Haney Truck Lines Yakima, WA

Discussion in 'Discuss Your Favorite Trucking Company Here' started by PSUMoose, Jun 18, 2013.

  1. PSUMoose

    PSUMoose Medium Load Member

    665
    339
    Jun 20, 2011
    Tieton, WA
    0
    Hello- I am a recent addition to Haney Truck Lines, a NW regional TL company based in Yakima, WA. I will share my experience and hopefully be able to answer questions from all of you.
    A little about me. I have been a driver at Central Refrigerated for the last 2 years (22 months to be exact), a lease operator, and a driver trainer. After compleating my MBA and at the request of my wife I started applying for local jobs so I could be home to help with our 3 kids (all under 6 years old). While I applied to be a driver I was asked to join the operations team as a fleet manager (also known as a dispatcher, driver manager, FM, DM, ect). I requested to also be able to drive. So I am an odd hybrid driver/fleet manager. This gives me a unique perspective on the in's and out's of the trucking industry.

    So in the next couple days I look forward to sharing about driver orientation and training, and FM training. So far I have been working about a week and a half and will give a synopsis of that time in the next 2 posts. Please ask questions I will do my best to answer.

    For now I have to hit the sack I have a lot of "square pushing" (typing) to do in the morning.
     
    slow_lane55 Thanks this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Paul313

    Paul313 Light Load Member

    144
    38
    Aug 19, 2012
    South Carolina
    0
    I run regional from sc to wa and see you guys everywhere put here, esp on the 82
     
  4. vikingswen

    vikingswen Road Train Member

    1,436
    1,989
    Jun 14, 2012
    In the Stratosphere
    0
    Hey PSUMoose
    Just saw your new thread. Figured I say Hi and wish you the best over at Haney. Do you get to drive the fancy red trucks there? :biggrin_25522:

    We got a couple 53's from PS truck Lines too where I work. Hopefully the family is happy to have you home.
     
  5. Stand4112

    Stand4112 Bobtail Member

    26
    6
    Dec 26, 2012
    Sacramento, CA
    0
    I look forward to reading about your new adventures. I followed you a bit on the Central forum. I am a recent hire at Central. I will be leasing next month and hope to become a trainer shortly thereafter.

    Good luck with your new endeavor.
     
  6. PSUMoose

    PSUMoose Medium Load Member

    665
    339
    Jun 20, 2011
    Tieton, WA
    0
    Alright so driver training got pushed back a month or so because they are short 2 fleet managers and when you only have 10 that's a lot. Fm training so far has been a lot of observation. I am sitting with the dispatch manager who is great and knows a lot, however he has his own full time job and we are constantly playing musical chairs so he can catch up on his job. I am learning a lot, but I think I would learn quicker just doing it and asking questions as they arise.

    One example is he had to find trucks for new drivers so I was taking notes trying to figure it out. I asked a question and he says "oh you won't be doing this, it's my job." And he's showing me how he does things as an administrator
    And I will not be.

    Not all negative. I have a lot of great drivers who are very dedicated to their jobs and willing to work with me while I learn. Another positive is I run the cherry fleet so I get free cherries and they are delicious.

    I'm doing well learning the software and look forward to flying solo at my desk.
     
    slow_lane55 Thanks this.
  7. PSUMoose

    PSUMoose Medium Load Member

    665
    339
    Jun 20, 2011
    Tieton, WA
    0
    Yeah we got a lot of red trucks and trailers.

    We are getting 30 new Volvos at the end of the month (hopefully) and it will be nice. Apparently we are trying to replace 200 trucks over the next 2 years, which will help a lot with break downs.
     
    slow_lane55 Thanks this.
  8. vikingswen

    vikingswen Road Train Member

    1,436
    1,989
    Jun 14, 2012
    In the Stratosphere
    0
    Oh wow. I did not realize Haney was that big. Hang in there sooner than later you be flying solo and wish your wings worked better.:biggrin_2559:
     
  9. PSUMoose

    PSUMoose Medium Load Member

    665
    339
    Jun 20, 2011
    Tieton, WA
    0
    We have about 438 trucks so that will replace about half of the fleet and put us on a 3 year cycle instead of the 5-7 year we're on now.

    I know I'm a little worried about all that I don't know that I don't know. I keep observing and thinking this is not hard why are they all stressed out and staying until 1830 (we work 0730-1630) there must be something I'm missing.
     
    slow_lane55 Thanks this.
  10. PSUMoose

    PSUMoose Medium Load Member

    665
    339
    Jun 20, 2011
    Tieton, WA
    0
    It's been a little while. I hit my 1 month mark and was told I am doing an excellent job and they are very pleased with me. I am surprised to see how much power the load planners have if they want to pull it. For example I wanted to go camping this weekend and so I wanted to get my trucks planned and get out on time. About 10am I got a call from one of the planners telling me to call a driver in off of home time to cover a load. I said no he is camping on the Oregon coast. Needless to say the planner was not happy and I was there until 1830 (2 hrs late) waiting on 2 trucks to get planned. Both of which were in that planners area.

    Other than that I am enjoying what I am doing to a point. I am running my fleet how I want it to be run, and the drivers are happy and getting miles. However, it is not the way they do things so I have some FM's who think I'm being a show off, but all I'm trying to do is take care of my drivers and be proactive instead of reactive. Oh well.

    On a positive note. As I used to be a trainer I have been getting all the new drivers (1yr or less exp) so I have been able to do a lot of coaching and do not have to break any bad habits. And I get to do new driver orientation. These two tings make the job exciting. The dispatching is a bit of a bore. And honestly the way it is being done by some of the FM's there is becoming an obsolete job, which makes me a little uneasy about making it my career.

    One funny thing is that I now understand why my DM was always pestering me for ETA's and trailer numbers. If the drivers do not put them in properly, it messes thins up on the computer screen in the office.
     
    vikingswen and slow_lane55 Thank this.
  11. Newbiemann

    Newbiemann Bobtail Member

    6
    1
    Jul 20, 2013
    0
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.