Colonial Freight Systems CFS This company will make you loose everything u own,the truck lease deal was design to to make the company huge profits, knoxville, Tennessee

For thise that have stated how bad Colonial Freight is, I have not had any of these problems.

Ive been here for 6 years. where i live isnt in their driving lanes but I still get home when I want.

Yes this is a lease company,so if you dont have  business sence. it could be very hard to make money,and for those,

you should drive a company truck,where your always told what to do.

I just read about the guy driving 5000 miles and getting a 500 dollar paycheck. First you were probably a student,and that

is the pay a student gets for 19 weeks

on E logs.how do you drive 5000 miles a week

That brings me to tha guy talking about running illegal logs.On E logs be little difficult

my total cost of expenses  for the truck payment and fuel is 75 cents per mile based on 2400 miles a week

My revenue is 1.34 a mile by the speedometer. thaT INCLUDES LINE HAUL AND FUEL SURCHARGE.

do the math, thats 1400 a week in the bank

After many years at cfs I went to Western Express In Nashville. 5 months later I love it. Ownership in 36 months with a total package under $700.00! The biggest differences I've seen have been in the pay from percentage to mileage. Cfs didn't pay empty, Western pays FULL rate DH miles, so checks are high. Next is the truck. It's a 2011 Freightliner versus the 2013 Volvo, but in 36 months it's paid for, versus cfs where you pay for 42 months and still have a balloon payment over $50,000 that they will not finance. Western doesn't have reefer fuel, tolls or mileage penalties, some of the hidden costs you find elsewhere. 2500 miles equals about $1400 to home each week after all expenses. Why did I not do this sooner? 

Bigest problem with cfs are reefer fuel, grocery warehouses, trucks you can't own, no deadhead pay, if you breakdown a week you still pay. It's not that cfs has a bad program it's a lot of work to pay for a truck you'll never own, and always catching up for DH miles. Western pays almost $3.00 a mile on short loads... Sold me. 

I went Western

When you go home and turn in your truck. Don't be surprised if the driver pays for their bus fare back home. Then they had the audacity for me to stay, and get ripped off some more. I have never in my life been ripped off so bad. On the brink of getting evicted. If anyone is thinking about Colonial Freight Systems. Take caution, and stay away from this company. You will lose everything you got. Save yourself from the disparity by going to Colonial Freight Systems. You will go in the hole with this company. They're good in lying to you. They're very good. In fact, they will tell you anything you want to hear.

The recruiters are not your mentors, and they're not even family, but they will tell you they are. They will do everything they can to keep you in the hole. I hope and pray that drivers will take this to heart, and stay away from Colonial Freight Systems. Nothing they say holds a lot of truth at all. I agree with the original post. It has put a tremendous strain with my relationship with my wife-to-be, and unborn child. Please, I beg of any lawyer to start a lawsuit against Colonial Freight Systems.  The old saying holds a lot of truth. The leopard always shows their spots, and Colonial showed their spots.  

It's not that America quit working. It is more of the lines of Americans not getting paid for the work we do. I will explain, the first 180 miles to pick up a load the drivers are not getting paid for it. You know why they don't want to deadhead you a long ways like for instance 400-500 miles to pickup a load. If they do that, they have to pay you the regular rate per mile for that load. Taking shortcuts to keep from paying the driver has become the cultural norm.

It's okay, we do not want to pay a driver to deadhead over 300 miles to get a load. Have you noticed they do not want to put your load information on the satellite. Obviously, that information is stored in the database in the state of Oklahoma. After all, the contractor is paying for the satellite usage, why not put it on the satellite. The driver's in this industry are getting sick and tired not getting paid for the work they do. Mark my words there will be a strike in the industry coming soon. They striked once before and they will do it again.

