Carolina Cargo - Attitude - It Is What You Want It To Be!

I started with Carolina Cargo when no one else would hire me because of my past. I drove my car there Monday of Thanksgiving week 2015, and I stayed at the Motel 6. Monday was paperwork and a urine test. They took care of "breakfast" at the hotel, and lunch was pizza at the terminal as it was the following day. Tuesday was verbal instruction on DOT regulations, and company procedures, what is expected of us, and pay scale and procedures. (Note: I am new to trucking and this is my 1st trucking job)

I was actually in a truck and driving Tuesday night! I have a co-driver, and we get along well (I am told this is a blessing, and I believe it is) We have a 2015 Peterbilt w/an APU! We drive all over the country, and we are both anxious to make miles, so things are going well. I started at .10cents per mile, BUT...I get bonuses for on time deliveries, mileage bonuses, and raises!!

I got a .02cents raise/mile, and expect 3 more .02cent/mile raises by the end of the year! I get paid if I or he is driving! I have the option of going solo after 6 months, but I got a taste of solo driving because my co-driver went on vacation, and I must say that I HATED IT! Spending so much time sitting and waiting on time to allow me to drive again was aggravating.

I like the wheels always turning. I like the idea of making money whenever the wheels are turning> sure, I get paid twice as much as a solo driver, but I spend too much time sitting. I don't like sitting still so much. Carolina Cargo will keep you moving if you want to. They have a lot of miles for anyone who wants them, and I want them. I LOVE DRIVING!! Everything about it... interstate , city, back roads, especially difficult backing (I like challenges).

It takes a while to get used to life on the road, but not being lazy, accepting situations, and being motivated to make miles makes it easier. We communicate with dispatch via e-mail. I like verbal communication, so this is a difficult part of the job for me, but attitude is a major thing--have a great attitude, and you'll do great! Once dispatch knows you are dependable, they will have you driving all the time!! This is what I've experienced. IF THEY LEARN THEY CAN DEPEND ON YOU, YOU CAN DEPEND ON THEM TO KEEP YOU ROLLING!!

Pay works like this... they keep a check "in the hole". Your 1st check will be $300 minus taxes after your first 3 turns. (This comes from your orientation pay) It takes 3 turns to make a trip. A turn is dropping or picking up. Basically, 5000 miles. You should make this weekly! 5000 miles equals $500. But wait, you were on time, so you make more money! But wait, you did well with your mileage (MPG), and you get another bonus!! (trucks are governed at 65mph, so good mileage is easy) What was a $500 trip becomes a $1000 trip! They figure your pay minus your $59/day per diem , so your net pay is much better. (this is something you must consider if you don't have good years paying into social security and are planning to rely on S.S., then you may may want to leave C.C. after you have experience and can)

There are bonuses at certain mileage levels accomplished, and time spend with company. You can get advances. They do cover fuel, repairs, tolls, etc... You shouldn't have to come out of pocket for anything except food. They use Love's for fuel, but you'll learn to use Love's for fuel, free food, and showers, and others who are much more driver friendly in terms of amenities when you're stuck for any amount of time. Vacations are unpaid! Time off is unpaid! "If the wheels aren't turning, you aren't earning", but they are so flexible if you want time off, and I like that.

I LOVE THIS COMPANY and JOB!! They gave me opportunity when no one else would. They pay me well. They thank me all the time for my work and service. They never bother me (I hated the micromanagement at my last job) They gave me a raise, with more to come, and make me feel appreciated. I have been approached by USA and ConWay since starting here, but I like it here.

There are negatives... the "terminal" is terrible and in the middle of nowhere, no paid time off, they use Love's, you have to follow the fuel route they give you, you have to get there on your own, you have to get home and back on your own (but they'll let you get off and on while your co-driver is driving if you cooridinate with them in advance), they expect you to drive a lot, it's hard to be off on the exact date you aim for.

