Heartland Express is doing good

sorry I'm really not sure. maybe someone else on here knows the answer.. ?

 

I'm not aware of anyone else who will pay a new driver as much as Heartland. but they do require at least one year of experience. Not sure if you mean 'new' to Heartland or 'new to driving'.

 

partial week, home early on Thursday.

376 LD miles, 29 MT miles
376 LD miles, 0 MT miles
217 LD miles, 11 MT miles
481 LD miles, 49 MT miles

1539 total miles all paid at .48 per mile, plus an accessorial, $754 gross pay, short week. that's what a down week looks like.

 

I got a letter emailed to me from Heartland's CEO that was sent out to all drivers. He is announcing some new changes for drivers including some pay increases for longer tenured drivers. Here are some of the changes.

- You can now keep your same truck when going off on vacation, if you have a certain amount of years in with the company.

- They created more levels to the pay scale, so people with 15 years get another $.01 pay increase, and 25 years get another $.02 pay increase. I've met a lot of guys that fall into this group with 15+ years at the company. Currently you get a pay increase every year for the first seven years with the company, unless you are maxed out at the $.48 or $.52 (green zone) rate. This pay increase now takes the top rate you can get to $.50 or $.54 (green zone).

- They raised the paid vacation total to a maximum of 4 weeks vacation per year, depending on your longevity.

Also they talked about some of improvements throughout 2012.

- added vision plan to the existing health and dental plans.

- kept health and dental insurance rates steady with no rate increase this past year.

- adding Espar bunk heaters to all new trucks.

- changed policy to allow RoadPro lunch box stove heaters and gave a bunch of them away this year.

- changed idle policy and programming on the truck ECM. eliminated the slower 60mph speed. doesn't count idling in hot or cold temperatures against you.

- buying 900 brand new trucks. Oldest truck will be a 2012.

- bought 2000 brand new trailers. over 80% of the trailers will be 2012, 2013, and 2014.

- assigned every driver a reflective safety vest.

- invested in Goodyear Duraseal 'no flat' trailer tire technology to reduce downtime and csa points.

- built a new trailer shop in Carlisle PA.

- built a new trailer shop in Atlanta GA.

- Opened a new shop in Denver CO.

- Paved more yard space in Dallas TX.

- Installed RFID readers at all terminals that automatically opens the gates and starts the truck washes without having to get out of the trucks.

- upgraded their free WI-FI internet for drivers at the terminals.

He has been meeting with drivers personally and taking them to breakfast to talk about how things are going.

Considering the economy still isn't even back to where it was over 4 years ago and I don't see anyone else doing much along these lines, I think this is pretty good. It is going in a good direction.

But I'm sure someone will find a way to turn the positives into negatives on here.