Heartland Express is doing good

wow 2012 week 4 at 1722 miles, thats making the tires move. lol wish i could get that much.

 

Since insurance companies pretty much run trucking companies these days. This is probably why they don't hire students. Believe me after a year in trucking you will be running to Heartland to get away from the bottom feeders of the truck driving school wolves.

 

I started my 3rd week with Heartland.
I did my orientation in Iowa City, there was 1 other driver in my class.
We met and had personal conversation with our dispatchers, given a tour of the operation, and shop before our last day.
Friday our last day, they put us in a rental car for the Columbus Ohio, terminal and pickup our assigned tractors.
We both were paid some revenue, reservations at a motel were made for us, with a report time of 10 am on Saturday.
My tractor had some adjustments needed that were not D.O.T. related, or unsafe conditions to operate.
Through communication, and there network of support,those adjustments were resolved, and I continued to make revenue.
My 1st run from Columbus allowed me a day & a half at home, with a 2 stop delivery on Monday AM.
The operation personal utilize your hours to run assignments with time to make deliveries or pickups.
The do have the expectation of you to be on time with deliveries, and it's your call to communicate if your not, going to be on time, in a timely manor.
(don't wait a couple of hours to call & say your going to be late communication is key)
There's been no pressure from them on my work.
You have a 30-90 day probation period.
That's your "proving ground" for your experience to show them you can operate a "big truck" with some challenges in getting from point A to point B.
There will be "night driving" some rush hour traffic driving in the AM, or PM just depends where you are, & where your going to in a metro area.
They do recognize, that your new to their system, and don't overwhelm you with runs that require timely delivery.
So no your not going to start off with 500 plus mile runs.
But between your D. H. to pick up, & the miles to delivery, your got pretty close to 500 miles per assignment, it just depends on your next available time.
I'm not competing with "owner operators" for revenue, as a company driver.
I don't sit around waiting for another assignment.
They keep me roll'n, when I call on the phone, on nights or weekends, someone picks up in a timely manor, and handles your business just like your dispatcher in the day time. (their not called dispatcher, their fleet managers)
That's what they do manage their fleet of drivers, you have conversation with your F.M. all professional. (that's how you should be presenting yourself anyway)
The equipment is maintained, repairs are taken care of when it comes to being on time for delivery.
Yes the inspection at terminals is different, but it's their "ball game" I'm just a player, who drives for them.
They handle repairs at terminals, & not all get done at truck stops, or vendors.
Home time yes you can get home, but if your a "whiner" about getting home, then your going to have problems.
Iowa City terminal (corporate headquarters) has 4 long walls of service awards from various shippers & consignees, of the industry.
I'm not just talking wall plaques, these are shelved in casement displays, built into the wall.
The presentation they made to me were going to make room for more awards that we receive.
I'm part of that team, this fit works for me.
I'm making more revenue,without knocking myself out with long 2 to 3 day runs, long delays between delivery & my next load.
I'm not on hold for long periods of time, or waiting for someone to answer the phone when I call.
I'm able to work my plan, & keep to it, begin & end my day on a consistent time frame.
Anyone in transportation knows, this isn't a 9 to 5 with weekends off industry.
But there is quality time for you & your family if your willing to work at it, and not think your to get your "cake & eat it too" as a new hire.
As with any carrier "It's All In What You Make It."
My experience ?
I got my "Class A License" when I was 20 yrs. old in 1971.
There was "no such thing" as endorsements for Hazmat, triples & doubles, or tanker trailers.
Your carrier gave an approved orientation class, a quick test, and you were out there roll'n.
You rode with another driver for a couple of days, then you were out on your own.
Diesel fuel was 19 cents a gallon, power steering, jake brakes were options on tractors, & a stick stuck up under the dash board against the throttle pedal was your "cruise control" to give your right foot a break !
If your carrier's operation traveled more then 500 miles in 1 direction, then it was required to have A C tractors, which consisted of units that didn't put out much cool air, and you were better off with the windows down.
"Cab Over Tractors" were the norm..!
There's been much improvement in the industry with the equipment, but it's still the driver who has to be diverse in all area's to be successful.
There's more information about Heartland Express, that's "privey information" that you will be informed with, should you come to haul freight for them.
You have to be "open minded" to a different operation they have, and "Step Out On Faith" to make that choice...

Special Thanks to "Truthin" & "Chromedome"..!
It was information from their post on this thread, that helped my choice to haul for Heartland Express.

 

I thought the same, when I went to work for Schneider 17 months ago, I'm not "jump'n ship"....
I just posted on this thread, my time at Heartland if you get any experience keep yourself accident free as possible, with no major violations, get driving 4 seasons under your belt, you can go anywhere that pays better revenue then the "feeder carriers" do.
I worked 311 days last year for Schneider, yet the w-2 I received was for just over 22,000 last year ?
I had more delays from their poor communication, loads taken away for someone else, after my dispatcher set me up & went home for the day.
For any long mile runs, it was followed by 2 to 3 weeks of "short mile runs" with big delays in between for 1 reason or another.
Lot's of confusion, people in position who aren't experiences with trucking or logistics at Schneider.
They have "put on" a lot of "Owner Operators" who have "choice" over their loads to run, where you don't.

 

You will do swaps some when people get short on hours, or you do. It is just part of the game with e-logs. But at least we are running them legal.
I delivered a load yesterday morning. Then had a drop and hook about 90 miles down the road that was not due to pick up till 1300. I delivered at 0800.
It was ready by 1045. So I was rolling. But because I am dedicated, and this load would not allow me to get home for the weekend, I swapped with another driver.

His load was picked up at the Dallas term. And he was out of hours where I met him. So we swapped out. I ran till my hours were up, and met another driver.
We both had loads for Carlisle. The one I had delivered at 11am. His was a drop by 1800. Well, I could not deliver by 11, and he had just started his day. So worked out well for all.
Both loads got delivered on time, and everyone was happy.

That takes allot of work to make work out. Drivers were from 3 different terminals. With 3 different fleet managers. But everyone communicated where they could be, and everyone worked to get it done.

You will sit at times. Most of the time I sit it is on longer breaks. I use these to set up loads. Since I will have my next plan normally a day in advance. So I learned to time windows to get the best use of the hours I have available.
If you cannot do this at Heartland eventually you will loose money. It is all a game of making the drop and hooks work, with the most miles and the most available hours to run with the e-log.
Good luck, and keep posting.

 

Do you think they would could consider someone with 8mos otr? They sound like a great company!!!!