Complaint Review: Celadon Trucking

A Celedon recruiter had phoned me in August and I had been offered a job but I was leery of accepting employment. I had read the many negative reviews here and I just was not willing to work for a company that generated so much negativity and so many disgruntled employees. This was after Celedon bought out the company I worked for and I (and many others) were hung out to dry, in my case left stranded in Laredo with no return transportation.

However, I cautiously applied applied, over the internet on the Celedon website, for an entry level job. I figured I would speak to an employee to see what they had to offer and how much they would pay me. The first recruiter had not interviewed me, only stating, "we want to offer you a job" and presumably offering me a Greyhound ticket to attend orientation in Indianapolis.  Two weeks went by and I heard nothing, so I redid my application, because I hadn't had the phone numbers of my references and though maybe that had something to do with not hearing from them. I had also left a phone message which no one returned. I phoned the 800 number and reached a recruiter. I said, "This is....and I would like to know if anyone has reviewed my application". The person on the other end immediately hung up.

I phoned back and reached this same person, stating the call had been disconnected. The person, Beau Brinkley, stated "Oh, my headset got  disconnected". No apology for being disconnected. I then reiterated the purpose in calling. The person then began to tell me I hadn't enough experience, and that I needed nine months OTR and I only had eight months OTR. He then said, "We've reviewed your application, and you're not qualified. You only have eight months OTR experience and you need nine months." I then protested, telling him I had at least two years OTR, to which he coldly replied, "it says you worked from at (place) from (this date) to (that date)".  I then interjected "you've already offered me employment", to which he cooly responded, "that was before, now you'll have to come on like everyone else. We've pulled your DAC report...." at which point I had had enough and terminated the call.

This person had responded very coldly and matter of fact to me, with no enthusiasm or interest in me whatsoever. He also attempted to degrade me by indicating that I was unqualified, knowing that I had been put out of a job thanks to Celedon. After the way Celedon degraded me and left me stranded in Laredo in  August, with no return transportation home, I began to regret immediately that I even considered applying.

But it doesn't end there, this person attempted to call me back immediately, three or four times in rapid succession, calls which I quickly terminated. The next day, this nasty recruiter left his calling card in the form of a nasty e-mail which went as follows:

I was trying to reach you back because you hung up on me before I could get it out  that we have another program that would allow
you to come in as a first seat driver after 16 hours of skill set training.
However after your verbal remark upon me trying to call you back,  you now will not  be eligible for hired by Celadon due to better qualified applicant.  Your application has been noted as such.

Good Day,
Beau Brinkley
Driver Recruiter
Celadon Trucking Services

This obnoxious person had degraded me over the phone, first by hanging up on me and then by informing me how completely and totally unqualified I was. At no point during our brief, one sided conversation did he indicate any interest in me as an individual or an offer of employment. This company is really cut throat, and insensitive to the large population of truckers they unemploy and leave stranded after they "acquire" their assets. If this is the way a recruiter treats a potential employee, I wonder how they treat their OTR drivers. If the large number of disgruntled ex-employees is any indication, I would conclude not very well.

If I am to be hired on with any truck company, I would expect them to be cordial and somewhat enthusiastic about me, the potential new employee. I would not expect them to denigrate my background or qualifications, or in any way be rude. Perhaps even an offer of employment, in writing, if that company was located out of town and expected me to board a Greyhound bus to attend an orientation hundreds of miles away!