The Heyl Truck Lines Experience

I just received email with Heyl newsletter. It says "New pay" and "Drivers: Pass the word about our New Pay
Package!"
What new pay package??? There was no details in the newsletter so how can I pass the word if I don't know what the word is???
Anyone knows anything?

 

I don't know....but Heyl is all over Craigslist for the Waterloo, IA. area like they have some new big account around here....but I NEVER see their trucks. Explain that one to me.

 

Don't look too close at the tyson plant or at crystal storage.

 

I was just in Akron and they expained it all to me. Starting Nov 1 we all get a 1 (woo hoo)cent raise. WOW, first time in three years. They were also talking soon they will be starting to tell us where to get fuel. I have been used to fuel at the J's or Pilot on network. Now they are going to tell us where to go fuel. They say more raises could come after that.

 

Been awhile again on here. I did something last week with Heyl that I never thought I would do, and will NEVER do again. I was heading to Florida when my DM called me (she rarely does) to ask if I would do something for Heyl, just for 5 days or so. She told me the normal driver can't go into Canada, and I would be in the right place, at the right time to do the job. She said all we do is pull the trailer, and help out being a runner, and help set up the show for them. I would get paid $900 for what was supposed to be 5-6 days. We are pulling a 509 inc trailer. They are a company that sells snowmobile helmets and goggles. They have a nice race car trailer, but it is old the brakes are near worn down. They contracted with Heyl to pull their trailer, and help out. The original driver loved doing this. I just agreed, just because it sounded interesting. Sitting at a snowmobile and ATV show in Toronto, running errands and stuff isnt what Heyl is about, and am still confused why they are doing this. But they say it gives Heyl more exposure to different things out there. TO WHAT??? It scared the hell out of me when the manager came up to me on a friday afternoon and said you need fill the border crossing paperwork out now and get it sent off in an hour or you aren't crossing the border in time. I faxed the paperwork off and the broker said it wasn't done right, he freaked out, because somewhere closes in an hour, so I call my dm and said I probably will get stuck at the border sunday night after the show closes because these people have no clue what they are doing. Turned out after the show I had no problem crossing the border. The next show was going to be in Salt Lake City, and had to be there Thursday morning. I was supposed to meet the regular driver in Des Moines, but he got held up somewhere, and I had to take it all the way to SLC. It sucked also because one of the 509 salesmen had to ride with me. I'm not used to having a passenger, especially sucks when you have nothing in common with the other guy. Oh, well. I hope Heyl doesnt try to get into more things like that with events and stuff. I don't want any part of that, that isn't why I came to Heyl.

 

Now back on the regular stuff. I had to be back home a week later in Texas after Salt Lake City. I continued to run the other driver had to Hermiston, Or for the next day. Then picked up my next load after a 10 hour break in Kennewick, Wa. I started that run late saturday. I tried to make it to Sioux Falls as quick as I could to have them look at my APU. The thing turned on but I didn't have any heat or AC, and the 110 outlets didn't work. Made it there by 3, but then they had me run the load down to Akron. I never understand that, They have you take a load that is going to Rochelle, Il, easier to stay on I 90, instead it is a harder run when they have you take it to Akron. They did fix my APU there, and it is running good again. Had a load going to Dallas that actually got me home a day later than I wanted to. I spent 4 days at home, and now, woo hoo, my house is now on the market. I dont need to have a house after my divorce, that I don't want and have to be tied to it. Thinking of moving to Florida, but most likely just moving back to Salt Lake City again, with family. I'm sitting in Lakeland, Fl right now. The planners and my DM set me up for failure. I called my DM on monday morning to find out if I had anything yet, she was like, uh yeah. I needed to be in Ft Worth 2.5 hours away in 2 hours from the time I called, she just said get there when you can. I start heading out, and got a message saying someone else is picking up the trailer. I just made it Waco, and said hold up there, turned out that a Texas driver picked up the load and was switching in Ft Worth. They wanted me in Lakeland, 1100 miles away after I only had 7 hours left on the day by the time I switched, in a day and a half. I asked after I picked it up if the load was going to reschdule, she said will see. The next day, I ask if they reschduled, and they said nothing changed. I told them I would be about 3 hours late for the appointment. Just said get there when you can. so this morning I get up and drive at 3am and still had 4.5 hours to get there. I get to the reciever, and they said, wow your early. Your deliver tonight at 2000. AHHHH!! I'm sure someone knew that, but didn't bother to tell me. This load is one that the e logs came and bit me. Without them I would have gotten there easily, by just adjusting a few things on the log book. Then again, that was the whole purpose behind e logs, so the planners can better plan. Well, I guess it didnt really happen here.

 

