Info on Cardinal Logistics

[moto331]

I have a freind looking into getting involved in Cardinals program out of Fife, WA., evidently they lease you a truck & have you ship cabinets around the country for them.
He's not to computer savy so I told him I'd try the board here & find out what I could good or bad, any help is much appreciated.

[pro1driver]

Originally Posted by moto331

I have a freind looking into getting involved in Cardinals program out of Fife, WA., evidently they lease you a truck & have you ship cabinets around the country for them.
He's not to computer savy so I told him I'd try the board here & find out what I could good or bad, any help is much appreciated.

Cardinal
Logistics is like Ryder Logistics, like Lily Dedicated Logistics.

these companies generally have a contract to haul for a particular company, say that "cabinet company" that they have right now. your friend will have a loaded trailer, either he loads it, or they do. then he goes and deliver those cabinets.

NOW, he might pick-up freight for the return trip, and make those deliveries as well, or the materials for the cabinet company.

some Logistics companies will pay a "set pay rate/salary" for the driver and his run. so he could never ask for a pay raise, but generally, the pay rate is the going rate of other trucking jobs.

benefits are usually available as well. some are lousey, some are good. i can't go no furthur explaining that.

a Logistics company" such as Cardinal, Ryder, Lily are bound by contract for a lenght of time (usually years of up to 5), but be forewarned, the company they have the contract with, can still go out of business or stop the contract ANYTIME THEY CHOOSE.......

i have personally witnessed this, and was involved with this myself as a driver. SO the job is only as good as the contract, or the customer.

i WOULD NOT LEASE A TRUCK, AT ANY TIME.....!!

if the contract goes bad, they will find him a job (he hopes), because he will still be paying those huge payments monthly. he may have to go "into the system" in which then, he will be running the continental 48 U.S. states, maybe canada, maybe mexico.........

right now, from what i gather from your post, he would be "assigned" that cabinet company account...........if and when he gets back to his starting point, he may go back out again, hauling those cabinets, or be told to go someplace else, pick-up a different load, and go else where's......

this WILL HAPPEN AS WELL.........i know, because as i have said, its happened to me and my so-called "dedicated account".....

[moto331]

Thx very much for your input I'll forward this to him & I know he, as I really appreciate your quick & thoughtful response

[pro1driver]

Originally Posted by moto331

Thx very much for your input I'll forward this to him & I know he, as I really appreciate your quick & thoughtful response

you're welcome

i have a reputation here on these boards for telling it like it is, from either my personal experiences, or my observations....

i don't hold back on either...............

[IBaCFer]

Originally Posted by moto331

I have a freind looking into getting involved in Cardinals program out of Fife, WA., evidently they lease you a truck & have you ship cabinets around the country for them.
He's not to computer savy so I told him I'd try the board here & find out what I could good or bad, any help is much appreciated.

I worked for Cardinal here in OH for a while. I believe the Fife, WA facility does home delivery. The "cabinet company" scheduling dept schedules the loads and the dock loads according to the delivery schedule. You make the delivery per the manifest. NOW what you have to bear in mind is the scheduling dept uses a computer to do the scheduling so the order that you deliver isn't necessarily the way a driver would normally go. Also, home delivery requires a helper so you would have to pay one. Home delivery pays by the stop and number of cabs. You use a hand held to register deliveries. Cardinal also tracks you to see if you are running on schedule. You are expected to get cabs delivered NO MATTER WHAT you encounter. Cardinal has alot of computer literate people who know nothing about operating a truck. As far as equip you can lease from them or use your own equip. You also are classified as an independent contractor so everything comes out of your pocket. You can make some money just don't ever give into them because once you do they expect it all the time. I can't remember the pay scale but if you lease a truck you pay for the lease, maintenance mileage, Work Comp, Bobtail Ins, collision ins, and FUEL. They pay a fuel surcharge but with fuel at $4.00 per gallon is isnt enough. Also, if you do home delv you will be required to purchase the "cabinet maker" uniform shirt to wear when dealing with customers.
Good luck and let us know what you decide.

[pro1driver]

Originally Posted by IBaCFer

I worked for Cardinal here in OH for a while. I believe the Fife, WA facility does home delivery. The "cabinet company" scheduling dept schedules the loads and the dock loads according to the delivery schedule. You make the delivery per the manifest. NOW what you have to bear in mind is the scheduling dept uses a computer to do the scheduling so the order that you deliver isn't necessarily the way a driver would normally go. Also, home delivery requires a helper so you would have to pay one. Home delivery pays by the stop and number of cabs. You use a hand held to register deliveries. Cardinal also tracks you to see if you are running on schedule. You are expected to get cabs delivered NO MATTER WHAT you encounter. Cardinal has alot of computer literate people who know nothing about operating a truck. As far as equip you can lease from them or use your own equip. You also are classified as an independent contractor so everything comes out of your pocket. You can make some money just don't ever give into them because once you do they expect it all the time. I can't remember the pay scale but if you lease a truck you pay for the lease, maintenance mileage, Work Comp, Bobtail Ins, collision ins, and FUEL. They pay a fuel surcharge but with fuel at $4.00 per gallon is isnt enough. Also, if you do home delv you will be required to purchase the "cabinet maker" uniform shirt to wear when dealing with customers.
Good luck and let us know what you decide.

that's quite a bit different from what they have out here. they do "lumber supplies" for whatever company they are contracted to. his situation though reminds me of the old RPS (now FedEx Ground) where the guy buys his own truck, not leases it out. BUT he still has to pay for a helper, so he had better make those deliveries.

i could only relate what i knew of Cardinal Logistics from this part of the country.