McElroy Truck Lines - Ennis, Texas

I just got fired from mcelroy 2 days ago. I drove for them for 6 years and trained for them for 4.5 years. Even after getting fired I have nothing really bad to say about the company. There are a couple of people I cant tolerate but thats to be expected in a company of 600 or so. I deserved what I got and had plenty of warning to change my attitude. I think I was just getting tired of flatbed, same routes, etc. (was'nt dedicated, just after 6 years you pretty much see all that they do. I got bored. my fault not theirs.
Winters are slow, mileage pay is great. Start at 40cpm. max at 45cpm. Miles are not so great. Blame it on the economy. If the work is there they will run you 2500-3000 mile/wk. In 05 when I started I ran 3000 miles/wk dedicated to temple inland in cumberland city. Those days are over. Now I would not want 3000/wk. Thats alot of work for flatbed. 2500 is nice. Expect 2100-2300 if new, 1800-2000 if over a year. However location is every thing. Texas is good, Georgia is not.
MTL stands for Must Be Tarped. However most loads are pretarped. If you pick up lumber, plywood at name the company you will have to tarp it your self but hey its flatbed. Flatbed is alot of work. There is a reason for the high mileage pay. Your in the elements from hundred degrees and 100% humidity on the gulf coast to chicago in jan. Just expect it.
They are a extremely fair company. You will never get ripped off, never stranded, never expected to violate dot hours, always appreciated. New trucks are very nice, prostars, very slow 62 mph.
Anybody considering mcelroy? Jump at the chance, you wont be sorry unless you don't like to work hard.
This coming from somebody who got fired has got to count for something.
By the way. They drove me 270 home in a car not a bus, paid me for my full week of trainer pay even though I was sent home on wen, And my dac report has no mention of termination just beginning and ending dates.
No b.s.
There is enough info in this post for any vet mcelroy driver to know exactly who I am.

 

I worked for McElroy for 2 and 1/2 years and although I was based out of Pleasant Hill, N.C., everything you posted about them rings true from my recollections as well. In fact, I just received a letter from them asking me if I would like to come back LOL! They treated me well, but I had to go local for family reasons. You can see my post about them HERE.

Anyway, I'm afraid I can't say I "know you" from your post because we probably did not run in the same circles and it's been over a year since I worked for them, but I swear if I was a single man with no kids I would go back in a heartbeat. My 2 cents

 

I live 12 miles from Ennis and will start school at Tri State in Palmer on Monday and finish on the 21st. I don't mind tarping and securing, done enough of that for the Army here in the states and in Kuwait. By the sounds of it, McElroy would be a very good company to start with. Home time is not a great priority and I wouldn't mind being out three weeks at a time. I want miles and geography to start with. I would like to do Canada as well.

Appreciate all your advice. Thanks

 

I know Memphis is in their hiring zone, but do they like drivers based in Memphis? High freight zone for them?

 

How is the Mobile AL area for them?

 

Home time is home every weekend. Absolutely guaranteed!

 

yes. alot of loads come out of a lowes distribution center in brownsville tn

 

good as well

 

They don't go to Canada ever. If you are in Texas you will stay in south. Never worked out of texas so not sure how far west you will go. probably not west out of texas. You WILL get home every weekend. The owner is a seventhday adventist which means he does not want his trucks working on his sabbath which is saturday with a few exceptions. Hurricane relief (always optional) running out of hours and cant get home until saturday am and breakdowns. In the nearly 7 years i worked for them I got home saturday 1 time. Trust me, 3000 miles flat bedding is alot of work and long long hours. 2500 is about right. But the 40cpm they start you at means the miles dont have to huge to make a good living. Good luck