What they don't seem to understand, the truck driver keeps this country moving right a long. The truck driver is the backbone of America. However, we are the ones that the department of transportation comes down hard on us. The federal government imposes tougher laws on the truck driver. Why not impose tougher laws on every motorists? In their eyes, it is okay that a car cuts a bug truck off. It is okay if a car doesn't have the common courtesy cause a big truck to wreck. What happened to being fair about this? The Administration imposed tougher laws on commercial drivers to get a sleep study done.

Again, how are we going to pay for it, when we don't get paid accordingly? Would you agree this is a vicious circle here? How fair is this? If the driver is not able to stay awake without falling asleep behind the wheel then punish that driver and not the rest of us. How can a carrier be honest with themselves if they cannot be honest with the driver or applicant for that matter. Driver recruiters are a lot like politicians, and car salesman. They will do anything to sell you a car, get your vote, or sign a lease to throw away your livelihood outside of trucking. Where does the accountability come in at? Having the integrity to admit any wrongdoing.

I was told that they only have certain slots open and they will not be having anymore. The hidden charges such as: Trip pack fees, qualcomm usage, those recruiters make really good car salesman if you want to know the truth. Detention pay, well you can forget that because they don't press to hard getting it for you. They say they will, but my settlements doesn't show it at all. If you run safe, some of the dispatchers will ask you to fudge it. Just so you get that load. Dispatch had the same log class as the contractor does. Dispatch doesn't take load notes if ETA is affected. They say they don't how to see your hours available, but yet, they're giving you all of these loads thrown at you, and they can tell where you are at all times. Made a mistake coming here. No wonder they have a lot of people in orientation every week, because the drivers are quitting left and right. When I first saw this I thought. Give them a chance it is probably 1 driver, but it's not 1 driver. It is every driver that signs that lease. There needs to be tougher laws about situations like this. Yeah they are all nice to you, because you are paying for everything. 

I worked at CFS for a year all in all it was not a bad company ,but the truth is the lease is a rip off .I made fairly good money ,the equipment was good but the truth of the matter they lie to you just like all trucking companys do, most of these people are students that come from the assorted truck driving schools and are told every thing they want to hear ,thats what recruiters do if you have ever been in the Military you know this that what they get paid for .

But like I said above CFS is not a bad company to work for ,now by no means am I condoning CFS actions but to make it work you have to drive the truck not let it set at home and you have to know how to do your log book by this what i am saying is that truck has to be on the road six or seven days a week if you was to go to CFS with your own truck you could mak alot more money the payment would be alot less than 2000.00? month all truck leases are a rippoff and people just dont understand it. in the perfect world CFS lives in they show you how much money is made and how much you can maybe make. But in the real world CFS dont take in consideration the time it takes to unload , and to get to the destination of the next load which in some cases you have to drive 200-300 miles empty and you have to able to manage your fuel just right ,by this I mean know when to fill-up or know when to put just enough fuel in to get your load delivered get loaded up and fillup on the next load its a real big balancing act and its something most of their trainers dont tell you all they are intreseted in are making you drive to make more money, but before you sign up with a lease company Check with people ,check on buying your own truck CFS will strongly discourage this ,but its cheaper than you would think . iwould not recommend students to go to CFS because you have to be really up on your gameand know wats going on there.

I read that piece of garbage report. That is the worst company out here. This company is a complete loser and ripoff. I have been driving for 10 years, and never heard anyone say something good about them. I gave them a try, because I always wanted my own truck. The recruiter told me a bunch of b.s. The whole ccompany is that way. I never made any money. I ran always, never bothered with cash advances, and still never made anything. I suggest no one drive here. One more thing, when u leave, they are gonna give your next employer a bad report on u.

