Heartland Express, Inc. - Coralville, Ia.?

I always communicate with my dispatcher. He/ she is my lifeblood. They can make or break any driver.
Don't need anyone to hold my hand. I just need a load to go.
Hometime, not really worried about it. They say home 3 weekends a month, that would be nice, but I am not holding my breath.
If they have me sitting waiting for a day I will push for layover though. They have the policy, and I will push to get it.
I need to get moving, been laid off long enough, and my last company does not see it picking up till spring, and I cannot wait that long.
I am hopeing it will work out. If so then great. If not then I will hold on till the economy turns around then see how it goes then.
The pay has dropped allot at Heartland. I know what they use to advertise, and I see what they are saying now. It has gone down a good 10cpm.
On idling. I normally do not idle between 45-78.
If it will idle outside those ranges I will be ok. Much over 78 gets too darn hot. I can really do up to 85 if I have to, but would rather not. I cannot sleep well if it is over that. I am use to cool though. It has been in the 40s every night here lately and my window is open in my bedroom.
Last 2 years driving I averaged about 1000 a week take home. Unemployment is only 440 or so a week. So I am pretty sure I can make enough to beat that.
Not paying anything for intercity loads is some BS though. They should have a flat rate or local drivers to do that. Working for 0 money in that situation is illegal. So not really sure how they are getting away with that one. But I will have to wait and see.

 

just moved out to phoenix and looking for a decent outfit to run for,have 4 years experience and a clean record any ideas for people living out west here

 

I worked for them 8 years 4 months as a driver and a recruiter and was terminated for an incident 10 days after the fact. I wont bash them on the internet but if you would like info about them I will be fair and informative. Just drop me a line

 

What cities are you guys talking about? The only city I have ever gotten a premium for is NYC. NYC is free money, if you can time it right. If you can't, um well, they can't pay you enuff!

Chicago, LA, etc. nadduh.

 

No pay for intercity loads.
If you pick up and deliver in the same city you do not get paid.
They have no local drivers anymore, they are gone with the economy. So now everyone else has to do the short stuff that the local drivers were getting paid salary for.

 

Plain and simple Heartland sucks. In 35 years of driving they were the worse company I ever worked for.

 

We were looking at Teaming with them, so I sent an email off asking some questions...below is what came back for any that are interested. After reading this entire thread there is no way we will go there..If someone is actually Teaming with them currently then I would like to hear how they are doing.

" Teams start at $.45 per mile. If both drivers have hazmat it is $.46 split. There is also a safety bonus paid that is $.01 per mile more to get you to the $.47 per mile.

As a team you will make "Green Miles". Any time you run east of I-81 and north of Maryland. Teams are out 4 weeks and home for 5 days. They do average around 5000 miles per week.

The truck is set a 65 mph. We do not want you to Idle the truck between the temps to 55 and 77 degrees. Also if you will be out of the truck for more than 2 minutes, shut it down.

The truck and trailer can go home with you as long as you keep them together, no dropping the trailer and bobtailing. If you live within 30 miles of the the terminal they will ask that you keep it on the yard.

Orientation is 3 days. We use greyhound to get you there. If you get a ride, driver or get a rental car we will reimburse up to the price of the bus ticket on your first or second paycheck. "

 

When I worked there I was a driver and recruiter. The trucks don't go 65 maybe 64 but the more you idle your speed goes down it can go down to 60 mph. Also if you pick up a load at a yard lets say Columbus and deliver in Columbus you do not get paid to do that. They took the local pay away about 3 months ago. Also you do not get paid for orientation. They will feed you donuts and stuff like that for breakfast. Then if in Iowa they take you to a buffet for lunch. If you have any other questions I'll be glad to help you

 

Thanks for the info, sorry it took me so long, busy week. They sound unbelievable....

We will not drive for free...no if's, but's or maybe's. The only time we worked for free was when we were pulling flatbeds and that was only to secure the load and we did not mind that.

Thanks again.

 

Don't go with Heartland Express they are a bunch of liars and do not care about anybody. Here is my story... I was looking for a job on the web and found that Heartland had a pretty good package that met my needs as far as hometime and money and of course i chose to run southeast regional well there is no such as regional or hometime. I was locked in the northeast all the time and they never met my hometime for the 3 weeks ive been out and i was suppose to be home 3 out of 4 weekends. Don't do it my friend