Heartland Express, Inc. Acquires Gordon Trucking, Inc.

Sorry Vic that crow statement is a bit harsh.

I had a significant number of runs in the 1200 to 2000 mile range. Problem for me was the appointment times for live unload were too far out.

I averaged about 400 miles per day (not by choice). Most of the loads were more than a one day trip. For me length of trip was not the issue. At that time load planning was (too much time pic to drop)

Back to staying quiet on the sidelines for a bit.

 

I will not thank you. Thinking about it, even that some say you're an ok guy, you're really not. You work for one company, and all the sudden you're an "expert" on trucking. Get ####### real. Many of us here have run 3500+ miles a week and do so consistently. YOU did not have a good experience here. That's what happens when you "know it all". I don't need to thank you for anything, just continue to shake my head at how hung up you are on one company that you worked for only for a short time and have done what you could to dissuade drivers from signing on. Because it didnt work out for you. And now you're having a wankfest over the fact that 2500 people have no idea what tomorrow brings at this company. GTI was a great company with great people and great equipment. And now " I go to Philly, etc". Wow. Golf clap. I learned to drive in the Northeast and New England, Boston, NYC and Philly. When you can Outdrive me, let me know. You're an old guy with a complex and an Internet connection. Seriously, get over yourself. You're not one of us. There are guys that are proud to drive and get the job done and have done so for decades. You're not one of them. You're not one of us. If there is a good thing to come out of the merger, its that we probably won't have to hear from you on this subject much longer.

 

I am no longer defending gti by any means but I do want to give an explanation for the desparity in miles.

For the third quarter of this year I ran 34, 600 miles.

I am on the US Dry van fleet.

Out of all the drivers in the Midwest (indy, green bay and pontoon beach) there are only 120 drivers who are on that board.

These are the drivers who get the longer runs..

Scooter had 35, 300 miles for the quarter and placed 40th out of 120. I dont know where I placed yet since I have not been home to see the report. I did get the bonus as did scooter .01 cpm ..

I point this out because 39 drivers on the US Midwest Dry fleet did better than scooters 35, 300.

Those who are running the peewee loads do so because they choose to be on the regional boards so they can be home weekly or bi weekly hence they will not be given longer runs.

Will the US fleets continue in the future .. time will tell.. I truly hope so

 

Joseph's rant at me says more about him than me.
(Bold emphasis added above after next post, #45.)

I'll leave it at that.

The facts are public record now, Gordon was a short haul company with a mere 8% of runs over 1000 miles and 65% under 400 miles, 25% under 100 miles. I can't blame Gordon for shielding 5-year drivers who would be lost if assigned the same short runs as rookies and newbies. It worked.

This was one area where Gordon was flat not honest in hiring. Both companies have a regional focus and that's not changing with the HTLD/GTI merger. It's just more difficult for a publicly-traded company to keep its strategy and operations secret. That's a good thing. Truth's out.

 

"I was lied to! Waaaaa!" My god, you really have no idea how trucking works do you?

 

http://blog.gordontrucking.com/bid/154328/Gordon-Trucking-Acquired-by-Heartland-Express-Inc#Comments

Naturally, there are a lot of questions about a deal like this. I appreciate the concerns of our drivers and I hope this response can answer a few questions. This is a bit of a laundry list, but we will not be changing our name, colors, pay, benefits, terminal network, runs, divisions, etc. Really, nothing changes. Our trucks will continue to have APU’s. There are no plans to lay off people (drivers or non-drivers). We will continue and even expand our student driver program. In the future, there will most likely be more freight options as we sort through our collective customer bases. There are some things that GTI does better than Heartland and some that Heartland does better than GTI. We will work with them over time to identify and implement best practices. Our core values overlap a great deal with Heartland’s including a focus on drivers, safety, and service. We both have excellent drivers with excellent CSA scores. I know this is a bit of rambling message, but I tried to catch as many of the concerns as I could in the previous posts. Managers from Heartland and GTI will be visiting the terminals this week and available in Pacific if you’d like to speak directly with them. I hope everyone gives us an opportunity to prove ourselves. Thanks again for your input.Posted @ Tuesday, November 12, 2013 1:43 PM by Patrick Gendreau EVP - HR

 

More comments off GTI blog today:


Ok so I understand that it took awhile to make this dession and it may be what you all want. We all want the awnser a that we have been asking. We have asked dispatchers we have asked on here and yet no set awnsers. If it's hard to awnser everyone questions then why not implement a frequent question and awnsers blog? We want to know- What is going to happen to our jobs, over the road drivers, local drivers, owner operator and leasers? What about our retirement plans? What about our medical plans that we already have in place? What about our wages are they going to change? What about the loads are they going to be smaller? What is this buyout going to do to us the people that have made it possible for your reputation we have help make your paycheck. What about ours? We don't want to be ran in circles. Some of us won't even be able to make the meetings so were are our awnsers? Many of us are wondering and scared? We have family's we have bills we have lives to. Please don't keep us in the dark.Posted @ Tuesday, November 12, 2013 12:52 AM by Unknown

