Tribe Express/Tribe Transportation

For what it's worth, I talked to a new Tribe Express driver (she hired on in Feb 2015) and asked her some of the questions I've read. She said, no, her DM doesn't call 15-20 times a day; yes, she gets all the miles she wants; no, she's had no problem with pay or office personnel; their equipment is top notch and they have a national truck wash account with BB. Not too bad.

They might be on my list toward the end of summer...

 

There is a member on here that is a current driver. He is waiting till he has at least 90 days in before he starts a thread. From what he said he is doing fine and the company treats him well. First class equipment, governed at 70mph and a paper log option.

The only negative for me that I found was the strict 1 day off per week out with a minimum of 3 weeks out, also a maximum of 4 days off, regardless of how many weeks your out after 4 weeks.

I did that for 14 years when I was single, just won't work for my family now. Don't mind the 3 weeks but 3 days off just isn't enough for my situation.

 

They have nice trucks and trailers, when i called awhile back they wanted like 3-4 years OTR.

 

I've actually been PM'd by a few different people now, so I may start a thread with some current info sooner. I just need to find some time to get the thread started properly. They've been keeping me really busy, lol.

 

Busy is good!

 

1 day off for a week out is pretty standard. That's what it is here, too, but I just finished my first home time at Western. I was out 7 weeks, asked for 3 days off in a row, and got 2. I'm back at it now. That wasn't quite enough to decompress, ya know?

 

Yeah 2 days is ridiculous, especially after 7 weeks. I worked for them for a short while after they took over JMar many moons ago, didn't stay long after.

Yes it's been the standard since I started driving in 92. However one of the things a lot of companies realize nowadays is the need for some of us to spend a little more time at home. Tribe is less than 200 miles away from me and I've agonized over going but the wife would prefer I spend a little more than 3 days a month at home.

Have you considered Magnum? They seem to go to Michigan a lot, pay better and their equipment is just as nice. Plus you can take up to a week off after 3 weeks out.

 

It seems strange to say, but I'm considering pretty much any company that puts an APU in their trucks now. But I'm also still rebuilding my history, so I'm probably here until at least the end of summer. Considering I'm not really liking a lot about load securement - the driving is easy enough, once I'm confident in my load securing ability, that is - I'm probably going to be looking at a van company of some kind.

But that is then. Until then, I work on being a compliant driver, even if the Super Truckers behind me want me to go faster than the 55 speed limit in a construction zone on Sunday. Not gonna happen, boys, no matter how much you whine on the CB...which still has that amazing ON/OFF switch that works...or how many fingers you show as you burn rubber past me out the other side.

 

Guess I'll give a quick update here, still gonna start my own thread, but want to start it with a detailed breakdown of pay and benefits. Kind of hard to do that on a smartphone.

Anyway, miles this past week look like this. DH from Lansing, MI to Grand Island, NY 330 miles. Ran across the 402, 401, 403, QEW, and 405 in Ontario. Crossed back into NY in Niagara Falls about 14 miles from customer in Grand Island. Picked up 1 pallet that weighed 550 lbs and took it 475 miles to West Greenwich, RI.

After delivering in RI I deadheaded 305 miles to Hazleton, PA and picked up 5 pallets weighing 6600 lbs from Mars. That load went 1250 miles to Miami Lakes, FL. That load was kind of cool because I delivered to a place that caters to the cruise ship industry. 5 pallets of Snickers, Twix, and M&Ms got loaded onto a cruise ship early this morning and headed to where ever in the Caribbean.

Right now I'm in Punta Gorda, FL (165 mile DH from Miami Lakes) picking up a load of water melons going to Wal Mart in Washington Court House, OH for 6 am Monday, 1085 miles. That's a total of 3610 miles from Tuesday last week to Monday.

 

With lengthy deadheads and light loads like that, it's nice to be with a well-financed company.