Hirschbach Motor Lines, Inc. - East Dubuque, IL

I went to their orientation in March of 08. I can just now even talk about it. In fact I just called them to leave a message with their safety guy thanking them for not hiring me. I have now 4 yrs of driving w/o any tickets or accidents. These people are wacko's. Their safety manager I beleive his name was Les told me he wasn't going to hire me because he had a bad feeling about me.
I am a very respectable type lady. Very neat and clean and I don't sit and talk at these things to draw attention to myself. They had this woman teaching the class that was flirting with all the guys and acted as if I was competion to her. She was really out there as far as the acting sexual to all the guys. Several in the class could not believe her behavior.

Long story short. I went out for my test drive with a fellow who had never tested anyone before that day. He looked like the kid from the movie Deliverance except a fat version. Could not even carry on a intelligent conversation. He flunked me and said I cut off a four wheeler. I remember passing a four wheeler and looking to see if I had room and I had plenty. I also remember him looking after I had already looked and I had my eyes back on the road in front of me. I saw him look after I did. I have excellent side vision. He was really slow. I got onto the highway from a side road that made it so I had to be in the hammer lane till I could get over. I waited for quite awhile for him to tell me whether to get back over. I expected him to tell me when I should get back over to the right lane because I didn't know if he was going to have me turn left or something up ahead. He couldn't seem to open his mouth for anything. I have never flunked a driving test and everyone who has ever rode with me has told me they felt more comfortable with me driving than with 3/4 of the drivers they have rode with. Anyway got back to the yard and he said I almost hit the trailer next to me on my backing test. I always come closer to the left side when I'm backing so that I don't have to worry about my blind side. Anyway how do you almost hit something. You either do or don't. I get back inside after a crueling week at this hole in the wall and at the last day, last couple hours the safety guy calls me in and goes over my driving record from day one of my driving career trying to find a reason not to hire me. It was rediculous. He couldn't find anything. Him and this orientation lady sent me back to the room with all the other students asking me what is going on and I honestly didn't know. They called me back a second time asking me the most stupid questions I've ever heard in my life. Then he says I flunked the drivers test and said I just have a bad feeling about you. This woman was standing in on this the whole time with a smirk on her face. I asked if I could get another test and they wouldn't. THey sent me home and told me I had to get my own way. I'm from Ohio. I had money but told them I didn't. After making me wait for about 4 hours hoping I'd pay my own way they dropped me at the bus station to wait about eight hours for the next bus. I was a mess. This was beyond humiliating. I still to this day do not know what I did. These people were like out of the dark ages or something. I'm telling ya the boy that did the testing looked about 19 with bibed overhauls and the whole farmer John look. Nothing against banjo pickers my husband is one but he don't look like this character. IN my message that I left for the safety guy today I said I told him I've been a lease purchase with another company I contacted that day from the bus station. They got me a rental car even to go to their orientation. I've been with the same company for over a yr now and have a much better lease than I would of with them. I believe their buy out at the end of the lease was something like 10,000 or 20,000. Crazy. They really did do me a favor when it comes down to it. I still have no accidents or tickets. I get along great with my dispatcher. I guess you gotta go through some lemons before you can find your match as far as being confortable for who you work for. For real anyone thinking of taking that long bus ride out West to work for them don't be to sure you'll have a job till orientation is over. And don't whatever you do go if you are even a half way good looking female. This teacher is like a cat with her claws out. Me and another guy from the class believe she was behind it all.

 

What company do you work for now?

 

check out the awesome parking job of this hirschbach o/o! that's what i woke up to one morning during the late spring of 2007. the driver was nowhere to be found. i had to back out of the very spot i was in. i didn't have time to sit there and wait for his or her stupid self to come correct their rookie error. i left a lovely little note on his door explaining to him that mcdonalds is hiring burger flippers and so on. also, take note in my mirror of how close the chode is.

 

Rookie error? There appears to be a million mile sticker on their side box door.

 

it's irrelevant. having a million miles and being unable to pull through a spot without overshooting it, going into mine, and coming close to scraping the paint off my truck is beyond my comprehension. please feel free to educate me on the subject. you can also educate me on how somebody could be so #### careless and too #### lazy to correct their error.

 

Steelersfan, I would be glad to tell you but I don't know what difference it makes who I work for now. Unless of course you are looking for a new job. I am not saying it has been the greatest thing in the world to become a owner operator with the economy messed up the way it has been. I just would rather not say with trouble makers out there who might like to know who I work for to get even with me for posting what wacko's I think Hirschbach is.

 

As a matter of fact I am looking at changing jobs thats why I asked the ? But thanks anyways!

 

Hey, Mizz B Havin...
I will give you a quick overview as to what I know about Hirschbach - as my husband was there over 18 months & just left about 5 weeks ago!?! I guess from your post you are in between a rock & a hard place - if you are looking at Hirshbach (or any company) as a miracle then no - it ranks about as high as the rest of them!?! Trouble with dispatchers, lack of miles & all the same things you are facing now will find you there as well!?! And, I know the .04 a mile sounds like it may make things better - but honestly it won't make that much of a difference when you look at the big picture!?! You will average about 1700 - 2000 miles a week on a good week - & - sometimes a little less!?! I have read where your husband is basically new in the trucking business - so I will give you a bit of advice - every company no matter how good they sound to you in the beginging or what they promise you to get you there - lies to you somewhere along the lines!?! Also, if you do decide to take the plunge & go to Hirshcbach be prepared for a 3-5 day orientation...they will pay for the hotel (yes, you can go), they will pay for your husbands meals but you will have to fend for yourself - just a heads up!?! If you have any question or want another truckers wife to bounce ideas off of - you can email at -my screen name # yahoo ... I will try & help you in anyway I can!?! Take care & good luck!?!

 

I was thinking about going going lease purchase but after reading these threads and having trouble with it in the past, I believe going company is the correct route. Especially with the rising cost of fuel, I agree you cannot make any money no matter how hard you run. You also risk the chance of falling asleep at the wheel. Does anybody want to guess what might happen then? By the way, has anybody heard about company drivers at Hirschbach: ( good or Bad). I know you will go broke as a lease person at Hirschbach. Thanks for any responce.

 

this company SUCKS! ! ! i started a lease purchess with them, 1st few weeks were great 3000+ miles, than the bottom dropped. was only 12-1500 miles. they said " freight is slow" heard that every week. This new $.99 fuel sounds great. IT ISNT... ypu HAVE to follow their routes, if you go off route they screw you. I had to go home for jury duty, the closest load the could getr me was Boston, MA. I live in CT. I had to dead head home. They hit me with a $250, out of route miles, to go 123 miles. This is bull. when i asked why, was told thats the way it is. Its a civic duty to get me home for jury duty, not MY choice. Well they got the truck back 1 week later. They hit me for another $2145 from my escrow account for all these FEES, to cancel plates, ins, ifta, ect... DONT EVEN look to work for these scum bags...