Empire Express Inc

The miles a week are usually anywhere between 2500-3000 if you are a really steady worker. The trucks range from some older Pete 384's which are starting to get phased out to 2014-2016 Pete 579's to 2015-2017 Frieghtliner Columbia glider kits. Usually starting out you are put in an older truck until you work your way up. But no matter what you're put in the trucks are maintained very well . Home time is one day for every seven out. They usually want you to be out at least 14 before you go home. But they are very good about getting you home when you want to be. I've been with this company straight out of driving school for two years now and highly recommend them.

 

The miles a week are usually anywhere between 2500-3000 if you are a really steady worker. The trucks range from some older Pete 384'swhich are starting to get phased out to 2014-2016 Pete 579's to 2015-2017 Frieghtliner Columbia glider kits. Usually starting out you are put in an older truck until you work your way up. But no matter what you're put in the trucks are maintained very well . Home time is one day for every seven out. They usually want you to be out at least 14 before you go home. But they are very good about getting you home when you want to be. I've been with this company straight out of driving school for two years now and highly recommend them.

 

That sounds great, I have almost a year of experience. Do they have prepass and ezpass? Where do they want you to get fuel at? Also what is involved with orientation? Thanks again

 

Any other issues to worry about?

 

Yeah they have ez pass and pre pass, and all tolls are paid except for California which is very rare to even go out that way. We get fuel at pilot/flying J. But you can get fuel anywhere in the event of an emergency as long as it gets authorized. Orientation is real simple, it's three days and you are put in your own hotel room and fed breakfast and lunch all three days. At least one of the three days you are taken out to lunch by the president of the company or one of the other top people within. It's a real family oriented feel from the start. I'd definitely recommend calling and asking anything you can think to ask. Since you have experience that's a plus. I can't say for sure what starting pay would be. As I student I started at .35 cpm but quickly worked my way up to .51. It's an extra .04 cpm for hazmat and they prefer you have it. Although we don't haul anything major. Just Ag chemicals mostly.

 

I really appreciate getting some info on them. I talked to a recruiter yesterday and I got a good vibe from him. Just not alot of information about this company out there. Did you take a driving test with them? Any other comforts in the truck other than the bunk heaters? Thanks again

 

It's really a great company, I've loved it the whole time.The older trucks don't have much except for the bunk heaters but they are starting to make significant upgrades to the trucks. 2016's and up have apu's and the 2017's are coming with refrigerators in them. They are mostly starting to go to these glider kits which are really sweet!! No DEF or any of that crap which in the end equals less breakdowns. But you are paid if you do happen to break down but like I was saying the trucks are well maintained and if something happens you are just a phone call away from getting taken care of.

 

You can also look them up on Facebook as well, I've found some people posting negative things but what I've noticed is that no matter how much you go out of your way to please someone they still won't be happy and will quit because they felt like they were somehow wronged by the company. But these folks are legit and respect the heck out of their drivers! It's a smaller company as well which is why there is not much info out there. But to me a smaller company is way better than one of these super companies where they can't even remember your name five minutes after talking to you.

 

Again thanks for all the great info. Really appreciated. Another quick question, when you went to orientation, did you foot the bill to get there? Also I'm sure the orientation is probably all about paperwork, elogs, and driving tests.

 

I paid my own way to get there but honestly it was because I only lived two hours west of the terminal and thought it would just be easier to drive myself. But if I remember correctly they reimbursed me for fuel and I think originally offered me a rental car. But don't hold me to that. I know they definitely pay for a bus ride. They will work with you either way usually. Orientation is just your usual rules and regs type thing and how the elogs work which run off of rand McNally with gps already installed. And as far as the driving test I literally hooked up to a trailer, we went around the block and came right back. But that was just my experience.

 

I can't thank you enough for all the great info you have given. My recruiter is supposed to call me on Monday. Everything should come back good on everything, if they offer me a position, I'm definitely taking it. If I think of anything else, I'll definitely be asking. Thanks again, much appreciated