Calex Express....My New Home!

Do they hire drivers out of Virginia? Thank you!

 

I didn't go thru every page of posts so if its been asked already my apologies.....what are Calex trucks governed at ??

 

ouch !! thanks for the quick reply, drive safe..

 

Well, I first want to thank you John for bringing me up to Pittston for orientation this past week. It was more than a ride - it was an education! John is a great guy, and shared with me pretty much everything there is to know about Calex. I liked him alot and hope we will be friends for a long time to come. Except for being a Yankees fan, he's a super dude...(go Cardinals!).

Seriously, when I got to Pittston all was as I expected from John's experience: Mort and Jim in Safety were great - they are going through the changeover to Electronic Logs now, so everyone was asked to watch a video about that, in addition to the other orientation procedures. But since I was the only one going through it last week, it was a breeze. I spent the first night in the motel.

Then Thursday I got to my truck, a Volvo 780 with 754,000 miles. But the company had just completed an engine rebuild - so it'll be good to go for many more 1000s of miles. It's a roomy truck, lots of storage space, a refrigerator and freezer, and a Cummins automatic transmission. Only downside: it was dirty inside and out, but when I shared that with Mort, he brought it to the attention of the service manager and they cleaned it up beautifully, including washing it. In addition, I found a few other minor things, and they took care of everything before I ever left the yard. Great mechanics and service attitude, from what I can tell.

Then was finally dispatched on Friday - a weekend load from Dunmore PA to Murfreesboro TN for Monday 5:30pm delivery. If I lived here in the Nashville area, that'd be great for me as I'd have hometime - but I live in central FL, so it's a lot of sitting til Monday afternoon. About 900 mile trip.

I initally was interested in Calex because I live in central FL, and good companies there are few and far between...and based on John's blogs I was hoping to get the same kind of deal going. But to be fair, when I called, Mort told me that the freight to central FL was limited right now - so I offered to stay out longer if that's what it took - hoping to get my foot in the door, and when things improved I'd start getting the same kind of deal that John has - out 5 days, then 2 days at home.

Well, it didn't take long it appears - because as I was sitting in orientation on Thursday, in walks the president of the company - and he says to Mort, while I'm sitting there: "Guess what? We just got 5 new routes going to Orlando starting soon"... Me? I raised my hand and said, "I think you mean four new routes, don't you sir?" Grinning of course... "Put me down for one please!" He laughed...So we'll see what happens...

I hope and pray it happens, because I waited approx. six weeks to get into Calex, when I was pre-approved elsewhere after 2.5 weeks of being unemployed. Maybe it'll be true that good things come to those who wait.

Oh, one last point: I learned that all their freight goes out from Pittston to wherever it's going, then you are brought back right to the same area. Once you're empty on the return run, they bring you back to Pittston to submit your paperwork. Everything's pretty much round trip. So you'll need to like the NE if you want to work here.

Overall, a very positive experience so far. Everyone there learned my name quickly, and made me feel at home. My only concern will be getting enough miles if I do in fact have to stay out over the road for any length of time. If I start going home regularly, then of course I will trade home time for miles any day.

John, thanks again and know that you have a new friend - feel free to come to Orlando for Honduran food anytime (my wife's an artist with eggs, beans, plantains and tortillas! Who knew?)

 

Thanks John,

I do have some comcheks from my last job - I kept them with me. I didn't notice any at the yard in Pittston. Talk soon!

 

Interesting stuff. ive enjoyed the read so far!