Clark transfer in Harrisburg, PA. This is full of my opinion and opinions and rumors heard from other drivers that were there much long than myself.

Clark Transfer is great if you’ve been there 10 years

They are geared toward favoring people that have been there a long time. How long does it take to be there a long time? If you’ve been working there under 10 years, you’re still a newbie. Most of the drivers that have been there for awhile have a strong “reaction” to newer drivers. They will tell you this in orientation. The company knows and I think even encourages this attitude.

Clark Transfer not so great for new people

Everyone I met that still had a truck payment was complaining. It seemed the only people that were making any money, had their truck paid for. If you can handle making barely enough to pay for fuel and eat, you do okay.

The entire company supports the lead drivers and for good reason. Because the lead drivers are the customer interface for the company. Lead drivers get a lot of extra money. They get paid $25 a trailer that follows their show. Every time a trailer gets loaded that’s $25. When it gets unloaded, that’s $25. Plus since they are working all day or longer, they receive hourly pay for that. Plus the mileage and linehaul for the trailer they haul. Plus extra lead driver pay. Large shows may have 17 to 25 trailers that follow a show. Lead drivers will follow that show until the tour is over. If a show isn’t travelling for a week or more the lead driver may work on other shows.

The lead driver for Phantom of the Opera, told me he gets $125k a year just for Phantom. That’s 25 trailers. Plus he made more working on other shows while Phantom stayed at one theater for awhile. The lead carpenter for a show can request to work with a lead driver and that request is honored.

Know how the Clark Transfer system works

I delivered some stuff for one show that was staying in one theater for months. But the other driver was in there “schmoozing” and saying how great he was at lead driver and he should request him when the show moves. Gave him a card and everything. The lead carpenter talked to me after wards and just laughed at the guy. This is how the system works. Most of these lead carpenters have worked with the same lead drivers for years. I’m not talking a few years, I mean five or ten years. If greasing the lead carpenter doesn’t work, then it goes by seniority. There are drivers that have been there 10-20 years and will be lead driver for more than one show.

If you’re just starting out, how do you think you’re going to be lead driver? It’s nothing that special. It involves coordinating with the lead carpenter and telling drivers when to come in. Help them back in, do some paperwork. Lead driver is the last one out and the first one in, so it involves some driving. You may be working all day and have to drive all night. Other than sucking up to the lead carpenter, that’s about it.

Clark Transfer, the last choice for most drivers

Clark Transfer sends drivers to where most drivers don’t want to go. Canada and New York City. Expect a ton of driving in the Northeast. Their busy season is in the Fall and Winter and they start slowing down in Spring and Summer. You drive unless the interstate is closed. That means chains when required, no excuses. If the interstate is closed you need to find a way around it. They will pay you for the extra miles, but you still have to be there on time, no matter what your log book says. Plan on taking the Summer off. Living paycheck to paycheck? Load to Load? When summer comes, expect a slow down. Most of the older drivers (that have made their money as lead drivers) take the summer completely off. Hopefully there will be enough brokered freight by that time.

Clark Transfer, on time, no matter what or why

Mainly because shows have to be delivered and picked up no matter what. Contracts were made, guarantees were made and will be backed up. But they take that to the extreme even if you’re delivering to a warehouse or a shop where no time limit is required. If they make up a time for you, you have to be there at that time. You don’t call the customer and make other arrangements. You do what the dispatcher tells you. Period.

Expecting a Percentage at Clark Transfer?

During slow periods or a lot of ground to cover and plenty of time to do it, they will get you a brokered load of general freight. Unless they change it, your lease agreement says you will get 80% of the load, plus you have to pay a trailer rental charge and some other stuff. How do you know what the load pays, you can ask. But unless someone has made the office change lately, you’re going to be told you’re getting the regular spot pay, because the load doesn’t pay enough. How do you know what the load pays? You don’t and you won’t.

That’s fine while freight sucks right now, they have their reasons for taking crap freight that’s up to them, but what if freight rates start going up? Are you going to trust them to tell you the truth? It’s a federal requirement that if you’re paid a percentage you are allowed and they have to show you the invoice from the broker or customer. Tell them that and they will ignore you and tell you that you don’t need to know. The reg is in CFR 49 376.12 paragraph g.

g) Copies of freight bill or other form of freight documentation— When a lessor’s revenue is based on a percentage of the gross revenue for a shipment, the lease must specify that the authorized carrier will give the lessor, before or at the time of settlement,

It goes on, but why bother if they’re not going to show you. Don’t like it? Leave.