Calex Express....My New Home!

I had different people at customs this time but one good thing about Canada is once they do the initial background check all they do the next time is scan your passport into the computer, ask you a few questions and send you on your way. Now coming back into the US, my country I might add, I'm treated like a criminal and my only thought is that if this is the best the government can do for a first line of defense, God help us.

 

We got to protect the country from you gators.

 

Some of us Gators aren't that bad!

 

Well all I'm home for Christmas. Got to deliver Monday then will be home the rest of the week.

 

I have a relative in Virginia needs a hot load of snow shovels can you handle it.

 

I'll get right on it......all joking aside, on my way home yesterday, I took a nap in Roanoke and woke up to some snow flurries, by the time I got to Fancy Gap on the VA/NC line I thought I was back in Buffalo.

 

Yes I somehow figured you would be pretty happy to be back in Florida.

 

Well, Happy Holidays everybody...Gary here from central Florida. I've completed about 5 weeks with Calex now, and wanted to give a quick update of my experiences so far.

With a quick nod to JohnBoy (the originator of this blog, and now a good friend), I'll try to leave details involving him to a minimum here, though I want it noted for the record that he's been a huge help to me so far, we've run a couple of loads down to FL together (each in our own trucks of course), and he's been as helpful in person as he tries to be on this site. Merry Christmas buddy.

I started on Nov. 12, in Pittston. Orientation was quick - 1/2 day the first day and 1/2 day the second, a Friday. Mort in safety was helpful, friendly and businesslike at the same time. The truck I was assigned was a 2003 Volvo 780 - roomy, automatic transmission and a fridge and freezer ready to go. It was also very dirty...so I mentioned that to Mort - and he had the shop clean it very well, inside and out. I also noticed a couple of minor issues the truck had, and the shop took care of them very well, all that same day.

Without going into the details of every run, since the first week (where I was sent to Tennessee from PA and had to sit almost 48 hours to make my delivery), I have been on a round trip schedule from PA to Orlando FL (near my home) and back. The company has it's own customers in PA, and everyone's friendly and it's almost all drop-hook, but for the return trips from FL at least, they use brokers to return to PA. What I've found is if the return trip ends within 150 miles or so of the Pittston terminal, they'll have us deadhead back to the yard. If it's more than that, they then secure another short run from where ever we find outselves back to the Pittston area. These loads pay a higher rate, as they're short in nature.

Once back at the yard, you finish up your paperwork for that past week, and include fuel receipts, lumpers receipts (if there are any), etc., and drop them into a envelope to be submitted by hand to payroll there. Then you generally see the head dispatcher, a nice gent from NY I believe (I'll protect his anonymity here), who tells you about your next outbound load, and gives you the pickup numbers, etc. for that next load. Very quick and simple.

With a company of about 150-160 trucks, it's doable I guess to do business in this fashion - I'm used to the 3000-5000 truck companies that barely know your truck number, much less your name.

My experience at Calex has been very positive so far - but I have one big concern, of course financial. At .35/mile, will the miles be sufficient to support myself, my wife and 4 kids? Up and down from PA to FL and back, with a few extra miles added for the return trips to the terminal, come out to between 2500 and 2800/week. With taxes, health insurance, etc., I'll be looking to see if I can stretch out the mileage over the long haul. I've asked a couple of times already about running to CA and back (everything starts and ends in Pittston, PA), but have been told that the freight is too light going there right now. They have teams that do those runs first, and THEY'VE been slow. I would give up hometime for more miles in a heartbeat. I wish I didn't have to say that, but it's true.

Ideally what I'd love one day is to alternate runs between FL and CA from PA. One week to FL and back, next week to CA and back, etc. That would work out great for me. Who knows, if the freight does pick up, maybe it'll happen???

Otherwise, I like Calex very much and hope to be there a long time. Everyone's friendly, they treat you with respect and take great care of the equipment, from my short time there so far.

The older trucks don't have APUs and won't be getting them I'm told - the newer trucks coming in these days DO have them. That's good, because now PA, NJ and NY all have no idling laws on the books. Just a matter of time b4 the whole country goes that way it feels like.

Well, that's my 2 cents. I'll be delivering too in Orlando Monday then have the rest of the week off. Happy holidays everyone, and if I can answer any questions I'll be happy to. Take care.

 

Well I'm officially home for Christmas. I got home Saturday afternoon then went to Orlando for a 10:30 delivery appt. this morning. Right now it's off till Sunday. I called into dispatch and was told to call Thursday morning for load information for Monday. I saw Garylobo in Orlando as he was delivering at the same place I was. Happy Holiday's to you and your family Gary. I am so looking forward to this week off. Happy Holidays everyone. For those of you not able to get home please be careful and God Bless, we all are thinking about those of you out on the road for the holiday!

 

good to hear you are home for the holidays, i know you are busy did you ever see if they hire out of macon,ga ? thanks be safe enjoy the family