Re: ARROW Trucking
by heavymetal » Dec. 09, 12:58 pm
I worked for Arrow for a whole month. Why only a month you ask? Pick one of many reasons:
1.) They ask you whether or not you want to run over the road, regional, or heavy haul. Thats right, the choice is yours right? Sounds great huh? Well pick wisely. During the month I worked there driving regional. I got 6 loads. Thats it. Usually short runs, about 300-400 miles, with an average sitting time waiting for another load (not getting paid anything) of 3-5 days. Over the road side was not any better either. Most of the other drivers I talked to at terminals and on the road were pissed off because they could not pay their bills. There were a few however who seemed happy to only pull one load a week and be in debt with the company from advancing their paychecks before they got them.
2.) Their equipment will make you hurl. Especially if you get it from the Houston yard. Your truck might be washed, (worse than the 'streakin beacon' would do) and the inside will be partially cleaned. When I say partially I mean they might sweep part of the dirt out, or wipe off half of the dashboard. Leaving the rest there for you or the next driver who gets into it. Inspect it really well for any defects, including the air conditioning system. Make sure everything is working.
3.) When you need work done to your truck in Houston (not sure about other terminals) you are expected to sit and wait with your truck. No motel room. They will pull your truck out of the shop at the end of the day and make you sleep inside of it. Unless of course you live close to Houston then you can have your wife or someone in your family come pick you up and take you home. Then be back up there the next day waiting for them to fix your truck. Again, not making any money while you are waiting.
4.) When you are in Houston and say you need a tire on the trailer. You will have to take the trailer ot the tire shop yourself. They will not put a tire on it at the shop. You will then have to wait until that trailer is ready before they give you another load. In my case the time this happened I was waiting for 4 days, not making any money again. The tire was replaced that same day. But it took the rest of the time for Arrow to finally pay the shop for the tire and putting it on and such. Arrow is BAD, and I mean REALLY BAD about paying their bills. So you will sit a lot waiting for things such as tires, maintenance done on the road, etc. to be paid for. They are not quick about it by any means.
5.) Each of their terminals I have been to, which are Houston and Tulsa are nasty. The inside is very disgusting, bathrooms and everything alike. Looks like they might have had bodily fluid wars. Such as pooping and peeing on each other or something. It will make your stomach turn.
That is about all the dirty I have on them that I can think of at the moment. During the times I worked for them when I experienced all of this was December 08-Jan 09. They may have changed, but I doubt it. Last I heard they were still doing things the same way as they were when I worked there. I know nothing about heavy haul as I never talked to any of the heavy haul drivers. But, I couldnt see them doing too much better on that side either.