New Pay Package

I would say Heartland had to do something. They treat their drivers like garbage (or did).

 

They still do.

 

This is all smoke and mirrors. They have already figured out how not to pay it, its called a sliding pay scale. Its a carrot on a string, companies don't change there colors.

 

I actually got a call from a division manager from Heartland today, that I have met and talked to several times in the past.
Going by what all they are changing it should make a real difference in pay, especially for long time drivers with the company. But also with drivers that have allot of experience, since now the half a cent raise per year of experience does not cap till 20 years. That is a full 10 cpm difference, not a bad amount on a starting rate, or over time rate.
Also they have added in detention pay, which heartland never use to pay. But now it is 15 bucks an hour after the first hour. paid on the 1/4 hour.
Also safety bonus goes up from 1 cpm to 3 cpm after 3 years. One cent per year, still paid only once per year, but a massive difference for drivers with some time with them.

Perfect? maybe not.
But it is a real big step for a large carrier to add as much as they have to payroll in a short period of time.
Some are saying smoke and mirrors. I don't know, time and drivers that are with them will tell that story. I am not with them, have not been for most of a year. But still nice to see them trying.

 

I'm sure this is a desperate Hail Mary pass to stop the profuse bleeding of good, experienced drivers. I do know of one driver that was looking to leave until they managed to extract their collective heads out of their collective arses. No doubt their corporate culture remains. Rest assured those glossy employee newsletters celebrating drivers who never take vacations and the self-congratulatory touts when obscure "Heartland wins best on-time delivery of Walmart Shampoo" awards are breathlessly announced will continue to be forthcoming to be scoffed at and mocked.

Of course, that petty cretin, Mark C still runs the Phoenix terminal. The stories abound in regards to that little buffoon. Heartland adores him, of course; he makes them money. That it comes via a few dubious methods should worry Iowa, but it won't until it bites them hard. Wonder if they know that he forces drivers to make deliveries for free if they are local and originate and end at the Phoenix yard? I'm sure they've been told, as they have been told a plethora of unsavory things about him, and they choose to ignore.

So glad Mr. Parts is out of there. Even with the revamping of pay, he still makes more, and is treated FAR better, with his new employer.

 

For anyone who doesn't already know, HOAT (Heart of a Trucker), the OP, admits to being Heartland management. For what it's worth...

 

I'm thinking it's fairly obvious. That post is so laden with BS corporate jargon ("significant investment" & "made a groundbreaking move to try to raise the bar") that if you put it in a bag it would sink to the bottom of the ocean.

On the other hand, I am glad they FINALLY did SOMETHING as they were becoming a laughing stock in regards to compensation. It's a long time in coming. Especially for their best and loyal drivers whom Heartland doesn't deserve.

 

So let us all hear from some of you new drivers that have decided to try out Heartland Express with its new pay package.

 

I talked to one about it last week, that was delivering at my company. He has been with the company for 6 years, and is a system OTR driver. He said that he noticed a slight uptick on his pay, but miles were down a little. So needed more time to make a really good determination.