Puryear Trucking / Tank Lines out of N.C., KY., VA.

I tried a search but did not come up with anything that was not years old.
Their web site does not have much other than Job app that I don't think works as I filled it out about a week ago and cant tell if it went thru or not. Yea I know call them to see if it did go thru.

Neighbor told me about them. Would like to hear a little more, good or bad, about them before I call / show up on their door step.

Thanks
Dave ----

 

Thanks for the reply.
Yesterday I saw 4 or 5 of their dump trailers, nice looking rigs. They also do tanker / HAZMAT.
I figured based on the locations if doing "line haul" it would be out a night or 2.
Guess I will have to go see what they have to offer looking more to the tank side but will take what ever they have for now to get in the door.
Thanks and welcome to the forum.
Dave ----

 

A neighbor works for them, not as a driver, and he said they are looking for 50 drivers and to come in and fill out paper work. I filled out the on line app. last week but don’t think it went thru so I printed it out along with an up dated resume. I took all that in, told them on line app. was not working, they were going to do a MVR & back ground check and get back to me.

I did not here my phone when working out in the yard Friday to do my road test then so I go in Monday for a driving test. If that goes good and I don’t see why not, they will put me in a class B dump for a bit then in a dump trailer. Once I prove I can handle the trailer, I got my class A back in Dec 2014, they will put me to propane tanker then propane trailer by winter.

What I see is good for me with HAZMAT and class A is I can do propane in the winter and dump when it slows down.

I will let everyone know how it goes.
Dave ----

 

Update: Did my orientation on 6/23 the normal stuff signing papers, watching videos with testing. They use Peoplenet for logs and trucks do have cameras pointing out front and at you. Do your job well and you won’t have a problem is the way I see it.

Was told to call dispatch after orientation to see when I would start with a trainer. It took a day for them to hook me up with a trainer so I started on 6/25. Was a little shocked when they put me with a guy running a tank trailer (hot tar) as I was told they were going to put me in a straight dump truck then dump trailer then tank trailer as I have not driven trailer other than in school back 7/14 thru 12/14.

First day I was a passenger but doing everything needed to learn how to load & un-load on the 2 runs we did, same load & un-load places. Told each place we load & un-load is a little different and once I have done it a few times I will get the hang of it. Big thing for me is not knowing how to get around as I am new to the area and still learning.

Second day started with me doing PTI on truck & trailer then as passenger. Trainer drove to get the load but from load to un-load then back to the yard I was driving. We even hit a truck stop for fuel , so I could see how that works. That is if you don’t get fuel at the yard and yes I pulled up before going in for paper work. Had a total of 225 miles both city & high way so a good mix of how I handled the tanker.

I was told when the time comes for LP Gas & Butane delivery they will put me with a trainer or 2 but told each has its own way to be loaded into the tank. Don’t know if they will get me into bulk cement because of the tanker endorsement or dump trailers but if they want me to I will. The more I know how to do and can drive the better for me to keep busy year round.

The equipment is good, no junk looking trucks or trailers not even the dump trailers. They have mechanics at my yard and told at a few other yards, same when it comes to washing truck/trailer they have wash bays at the yards. I was told the equipment must be kept clean and if not you will be told to wash it but should never come to that.

So far I am happy.
Dave ----

ps: told they need drivers up in KY but are looking for all locations.

 

Thanks Cat.

How is that a flag? If you are doing what the law & Co. said then not an issue in my book.
If someone cuts you off, jambs on the brakes and you hit them no fault of yours you have proof they did it.
Last job had that happen with boss/owner in the oil truck with me. It was down hill 25 mph zone and the person thought I was going too slow and wanted to show me just before the stop light at bottom of hill. He did not even stay in my lane as he turned and had to be in the turn only lane.

They showed us a video of a crash one of the drivers had. Out front it did not look too bad just rubbed the jersey barrier. From inside the driver was thrown all over the place even wearing the seat belt. It also showed why he crashed. Choked on his coffee but no coughing like you or me he just passed out! He did not remember a thing of the crash. It was a medical issue and is getting treatment for it. No camera on driver and it would not of been picked up and could be still driving with this issue to crash again. Lucky he was the only one in that crash.

As much as we may not like them they also do some good too.
Dave ----

 

Thought I would up date. I am still with Puryear and so far so good. I am home every night and the wife likes that.

When I was out on the hot tar tankers with trainer I got a call from one of the dispatchers that is kind of my handler wanting to know where I am as he has not seen me since orientation. I told him I was on hot tar and he was shocked. Asked if I drove and told him yes and how far, again shocked but happy.

Told me a time to come in as I was going out with trainer on straight dump truck. Did a day riding with him to the different pick up sites (sand & rock for cement) then the next day with different trainer in end dump trailer. We hit different yards and I learned the trailer controls for gate/drop axles/cover/air bags that are different from the straight dump truck. Next day they put me in a truck/dump trailer to follow trainer doing dump runs of rock & sand for cement plants. After that day I was on my own doing dump runs for a few weeks till LP gas started up.

Because of where we drop LP gas, farms in the middle of nowhere (metered loads) I spent a lot of time in the passenger seat. It was good as it was a little over whelming to me to take in loading, unloading, if it would all fit in the tank(s) because of temperature & percent of load. I did get to follow him on a few bulk drops with a truck & trailer but could not load by myself till I got cert at the LP loading rack.

It has been a few weeks since I got cert at the LP load rack and given my own truck / metered trailer and sent out on my own. I have a SWB Pete day cab because of the farms I have to go to, you cannot get in & out with the LWB sleeper Petes. Trainer has a short nose sleeper Pete, only one the Co. has and it is hard for him. Only time I used a sleeper Pete was when my truck had a dead batt after they hooked up a power line for the hose reel and I was doing bulk drops not at farms.

The equipment has been good, normal issues here & there but not bad and fixed right away. The Freightliner I used to pull end dump had no power and the shifter had a lot of play but I think they keep this truck around for new guys like me that have not driven a trailer much so if they wreck it no big lost. It did look pretty and I did wash & vacuum it everyday, had to because of all the dirt in the rock/sand/cement pits. I also do the same with the 2011 Pete I have now, it is like new with just over 200K on it and pulls pretty good with the 10sp. Wish it had more room like the sleepers but I can call it mine.

Dispatchers are pretty good. You call in at night and they tell you your stops & times if there are any. This information is also on peoplenet (elogs) with the load & drop numbers needed for the loads. If I did not know where a drop was I can get directions from dispatch and help from my trainer if needed. I also have paper atlas and a truck GPS used as a tool only and Google maps satellite to find the tanks in the field at farms and how to get to them on the dirt roads.

As said so far so good
Dave ----
ps: I hear they are still looking for drivers so check out their web site