Golden Hawk Transportation - Crestline Ohio (Mansfield)

I started with Golden Hawk in August '14 until August '15. I gave them a solid year, and out of all of the companies I have driven for, I would say they were the best. Now, let me go into a little more detail.

Since I got my CDL-A in '08, I've worked for (checking resumé) 9 different trucking companies (10 if you count on a permit), with GHT being #8(9). I've been told to run over hours, falsify my logs, and do what I need to do to get the load there. I've been fired for refusing to falsify my logs (R&J Trucking, Boardman Ohio), I've been fired for standing up to my boss when he was in the wrong (Predator Trucking - McDonald Ohio), and I've quit because the dispatcher was wanting me to abuse the DOT code (395.1(o)) and run over hours (Tradewind Express, Shelby Ohio).

Putting my life and the lives of others in potentially fatal situations is not worth it. Now, I understand that creative logging might be needed from time to time, and I don't know any driver running paper logs who hasn't done it. I admit to doing some here and there, but nothing excessive like when I first started driving and the company wanted me to go from Lorain to Chicago, reload across town, unload in Cleveland and head back to Lorain for another reload to Chicago - in one day.

Golden Hawk Transportation never once told me to do anything illegal. When I talked to the safety/recruiter (Laina), and explained my job history to her, and that I consider myself a safety-oriented driver, she told me that they (the company) wanted me to run 100% legal. When I heard that, I mentally rolled my eyes and thought "yeah, you and everyone else too"

But they never did. Not one time. The only reason I left was the inconsistency in freight. Grossing $1,800 one month, then over $4k, then down to $1,400 doesn't work when you're trying to support a family of 5. I am not the only one who was suffering. I talked to other drivers at the time, and aside from the Texas runs, everyone was hurting. The main plant we dealt with was laying off workers, and we had lost the coil run from KY (those paid good).

The only problem I had there was people were calling me Jesus all the time.

 

Right now, I'm not. I haven't been released from light duty (see PFG post), and am looking for something home daily drop & hook. I doubt I'll find something, but it's worth looking into.

Going to try and talk Pioneer into starting up a CDL training program