Post Gordon ~ Thoughts, Commentary & Reflections

An Interview with Noah...

Part One: 'Best job I've ever had...'

What a treat! Tonight I pulled into the Willow Creek Rest Area on I-39 South. (Near the town of Paw Paw, Illinois. The attendant here says nothing there but a bar and a Casey's. Well, what else do you really, really need?) Hadn't planned to be here long, but what do I see, oh my, but a Heartland truck. Usually don't see 'em at rest areas like this. Couldn't pass this up.

Pulled up along side, waited. No one came back to the truck from the building. Must be in the bunk, I thought. Do I disturb him/her? Hell, yes!! So finally I rapped on his passenger side door. Although he'll be here until morning, he was about to hit the sack. I all but begged for a short 'interview'.

(And you thought I interviewed the OTHER Noah!)

Nope! This Noah's been with Heartland for 7 years, runs system, averages 2500 miles/week and makes 50 cents/mile. As a matter of fact, he ran 2900 last week. At 50 cents a mile. Stays out 2-3 weeks. Hey! Where have I heard THAT before??

Did I mention Noah makes 50 cents a mile and loves his job? I did? Good...

Noah's never heard of TTR. Never. (Oh, my... )

Noah lives in Central Florida, has a wife and two kids. Both he and his wife were born there. His daughter worked really hard and 'caught up' so that both she and her brother graduated together this year. And Heartland worked Noah local around Jacksonville for a few days to be sure that he was there and got to their graduation.

"Best job I've ever had," Noah said.

Noah had 4 years with another Florida outfit (Abco) before starting with Heartland. Never looked back. Abco kept slip seating his truck when he was off just a couple days until the final straw. Company turned his truck over to a team and the team took half his stuff out of his truck and locked it up in their car so they would have more room for their stuff. Hello, Heartland.

Heartland does take his truck, in fact, every time he goes on vacation and he takes two a year, a week or more each, 7 days paid each but he may stay out on vacation 10 days on at least one of those two vacations. Says you can stay out up to 15 days before they insist you come back as a rehire.

So I'm going to recount my talk with Noah, with me standing between our trucks on the ground, with him up in his truck wanting to hit the sack, yet like any driver, willing to talk about his job and the company he works for, in this case, Heartland Express.

How cool! Thanks, Noah!!

To be continued...


Written Thursday evening, May 29, 2014 at the Willow Creek Rest Area on I-39 South. All rights reserved.

 

An Interview with Noah...

Part Two: The culture difference, HTLD vs GTI

Noah had said he'd be pulling out about 5 a.m. and, like he said, about 10 minutes ago (it's fifteen after right now), I heard his truck start up, then after a bit his air tanks popped and his running lights came on. As he started to pull out I had already pulled my windshield canopy back on that side and gave him a wave in the morning dark. We exchanged early morning, "See ya's."

Hasn't looked TTR up yet but says he will today. If there's anything he'd like to add or correct on this 'interview'--please do!! He's on Central time since his home terminal is North Liberty, despite that at home in Florida he's on Eastern--as I am, coming from Indiana.

I would best describe Noah as a clean-cut, all-American-kid type. Well, he's 40-years-old. We both share looking considerably younger than our actual age. He could pass for 25-30 years-old, no problem. Nice guy. Reminded me of my Aunt Fay's (R.I.P.) kids. Bragging's not in their DNA. Not shy, though, and I think you know what I mean not like some drivers, for example, that once they start talking, they won't stop. Won't stop. Not like that. Noah's NOT like that. Just a good, 'all-American-type' guy.

How does that translate into company culture? I asked him why good Gordon drivers might not make the Heartland cut. He said, "Well, if your beard is out to here," he held his hands about eight inches away from his face, "and has never been trimmed..."

I did an immediate, 'Ah-hah'. Professional appearance and demeanor. So, when HTLD's 10-K refers to the competition for 'experienced drivers who understand the importance of customer service', I recalled my own Gordon orientation. Gordon didn't much give a hoot about what you looked like.

Noah looks like he could put on a dress sports shirt and need nothing more (well, pants and a belt) to attend a wedding and fit in... comfortably. In contrast, I think you could cut the six of us in my Gordon orientation into two groups of three, three would not make the Heartland 'professional appearance and demeanor' cut. Likely HTLD rejects. Three others would do fine.

