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

I really like the looks of Abilene. I'm still in school with CDS in Middletown (set to finish up in April). There have been recruiters that have come through with the big guys like Werner and Schneider etc etc... But I wanted to try to find a company in Virginia. I would imagine with no experience it would be difficult to get on with them though.

 

Abilene takes drivers just out of school all the time. just have to go through our training program.

 

Really? Well that is great news. I kind of like the thoughts of orientation being in my own state instead of having to travel 1000 miles across the country on a bus for these mega carriers.

 

Nope, actually fairly easy... I started with them last August as a new CDL holder. They offer in house training before they assign you your own truck. It's a pretty good place to get your start especially if you are looking for a company in the VA area. And you skip all that BS with the mega carriers... Whew.

 

Not to mention a better grade of company to work for

 

Yes, much better.

 

OK JB or any other Abilene driver that has true reliable information give it to me straight I'm interested in Abilene... the company I am with now in which I just started back in November is starving me to death just for an example I am sitting on 1100 and 37 paid miles from Friday afternoon to win this current load delivers Wednesday afternoon. Currently I get paid .465/cpm but what good is that when the miles are there right ? these are the questions I have
Pay per mile.

Average miles per week.

What is their home time policy and do I have to beg to get home when it is time.

Do they have a matching 401k or is it just what you put into it.

average age of equipment.

Do they have APUs, inverters, refrigerators,etc.

Do they have a true open door
policy.

I live in southeast Alabama what would possibly be my primary running lanes.

Is it forced Dispatch or will they give you a choice of loads if available.
I actually have a million questions but I think you get the gist of what I'm looking for thanks in advance for the info.

 

Pay per mile depends your experience.

Miles are pretty much how many you can legally run in a two week period.

Have to stay out a minimum of 12 days every 6 days out you get a day off.

For every dollar they put in a quarter for the 401K.

Equipment average age is 18 months we get new trucks every year. Trucks consist of kenworths, volvos, freightliners, and a few marks for shuttle drivers. Trucks have bunk heaters no APU's factory installed invertors and refrigerators.

They do have a true open door policy. You can talk with the family that owns the company any time you have a problem. You are also known by name not a number.

 

We don't mind questions...

Newbie here making 36 cpm, 37 after six months, but I think the miles are good... Not counting yesterday and today when I slammed up against my 70, I had over 3600 miles in the prior 7 days... Those are driven miles so paid will be a bit fewer.

I have only missed one home time after going solo and that was my first weekend running solo so that may have been a test to see my reaction. Normal policy is 6 days working for 1 day off... I have been running 3-4 weeks most of the time but planning on going to 2-3 weeks as we have a few projects coming up at home.

Equipment is all fairly new... As a brand new driver I am setting in a '14 Volvo... They just got in like 80 (rumor) new KWs and some new Volvos are coming too. (Rumor)

The trucks are kitted out with inverters, fridges, and bunk heaters ... no APUs but generous idle guidelines ... I have yet to be uncomfortable in my truck.

It is forced dispatch and we run all 48 States but I have never been assigned a load I would have even thought to say no too. We have great freight... Lots of Drop n Hook and the live loads are fairly quick turn around. All is No Touch...

401k after a year and I think it's matched up to a point... I don't know about that as yet since I haven't been here a year. I will leave that detail to those who have been here longer than I.

Open door policy? I assume they do but again, I personally have yet to feel the need to go too high up the chain of command. But it's a family owned company and feels like one so I would bet if I had a serious issue I could probably knock on any door in the place... Yet to be tested but that's the feel of the place.

I think I covered most of your questions.

Feel free to ask now if needed.

Stay Safe,
MD

 

some of the nc drivers need work thou