Abilene Motor Express....A New Place To Call Home

Upon soloing out, you start at .36 cpm for 6 months. Then, after that, you should get bumped up to .37 cpm.

 

So-so.

 

Hi there Jay,

I applied with AME and I'm scheduled to start orientation on 8/24. This is what I was emailed from AME regarding training and employment:

ABILENE MOTOR EXPRESS
TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY INFORMATION
TRAINING STAGES
Stage One – 0-3 months experience – designed to teach basic driving and trucking skills, plus educate the trainee with regards to Abilene Policies and Procedures.
Up to 4 weeks - $500.00 per week/$71.42 per day (including paid orientation)
At the end of this stage, trainee is required to pass a test in order to progress to next stage.
Stage Two – 3-6 months experience / no experience west of I-35 corridor – designed to build driving stamina and evaluate abilities and habits, team driving, plus educate the trainee with regards to Abilene Policies and Procedures.
Up to 4 weeks - $600.00 per week/$85.71 per day (including paid orientation)
At the end of this stage, trainee is required to pass a test in order to progress to next stage
Stage Three/Refresher– 6 to 11months experience / no experience in the Northeast or no recent driving experience – designed to build high traffic and close quarters maneuvering skills, and evaluate abilities and habits, plus educate the trainee with regards to Abilene Policies and Procedures.
Focusing on Northeast Loads, predominantly NYC (2 loads required).
Up to 2 weeks - $700.00 per week/$100 per day (including paid orientation)
At the end of this stage, no test required.
**Each trainee will progress at his/her own rate. If they do not pass the test, or if the trainer reports that the trainee is incapable of functioning at the expectations of this Stage, they may be released from the training program at the discretion of Training and Safety Departments (joint decision).
****STAGES ARE DETERMINED BY YOUR EXPERIENCE AND ROAD TEST DURING ORIENTATION***
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Once complete with Training or if you already have the required one year of experience, you may choose from the below listed Driving Positions:
Starting mile pay=Completed Training to 6 months exp $0.36 per mile, 6 months to 2 years exp $0.37 per mile, and 2 years or more exp $0.38 per mile. Team pay starting is $0.45 split between the drivers. (Over-The-Road, OTR only for teams)
$0.10 extra for all miles run in the Northeast (Maryland up to include Canada if driver has passport)
Over-The-Road (OTR)-Driver is available to drive in all 48 States within the Continental United States.
Home time is minimum 12 days driving earning 2 days off, with an additional day off for every 6 days driving past the minimum required time. 7 weeks driving is the maximum earning you 7 days off. May request specific days for off time.
Average miles per week are 2500 to 3000.
Regional –Driver is available to drive all states east of the Mississippi River, which is the eastern half of the Continental United States.
Home time is a minimum 6 days driving earns a day off, with an additional day off for every 6 days driving past the minimum required time. 7 weeks driving is the maximum earning you 7 days off. May request specific days for off time.
Average miles per week are 2500 to 3000.
Northeast Regional-Driver is available to drive the Northeast States of the Continental United States. (All states from Maryland up to and include Canada if driver has passport.)
Home time is off on weekends.
Average miles per week are 2500
EQUIPMENT
We have Freightliners, Kenworth’s, Volvo’s and a few Macks. All Tractors are Automatics, and are Owner/Operator level and come with refrigerators. All Tractors are brand new within 3 years. You are given your first tractor based on what is available upon completion of Orientation.
ORIENTATION
Orientation is a day and a half at our Richmond, VA Terminal. We provided your hotel, breakfast and lunch.
You will have a road test on your second day of Orientation.
**********ONLY TRAINEES RECEIVE PAID ORIENTATION********
RIDER AND PET POLICY
***********90 DAY WAITING PERIOD FOR NEWLY HIRED DRIVERS********
Rider-Spouse or Children 13 years of age or older.
Only one Rider at a time. Photo ID is required.
Cost is $16 a month.
Pet-One pet per vehicle. Must have up to date shot records.
$500 Pet Deposit deducted over 5 pay periods.
Must provide picture of pet for approval.
***MAXIMUM WEIGHT IS 25LBS ****

 

So it's like 10 weeks before you're solo? Whew boy that's a long training program...

 

10 weeks if you're a newbie will only teach you basics. Imho 10 weeks you will basically prove you can handle a truck safely, know how to back, do paperwork and Qualcomm etc. 10 weeks is more than fair and you'll be glad you had those 10 weeks when you get out by yourself.

 

Its "up to" 4 weeks per stage. Depending on how you progress you may not need to do all 4 weeks of each stage or even all 3 stages. The length of time in training isnt set in stone.

My training was just shy of 4 weeks.

 

Take the description of each training stage with a grain of salt. They may or may not be followed.

You will be on a working truck that goes wherever the load dictates.

When you come here for the training program prepare to run all over the country doing your full 11 hour driving shift each day.

Also expect to sleep while trainer drives as it is essentially a team truck and may very likely be dispatched as such.

 

It's my understanding the referrals have to work here for 3 months (not including training) before those fees get paid out. I'm gonna quit at 2 months 29 days just for you buddy.

... lol ...

 

I run primarily the east coast with occasional runs as far west as IL and WI.

Not because I asked to avoid the west coast, that's just how I am dispatched.

OTR drivers are expected to run all 48 states but I don't know any solo who truly do. Teams usually get the long coast to coast loads.

 

All based on your experience. I don't have much experience besides CDL school and a few weeks with Roehl. (1 1/2 years ago.) AME is starting me in stage two, so you never know. What Redtwin mentioned above, I'm preparing myself for team driving right from the get go.