We didn't discuss smoking, but likely if you smell like a month-old ash tray, have old, torn shirts and jeans and dirty shoes, hair hasn't been cut or trimmed in a coon's age, look like you live in your car or truck... Gordon could care less as long as you delivered freight on time. Mattered zippo.

That's not Heartland, I think. But then I don't work for HTLD.

So, at Heartland, a professional appearance matters. Noah's clean-shaved and even last night as he was ready to hit the sack looked... crisp. Well-scrubbed. You just knew there were some nice, clean shirts in that truck somewhere.

If this offends some, so be it. Emphasis is mine, not Noah's. I infer--and it's my inference--that some Heartland drivers may find some Gordon drivers scruffier than what makes the grade at Heartland. Not all. Some. Dunno.

That's my take.

Noah actually said nothing derogatory about Gordon drivers. But I recall surprise and even some shock at how little regard Gordon gave to driver personal appearance, personal hygiene, even health. It wasn't, or didn't seem to me to be, a Gordon metric.

To be continued...


Written Friday morning, May 30, 2014, at the Willow Creek Rest Area, I-39 southbound near Paw Paw, Illinois, where I'm told you'll find only a bar and a Casey's. All rights reserved.

 

Found Another Outbound Load $750

Spent a large part of the afternoon at the Illinois shop; came in to fix the condenser cooling fan behind the cab that has failed, gone berserk, chewing up the plastic housing and so the APU red-lighted on me. They replaced the fan worked on the unit. Unfortunately, I see it still red lights.

They also did a PM and decided to have me come through on the next run for a further look at oil that leaks from the front engine cover. It's the cam seal, they tell me. May swap for another truck.

Also, the bushings below the fifth wheel are toast, explains some of the bumping when shifting, especially on an up hill pull. Feels almost like the surge on a tanker except not multiples. One shift, one bump. And the tractor ABS light came on!! Has not done that on the road. Mechanic confirmed, yup, has come on just once. Right there at the shop. So Charles took the right-rear-outer-dual off the drives to get at and adjust the sensor. If it comes back on we'll install a new sensor.

I've never seen one.

After a really good brisket barbecue on baked potato, walked back to the shop, got on Trulos again looking for a weekend load towards Prairie du Chien. Now, earlier Paula the Dispatcher (on these loads) says, "We're not going to cross each other up are we?" I told her, 'no', all approvals go through her, I'm a driver, I can't commit the company. She seemed satisfied.

From the break room I found this load to near Madison, Wisconsin. The broker said $600. I told him we had to have more than that. He wanted to know how much we needed, told him $750-$800. (We got $725 for the Janesville, this is the same area, and we drove up to Fort Wayne for it.)

He came back in less than a minute and confirmed $750. Cool. And we don't have to drive up to Fort Wayne for this one. It's pretty near by. Goody!!

"You book your own loads??" another driver in the break room asked as I made calls. Should have said, 'Sure, all the time. Doesn't everybody?' Instead I felt quite uncomfortable. Dunno why. Got up and left the break room shortly after feeling a little embarrassed, like maybe I'm doing something wrong. I'm not.

Just a feeling.

It's set for pick up Sunday night 9:00 p.m. and the broker thinks they'll take me early. That would be good. Initially it had been set for delivery Monday 8:00 a.m. Told him, no, done enough nights. He said he'd see what he could do, so now we have 3:00 p.m. and the broker says they'll take earlier. We'll see. 2-1/2 hrs from there to Prairie.

HAS to be off the truck for me to pick up my important Prairie du Chien on Monday. Outbound load's supposed to be 28 skids, weighs 43.5K, some kind of plastic. They will put an iron ring seal on that can ONLY be broken by the receiver. As long as doesn't screw up my Prairie du Chien.

Okay, fine.



Written Friday, May 29, 2014 from the yard where we park. Anxious to pick up my starter and see to my hungry chickens. All rights reserved.

 

An Interview with Noah...

Part 3: Driver Turnover vs. Noah's Simple Key to Success as an HTLD Driver

"Do you see a lot of driver turnover?" I asked.

