Orientation in the Morning....

I was actually pre-hired in May of 2012, but stuck out my tenure with a crap company. I don't like to job hop & I knew or should say personally found out, my previous company was crap, but I stayed...so no reason to bad mouth my personal experience with Roehl, because I personally decided to stay employed there.

I was recently on vacation and I received an email from Heartland. They are looking for about 10 Atlanta, Georgia drivers to pay a decent base salary or the mileage, whichever was greater. Stated I was to stay within 400-500 miles of home. Also they'd get me home on the weekends. I didn't hesitate & called the recruiter while standing in the Ft. Lauderdale surf to confirm what I just read.

The company I was pulling for, though the per mile rate was good, the miles in my 16 months were never there and my paychecks were like a roller coaster ride. The base salary with Heartland was the clincher for me. I only need 1800 miles to start earning with the mileage pay & my pay will be consistent. Well never less than... Getting home weekly will be a bonus, but I'm not over expecting anything of the sort.

I don't know as I didn't ask if there was a confidentiality with the salary quoted. So until I know for sure, the salary will be greater than $750 but less than $1,000. That's the ballpark I'm playing in...

Anyway we all see the equipment and it looks decent enough not to get overly worked over by D.O.T. or bust your stones trying to slide the tandems.

 

Orientaion was a breeze and the accomidations were great. The only issue I had was my drug test. The gentleman leading the class checked the wrong box on the packaging. So it delayed my results 1 day. They assigned my truck so I could load my gear, and put me up in the hotel one more night.

The only drawback is 2 1/2 day orientaion is not paid. Since I launched out on Thursday morning instead of Wednesday, I decided to run hard over the weekend instead of going home...and did they run me hard!

Thus far Heartland is night and day from past companies. Everyone is very respectful and professional. In my first week I've delt with safety, payroll, dispatch, shop employee's at two terminals, and some girl who calls to welcome you aboard.

I will say the Columbus terminal is not kept for driver cleanlyness or comfort. Everyone there though is pleasant and professional. My 1st trip in there I was truck #4 going through the inspection lane. That burned up 2:45 minutes. My next trip through again 4 trucks in line, but it was 0700, so I just left the yard and went on with my dispatch.

I was issued a ProStar 10 speed featuring the Cummins ISX motor having 390,000 miles. Very clean truck with no issues that drives everybit like a new one. No holes or other crap in the interior, again very clean and well kept.

I like the fact they don't utilize the front or side radar crap. I'm a safe professional and I KNOW when there is a vehicle infront or beside me.
I like the fact they ONLY give you your dispatch and where to fuel. Again, I'm a professional and I know how to get there and don't need "suggested" routes that are "mandatory."
I like the fact my truck runs 65mph and the cruise sets at 65mph....not 61 or 59mph.
I like the fact they don't have onboard camera's or recorders.

I'm looking forward to what now seems to be a breath of fresh air. Where your expected and treated like the professional you are.

 

Just a tic over 2400 miles this week and home mid afternoon Friday. I've got a load going out, so Sunday late afternoon I'll go back to work.
I can get to like this grand a week and home on the weekends.

 

Another week in the can & a grand in the bank...and I'm home posting this.

Let me point out what aggravates me a little;

95% of my dispatches the delivery time is impossible to reach with distance traveled, time on my clock, 10 hour break. So I gotta send a message in of what I'm seeing.

Listen closely as I do not hang out in truck stops or pickle parks. I go directly from point A to point B. The only stopping I do is for bathroom, hygiene and meals. I manage my time to be most productive. Normally I'll clip off 250+ miles before the bladder tells me stop or regret it. I'll work most of my meals in at stops as I cook in the truck. Hygiene I can normally brush my teeth, wash up & freshen up while stopped, and always before I'm off my 10. If I can't shower everyday, at the least every other day.

There has been a few loads that were ridiculously improperly planned by whomever. One occasion I tracked my 360 mile trip, stopping once for a bathroom call that ate up 8 minutes. I arrived with seconds to spare. Anything from traffic, weather or construction and I would have been late.

The moral of my story, I am a professional. I do not see how this relationship can last long term if I'm ever late to the poor efforts of planning and the strike goes against me. I'm not saying they keep tabs, but why wouldn't they want to know your efficiency? This past week I did a little more than 2400 miles through 7-8 dispatches.

Another issue I had was with the prepass transponder. I've asked 3 times to get one, as they have them & the system is in place. Today I was rudely told by Atl. shop super, "You can't have one, change fleets if you want one."

I've come out of pocket $80.00 + in tolls while they have a system they utilize to pay these fee's. I have told my dispatcher those freight lanes are no longer an option with me. They have drawn a line in the sand, and I will not cross to come out of pocket, in delivering freight that obviously needs to be handled by "another fleet."

Yes, I have been reimbursed all but what I've come out of pocket this last tour. I'm sure that will be paid back this next check. But again, why should I tie up my capital when they have a system in place? Tells me it's been thought through by another pay grade, and tolls are not anything my "fleet" needs to be near.

Take that with a grain of salt as moreso than not, Heartland is a pretty good company...IMO

 

Another GREAT week! It really is refreshing, warts and all, to have somebody behind the scenes doing their job of finding freight, putting you in position to keep rolling. Can't put enough emphasis on the respect given, and the professionalism. We all work together enhancing each others directives.

It is a breath of fresh air not to get B.S. excuses why there is nothing, or the poor planning that burns up your 14 sitting twiddling your thumbs.

I ran into another gentleman from my orientation. He said he's rockin' and lovin' the lanes, equipment, & pay. Said though that another from our orientation quit after the 1st week. Apparently whom he left, JB Hunt for Heartland, called him and offered him a local gig.

Another grand banked & home for the weekend. Head out about 6am on Monday. Praise God.

 

Well it's been two weeks since I chimed in. Still enjoying the great pay, very good miles, professional atmosphere and equipment. I'm liking it more and more now that I'm getting into the routine of getting home every weekend.

I thought I'd miss being up in the Northeast or Midwest on a regular basis...well slipping around the Southeast real regular has been pretty enjoyable. First thought, I didn't think the miles would be there, but if you're willing to "hop", my Dispatcher has been real productive.

It really is a Blessing not to have to worry about miles. I thought I'd be sitting more and I would have plenty of time to get some exercise. Well, that isn't so. I do get my walks/jogs in when I shut down, but I've gotta be ready to go in 10...but again, no worries as I get home for the weekends.