I listen to drivers from other companies complain about their companies, and I have come to realize that they're all about the same. The difference seems to be the attitude of the driver. I am considered to be at a "terrible company", and I think it's great! I have heard drivers from "great companies" complain about how terrible their company is. I don't have much experience, but I plan to stay here at least 6-12 months. I have met drivers who left but came back because they didn't make the miles or money promised by other companies.

Gratitude is an attitude! Have a great attitude, and this will be a great job with a great company! I realize I am a rookie, and "green". Please take into consideration my inexperience, but also realize that I am not a younger man, and I have much life experience. Carolina Cargo has a new pay structure, is buying new trucks, and has good incentives. -Tony

Terminal:

A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.

DOT:

Department Of Transportation

A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.

State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.

Interstate:

Commercial trade, business, movement of goods or money, or transportation from one state to another, regulated by the Federal Department Of Transportation (DOT).

Per Diem:

Getting paid per diem means getting a portion of your salary paid to you without taxes taken out. It's technically classified as a meal and expense reimbursement.

Truck drivers and others who travel for a living get large tax deductions for meal expenses. The Government set up per diem pay as a way to reimburse some of the taxes you pay with each paycheck instead of making you wait until tax filing season.

Getting per diem pay means a driver will get a larger paycheck each week but a smaller tax return at tax time.

We have a ton of information on our wiki page on per diem pay

TWIC:

Transportation Worker Identification Credential

Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.

Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.

OWI:

Operating While Intoxicated

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

Tony wrote:

Gratitude is an attitude! Have a great attitude, and this will be a great job with a great company! I realize I am a rookie, and "green". Please take into consideration my inexperience, but also realize that I am not a younger man, and I have much life experience. Carolina Cargo has a new pay structure, is buying new trucks, and has good incentives. -Tony

Although you may be green, you quickly figured something out that many drivers never get. Your positive, can-do attitude will serve you well in this business. Good luck and safe travels.

OK.... it's been a few months. I have a handle now, it's "Done Gone". I met a lady driver who called herself "Gotta' Go", and I told her "Too late, I've done gone", and it became my handle. Anyhow, time to update you on my Carolina Cargo experience... I've been with Carolina Cargo for just over 6 months. I went from .10 to .12 to .14 to .16/mile. I got the raises every other month. I do get paid .16 for every mile the truck is driven, plus the bonuses I mentioned originally. I just received a 6 month bonus of $1000! I've been all over the country. I still LOVE driving, and Carolina Cargo. The driver managers are so nice. They try to keep me rolling continually. They still thank me for my efforts, and treat me with respect. The service dept. keeps my truck in great repair. The company everyone told me to stay away from turned out to be a blessing. I'm getting experience. The driver managers found that they can depend on me, and they keep me running. Everything's going fine, and I am very happy here.

That is very cool, man!! I am looking at Stevens Transport to be the same experience for me. I agree! It is all in the attitude and being ready to work doing whatever it is that they need you to do. So many people forget that that is what a job is. That is what they hired you to do and why they pay you!

Keep rollin' man.

DSTURBD

DSTURBD, I've only now (09/26!) seen your response. Good luck with Stephens.... I hope all is going well. Actually, I met a Stephens driver in Nogales, AZ. Parking being what it is there, and produce making it through customs caused us both concern for our 14 hour clocks. We hung out together, and worked together at the best approaches to our individual situations if we both faced the worst circumstances. Luckily, we each got lucky and were gone the following day. He was a good guy. He liked his job there, and I hope you do as well. I have really enjoyed working at Carolina Cargo, and coming to this company has been a good decision for my situation. The only issue I have had the last 9 months is getting home when I request. This is a small company, and I (patting myself on the back) am a very good, reliable and dependable driver, and I think they run me until they absolutely have to let me go home. I have been offered jobs from other companies, and I've stayed with Carolina until now, but I am considering a move. This isn't because of any problem with Carolina, but I've reached the top of their pay scale, and getting home is difficult. Carolina has been a blessing to me, and a door opener for me. I FULLY RECOMMEND Carolina Cargo to anyone having trouble finding a driving job, especially if already living near Rock Hill, S.C. I love and appreciate that company, and I am thankful for them, and I love driving.