His head sort of dropped toward his chest and nodded. A very visceral reaction. "Oh, yeah," Noah said.

"So what's the difference?" I asked. "You loving your job and been there seven years..."

Noah said, "I have a DM who likes me."

He went on to say that, especially drivers who sign up regional (and make 'only' 39 cents/mile) often change DMs frequently. "You have to get a DM that likes you. Mine likes me. Makes a big difference." He went on to say that he didn't understand why drivers go regional, since they end up with longer loads, too. Then he corrected himself and said that they probably sign up for more home time. Well, yeah!!!

Noah also said that they're bringing new drivers in no higher than 48 cents, which makes some sense. If you've been there 7 years, make 50 cents a mile like Noah, and they hire someone in off the street and pay them the same...

I recalled that depending on who your DM was, Gordon seemed like a completely different company. It was usually bright and friendly with Bri (at least until I pissed her off), rather tense with The Intimidator, rotten loads with Astro Turf who worked mainly weekends and so on. But the Gordon DM's were almost always courteous, if not always uber friendly. I suppose there's a distance to be maintained.

Despite the layer of multi-year drivers at both Gordon and HTLD, there's plenty of turnover to go around. Did they all just NOT get good DM's?? What magic pill do you take to ensure you get a good DM??


Written Friday, May 30, 2014 at home, six miles north of Spencer, Indiana. Five eggs were in the nesting box when I got home. Ate four already. Um-m-m! Had started to worry that the hens would break into the eggs if they got hungry. I'm sure they were hungry. They're better now, though. I'm told once they start eating eggs you might as well get a stew pot going. That's all that bird's good for.

My shirts that I laid out to take along were right there next to my cooler with my good can opener. Some of the regular stuff I forgot to bring this trip.

 

An Interview with Noah...

Part 4: The Dreaded Inspection Line

Gordon had what I thought was a great CSA score. (In fact, that's what attracted me to Gordon.) Heartland has an even better, a far better CSA score, at least for maintenance. GTI drivers quickly complained about the HTLD inspection process and repairs taking too, too long. Way too long.

Noah did that head bob thing again and added a couple side-to-side 'no' shakes, "They have no idea..." he finally said, paused, and I wondered what the Hell this meant. "...how BAD it USED to be!!"

Oh, I thought. Now I'm starting to get it. Noah said he goes through the Inspection Line "at least once a month." Tries to get there in the evening, if I understood, because you don't, don't want to arrive during the day. If so, consider that whole day shot. Gone. Used up. Gonna take all day.

I said there were complaints about Heartland being too picky, tying trucks up for what seemed like overly-picky repairs. "Yeah, no doubt about it," Noah agreed. "That's why we've got the great CSA score, too." So pick your poison, eh?? With Heartland the Inspection Line is just Heartland's version of bending over while the doc puts some lube on that rubber glove.

Ugh! I could do without that! Really!

So if you run for Heartland, you do the Inspection Line at least once a month. At least you don't have to do the other thing once a month. Pick your poison...

Noah's never been to a Gordon terminal, has been to all of Heartland's except Phoenix. I asked him about the best and the worst terminals.

"Oh, the worst one's gone, closed," Noah said, "but after that one, Chesterton, Virginia and Carlyle, Pennsylvania. Worst of the bunch."

And the best? He likes Jacksonville because he knows and likes the people there. It's a people thing. And he likes North Liberty, which opened a month before he signed on seven years ago.

He also said Heartland won't let him run west of the rockies, that he has previous reefer experience and wouldn't mind pulling a green light (if things are good) trailer for Heartland. He doubted that HTLD will let their drivers do that for now. So we discussed that a little, how Heartland was no doubt viewing and reviewing Gordon's reefer fleet, until it decides whether to keep, expand or collapse it.



Written Saturday, May 31, 2014 at home, six miles north of Spencer, Indiana. All rights reserved.

 

An Interview with Noah...

Part 5: Opti-Idle and Noah's Least Favorite Thing

I mentioned that Gordon drivers considered Heartland a threat to their APUs and their comfort on the road while trying to sleep and rest. Noah acknowledged that but said he likes the Heartland Opti-Idle.

