Grand Island Express / good or bad

I'm not really sure. I know they put guys with limited experience with trainers but I do not know if they take new grads. ask for Jessica - 308-384-8555 or Amanda

 

Had a nice conversation with Amanda yesterday. They do take new grads. I also liked her answers to my other questions. GIE is now on my list of companies to seriously consider.

 

If you have any questions from a driver's perspective feel free to give me a shout out. One thing I really like about GIE ( among many) we have one of the BEST Safe Stat scores in the country. Which 9 times out of ten will get you that coveted green light when you approach a chicken coop. I once drove for a company who's scores are so BAD, every time you approached a weigh station, you KNEW you were going to get hassled. And that's money and time out of YOUR pocket. I actually got inspected three times in one day. I asked the last officer why. He smiled and showed me his computer screen. Next to the name of my company were the words, flashing in red MUST INSPECT! That's the difference between a bad company that does not take care of their equipment, and a great company like GIX. For example, had a driver call in last night. While doing his pre-trip, he found a trailer tire that was going bald. Any other company would have told him to run with it and it would get changed out back at the terminal. ( which, of course, is a lot cheaper) Not GIX. If a driver says the tire is bad - it gets replaced. Period. Hope to see you on board. My name is Kate. I work 10pm to 6am Sun. thru Thurs.

 

One thing I did forget to ask; do they pay practical miles? I've heard that's better than hhg.

 

No. they pay hhmg. Most companies do.

 

I called again with more questions, including practical vs hhmg. One of the drivers was in the office, and he said they pay practical. I've heard that a lot of companies are switching to practical. Don't know how many "a lot" is, but if that is true, that's good.

 

I will ask. When I drove for them 11 months ago, they paid hhmg. It's about a 7 percent difference in pay which for me was NOT that big of deal considering all the GOOD things about this company. Just getting started, you have your priorities but me - after 21 years over the road, MY number one priority was GETTING HOME. I had my fill of staying out 3 - 4 weeks at a time and then feeling lucky if I got 2 whole days off at the house. In that situation, your first day home is basically worthless because you do nothing but catch up on sleep and laundry. GIX KILLS themselves to get you home as close to WEEKLY as possible. I have NEVER - repeat NEVER worked for a company who treats their drivers as actually being an important part of the equation. In 21 years OTR I have never worked for a company who acts like it's sole mission is to run the ever loving crap out their trucks but ONLY as long as the driver's home time get's balanced into the equation.

 

I agree with you; my first criteria is to work for a company that treats drivers well, but how I am paid also plays a part in the overall picture. I know during my first year or two, I will not make a lot. However, I still have bills, like every other driver. If, after all info is weighed, the difference between the top 2-3 places I apply to is one detail, well....

Whether a company pays hhg or practical, I want that info before I apply so I know what to expect. I do not intend to be one on those rookies who walks in blind and quits 6 months later because I had no idea what I was getting into.

Grand Island is still on my list, along with two other companies.

 

Hmmmmm... This company caught my attention... I worked at Gstc for a number of years before I had to leave them temporarily due to personal reasons, came back to them, but things there went downhill the second time around after the "new" generation took over. Up until then, they were family to me, and GIX sounds like a company that takes care of its drivers, I'm currently working percentage for a refrigerated company now, but have not been doing well because disorganization of where I work now. Just been wondering if they hire out of upstate ny( south of Rochester)? I have 18 years experience no wrecks or tickets so far, thanks.