My new adventure with Gordon Trucking

Wow I go for a few days and all the fun starts. Im north of san fran in a lowes I had a live unload. Ran out of hours waiting here so going to hit it in the am.

I have seen 2 of the heartland terminal and still cant get a truck wash.

As for heart of a trucker you know who we are so tell us who you are???

 

I always love the standard corporate line of 'going forward....' and 'no changes in the immediate future'. One of my big reasons for leaving was the complete absence,as Tow said, of ANY announcement or timelines FOR the big changes. Like do they plan on keeping GTI as a separate entity for the LONG TERM future, are they just getting GTI branded trucks because of contractual agreements. Why are HTLND so reluctant to state any longer term timelines? Are they saying they have not decided what the strategy is going forward?? I highly doubt that. If not then why are they being so reticent about it. The reason I didn't jump ship right away was because I received short term assurances especially over freight and freight lanes. However I was noticing changes especially in the maintenance areas, namely they were taking care of things which would affect their CSA scores but couldn't care less about APU issues (myself and Denali a case in point there). With GTI trucks aging fast it won't take too long before all would be replaced with HTLND spec trucks (and remember they have one specification - cheap).

Heartland need to be open about their LONG TERM plans for GTI or they face losing more experienced and time served drivers, despite what Heratofatrucker says about adding more drivers (i'd like to see what the figures are - like how many have left and how fast are they being replaced).

The only thing that I commend the Gordon family over the sale is that they obviously saw that they had bitten off more than they could chew with their rapid expansion and sold before the debt spiraled completely out of control, many other companies have failed to see that and have collapsed under the weight of it, so at least we didn't have and Arrow Trucking situation.

So my message to Heartofatrucker is this - tell people what the long term plans are, what is going to stay what is going to go, are they going to continue LONG TERM to operate as different companies. I challenge you to open up about LONG TERM strategies aims and goals. Drivers deserve to know what is in store for them, not just tomorrow and next week but next month, next year and the coming years.

 

Long term plan is to continue running GTI as GTI. GTI divisions will continue to operate independently under GTI management. Part of the strength of this combination is how little overlap in territory there was, the two company's customers, geography, and lines of business fit together very well. Drivers also are very similar in experience and safety. Both Heartland's and GTI's drivers are some of the most experienced bunch in the industry, part of the reason that Heartland and GTI have the first AND second best CSA scores. 70% of Heartland drivers have over 5 years experience, and 63% of GTI drivers have over 5 years experience. GTI will be continuing to build its company together with GTI drivers into the LONG TERM future, and by that I mean years and years. You will see the two companies coming together on certain items that make sense. Not that there's anything wrong with it, but don't just assume everything will be the Heartland way. We are comparing every aspect of our businesses and will bring together the best aspects of each company.

 

I'm parked next to one now. I drove one for a week for my previous employer and do NOT want to do it again. Ever. Even temporarily.

 

I did learn one thing while I was having a face-to-face with the HTLD terminal manager the other day, and it was confirmed shortly after in a GTI QC message. There is too much swapping of trailers and it's causing problems at some level. GTI now says we aren't suppose to be taking Heartland trailers without specific permission; what the manager told his shop supervisor was that we aren't supposed to do it at all, which makes sense to me. We are one legal company, but we're only 3 months into a very complex merger. Things can get messed up very quickly and untangled very slowly.

While I was there looking for a GTI empty, a Heartland truck pulled a GTI trailer into one of the inspection bays on his way out. I mentioned to the manager that it was a bit frustrating to be looking for a blue trailer and there was a red and white truck pulling one (I don't know if it was sealed or not) right in front of me. Fortunately, the few times I've pulled either a red and white or plain trailer was with the explicit approval by my DM's. I would rather pull blue, anyway; my experience with Heartland's trailers has been less than stellar.

At some point, I'm sure it will all get worked out but we're not there yet.

 

When I was in their Columbus terminal (which seems like years ago!) I did learn they will not open the wash bays if the OAT is anywhere near freezing. Apparently, some have made the mistake of doing so and very quickly end up with 6 feet of snow and ice on the showroom floor!

 

I have always wanted to try a chipotle grill and today I finally had the opportunity.

It was ok at best. The place was clean, service was great, burrito was huge and fresh but it was actually disappointing.

Perhaps I expected too much but I would take Taco Bell any day. And I actually passed up a Popeyes to eat there.

it wasn't bad just not great..

 

I like the new Taco Bell smothered burritos. Get one whenever I am close to The Happy Hacienda. OGs will remember the HH reference .

 

I wish i could still get the original enchirito from the 70's with the soft yellow corn tortilla... yummmm