From Day One - Abilene Motor Express (Richmond, Wytheville, VA)

Hey Y'All!

A few years ago, I was really active here on Trucker's Report. Been really busy honing my skills and running a BUNCH of miles, and as honestly as I can be, I have not really had a lot of spare time to remain as active on Trucker's Report as I would have liked to have been. But now that things have seemed to "calm down", I am hoping to return to one of my passions, which is sharing my experiences on this forum.

Starting today, I am taking on with Abilene Motor Express, based out of Richmond, VA, witha satellite hub in Wytheville, VA. I am still learning the company, but I have noticed that there were some posts on here, but a lot of them seemed to be a little outdated. And of course, as companies grow, policies and procedures change.

My goal with this thread is to give you some updated information about Abilene, and let you "ride along" with me as I set out on the road with them. I will tell you right now that I do not have all of the answers, but maybe I can give you some insight as to how they run.

Today was Day One of my orientation. Got into Richmond last night and was put into the VIP Inn, which is a motel just up the road from Abilene's terminal. Certainly not a Homestead Suite, but I was given a single room with a king size bed, microwave, refrig, and CATV. Room was clean and bed is very comfortable.

They picked me up at 715 this morning, checked in at the terminal, and it was on. The lady teaching the orientation class is quite pleasant and has a really good sense of humor. Then off to the Urgent Care for the Physical Agilities test. They had scheduled me to do the drug test and the physical prior to coming to orientation (which was nice), so the PAT was all I had to do. Back to the terminal, and did the paperwork signing and the videos.

Although it has not been formally assigned to me, it looks like I am going to be driving a Volvo 780 with the workstation in the back. I am tickled with that.

Like I said, I don't know everything there is to know about Abilene, but after the first day, here is what I DO know. And yes, some of the information will concur with other things I have read here on Trucker's Report, and some of it will not. As time goes on, hopefully I will be able to answer more questions. And hopefully I will have the ability to update this thread, if not daily, at least several times a week. I hope you enjoy my thread..... Happy Reading!

• Tractors - Volvo, Freightliner, and Mack
• Trailers - Dry Van and Reefer (mostly dry van)
• Bunk Heaters and 45% Idle Policy during hot weather (no APU's)
• Most trucks equipped with invertors
• Many trucks equipped with Sirius / XM ready radios
• Drivers are getting around 3000 miles per week
• All trucks equipped with Refrigerators
• Truck age average is 18 months. Trucks are traded at 3 years
• Qualcomm with E-Logs
• 48 states + Canada (if you have a passport)
• Must have or be willing to get your HazMAT endorsement
• Life, medical, dental, vision, long term and short term disability benefits
• $.10 cpm bonus for running NE (north of Virginia border)
• Solo and Team operations
• Rider / Pet Policy
• Very personable staff (all the way up to the owners)
• Very clean, very well maintained equipment

I should be able to tell you more tomorrow. I apologize for not knowing more right now, but one can ask but so many questions in a day, right?

One thing I do want to address though.... I saw on another thread that they make you sign a form in orientation saying that you are responsible for damage on their truck. In a way, that is true, but the way it was worded was kind of misleading. The truth of it is that if you are at fault in a preventable accident, you MAY be held responsible for paying a part of the deductible, depending on the circumstances. And you do have the right to appeal their decision. Personally, I can sort of see their point.... they want you to treat their truck like it is your own. Knowing that you have a personal stake in the safe operation of their equipment, it has the ability to make drivers be more careful and less likely to take chances. Just my opinion.

Back soon!

 

Yeah I was. Things didn't work with it unfortunately. Freight rates were getting worse and worse, and of course we all know about the fuel prices. Fortunately I was able to get out of it before it bankrupted me and I was able to do it without losing any money on the truck. I look at it as a stroke of luck AND perfect timing. My guardian angel was looking over me ) Miss ya buddy.... and FYI.... I live right down the road from ya..... How about we revisit the BBQ plan?

 

Sure.... I will pop over there right now and fill ya in

 

Of course the DOT Physical and the Drug Test is the same thing everywhere. And I am glad to report that I have a Medical Card that guarantees me that I will be alive for another two years.... hehehehhehe

The Physical Agilities Test (PAT) was rather simple.

50 lbs lifted from the floor to a shelf 48" from the floor - 6 times
Weighted Sled (unsure of the weight, but not heavy) slid across the floor 30' - 2 times
3 different exercises using wall-mounted weights simulating cranking the landing gear, latching a trailer door, and pulling a fifth wheel pin
Step up on the second rung of a stepladder from the floor - 5 times

Then they check your blood pressure to make sure you aren't going to die out there )

I'm a pretty good sized guy and had no problem with any of it. If you are short or rather petite, you might have a little trouble lifting that 50 lbs onto the shelf, but the rest of it is very low impact. Plus you are given several minutes to complete each exercise (not that you would need it)

The whole thing took less than 10 minutes.....

Hope that helps

 

See how you do me?!?!? Well you and I need to 25 somewhere and do this long-awaited "meet and eat".

The canned answer to that is 10/2 but from all indications, they are real good about getting you home when you need it, or they say you'll be there. My current situation makes it where I can be terribly flexible about being out on the road. Plus this time, I am going to be much greedier.

I also have adopted a 2-3 year old Blue Heeler named Max, who happens to be the Ultimate Trucking Dog. He is incredible in the truck and is GREAT company. That makes it a little bit easier to be out on the road. Also, my new girlfriend / fiance is one of those work-a-holics that has such a busy schedule, she would make the perfect trucker's wife.

I am tickled to death to hear Superior is working well for you and that your son is following in his Daddy's footsteps. I dunno.... there's just something about "surge" that doesn't sit well with me. I'd keep thinking that someone ran into me, and I'd be cussing all the time hehehehehee