I had the funnist thing happen last week driving down I 84 in Idaho. Middle of nowhere somewhere past Jerome I get pulled over by a DOT officer. I thought at first I couldn't be speeding, wasnt sure why I got pulled over. I tells me the ABS light on the trailer is ON. How he can see that small amber light in the sunlight is beyond me. The officer wanted to see my logs. Every other officer I've told that to just says ok, thanks. But, I showed him my 1 day and my 8 days hours. That wasn't good enough. He wanted to know how he would see them if I was in an accident and he had to pull them up. He wanted to see a sheet that says how he does that. I didn't have it, so he wrote me up for not able to show my logs, and wrote up the ABS light being on. That was one officer that was looking for any minor thing to write up.
My next load was worth waiting until the next day to pick up. Picked up in Auburndale, Fl going to Portland, Or and Tacoma. Had 5 days to get to Portland, so that was nice, doing 600 miles a day. That was going to work out great, because I was going to deliver in Tacoma on a wednesday, and had to be in Salt Lake City for my brothers wedding by friday. I made it to Ontario, Or when I ran out of hours, but had enough time to make it to Portland the next day. They told me later I would be switching with someone that was picking up in Kennewick going to Rochelle, Il, the usual run. I didn't understand why they did that, especially when that run should be going up on I 90. My DM didn't know that I was even switching, just said something will happen to get me there. I was very nervous about getting me there, since we rarely have loads going to SLC. It all turned out ok, when later I took that load and switched with another driver in Cheyenne that had a load going to the Cosco in Salt Lake City. I had a great time with family, wanted to leave out on sunday, but didn't get a load until monday. Never knew there was a Dannon plant in the SLC area. But picked up and headed to Ft Worth with it. I was going to get to Ft Worth a day ahead of when it delivered, but they had me switch with another driver in Wichita Falls, trying to get home. Now I am headed back up to Kennewick, get to spend more time with family, and get to spend some time playing in the snow!!

 

At least you're getting decent miles. After my 2 "initiation" weeks when I was getting over 3000 miles they're giving me now 2000-2200 miles/wk. Yes, I was home pretty much every week-end not even asking for it but what's happening now is kinda hard to understand.
Last Monday I got back on the road after i took 3 days off for my birthday. I told Tom that this time I want to stay on the road for 3 weeks so please give me as many miles as physically possible.
The business must be really slow because I called Tom Friday, no load for Mon yet. Call Sunday. Ok. Calling Sun, no load. Call Monday morning. Calling Mon, no load. Call around noon. Then, around noon Tom sends me a msg "Call me". I call, he says : "Pick up an empty trailer and head for Marshalltown, IA." I say EMPTY? (a little reminder, I'm in Zephyrhills) He says "Yes. Be there by Thursday." We have no truck anywhere closer than Fl.
I mean c'mon. Akron is like what, 200 miles from there isn't it?
Well, I don't bi** too much, I'm still getting paid for that 1350 miles deadhead or not. But it strikes me as kinda strange business decision.
Anyway. Tuesday, Tom sends me a msg. Stop. Go to Dyersburg, TN there is a load you'll take to IA. Pick up Wed, delivers Thu. Ok.
So I delivered a day early
(Almost all loads I'm getting have a PLENTY of time on them and I ended up delivering a day early on almost regular basis - when possible but there is no advantage for me because I end up waiting for load anyways)
and I'm calling Tom when he wants me to get to Marshalltown. He says "Stay where you are. There is nothing on you yet" So I'm waiting. After a few hours passed, I call again. He says there is still nothing. I said "Hey Tom. Please help me understand something. So you guys had that very important load I had to drive almost 1400 miles for and when I get here at the time you wanted me to, there is no load? I'm kinda confused."
He says "Oh wait. There is something popped on my screen just now... Get to Marshalltown, drop your mt and wait for load assignment there. So after I did that, I'm calling again that they want me to give them PU#. After short wait, they sent load assignment. Load was supposed ready by Fri 10A.M. That was DLD. They finally finished loading it at around 2300. Yes. I ended up sitting there for 35 hours. Load goes to Houston. 1350 deadhead, 960 loaded. Hmm. Well... it's not my business is it?
Got here to the receiver at 5.30A.M. (appointment was set for 6.30A.M).
It's 10:00 now, I'm parked on the street, there is 9-10 truck before me and nothing moved since I've gotten here.
Meanwhile I have a msg. You'll meet with another driver in New Caney. He's broken down, his load delivers tomorrow morning in Houston.
From where I'm at now, New Caney is 32 miles. I imagine it'll be same distance to deliver that thing. So tomorrow I'll be making about $35. Woo-hoo. I sent a reply "Gr8. All my hopes for better miles gone. At least hook me up with something juicy afterwards. Ok?" No answer.
While I don't mind to help and I understand that somebody has to do it but c'mon. At least throw me a bone if you want me to sit, stay and fetch.

 

Btw. That load from Dyersburg was pretty messed up. They sent wrong address and wrong company name. I couldn't find the street on my GPS nor on their NaviGO thingy. When I tried to input the company name in the NaviGO thingy in Dyersburg, it returned with totally different street. The street on my load assignment was misspelled so bad not even Google maps helped. I'm trying to call the shipper. Naah. That would be too much luck if they would picked up. I call some emergency afterhours number I have on my LD assignment. Answering machine. GR8!
So I call Tom. "Hey Tom, do you have any other street name or directions how to get there?" "No I don't. I'm not driving to that places so I have no idea where they are"
I say :"Well, it's kinda hard to pick up a load if one doesn't know where isn't it?" He says "Did you try call shipper?" (I think he still thinks I'm total noob) "Yes" He says "Call that emergency number from your LD assignment."
"I did. Answering machine answered" He says "Ok. Let me see if I can find out anything.
Meanwhile the "emergency" lady called. After short discussion she said she can't help me and to call my dispatch.
Hmm... this is getting interesting.
But I've had an idea. Late better than never coz with their "help" I'd probably still be sitting at that truck stop waiting for someone to "find out" hehehe
So I went on Google and typed the company name from my load assignment. Got lucky. The name wasn't there but another company which had to do something with rubber was on the street which sounded similarily. HA! Gotcha! I call the number I got on Google and to my shock someone answered! Smooth sail from there.
I sent Tom the correct spelling and company name. Not even "thanx" nothing. No appreciation whatsoever.

 

It has gotten quite on here lately. Everyone must be busy making money.