The Heyl Truck Lines Experience

Barracuda, I also had a truck with a inaccurate speedometer. When I was assigned the truck nothing was said at the time. I first noticed that the speedometer was going faster then the company governed speed. Then when I would set the cruise control at 60 mph what most drivers would run out here I was being past by everyone. Finally I was entering a construction site with a how fast you were going sign and it would show slower then I was traveling. The truck had a hubometer on the back drive axle and looking at the meter it was thousands of miles less then what the odometer showed! The problem ended up being that the truck had smaller tires and rims then the speedometer was calibrated for. The company went off the hubometer for all services and maintaince. It took a while to ajust to the inaccurate speedo I later would look at my rpm guage to help judge my speed. example 1500 rpm on flat ground = 60 mph. now with gps and other tools trouble shooting your speed is not as difficult. When thing I have learned sometimes a new truck is not always a better truck.

 

Hey Barracuda where you at man? You got some extended home time that you are enjoying? Keep us informed if you will. I like reading the positive posts that others share.

 

Cuda,

Is your truck a 730 volvo or a condo 780 version.

KH

 

I've read through the 10 pages. Great thread!

What satellite/computer system do they use? I've seen mention of Qualcomm, Xata, and Logics(?).

 

Great posts Barracuda. I have been with Heyl for 4 years now. This is the best company I have worked for in my 7 yeas of driving. How easy it is to talk to the DM's, mechanics, and safety people is what makes it enjoyable to work here. Every time I am in Akron, Sioux Falls, Edinburg or Zephyrhills every one remebers your name and trys to make sure you and the truck is doing ok. I have been averaging about 11,000 miles a month, it could be better, and it could also be worse. Things may be changing on how our appointments are scheduled. They are phasing in the electronic logs, and planners are worried they can't dispatch the same way. They do keep us legal, but now they are worried they have to schedule loads differently. There are more negatives I can say, but if you live in Texas, Central Florida, Iowa, Sioux Falls area, the northwest area, or Calgary this can be a great company since that is where most of our freight goes. I live in Central Texas, they get me home as often as I need to. But it is a great company for people living in Central Florida and Iowa.

 

hey barracuda,
were you on i-75 north on sunday night 01/02/2011 at the rest area i saw heyl volvo there but could not see the truck number since i was going south.

 

Just want to add a few more positive things. The maintenece part of the company is great. If you are not going to be near a terminal and you know you have the slightest problem with your truck, whether an APU or whatever, they trust you enough to get whatever done wherever you get it done. I have been through 3 trucks in 4 years, never had a problem with my APU, I know Barracuda and others have, but everything else is well taken care of. They do look out for you as well I had a jacknife last year, they calmed me down after it happened, did all the tests, got the truck back up and working and I was back out on the road.
I like my DM, there are others that say she is a witch, all in how you treat them. If you say I don't want to do this or that, and argue, because you didn't get the best load. For me I go anywhere, when I get put on a Canadian load, I tell them I will take it, but they usually have a plan to switch with a Canadian anyways. I decided to work over christmas and new years, but got one of the worst loads I could have. One I would have usually dropped in Zephyrhills, I hurried down from Le Mars, Ia to Zephyrhills, but since everyone was coming back from New years holidays, I had to stay on in and suck it up. Wasn't all that bad, I was in Florida in 75 degrees in early January. But, I know when I get those, I always get rewarded later with a lot of good runs in a row. I am now on a run from Auburndale, Fl to Houston. I know after here I will probably get a good run up to Nebraska, or right back to Florida.
The bonuses are nice, as he was talking about the 1 or 2 cents per mile on fuel bonuses. But as the quarter just ended I did 31,413 miles (I've had to take a lot of time off this quarter, getting a divorce, had to be home to take care of home stuff). We get a 1 cent safety bonus per mile, basically if you didn't do anything in the quarter to cost the company money, ie accident or cargo claim, then I get $314.13. Then, every mile above 28,000 miles you get 5 cents. So I got $170.65.
I said earlier we hire Texas, it really is just I 35, I 45 corridor. Last time I looked it was either one or two years of experience as well. We do got to Jersey, but I have never been to NYC, only heard on rare occansions that I have heard someone did. Don't know if it is just me, but I have never been in the New England area with Heyl, I don't really care to either. I will take the midwest any day!
As far as our major accounts we do a lot of juice out of Florida, Tropicana, Florida's Natural and Minute Maid, etc. We always have stuff coming out, just a matter of how many trucks we have down there and when. Then we do a lot of Tyson out of Iowa, Nebraska, and some in Illinois. We have Blue Bunny out of Le Mars, Ia, the best Ice Cream EVER! Then we got Dannon in Texas, and other smaller things in South Texas. We do deliver to Wal Mart a lot, a lot of people complain about that, but hey, your usually out of there in 2 hours, big or small load. Then we pick up Del Monte as well out of the port in Galveston and Camden, NJ. We do some produce, but not a lot. As I tell people what I do, I haul Ice Cream, meat, and juice. things that people need, no matter how slow the economy is.
BUT, we do get paid HHG movers miles, I have talked to management a few times about that, and have tried to get them to move off it, and get paid practical miles. I belive it is coming when we all get the electronic logs, who knows.
Again great posts Barracuda, keep it up!

 

Great post edavies78. What is Heyl's home time policy? Do you know if they hire out of the Pittsburgh PA area?

 

Heyl's home policy is the same as everyone else. 6 days 1 day home. But I never have a problem if I need more time off, I can take it. I don't believe Heyl hires out of the Pittsburgh area. They would have a hard time getting you home. They have freight going from Jersey to Iowa, but nothing to get you home for a few days.