-ups given: (all seen from dock)
1) 10 minute break violation
*Federal law says an employee is entitled to one after each two hour interval. Central does not comply.
*Of course, this is the same company asking you to come in an hour earlier than your scheduled time, so you can hook, inspect, and be ready at dispatch time, on your own unpaid time, and not start DOT clock.
2) not wearing seatbelt while on a forklift in motion violation
*Employers have to supply a workable seatbelt per OSHA, that's it.
*Insurance firms do not have to pay a claim if a seatbelt is not worn.
*Our amendment states one has the freedom of choice as long as it does infringe upon another's rights.
*Being written up for not wearing seatbelt was simply a manager throwing his weight around, causing another good employee's departure.
3) taking a nap enroute violation
*No brainer! Too tired to drive, stop. It's worth the write-up from an incompetent manager. Heck...It's even worth the parking ticket from an awnery cop, for that matter. I can get over a reprimand, but killing someone over a material object? Forget it!

Major infractions without write-ups given (all seen from yard)
...An employee
1) broke another's mirror with theirs
2) broke trailer's doors while backing (in their defense, there's no streetlights nor ground painted markings of dock lanes)
3) smoked pot on the premises
4) dropped trailer with landing gear up when unhooking
5) not putting leg supports down on pups at dock
6) smokes cigarettes at the fuel island
...A manager
1) relieved himself on the property
2) used the girl's bathroom (manager being male)
3) slept with his head on desk
4) cussed out employees on the dock
5) told an employee to load a leaking hazmat container from one trailer to another, not cleaning up the spill, nor reporting the incident, saying there was nothing that could be done until the consignee refused it
6) hitched a ride, supposedly with permission from upper management, with not one-but two-Central drivers, to where this particular manager invited a friend, a non-Central employee, to climb aboard for the ride, both tag-alongs drinking beer from conceiled containers which weren't noticed until the second driver smelled it on them and was told if he had anymore to get rid of it, both trucks used during commute only had a driver's seat
...The owner's son-in-law
1) cursed out a main terminal's manager with his employees nearby
WHAT A GREAT COMPANY, CENTRAL! WE KNOW WHERE YOUR PRIORITIES ARE!

Why haven't I left..Small town..Few opportunities..Family needs me at home.
 
My favorite is the current move to replace TMs with sales reps.

Not sure about other places, but the guy we got has never worked in trucking in any fashion. He's very 2 faced, and will throw the drivers under the tires at will, if he thinks it makes him look good.

But, don't ask him to actually do his management job. That's too much to ask. He's busy with sales calls.


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8/6/12

Got tm that started a wk ago. He is ambitious and full of spirit and ideas...

Taking poll:
How long will it take Central to suck the life out of this poor unsuspecting soul?

Paychecks have no year-to-date status on them. Have to pull teeth to get Central to get information to creditors when buying big ticket items; car, house, or refinancing.
 
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Depends, is he a TM or SSM?

I give it 6 months, tops, before they start falling apart.

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Okay-Say, you're a kid going door-to-door offering to cut grass for $50 a yard. You only need to get one customer to get that $30 piece of sporting equipment you've had your eye on. Most neighbors say they use a prossesional service-"Thanks, but no thanks." Then, you meet an elderly gentleman who gives you the chance. You have lawn mower at hand, eager to begin. Oh, wait. He says it's only 2pm. Superstition says it can't be mowed til 4. You wait. At 4, you cut. Hot, sweaty. $50 is the reward. Then, you're done and go to collect. "Need for you to weed eat, and clean the gutters. That is part of lawn care," the gentlemen instructs. Not what you had in mind, but it stands between you having the $ and not. You do it, hoping it may bring you an added bonus. You even sweep the porch, driveway, and sidewalk and rake up the clippings...trying to earn a few more merits...and maybe a few more $. You smile as he reaches in his wallet, and ask, "Did I do an okay job, sir?" His reply, "Well. Look at the other yards, son. Theirs are neat and trim. You've missed a lot of details. So, I'm going to deduct $5 to teach you a lesson." Did you make enough money to get what you wanted? Yes. But, did you get what you were offered? What you deserved?
As you walk home, pondering over this, you run into Bobby. "See ya cut old man Moroun's yard." Then begins to laugh. What?" you inquire. Response, "Gave ya the 'teach you the lesson' speech. Lesson is not to believe in everyone." "But I thought he was loaded." Wha-ha-ha is all you here as Bobby descends. Wha-ha-ha.
 
