The Heyl Truck Lines Experience

Does Heyl hire out of CA? And do they do a hair folicle test or urine?

 

As far as I know they don't hire from CA and no hair test, at least for me there wasn't one.

 

I'm not on the trop fleet, but I've talked to many of the drivers there. You get paid $750/week (don't quote me on that) and you run tropicana stuff all around florida, and some to Georgia. You are home every weekend, and most nights you can get home as long as live around Zephyrhills. They run real tight schedules, most people like it.

 

Welcome, welcome. See that you live in Bradenton, great place, because as I've been told, most of the freight is out of Bradenton for Trop. Just one piece of advice, that gets most trop people fired. Take what you get, you will be home most nights, and if they ask you to do something out of the norm, do it, it's a great job. I considered going to Trop fleet and moving to Florida. But I really just wanted to be out on the road. Dale is a great guy, but he has a temper if someone tries to compain about something. He is a tell you as it is person. Also, beware, the mechanics in Zephyrhills aren't the best, may take a few times to get something fixed, but they have hired new mechanics so who knows. Good Luck.

 

I live in Winter Haven. I met a guy in Auburndale that's on that Trop Fleet. Seems like something I'd like to get in to when I'm eligible. Started my driving career in March with Con-way Truckload. Had to start with 48 states OTR and Canada. It's a good company and it does have a Southeast Regional Fleet. But the opportunity to be home alot like the Trop fleet drivers and not having to deal with Winter Driving conditions of the north is awful appealing. Do you guys know how much experience Heyl requires to apply for the Trop Fleet?

 

well i think they hire with as little as 6 mon. of verifiable otr. everyone thanks for the welcome. i have made 3 runs so far. i have to say i am loving it i have been home every night but weekend work is up to you as long as they have the drivers to cover the loads. if to many drivers say no you will be forced. but i dont really see the problem with working weekends you will be home anyway. the pay starting off on the trop fleet is 140 for everything over a 4 hour run. they will double up the runs to make it at least 4 hours. my first day i had a run going to miami. 2nd day i run to tampa and then to lakeland. today i run back to miami with my brother who is also on the trop fleet. it makes the time pass a little better. thank goodness for cell phones also. let me tell you miami really starts to suck at about 7:30am. my drive manager is really working with me and very helpful. he has been great. over all so far i think this is going to be a company i will be with for a long time to come. i will try to answer any questions fell free to ask. i am a up front person. you guys stay safe out there lots of crazies on the road.

 

Ah come on xls, I've had my eye on that gig for a year now.

 

What a crazy day! It was supposed to be an easy saturday drive. Easy to make 665 miles in 11 hours. I was going from Nashville, Il to Colby, Ks. Kansas City was a MESS!!! You would usually take 670 through downtown, but that way was closed for construction, and had to stay on 70. Of course KC has about 5 turns that has 50 mph speed on it. The last one just past downtown a pickup rolled right in the middle of the 2 lanes. I went through just when the cops got there and made everyone get off without any detour signs. Of course that lead to a semi residential neighborhood. I looked at my maps on my phone and thought the road to get back on the intersatate was this one road. OPS, that lead to a street I barley fit through with cars on both sides. Was setting up to make a right turn at the end of the street but before trying realized I couldn't because I would have hit a pole. Then the owner of the house I was next to said this happens all the time. But going left was onto a one way street, which only about 500 feet until it turned back into a 2 way. He said that was the best option, or hope that I make it through the field next to it. After my second try I made it though. But still headed the wrong way. Obvious trucks usually shouldn't be in that area, but with the accident a lot were. I finally found an intersection to do a u turn to get back onto 70. With all that and construction in Topeka also I barley made it here in my 11 hours. Hope all that makes sense.
This month has been very good so far! I went over 10,000 miles in the month with 8 more to go, the most I've done is 14,000, hopefully make it past that. The last 2 months I barley made it to 11,000 miles each. Since I wrote last it has been even more northwest. Picked up in Counsil Bluffs that went to Hermiston, Or Walmart. Had 3 9 hour days to get it there. Delivered on a sunday morning and picked up my next load on monday 100 miles away and took that to Shawnee, Ks. Good appointment time there. I did have to wait until the next day to pick up in Emporia, Ks going to Florida that I was going to have to drive at night to get it there on time. The load was ready early so I didn't have to hurry. Only made it to Nashville, Il where they switched me with a load, you guessed it, going back to the northwest again. Going to Portland and Tacoma. I got mad when I first looked at the appointment times, because I was going to miss tuesday cutoff for payroll, but it actually turned out that more miles and better anyways. Hopefully these miles can keep up. Ah, 12 days until my vacation!

 

Why would the type of drug test matter? I know the answer, but I'd like to hear it from you.

 

I just want to acknowledge Heyl Truck Lines as an honest safe company, great equipment and people. I was hired with a fresh CDL from a non certified school, spent 6 weeks with a trainer OTR last winter traveling the NW,Canada to Sioux Falls for the most part. We chained up 4 times in that period. Asked for regional driving in the midwest and started. Regional is new in the midwest and has it's growing pains but it also sharpened up my backing skills quickly. With 6 months experience I accepted a local dry van job with much better pay and benefits and more time off, an offer I couldn't refuse. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity that Heyl gave me and had no intention of leaving but this was an offer that a newbie rarely gets. The best part was being told if it does not work out I would be welcomed back.