Empire Express out of Memphis, TN.

I have seen a few questions asked on the forum about this company, so I thought I would give a run down of my experiences here.

http://www.empireexpress.com

First off this is the only company I've ever seen where a rookie fresh out of school can be making .43cpm after just 6 months experience, which does not include your bonus. They offer a .07cpm bonus for 6 six months based upon your previous 6 months performance, averaging 6.5mpg, delivering on time, miles ran, no accidents or incidents. Each category has a maximum of points you can get, which all add up to a grand total. Based on that total you'll either get no bonus, a .03cpm bonus or the full .07cpm. It's not hard to get the full bonus. You get .01cpm extra after a year with the company, .02cpm after 3 years, .03cpm after 5, and .04cpm after 10.

Empire has around 200 trucks. Peterbilt model 384s, 589s, KW T660s, and Frieghtliner Columbias they bought as gliders. We mostly run east and Midwest and down south. I average 2500 miles a week. My pay is high enough to where even a lazy week pays well. If I feel like burning the candle at both ends I can push over 3k if I wanted to. They have the freight to keep me moving.

Because it is a small company they do have that small company atmosphere and I'm not treated like a number, but instead like a person.

Orientation is three days long. You spend 6 weeks out with a company trainer if coming in with little to no experience. They have tution reimbursement.

You get a weeks paid vacation after a year with the company. You get 401k with company matching and the health insurance isn't that bad. This is a dry van company and they prefer you have your hazmat endorsement. They will reimburse you for the background check fees. TWIC card is not needed.
Maintenance is pretty good on our trucks. Things get fixed and tractors and trailers are inspected by maintenance each time we roll through the Memphis terminal. Our CSA scores aren't that bad, but every carrier that hires rookies is bound to take a ding on CSA scores.

The Cons:

They are testing out outside and inside facing cameras on a few trucks in the fleet. I don't know if that will become a fleet wide thing or not.

No power inverters are allowed to be hooked directly to the batteries.

No APUs just bunk heaters.

Forced dispatch - meaning no refusing loads unless you have good reason.

That is about all I can think of right now. Check their website for hiring areas, pay, ect.

 

Also they like to give slow loads over the weekend so you can refresh your 70. If your recaps are good just let your dispatcher know and they'll run you till the wheels fall off.