Calex Express....My New Home!

Discussion in 'Discuss Your Favorite Trucking Company Here' started by JohnBoy, Aug 9, 2009.

  1. JohnBoy

    JohnBoy Road Train Member

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    Lake Worth, FL.
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    Well if anyone is interested I will tell you all about my new job. This might be a little long winded but this job search started back in January and finally concluded with me being hired without all the B.S. and games that are prevalent in our industry today.

    Here's a little bit about me, I got my class 1 chauffeurs license back in 1980 and drove a dump trailer for 2 years in Florida. I always had the urge to drive OTR and got the chance with CR England back in 1982 and drove for them for 7 years. After that I drove for an O/O the next 9 years. When the O/O sold his business I went to work for a small mom and pop company that had 2 trucks and drove for them until June of this year. So in the last 27 years I've had a total of 3 jobs, no accidents, 3 tickets, and left each job with a positive recommendation for my job history.

    In June I was looking on craigslist and saw an ad for a driver needed in So. Fl. Now you have to understand, there isn't a company worth it's weight in gold that hires out of So. Fl. They hire from Orlando north but not here. With my previous job about to end I was getting desperate enough to call Werner but was afraid I would be turned down due to being over-qualified. I responded to this job via email on a Monday night. Tuesday morning at 9am I get a phone call from Mort in the safety dept. notice I said Safety Dept. not the recruiting dept. As I have found out, they do not advertise for drivers, everything is via word of mouth, they had a distinct need for a driver that was domiciled in So. Fl. and that was why the ad was on craigslist. I was faxed an app. and the verification process took the rest of the week. During this time I was told I had the job. My DAC came back with absolutely nothing on it. I guess I'm a very boring person. When I asked about orientation I was told that they would arrange for a driver that was delivering down here to give me my road test. That took another week. When that was done I was sent to a clinic near where I live for my DOT physical and drug screening. That took another week. I then asked about transportation to Pittston PA and was told that they would fly me up and put me in a motel. I finally got the green light on July 31st to come to Pittston for orientation. My prepaid flight left on Aug. 4th at 8:30 am. I was picked up at the airport by Mort in Safety and dropped my belongings off at the motel. Then when I got to the terminal I found out that I'm the only driver that they hired and that orientation was me and Mort. I went through the usual Policies and Procedures Tuesday and Wednesday then got dispatched on my first load late that afternoon. I had a live load that delivered in Jupiter Fl Friday morning # 10am and was sent 15 miles away to the house for the weekend. So far I'm liking this. I got a phone call from dispatch on Saturday morning that went something like this, "Hello John? Yes. This is #### at dispatch, sorry to bother you on your home time, but we have a load that needs to P/U Monday evening in Georgia and delivers here in Pittston on Wednesday" Me, "not a problem, I'll be there. Dispatch, "thanks, see you Wednesday".

    Granted 4 days does not make a relationship, but ever since I answered the ad for a driver, everything that was said to me has been straight up and everyone I have met at the company has been very nice and welcoming to their "Family". I guess working for a smaller company like Calex (156 trucks) that isn't a driver mill or a training company you get treated like a person and not a number. I'll be glad to answer any questions anyone might have and I'll try and keep this updated during my travels. One last thing, this forum we have helped me in so many ways, there are a few people on here who's insight, and expertise I truly appreciate and because of it, it made this process for me much easier. Thanks for reading this, I've posted a picture of my new set of wheels. Be safe everyone.
     

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    Last edited: Aug 9, 2009
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  3. Allow Me.

    Allow Me. Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Sounds like a pretty good deal. Must have inbound freight quite a bit into S.Fla.:biggrin_2554:
     
  4. The Challenger

    The Challenger Kinghunter

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    Dec 22, 2007
    East Central FL
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    Congrats on the new gig man. Do you have apu's or idling rules?

    KH
     
  5. GBRob

    GBRob Bobtail Member

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    May 3, 2009
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    I take it they don't hire student drivers out of Southern Ca.?

    Great post.
     
  6. JohnBoy

    JohnBoy Road Train Member

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    Lake Worth, FL.
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    Unfortunately they don't. They do hire out of Cali. But not students.
     
  7. JohnBoy

    JohnBoy Road Train Member

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    They don't have APU's and they have a liberal idle policy.
     
  8. JohnBoy

    JohnBoy Road Train Member

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    Lake Worth, FL.
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    Well all, need to depart, have to be in Griffin Ga to load tonight. Talk to you all soon. Be safe!
     
    GBRob Thanks this.
  9. Big Duker

    Big Duker "Don Cheto"

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    Weatherford, TX
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    Congrats to you John Boy. Wish there were more stories like your's on here. Let us know how that volvo treats you.
     
    frankreno, JohnBoy and Double Shovel Thank this.
  10. SmokeMac

    SmokeMac Medium Load Member

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    Jan 31, 2009
    Savannah, GA
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    Good to hear John, I hope you keep on having a positive experience with Califax, Please keep the info coming
     
  11. JohnBoy

    JohnBoy Road Train Member

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    Lake Worth, FL.
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    Thanks for the well wishes everyone. Sorry for not updating until now, I finally have some time until I deliver tomorrow in the AM so as I write I'm hooked up to Idle Aire at the TA at exit 173 on I-80 in PA. The company wants us to use Idle Aire as much as possible to cut down on idleing. No problem, they pay for it and I'll use it!

    Here's a recap of what I have done since my last post.

    Left Monday,
    Deadhead from Jupiter Fl to Griffin Ga. Load in Griffin Ga Deliver Wed. in Mountain Top Pa. 1350 paid miles.

    Deadhead from Mountain Top Pa . to Hazelton Pa. Load in Hazelton Pa Deliver Thursday in Reed City MI. 729 paid miles.

    Deadhead from Reed City Mi to Kalamazoo MI. Load Friday in Kalamazoo MI.
    Deliver Mountain Top Pa. Saturday 759 paid miles.

    Load sitting in Yard in Pittston delivering in Jupiter Fl Monday AM 1235 paid miles.

    Totals for the week:
    4073 paid miles x .36= $1466.28
    3 drop and hook
    3 live unload no touch total of 3 hours unloading

    Can't really complain about anything. I feel as though I adapted to the way the system works very well.

    The truck that was assigned to me is an '05 Volvo with 705K on the clock. It took alot of elbow grease and sweat from the wife and I to clean this tobacco stinking nicotene covered truck to get it into reasonable shape for this non smoker to be able to live in the space without contracting any sort of second hand disease. I was told that I shouldn't get to comfortable in the truck as it's due to be taken out of the fleet. They got 20 new Volvo's in last week. I'm hoping to get one of the less older trucks from one of the senior drivers when they get one of the new ones. Well all, thats about all for now. Time for bed. Need to be up and on the road at 6 AM. See you all later. Be Safe!
     
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