"Does take some getting used to," Noah explained, "because the engine starts up when you don't expect it. He wonders whether the temp sensor is off in his truck because 84-87 degrees he feels 'just comfortable', not overly warm at all. Well, he is a Central Floridian. Hot. Muggy.

I ragged him a little about hurricanes.

"Hurricanes?" chuckled Noah. "Oh, they just pass over." Right, I said, pushing my arm and hand out mimicking a flattened terrain.

Noah said he found the Opti-Idle more than adequate to keep warm or cool as needed. He drove a 2014 Freightliner and we talked trucks a bit. He much prefers the Internationals, especially the 'i' series like my 2005 Eagle 9400i, but didn't offer to trade.

He thinks the insides of the Freightliners are cheap, not as well laid out as the ProStars, for example, and pulled up a small plastic piece that had come off somewhere in the truck. So when I asked what he liked least about Heartland, he pointed to the Freightliner.

Said he didn't understand why they were getting them.

Well, I could explain THAT. Their new director, Larry Gordon, owns two Freightliner dealerships and with the acquisition came agreements to buy Freightliners! But Noah doesn't like them one bit. It's his least happy thing about Heartland right now.

Noah quit once...

A weekend DM tried to give him a load rather than let him go home. Insisted in fact. They had a little who's-in-charge contest and he ended it by telling the DM that he quit and took the truck to Jacksonville and turned it in. By Monday, HTLD was on the phone telling him it would never happen again and it hasn't.

One big difference, then, between Gordon and HTLD is how long you're out. To make real money with Gordon you had to stay out 3-4 weeks or more. No other way. Noah said that doesn't happen with Heartland. Noah said he can go home after two weeks, or after three HTLD automatically routes him home. Doesn't have to do anything. Three weeks and you go home. Period.


Written Saturday, May 31, 2014 at a Chinese takeout in Spencer, Indiana. Best soup deal so far: $3.21 (including tax) for a quart of fresh-made vegetable and chicken soup, mostly all vegetables. Got my starter in this morning, not an EXACT match but fully interchangeable. This one came off a '98 Taurus, I think and has a threaded post where mine had just a spade connector.

Ran the floor jack underneath, then a couple jack stands, took about an hour. Started right up, though, better than it ever has. Spin it fast enough and it starts, used to turn over and over. Funny that the red one (on car hauler) used to start right up and its starter went out first. Go figure. One down, one to go.

All rights reserved.

 

Some of My Conclusions from the Interview with Noah

Money-wise, Noah has made $58K to $65K consistently with HTLD for 7 years and stays out at most 3 weeks, often only 2. From what I saw at Gordon, I don't think Gordon drivers out 4 weeks and more do any better.

The concern that Heartland will 'screw it up, how they treat drivers' sort of remains, despite that Noah couldn't be happier. He's found a home with HTLD and feels he has a very good relationship with his DM. The regional guys have it worse, he acknowledged that and although he didn't outright say so, there's scrutiny of the Gordon drivers.

Some Gordon drivers will get the short end of that scrutiny.

My take away from talking with Noah is there's a now-obvious (at least to me) collision of looser, less up tight Pacific Northwest values with somewhat narrower, more up tight Mid-Western values at HTLD/GTI although I saw no evidence that Noah, himself, was up tight about anything.

If you think about it, the Northwest~Mid-West values collision might explain the how and why of some of the departures so far from Heartland/GTI as Gerdin seeks to 'keep the best, get rid of the rest'.

That's keep the best as seen from a Mid-Western perspective.

Here are some 'possibles':

If a seven-year guy at HTLD gets two, 7-day paid vacations, it would make sense that HTLD would question why a driver from Gordon would seriously expect to take four consecutive weeks off, especially with pay. After 15 days, Noah said, you come back only as a rehire.

'You think you're entitled to what? 12 months pay for 11 months work?? Driver, here's a ticket to the sidelines."

My orientation buddy from Swift was no doubt as competent a driver as you'll find anywhere. And as good a person as you'll find anywhere. Anywhere. But he lived in his truck and, frankly, rather looked like it with untrimmed beard and hair. His truck housekeeping probably emphasized, r-e-l-a-x-e-d, if you get my drift. A very experienced, safe and competent road warrior.

