My Experience With KLLM

I got a few quick questions about KLLM.

I'm an experienced driver with almost 4 years experience. No accidents, no tickets in over 3 year (none at all in a commercial vehicle, one total).

I'm pulling a dry van now, but I've pulled a reefer before. Seems the reefer segment is doing much better than dry vans. I've been working for Heartland since December 10th, and I've averaged 1600 miles per week... Its not good.

Anyway, how is the Southeast regional working for KLLM? I notice they pay percentage on this? Is it possible to make anything that way? Not many people do that for dry van or reefer anymore so I didn't know.

How is the equipment? APU's? Tranny? Power? You know, the basic stuff everyone wants to know.

If I go OTR how often should I plan to be home? What are the running lanes for a solo living in East Tennessee? I don't want any New York City if I can help it.

Thats about all I can think of right now. Thanks for the help.

 

Thanks to everyone who's been posting here, it's been good reading so far. KLLM sounds like a good fit for what I'm working on, and I have a few questions that haven't been asked yet.
I'm a new grad out of Daly's truck Driving School in Buford, GA and I can say the school is awesome. Another grad and I want to team up together as we live close by and both have the same goals - honest work, decent money, families at home, bigger things in the future.

How does the new drivers/ team setup work with KLLM?

Can anyone out there tell how the SouthEast region is running lately as far as miles, hometime, and openings?

Thanks to everyone and TruckersReport - this place is cool!

 

Wheat Light

Last I heard KLLM is not hiring experinced drivers. Do not know when they will again. Seams slow everywhere now, i seam to keep moving but nothing over the top. The truck seam to be normal fleat trucks, but seams to me that all there truck will be cascadias. Will probably have some columbias around for a while. Seams most trucks have a Detroit with a 10sd. I have a International with ISX and a 10 sp I have been told the International will not be around to much longer.

HwyPilot

I am thinking that when both of you finish your training and past the upgrade test you can team at that time. Do not know if there are many teams on se regional or not though. SE regional is basicly Atlanta out to delivery then get something coming back.

Greg

 

The 401(k) is definitely, by far, the best retirement investment you can ever make if your company matches your contributions. I think I read a few posts back that someone stated KLLM has suspended the company match, which is unfortunate, but if it resumes, I'd recommend everyone to contribute all you can. And you don't have to have the funds invested in anything risky, if your risk averse. The bottom line is, where else can you find an investment with a 100% return? The answer is nowhere. For example, my company matches 100% of my contributions up to 4% of my pay. So for every dollar I put in, the company puts in a dollar.

Now, to say that you can't touch it is partially true. First of all, because the funds are intended for retirement, the idea is that you shouldn't need the funds until later in life. The IRS says that age is 59 and 1/2, I believe. Why do they do this? Because they don't tax you on the money you contribute. Therefore, if you take it out early, you'll pay a 10% penalty. It's definitely to your advantage to leave it alone. However, you can generally borrow against your 401k (although I wouldn't recommend mortgaging your future). Also, if you switch companies or want to move the funds, if you're vested, you can perform a qualified "roll-over" or transfer and move the funds to an IRA.

I know this is not the purpose of this thread, and this stuff generally bores people to death, but it's extremely important, and it's never too soon to start thinking about retirement. I might start a separate thread on this issue, since others might have good info to offer or questions.

Drive safe

Andrew

 

Well Kids, I've tried and tried with KLLM. They were absolutely my first choice. I've been unemployed since October. I was scheduled for an Orientation back in October with KLLM, but broke my foot as some of you might remember. I healed up and kept trying to get re-scheduled, but they keep putting me off because of a hiring freeze. I was told to call back in April. I have to go to work. I had my Trucking School do a blast fax of all of the Applications I previously filled out. I had pre-hires from CTL, US Express, Swift, Werner, and May. May isn't hiring students right now, and I'm trying to avoid Swift and Werner if possible. But I have to go to work now. If KLLM doesn't open up in the next week or so, I guess I'll be yanking a Tank with CTL.
Has anybody heard of whether or not KLLM is going to stop the hiring freeze other than just "April"? I've gotta make a decision here.

 

Yanking a Tank is not so bad and you get some experience you can get on with some very good companies that take care of their drivers.

 

Some people on here have posted that they have been scheduled for orientations in March, so the freeze must have been partially lifted.

 

I applied about 2 weeks ago and was told a few days ago that I'm in the March 31st class. No one even mentioned a freeze. One of my classmates applied about 3 days after me and when he called to check they told him everything was full until the end of April. They didn't even process his application and just said to call back then if he hasn't found a job. I don't know if its just luck at this point or what.

 

Ya, buddy I would call back. I think there stopping the frezze now. Good luck

 

I had a friend who has never been a trucker (was think about going to school) call them today and they said they were not taking anyone else until the end of May!! GL