Maybe I've gotten too old to understand this newer generation, but I see all of these people complaining about a company that I've been lucky enough to be a part of for nearly 20 years. When I got into trucking, I never thought of this as an easy job, nor did I think that anyone owed me anything but an opportunity to do something with the talents that God gave me. America's newer generations think that everyone seems to owe them something, and trucking companies treat them unfairly because they actually require a driver to drive for a paycheck. Again, maybe I'm old fashion, but I don't want anything that I did not earn, and I don't accept handouts. This company has kept me running for the best part of 20 years, and I've yet to have a check bounce, get laid off, have a negative paycheck or asked do anything that I was uncomfortable with. In roughly 225 months here I've counted proabably 5 or 6 months that were less than ideal, maybe a little slower, but who in this industry can a man work for that will never have a slower month every 3 or 4 years?

I normally don't put my opinions on the world wide web, but after a friend told me about these comments, I felt as if I was being personally attacked because the company that puts food on my table was being lied about. This is a very good company, and these are very good people. I have been here nearly 20 years because I like it and because they are fair. My driving record is perfect, my CSA score is perfect, my background is spotless, so finding another trucking job would be easy..... finding another company like this would be nearly impossible. A man's job in life is to get his hands dirty and make a living for his family, the Bible says so, I say so, and therefor God smiles down upon me everyday because this company gives me the opportunity to do so. I believe in them, and they believe in me and that's why I do my job with pride and commitment. If a man does not have Faith in himself, his family, and his job, then he should find another job that better fits him, not complain about those that try to help them.

I'll leave all you other truckers out there with what my daddy told me about life, If you are going to do something then do it like God's watching you do it, and make it great, do it for him and your pride in a job well done. If you don't have Faith or don't like what you are doing, then find something that He will be proud of you for.... stop complaining about what another man has done to try to give you an opprtunity. Keep safe, and keep trucking!

God Bless,

Mark "Lazy Day Trucker" GA

Maybe I've gotten too old to understand this newer generation, but I see all of these people complaining about a company that I've been lucky enough to be a part of for nearly 20 years. When I got into trucking, I never thought of this as an easy job, nor did I think that anyone owed me anything but an opportunity to do something with the talents that God gave me. America's newer generations think that everyone seems to owe them something, and trucking companies treat them unfairly because they actually require a driver to drive for a paycheck. Again, maybe I'm old fashion, but I don't want anything that I did not earn, and I don't accept handouts. This company has kept me running for the best part of 20 years, and I've yet to have a check bounce, get laid off, have a negative paycheck or asked do anything that I was uncomfortable with. In roughly 225 months here I've counted proabably 5 or 6 months that were less than ideal, maybe a little slower, but who in this industry can a man work for that will never have a slower month every 3 or 4 years?

I normally don't put my opinions on the world wide web, but after a friend told me about these comments, I felt as if I was being personally attacked because the company that puts food on my table was being lied about. This is a very good company, and these are very good people. I have been here nearly 20 years because I like it and because they are fair. My driving record is perfect, my CSA score is perfect, my background is spotless, so finding another trucking job would be easy..... finding another company like this would be nearly impossible. A man's job in life is to get his hands dirty and make a living for his family, the Bible says so, I say so, and therefor God smiles down upon me everyday because this company gives me the opportunity to do so. I believe in them, and they believe in me and that's why I do my job with pride and commitment. If a man does not have Faith in himself, his family, and his job, then he should find another job that better fits him, not complain about those that try to help them.

I'll leave all you other truckers out there with what my daddy told me about life, If you are going to do something then do it like God's watching you do it, and make it great, do it for him and your pride in a job well done. If you don't have Faith or don't like what you are doing, then find something that He will be proud of you for.... stop complaining about what another man has done to try to give you an opprtunity. Keep safe, and keep trucking!

God Bless,

Mark "Lazy Day Trucker" GA

They got me too. I went to work with CFS hoping that I'd be able to get back on my feet after being laid off & the first two weeks, things were going great. I was making good money & getting good paying loads. After 3 weeks out, I decided it was time to go home for a few days to spend time with my children & that's when it went downhill. They made me sit at home for two weeks, which put me $2000 in the hole and despite busting my butt to catch up, I didn't get a paycheck for an entire month.