"You want to live in our truck? When we want you to go home every 2-3 weeks?? Driver, here's a... "

You're unhappy and kicking because your truck is in the shop costing the company money to bring it up to HTLD maintenance standards?

"Driver, here's a ticket to the sidelines."

You've got '666~666~666' tattooed around your wrist in large lettering conspicuous from 15 feet away? 'Satan Rules~Satan Rules~Satan Rules' tattooed the same way on the other wrist?? Your truck reverberates with Death Metal while loading/unloading, waiting to unload/load or waiting on the inspection line??

"Driver, here's your ticket."

You insist you can only make money if you stay out 3-4 weeks or more and patiently explain to your new, idiot DM that he can't send you home after 2-3 weeks out??

"Driver, here's..."

You're telling your DM that you can drive a million miles/week and that's how you like to drive and that's how you've always driven and how you always intend to drive. The Safety Department learns that you brag online about your stamina, how hard you run, keep the left door shut, etc. and calculates what that could add to the cost if something bad happened...

"Driver, ..."

If you think about the $5 million less in profit that HTLD made this first quarter of 2014 compared to what it made in 2013 for the same period without Gordon, a lack of patience and unwillingness to handhold drivers who aren't quickly up to speed with the HTLD way (as compared to the Gordon way) probably goes with the territory.

It's a Mid-Western mind-set...

My two cents... with caveat that I no longer work for Gordon; have never worked for HTLD.

Should drivers have been surprised, then, at being dropped off at the curb??

Sure, at first. Maybe not now and from now on.

My suggestion: Don't take it personally. It's not really about you.


Written Saturday, May 31, 2014 at home, six miles north of Spencer, Indiana. All rights reserved.

 

Broker Load #2--Terre Haute to Jefferson, WI

The first few loads I took up to Prairie du Chien we ran up empty; the Prairie du Chien is that important. Then a broker the company has used for years gave us three outbound loads from Illinois to very near Prairie du Chien in Iowa, heavy loads, though, 44K (44,000 pounds, brings the truck and trailer up to 80K, legal max).

Frankly, I thought I could do better than $700 we got for those heavy loads and maybe not have to pull those hills above Dubuque, not so bad on the Wisconsin side, but pretty rough on the Iowa side. After the receiver's office had directed me to take Highway 20 out of Dubuque, one of their drivers warned me off, that I would likely break a drive shaft at the light top of the hill coming out of town. It was tense, I'll say that much from a dead stop, a crazy angle and 4-wheelers up my butt.

So I found and negotiated a load for $725 from near Fort Wayne (Indiana) to take 22K (22,000 pounds, a light load) to Janesville, Wisconsin. Ran right through the local loop in downtown Chicago (I-94) to I-90, then eventually over to I-39. Had no problem completing my Prairie du Chien after Janesville. There is an issue about the tolls that I paid which I'm still researching; apparently carriers can charge for the tolls they incur. Oh, goody!!

This load for tonight, Sunday night 9 p.m. out of Terre Haute, I negotiated from the Illinois shop on Friday.

About 10:30 this morning (Sunday) I called the shipper just to see what would happen and maybe I could grab this load at 6 p.m. rather than 9 p.m. James answered, said it really looked like 9 p.m. but I could call back. This afternoon James said definitely 9 p.m. and then something odd, I thought.

"I'm authorized," James said, "to ship whatever we have on the floor at 9 p.m." What James didn't tell me was that the line was down. When I got here at 8:30 p.m., James had gone home. There is exactly zero product. Steve, who came in at 7 p.m., said it was up to me. I could wait or we could charge a 'Truck Not Used' fee. The actual freight term is 'TONU' for 'Truck Ordered Not Used' and the fee for that is called an accessorial fee.

I wasn't planning to run more than a couple hours tonight so waiting is not a big issue and I sense that the shipper really, really wants to get SOMETHING shipped to their customer. As long as I can get this load delivered and arrive timely in Prairie du Chien, I'm fine with cooling my heels here at least until 7 a.m., when I figure I better get a move on.

As I write this the shipper let me drop my trailer; I bought some things for myself and the truck from Wal-Mart; and the hope is that they'll have me to a door by 5 a.m.

Whatever happens here tomorrow has to happen and end by right around 7.

We'll see.