We all have a lot of questions; GTI & Heartland drivers are probably concerned that their jobs, their pay & benefits, their role in the company might be in jeopardy. I know I am nervous about it all. What about our dispatchers & customer service people? GTI has some really great people in that area who do their all to keep us rolling, to make the miles we want.
Will we continue to run loads to Canada & will solo drivers still get the long runs we enjoy now? From what I've read since this was announced, Heartland seems to run zones & relays unless you run team.Posted @ Tuesday, November 12, 2013 7:17 AM by Helen

I've been a trk driver for over 30 yrs and with Heartland Express for only a short time. Heartland is the BEST managed company I've worked for. I'm confident GTI drivers will eventually feel the same as I do towards Heartlands management. I just hope Heartland/GTI combined mannagement will work hard in maintaining a great working environment during the transition.Posted @ Tuesday, November 12, 2013 8:01 AM by Tedd

Thanks GTI it was fun while it lasted! Heartland may have acquired the company but there not acquiring this driver, I didn't like what they offered in 2008 and I know I don't like what they have to offer now!Turning in the truck!!!Posted @ Tuesday, November 12, 2013 9:00 AM by

Great Hope THis will Go Well after being a O/O for 8 years mybe we will get a increase in Pay been @ .90 for 8 Years with no increase Thanks For All The Fun Times And Best Wishes to The Gordon And Staff And Welcome HeartLand am Looking Forward As Life Is About Looking Forward And Moveing On Thanks To Again JeffPosted @ Tuesday, November 12, 2013 9:50 AM by Jeff

the question I have is how is this going to affect the training program?Posted @ Tuesday, November 12, 2013 10:10 AM by Brian.

More of a question will the health insurance change to a better health planPosted @ Tuesday, November 12, 2013 10:14 AM by linda

Speaking as a driver Ive seen many changes in the last 20 years. I currently have 5years with GTI. Us as drivers should look at this as a positive move. Heartland or GTI has not gotten where they are now by bad decisions. This is a benefit more trailers more chances of getting more miles for both companies because location is key.. Force in numbers. I'm thinking that we as drivers should be patient as in time all questions will be answered.

 

And yet more...

I am optimistic about the merger with Heartland Express. I assume now we will be able to travel into other areas that we don't frequent normally or is GTI going to remain in our usual areas of operation. WaltPosted @ Tuesday, November 12, 2013 11:11 AM by Walt

My husband is a loyal trucker for Gordon Trucking and he is truly upset with this merger. He is on the road for a month at a time and has been told that Heartland doesn't allow inverters. He cannot afford to be eating out all the time and the food is NOT good for anyone. No wonder truckers die at an early age. He takes a lot of good meals from home which he keeps refrigerated and has a microwave to warm them up. His only contacts with home are the computer and his cell phone, but of which will not be allowed under "heartland express". How is this fair? Also left another company because all he got was east coast short mileage runs. I am disabled and cannot work and we need that money from the long mileage runs otherwise we will be sinking to poverty level. How does this help the average man...the average family?? I have been told that if they send him to the east coast, he will be cleaning out his truck. I am appalled.Posted @ Tuesday, November 12, 2013 12:02 PM by

(Gendreau post is msg #46 above.) Posted @ Tuesday, November 12, 2013 1:43 PM by Patrick Gendreau EVP - HR

Talk is cheap just look they are going around today 2 hours at a thermal is that time to meet and answer are questionsPosted @ Tuesday, November 12, 2013 2:38 PM by Frank

Let's settle down and let this play out. It is not an overnight hostile takeover. If you'll look at the map, while there is certainly an overlap for GTI's Midwest operation, we don't really have the same areas of operation. Both companies have strong ties to the same customers and if anyone should be thrilled, it should be folks like General Mills, Kellogg's, Georgia Pacific, and even Cabela's as they continue to expand nationwide. While I understand Heartland does rail more than GTI, many of the customers that both carriers service can't rail it all. And look at capacity, again in the lens of the customers we service. Think about it! We're going to give customers coast-to-cost a premium service option under one umbrella. My point is let's look at the positives from both carriers perspectives. With the Gordon family heavily involved with the Heartland operation and transition, I believe that the Heartland drivers will be pleasantly surprised while us GTI drivers will see new lands. I'm sure that for all the GTI drivers that don't want to run Northeast, there's just as many Heartland drivers who won't want to chain up. Stay calm and stay informed! Be safe my friends! Posted @ Tuesday, November 12, 2013 3:25 PM by Charles

 

Heartland Express requires minimum of one year of experience, we all know Gordon doesn't. Will that be the new standard fr hiring now?

 

I understand that those in Orientation told 'grandfathered' in. Student program for new CDL holders will continue according to conference call.

For the time being, little should change above 'water line'.

The planning for 'keep the best, get rid of rest' is in place but will evolve. Work on this deal has been going on "all year."

HTLD wants to keep Gordon drivers and emulate Gordon driver retention which is better than HTLD driver retention.

No one asked at conference call comparison HTLD~GTI age of drivers. Many older drivers, especially in NW at GTI. Heard average age in Orientation 48. My group was actually older than that. Which is partly why I think Gordon legacy will be tolerance. See my commentary: msg #24 on this thread.

In contrast, lots of young guys recruited at Prime, for example. Only 100 O/Os at Gordon and not young guys based on those few I met.