They also pay household mover miles instead of hub miles or Rand McNally miles so you're driving 100-300 miles for free, so I switched divisions & went to the reefer division. Same story. First check was great. Then they begged me to haul 2 short loads instead of deadheading home for Christmas & the revenue plus the fuel surcharge didn't even cover the cost of the fuel required to make it from the shipper to the consignee, so I went right back in the hole. They expect you to work like a company driver but make you pay their truck payment & buy their fuel.

I made more money in one week as a company driver than I have in 3 months as an "owner/operator" as they want you to believe you are but in reality, you're an employee that has to pay them to drive their truck. I suggest you either bring your own truck or completely steer clear of CFS & any other lease purchase agreement out there because they are all ripoffs & due to the laws that govern them, nobody can stop them. I will be resuming the role as a company driver once I get the arrangements made to turn my truck in at the Knoxville terminal.

Colonial  has been one of the best companies to work for in my 14 years. They pay well and on time. I've had a few ups and downs but who hasnt. I can say that mine have mainly been ups. The trucks and trailers are new, the people in Knoxville are always helpful. A lease operator is only as good as how you run and watch your fuel. As long as you plan on $500 per day in revenue the check at the end of the week is always good. Colonial always offers plenty of miles, and if the hours are there, the money follows. Hometime is your decision, the pay is your decision, and most of the things that make this industry a pain, Colonial has already done it for you. The thing i've learned to watch for in any lease program is, do they buy the trucks they lease OR do they lease them. If the company owns them, they will resale them 20 times! I've seen it too many times. Colonial leases all of their trucks and because of that I know they are on the hook if i'm not happy, plus the warranty if anything breaks. For sure I'll never be a company driver and let someone else tell me where to go or how to get there. Its true the terminals are in need of some updating, but nothing terrible, again ive seen worse. Im pretty happy here and not planing on leaving. If the money and hometime is good, dont sweat the small stuff.

I cannot understand why someone will lie about making money at a company.It just don't make any since.
I posted an add to inform drivers about this company before they waste time trying them out.A man will be a man
And do as he please no matter what.In a few weeks I will be willing to post settlements that. I have made while employed at this company,and you be the judge of that for yourself.5,000 miles per week equals $500.00 pay check,if that.This company,Colonial Freight System is a waste of anyone time.

I agree with you 10000% that this company is bad for anyone to lease a truck from. I worked there for awhile and the checks kept getting smaller and smaller---seems like the harder i ran the truck, the less i was making. This was the only company that i ever heard of that makes the o/o pay for the reefer fuel and get charged for a preloaded trailer being spotted--give me a break. And the pretty nice trucks u can lease---you'll never own it and once the truck gets over 500,000 miles on it, you  have to turn it in and start all over again! make matters worse, once u turn that  truck in, anything that truck needs like tires,oil,etc.....you pay for all of that and excessive mileage over 500,000. All that comes out of ur check while u also paying on the new truck as well. To any one thinking about going there to become an o/o (owner/operator), please dnt do it because there system is set up for them to gain and for you to loose every week with getting a negative pay cheack---meaning u owe them money. I wish it was a class action suite against this company because its a lot of drivers been screwed by this company.

Colonial Freight Systems is a family owned and operated truckload carrier that has been providing oportunities to some of America's Top Work Force for over 68 years. We are always disheartened when we lose a member of our driving family, but we are realistic that this industry is not for everyone. Any professional driver, with several years of experience, will tell you this is not just a job, its a lifestyle. It can be a profitable lifestyle if you have the determination and drive to succeed, but occassionaly we have someone that will apply with higher hopes and wishes than ability and work-ethic. Colonial has been and always will be one of the best smaller trucking companies in America, and will continue to provide one of the best owner operator programs in the industry. We make success stories happen when we combine oportunity with self-determination. Colonial provides the newest equipment, the best people, and the technology, BUT you have to bring the drive.