(To be continued.)


Written Sunday, June 1, 2014 in the Terre Haute, IN Wal-Mart parking lot. All rights reserved.

// 4:30 a.m. Steve in shipping called. They will have no product at 7:00 a.m., in fact, line's moving really, really slow (although back up and running) and working on finishing prior order. They don't even expect to start this order until after 7:00 a.m. and a full order, 43.5K takes 36 hours to manufacture. They had only hoped to get a partial out to help their customer up in Wisconsin. Will talk to broker this morning about TONU (Truck Ordered Not Used) fee.

 

Broker Load #3--Bloomington, IN to Columbus, WI

Before I left yesterday (Sunday, June 1st), neighbor from across and down the highway wanted to borrow my raccoon trap, one-way-in kind, that I set up right next to the chicken run. Hope I don't regret this. The dogs can make noise but cannot actually get into the chicken run if a raccoon gets in there.

We'll see.

I like raccoons, but a raccoon would kill the three chickens for the fun of it and eat any eggs found. Ought to be at least a couple eggs there today.

Neighbor told me how he brought one bag of groceries in, then when he went out for the second, saw a raccoon reach through the railing on his deck and pull the dog food bowl over to him/her and made off with the whole bowl as my neighbor watched and his small dog barked away. Gutsy.

Definitely have misgivings about parting with the trap while gone...

Feel shortchanged on Broker Load #2, as Hub Group agreed to only $150 for TONU (pronounced Tee-Oh-En-You, stands for 'Truck Ordered, Not Used') fee. Irks me. We were due that much at 9:00 p.m. appointment when shipper had nothing to ship. Kept truck available all night because they thought they would get me to a door around 5 a.m. and on the road by 7 a.m.

Instead, they had nothing to ship. I won't forget $150 when I figure it should have been at least $200-$250.

Have a 1 pm (1300 hours) appointment in Bloomington, Indiana for Wednesday, June 4, 22K (22,000 pounds), pays $750 and goes to Columbus, Wisconsin just northwest of Madison in that southeast corner of the state that I'm starting to like. I especially like light loads and getting empty before hitting the hill country up there.

Had called on another load, asking if they could ship Wednesday instead of Tuesday, as listed. She was working on this one, had not hit any load board yet. Oh, goody!! Said she would call me when the appointments and rate were worked up, but didn't. When I stopped for a break, I saw it on Trulos and called immediately. She offered $650; I countered with $750; and she simply accepted. Cool!

Earlier I spoke to a broker about a Danville, IL to Oconomowac, WI. "It pays $450 to $500," he said. Told him we need at least $750-$800 and he turned instantly snotty. "You have a good day, sir," he says to me. "You have one, too," I replied and rang off.

Swung by the Illinois shop to have them look at the leaky front engine cover and they decided it was just a valve cover gasket instead after they found that it recently had the cam seal done. Mechanic quickly opened the top of the engine and then the truck sat until parts arrived.

Less than a half hour after the parts arrived, I was on my way.


Written Monday, June 2, 2014 in Prairie du Chien, having the Siete Mares (Seven Seas), seafood soup that is a Mexican tradition. Wonderful seafood to be had in Mexico, if you didn't know. First time I've stopped on the way in and not AFTER making my pick up.

All rights reserved.

// "Got good news and bad news," guy who came out to truck says... Here we

go again I think to myself. He says the good news is they can load me, the bad news is the guy who does the bills went home and there'll be no one to work up a BOL until morning. Hey, I could care less. I'm ready for a nap and that just means I don't have to leave here. O-o-o-kay, fine!!

I tell him, "No-o-o, problem."

Really glad I had that wonderful soup BEFORE coming in tonight!! Ha ha.

/// Unloading now back in Indiana, Tuesday. New problem: apparently at least one brake chamber's bad, most likely on trailer. Losing air with brakes released and stepping on brake. Can't hear anything. And I have that 1 pm appt tomorrow to PU in Bloomington, IN and DEL in Columbus, WI. Well, this is trucking, isn't it?? Yard Mechanic will deal with in morning before he leaves for other parts. I'd like to see that repair happen.

About time for me to head home to check on my furry, feathery and hairless kids (dogs, chickens and worm bins).