cal ark trucking what cal ark orientaion doesnt tell you until the last day in the last hour little rock, Arkansas

I was a company driver with CalArk most of 2010-2011.  The orientation was straight and simple.  Met the management and was impressed at every level.  They have the best Safety Mgr I saw in my 5 years of driving.  Pay is middle of the road, and they are very stingy/thrifty.  But what company that stays healthy isn't?  I'm seeing complaints here that I see about every company.   Old hands know the kind of driver and all the complaints they blame on the companies.  They're bad-mouthing a good one, here.  CalArk hires mostly older and more experienced drivers, and they do best with mature men and women who know how to communicate their problems without throwing a tantrum.  A lot of gray hair driving those trucks.  

 My experience (again) was that the younger drivers, especially lease drivers, mostly have minimal social/negotiating skills, bad manners, no patience whatsoever, short fuses and a quitter's attitude.  And every one of them I listened to while with any of my previous employers have no idea at all of how to take responsibility, be accountable, have your company's back (ride for the brand), wait your turn, respect the equipment, or take 'no' for an answer.    

CalArk bent over backwards to accomodate me when I got ill with diabetes and high blood pressure, gave me all the time off I needed during several illnesses while letting me keep the truck at home, got me smoke-free trucks (I'm allergic) and then a brand new one at my 1-year mark with them.   In 23 months with them, I only had one pay problem, over hauling new trailers from the builder.  We just agreed I wouldn't do that for them anymore.  

Safety-wise, they started me with a dispatcher who was arm-twisting drivers into breaking the HOS rules, and they had to fire him, because he would not stop, and they value their compliance scores.  Drivers who love the kind of stuff they can get away with at the Fly-by-Night outfits will not fit in at CalArk.  But neither will people with bad time-management skills.  You're hired for your adult maturity and safety record and it's expected (and made clear at orientation) that you will conduct yourself as a mature, hard-working company man if you want to fit in and do well.

CalArk does repower a lot of loads; their system works that way.  If you, as a solo driver want to drive coast-to-coast, try somewhere else.  If you are one of those who refuses repowers and then expect help when it's your turn to need one, save yourself the trouble and go work for their competition.  If you take the repowers and just drive, you'll do quite well.  CalArk is way organized in a way that the rookies can't comprehend, let alone appreciate.  You'll see many of the customers often, so the smart drivers work very hard to make good impressions on them; it pays off later, when you can't get there on time, but really don't want to have to stay overnight (or all weekend, God forbid) to deliver.

I drove for M.S., Swift (briefly, thank God), U.S. Xpress and Hogan.  Hogan is the only one I would put ahead of CalArk; their facilities are better.  

So if you are a gray-headed driver who appreciates an outfit easy to drive for, talk to their recruiters, or do as I did and start off with the safety officer (retired Marine officer).  See what you think and decide for yourself.  And stay away from those whiny rookies.