CBSL Pasadena Texas

I am an O/O.

I spoke to CBSL and shortly after starting the app process, was getting a backhaul from Buchanan Hauling and Rigging in Ft. Wayne (I have a flatbed) and one of their recruiters convinced me I'd make better money at Buchanan.

I went through orientation at Buchanan. It was a terrible experience that only got worse as I tried to get under my first load at Buchanan Hauling & Rigging in Fort Wayne IN.

I think the folks at CBSL are much more "realistic", so, I am heading there next.

Ideally, I'd like to be back under my own authority. The grass is always greener, let me tell you, most times it is not!

Recruiters will lie, cheat and steal just to get you on board. The terminal manager is the one who has to deal with you once you ARE on board. Don't base your judgments on what the recruiter tells you. He/she is a trained salesman.

I already wrote my piece here about Buchanan, search what I wrote if you want more info.

 

@Edjahman - Understood. Good luck in your future endeavors, whatever they may be. Safe travels.

Just to update, I am now completing my second week with CBSL, but, really, just my first full week. So, not a lot of experience to share, yet.

So far, they are keeping me BUSY. However, that isn't always good. Pay has to be there too. Thus far, I have had pretty good experiences, although not enough to judge. Loads are pretty simple. I wait in the truck or in a driver's room while the plant I am at loads or unloads the tank. When an issue does pop up, they seem to handle them well.

I will say this, my truck is a bit on the heavy side, so, that means they typically can't load me as full as maybe someone else's truck. You have to watch your weight, obviously, with a liquid load, it is always moving, and of course, you can't really shift the weight back.

CBSL has pretty good equipment. I have hauled a few ISO tanks, those are smaller in capacity, so, although I don't look inside, my guess would be, when they are filled, they are "full", so, your surge in those tanks, although noticeable, is far less than with an open bore tank, which can be tricky. I have seen and operated with much lower quality equipment, so, it is nice to see when someone takes good care of their stuff.

All of the tank trailers seem well maintained. The chassis' for the ISO tanks are spread axle, so, there shouldn't be a problem with axle weights, although, I will say, when backing up under a load, the shifting weight makes it tricky to gauge the tracking, the trailer has a bit of a mind of its own!

The open bore tanks are big...at least what I have seen, most are 7,000 gallon capacity, kind of "old school" no real tappering. Due to the weight of my truck, I am usually only running about 2/3 full. That makes for a LOT of surge. So, if you have never driven single compartment, open bore tank, you are in for a treat when that load slaps the front of the trailer and says "hello". Leave yourself some distance, be smooth in you acceleration/decelleration. It really makes you have to anticipate what traffic is doing in front of you, no time for lazy driving.

My final comment is on the rates. Pretty much, what they told me is what they are...a bit on the low side, but, when you factor in their fuel supplement, the fact they are providing the trailers, paying for all the maintenance on them, they pay all tolls, IFTA, and the fact it is really pretty simple work, I can see the attraction to working here.

Moving forward, I may try to get a second, lighter tractor for this lease, put a pump on it. Pumped loads pay more at CBSL, and, presumably, if you are getting a couple of those to do a week, it will help offset the lower rates on some of the loads, and frankly, 2 loads per week would turn this into a very respectable paying company.

So, that is putting a LOT of faith into a company, and as to whether they can "keep it together" moving forward.

There are competitors to consider who hire O/O for tanker work.

I like the tanks. Once you get passed the load "surge", you come to realize, tank drivers get treated pretty nicely. Oh sure, there are the Schneider's and the Foodliner's of the world...the Bulkmatics....the perennial "bottom" of the industry...but, some of the nice parts of tank driving are...pay for detention is usually not an issue, same with the occasional "dry runs" or "lay-overs".

What I really like about CBSL is, at least the runs I have done, are all dedicated, out and back kind of loads. You are either taking an empty tank and swapping with a full to bring back, or, get an empty, load it, take it someplace to unload, bring it back. There is no BS about trying to find a "backhaul" or going to the nearest hub, waiting to wash out, then heading to another city and repeating the process for 10 days or 2 weeks until they FINALLY loop you back home for a couple days. No, so far, what I have seen, and heard from other drivers is, you go out, you come back, you are on the road usually no more than a day, then back home, and home all weekend.

If that is the kind of work that suits you, maybe you want to call when you are ready.

Again, my advice...based out of Chicago, if your gonna go buy a truck, look for something light weight, not too big. You really aren't going to be "living" in it, just nice to have a small bunk, some place you can go nap or sleep one night.

The truck I have now is a KW W900L, 72" Aerodyne sleeper, long-wheel base....15 liter Cummins with an 18 speed....its heavy duty. It is really designed for heavy-haul...and, maybe someday, I'll get back to doing that with this tractor.

 

Are you still with CBSL? If so - how is it going?

 

I'm with them. I started with them in Nov.

 

Cbsl in Pasadena is okay. I say they have Favoritism and firsthand I dealt with it; Botton Line if you lease on the money is on the low side i.e. 800-1800 top pay very little money to be made unless you run illegal... Be Safe ....

 

I forgot to mention the turnover rate seriously they hire 1 and 2/3 will quit.. They hire drivers with no work. Fuel is 1.25 a gallon but they don't pay FSC on freight either. So if you look at your money it's .95-1.15 a mile with no FSC. STAY AWAY....,

 

They don't pay fsc because fuel is $1.25, $1.20 at pilot or flying j. My settlements have always been at $1.35/mile, but I'm not out of Houston.