That is really annoying i never been encounter that thing.In Finland country there are a lot transportation company that really prioritizing their employee which they believe that without them their freight services will be not fast and reliable for their customer.
 
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And nashvile still has help wanted ads all over the place, internet, in front of the terminal, even drivders of Ct ask other ltl drivers to come aboard. Must be a great place to work for. :duh::duh:
 
Our terminal just rehired a guy. Gave him all his seniority back as a city guy when he was a linehaul guy before. As a result of that he bumped a couple city guys to on call status because now we have to many city guys. Explain that one to me. Why did we even hire him back if we didn't need someone? This company has zero respect for its drivers.

I know a lot has been said about poor equipment but here is another example. I am from the northern part of the country, we have had high temps of well below zero lately. We are a shop location so we have a mechanic on duty. I have been writing up that the heater in the truck I have been forced to drive does not work for a few weeks. When confronting the TM about it he says drive it or go home, nothing else I can do about it. It has been on the shop on at least 2 occasions to get it fixed with no results. The mechanic says CT wont pay for the parts needed to fix it. I guess I spend the coldest part of the years in one of the coldest cities in the country with no heat. Thank you CT, Thank you
 
Our terminal just rehired a guy. Gave him all his seniority back as a city guy when he was a linehaul guy before. As a result of that he bumped a couple city guys to on call status because now we have to many city guys. Explain that one to me. Why did we even hire him back if we didn't need someone? This company has zero respect for its drivers.

I know a lot has been said about poor equipment but here is another example. I am from the northern part of the country, we have had high temps of well below zero lately. We are a shop location so we have a mechanic on duty. I have been writing up that the heater in the truck I have been forced to drive does not work for a few weeks. When confronting the TM about it he says drive it or go home, nothing else I can do about it. It has been on the shop on at least 2 occasions to get it fixed with no results. The mechanic says CT wont pay for the parts needed to fix it. I guess I spend the coldest part of the years in one of the coldest cities in the country with no heat. Thank you CT, Thank you

I hate to see a driver get in trouble or loose his job no matter where he works, but no heat in the winter? Next time your on the road with that piece of crap make sure you get the attention of law enforcement wether its state or DOT. Pull over, do jumping jacks, ride the air horn etc. just get their attention and BEG them to inspect your vehicle. I imagine that will get repairs done. I dont care who anyone drives for , driving with no heat is first class CRAP! Our fleet is 100% Mack CH & Vision cabs. I'm not a fan of Mack's however the heat will blow you out of the cab. It was minus 28 deg. last tuesday with the windchill. I couldnt imagine some ***** telling me to drive with no heat or go home.
 
Our terminal just rehired a guy. Gave him all his seniority back as a city guy when he was a linehaul guy before. As a result of that he bumped a couple city guys to on call status because now we have to many city guys. Explain that one to me. Why did we even hire him back if we didn't need someone? This company has zero respect for its drivers.

I know a lot has been said about poor equipment but here is another example. I am from the northern part of the country, we have had high temps of well below zero lately. We are a shop location so we have a mechanic on duty. I have been writing up that the heater in the truck I have been forced to drive does not work for a few weeks. When confronting the TM about it he says drive it or go home, nothing else I can do about it. It has been on the shop on at least 2 occasions to get it fixed with no results. The mechanic says CT wont pay for the parts needed to fix it. I guess I spend the coldest part of the years in one of the coldest cities in the country with no heat. Thank you CT, Thank you
If your heater is not working, I would guess your defroster is not either? A defroster IS required to work on tractors. Is a safety item, my friend.
 
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