Starting with LTI Trucking Services, St. Louis MO

Despite looking everywhere on the internet looking for info on them, and finding nothing, I'm giving it a shot. It was kind of odd not finding any bad info on a company with over 200 trucks. Let's face it, it's usually pretty easy to find something bad about any company. So maybe they're really that good that almost everyone is happy. We shall soon see.

I saw the job posting on this website in the jobs section. It's the second job I've went with through here. The job I just left was great, but I'm looking for a dedicated/regional run that'll get me home more often without all the hassles that getting home time as an OTR driver brings. I hate sitting and waiting on a load going towards home from across the country. Too many hurdles as far as the rate having to be enough, pickup and delivery dates, etc... Plus it wasn't fair to my boss to have his truck sit for 2 days just so I can get a load back to KC to see my kids play baseball, etc... Then 2 days of home time ends up being 4 days of sitting for the week.

It was very easy to get a hold of my recruiter by email or phone. Quite possibly the friendliest recruiter I've ever dealt with. Turns out they have a dedicated run that delivers in the next town over from where I live. I couldn't ask for a better setup. Was also told that this run gets a brand new truck that was just delivered. Which is a plus because I won't have to clean up anything. Just get in and go (hopefully). Pay seems decent. Looks like they haul primarily reefers. They also have a pay guarantee. 5 days out = 800, 6 days = 950, 7 days = 1100. Of course there are some stipulations on what needs to be done to get the guarantee, but they weren't outrageous by any means.

Orientation is in St Louis, MO. I absolutely hate the bus. I'd rather walk. However, I really enjoy taking the train. My recruiter gladly put me on an Amtrak from KC to St Louis, and arranged for a cab to take me from the train to a Super 8 motel. You get your own room, so no doubling up with a snoring, smelly stranger. I have no idea if they'll fly anyone to orientation, as I did not ask. I'm actually sitting on the train right now. Should get in to St Louis around 2145, and be at the motel shortly after. I'm currently on the train, and actually running ahead of schedule.

Supposed to be downstairs in the motel lobby at 0730 tomorrow. First thing up is drug test and physical. Any bets on how many will get bounced?

I'll update this thread at least daily with info about orientation. If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask and I'll see if I can get you an answer.

 

I think they're in Dallas quite a bit, and only require one year experience. I'll ask tomorrow and let you know for sure.

 

Day one of orientation is done. Drug screen and physical in the morning. Paperwork in the afternoon. Met with payroll and discussed settlements and how to transflo paperwork. Everyone is really friendly. It's the first time I've ever got a hug hello from a recruiter. Pay week runs from Saturday to midnight Friday, and it gets paid on the following Thursday. They do create an escrow account for company drivers. It's 500.00 and gets deducted at 25.00 a week. You get the money back within 30 days of leaving the company (minus any damages to the truck, etc...). The sign on bonus is paid 100.00 on your first check, then 200.00 a month afterwards. They're letting us use a company van to drive ourselves back and forth from the office. Only 7 people in the orientation class, which is nice since things move along pretty quickly with a smaller group. They provided Jimmy Johns for lunch. Dinner is on your own. The hotel is nice and they have a breakfast available from 6-10. Cereal, waffles, toast, juice, coffee. Orientation will be over Wednesday and we should be on the road right after.

 

Day two down. Met with a few of the fleet managers, the operations manager, the safety guy, and the VP of operations. After working at a few different places, I can honestly say that this is the friendliest group of people I've ever encountered. Everyone introduces themselves, shakes your hand, answers any question you have, and personally gives you their contact information. I was talking with another driver in orientation and we kind of joked that we were in some strange dream where the office staff actually appreciates the drivers and the job we do. After you hit the road the recruiting office will call you at around 10 days out, and again after 45 days to see how you're doing and if you have any issues. About the only way I can describe this place is that even though they have over 200 trucks, it has a small company feel to it as far as the office staff/driver interactions go.

Tomorrow we head to the yard for a road test and a few more classes.

 

Day 3
Met at the yard. Went over Elogs, the trucks, APU's. Did a short driving "test" with either the terminal manager or safety manager. Got assigned our trucks. The dedicated account I signed up for gets brand new trucks. 1600 miles on my shiny white 2015 Cascadia Evoloution. The terminal manager is awesome. He's about as straight forward as they get. Loaded my stuff up, fueled it up, and took it back to the hotel for the night. They try and send you by your house on your first load so you can get the rest of your stuff.

day 4
got a call from dispatch in the morning. They had some short runs for me to do. Ended up delivering 2 loads, and delivering my 3rd in the morning. Ran over 500 miles today. Should deliver in the AM, then run something back to St Louis so I can get my load towards the house. I told them I'd rather hit the house over the weekend since both my kids go to school and my wife works, and they're making it happen. Should end up getting a reset at home (not that I really needed one, but might as well start with a fresh clock when you can)

 

Been out running for a little over a week. No issues to complain about. 3300 miles over the last 8 days, and that includes 30 hours at home. Still getting used to e-logs, not as big of a pain as I thought. Really liking this new cascadia. I'm on a dedicated account, and so far, every time I've been up there to pick up a load its been drop n hook.