anyone happy at heartland?

its not a secret that heartland does shorter runs, as a lot of otr companies are going with more regional short runs. i don't know how anyone would be surprised at getting short runs at heartland. ive also seen plenty about the bare bones tractors and inspection lanes so its not a surprise to me. i haven't driven for heartland but I've met a few happy drivers there, whether they're still happy i don't know.

 

Here in Phoenix they advertise 2,200 miles per week, is that about what you are getting? There's always other places to work, just reading your post is making me want to look for another job and I don't even work for Heartless. Lol.

 

Heartland has always specialized in short to medium haul. Yea, the tractors are bare bones, but it is because they buy them, they do not lease them like most large carriers. So in order for them to make money on the tractors after 3-3.5 years when they sell them they have to get them cheap.
The loose windows for pickup and delivery are normally on drops. This is a good thing and if you can learn how to work it you will make more money. ALWAYS know the windows on each end, if they have them. That way you can time your days so that you are not starting your 14 too soon and wasting time you need on your next one. If you start as soon as your 10 is up, deliver your load, then get to the pickup too early, you may be sitting and wasting your 14. When if you had waited 3-4 hours, you would have that time to run later.
Yes, this is a pain and has you sitting when you want to be running, but you will be sitting off the clock and not with your 14 running. Do not plan on just running days or nights. It will not happen, you will have various run times all week and it will change allot.

When you get to a terminal. If it is afternoon, and you will be grabbing a load after a break, do not go thru the inspection bay, if you may be due for an A service, or B for that matter, but I always tried to get the Bs done on time. If you go thru the bay and you are in the window, you will be held for service. If they cannot get you that day, you will be giving up your load to wait for service, then getting another one. Try and set things up so that you get service on your schedule. Yea, you will still be getting a B service every 3 weeks or so, but do it when you have too, not when you are set to roll. If going into a terminal for a drop between 630 am and 430 pm, you are kind of stuck, and better hope that they are not backed up. Also, not all terminals are created equal for getting you in and out. You will learn which are the best ones to go to for service.

If you get to the point that you do not feel your dispatcher is not working for you then talk to the terminal manager and see if you can make a change. They will probibly have you meet with him before they will make a change. But this will get your wants and needs known so you can try and work out a solution.
If you came to Heartland looking at the high cpm, and thinking you would still get 3000+ miles per week, well I am sorry to tell you that most terminals average 2200. System is higher in most cases. And also, in most cases staying out weekends will not make you any more miles. They are not very good at planning for recap, so they will end up giving you decent miles week 1 and crappy miles week 2.

 

I would talk to your terminal manager. They are supposed to try and get drivers around 2200 miles per week. So maybe they will get you another dispatcher if you ask. I got stuck like that a few times and had to fight for miles. Then I finally got what I needed with my old dispatcher and had good miles for a full year after. Staying out 2 weeks does not seem to help miles with them at all, so it is best to try and fix things up the chain of command.

 

Thats the thing about big companies. They dont want you to get ahead cause they want to eliminate the possibility of you buying your own truck.
Now ELD mandate is the same thing, putting a earning cab on oos, so they cant grow their business. Safety is an excuse for elds. Mega carriers are the ones who is pushing them.

 

The general rule in trucking is you have to eat carp for your first year, then you can go get a real job where they treat you decent. You don't want to switch jobs alot because that can start to make you look like a risk of abandoning a load. A whole lot of doors open up for you after 365 days, especially if you spent them all at one company.

But if you absolutely have to leave your first company before you get your full year in, do it at 6 months. Two stretches of 6 months each is better than having one of them be less than 6 months.

 

Op needs to ask for a new fleet manager as his fm may not be a planner but there job is to get you at least 2200 miles a week and there is no excuse to give the op an attitude just because he isnt a planner

 

They don't work at hartless anymore.
Thread is a year an a half old.
Matter of fact they don't even post on here anymore.