My Time with Brent Redmond Transportation - Hollister, CA

I want to preface this post by saying that I am the same as you guys. I'm not a recruiter or in management or anything like that. I'm just trying to make a living driving a truck like the rest of you.

I'd also like to add that at the time of this posting I will be in my last week with Redmond. Though it's through nothing that anyone (them or me) did wrong....we're ending very amicably. There was a dynamic in my household that changed since I came to work for them and I had to make a tough call.

Brent Redmond is a reefer carrier headquartered in Hollister, CA. They also have offices in Los Angeles, CA and Fife, WA. They hire drivers from all those and surrounding areas.

I went to work for Redmond in late May of this year (2013). During the phone interview I made notes of what they were offering in terms of miles, home time, pay, benes, etc. Everything that was promised to me was fulfilled. This company has great integrity. With Redmond you definitely have the feel of a smaller company, however by no means are they rinky-dink. They have national accounts, new equipment, 24/7 Dispatch Staff....these guys are legit!



Are they perfect??...... only about as much as you.




I'll hit the 'lower' points first;

1. They are in the reefer business, you know...hurry up and wait. Mostly live loads/unloads. Proper trip planning is essential in this kind of job.

2. The trucks are topped out @ 61 mph. However, considering more than 75% of my miles were driven within the state of California it actually turned out to be a blessing. Sure didn't have to always be on the lookout for CHP. This helps keep Redmond's CSA scores down which means that green little pre pass light goes off without fail when going by a weight station.

3. E-logs. Some might frown on these. I come from the old school so I was skeptical, however I did notice that it was much easier recapping and doing all the other things we used to have to do drawing lines in the comic book.

I guess a guy could make a list all day long of bad things or lower points if he wanted to. These are things that come to mind with Redmond and to be fair they pretty much go along with where the industry is and where's it's going.






Now for the good stuff....and there's alot of it;

1. Weekly, ACCURATE pay with Direct Deposit. I am not exaggerating when I say accurate. I haven't had to challenge anything in terms of my pay. All the miles and drops are always there. Reimbursements are very quick. Note; you're not expected to use your own money for anything however sometimes it can save you a little time on the road rather than getting a tcheck.

2. Excellent equipment. When I started in May the oldest working truck in the yard was a 2011. Their equipment is new and very well taken care of. Trailers and components are in very good shape. (tires, brakes, lights, etc). If I got pulled in for an inspection I would never have to worry about this equipment. (of course that's not to say 'something' wouldn't get written up...we all know how the dot is). All trucks have APU's. The electric kind and I've never had an issue with battery life. They are OK with idling once the temp is above 90. Really I've kept the cab pretty cold even at a nightime temp of over 95 with the apu. Being comfortable in that cab has never been an issue.

3. Full Benes; Health, Vision, Dental. From a quality insurance carrier too.

4. This company was built by an owner who has driven a truck. Yep, he gets it.

5. Company pays for lumpers...even in the event of a small drop off. Drivers drive and Lumper lump.

6. Realistic Dispatch expectations. These guys actually take the time to review your hours before sending a load down through the Qcomm. And several times I've heard it said to me, "let me know if we need to move that delivery appointment time back a few hours".

7. Fuel cards that work most anywhere. Sometimes it's kind of nice to skip the lines at a Pilot and fuel at a Petro. Especially when you're short on time.

8. Drivers are encouraged to get their trucks washed every few weeks. They have an account at the Streakin' Beacon so it's pretty simple to do.

9. They are very good & fair about getting you home for those 'don't miss it' events.

The job consists of picking up loads (mostly full truckloads) at cold storage shippers. Most of the time you'll be delivering that same load. Customer are scattered throughout the following states: Arizona, California (nor and so), Nevada (Vegas and Reno), Oregon, Washington. Lumpers are hired at the unload locations...most places have accounts so it's even easier. Almost all delivery locations that I've been to with Redmond has had some kind of way to sleep close by if not at the customers place. Making logbook planning strategies much more manageable.

For the rookies, this job wouldn't be an option. Not only do they need a pretty clean driving record, but you've got to have at least a couple of years of OTR experience. They are willing to walk you through the ropes on reefer hauling if you've never done it. But lack of driving experience is not an option.

For a guy that's got a few years under his belt and kept his nose clean this is an excellent job. Especially someone that lives in California (southern or northern). For the California driver you'll get enough home time mixed with good pay. A hard worker (and smart trip planner) should have no problem logging 2700-3000 miles a week....(yes, even in a 61 mph truck). I've grossed as much as $1300 in a single week. Granted that was an exceptionally busy week as most of the time my avg is $1100 a week. Not bad for; no touch freight, I don't have to rush myself, no illegal or unreasonable dispatches, have reliable and safe equipment, dispatchers that actually know my name as well as by sight, and still seeing the house every 7-10 days.

I could keep going but I sense I've done enough cheerleading. Let me just say that I've been driving a big truck since 1992 and I know it for a certain that this kind of company is a diamond in the rough. They've positioned themselves quite nice to come out on the other side of all the epa and restrictive regulations that will soon start to cripple other companies, especially in California. Again, I'm not affiliated in any other way other than being a soon to be former driver that would gladly go back and will should situations with my personal life change.

 

Update for me:

I came back to work for Redmond in December. It happen to be that I was able to jump into a spot that keeps me pretty much in So Cal all the time. I haven't been this happy in a long time. I'm positive that if you were to find me in 20 years, and I haven't croaked yet, I'll still be working for Redmond. I'm home and here to stay.

 

Not necessarily.... You can still hire on and then go through the process to get your card. In fact Redmond will assist in that process.

 

Powder Joints... Good luck to you! I can attest that Redmond is 100% legal. They are committed to running their drivers by the book. Please feel free to send me a msg or post if you have any questions and I'll be happy to answer from a fellow drivers perspective.