Heartland- Here I Come!

[mike3fan]

what kind of % is he offering? 20%? 21%? I wouldn't think it would be much more than 26%? is his equipment spec'd for good fuel economy? you know working on percentage-- the worse your fuel economy / longer DH the less you'll be taking to the bank.

Most percentage pay for drivers is based on gross of the load, fuel economy and DH really don't matter. With that said DH miles will basically be free miles but fuel economy doesn't matter.

[P A Frederick]

Most percentage pay for drivers is based on gross of the load, fuel economy and DH really don't matter. With that said DH miles will basically be free miles but fuel economy doesn't matter.

Thats how this company pays, 25% of gross. DH miles are basically free (which stinks). They tell you what your pay for the load is before you take it (no forced dispatch-how nice is that). They have 3 loads a week going to FL (either Tampa or Orlando depending on the day) that they bring back empty. During produce season they will haul melons or something back, but its usually empty. They reason they do this and drivers agree is that it pays the $1.02 per mile loaded to go to Florida. If you DH home and figure all your miles together, you are still making .51 a mile. Not every load pays this good (but they don't deadhead back on most of them).

I like the fact that its not forced dispatch. They don't hardly run NYC or New England because of freight coming back out.

Truck I'll be driving is a '97 Freightliner COE with a 425 Cat and a 13 speed Eaton Fuller. I drove it last night and its a pretty sharp truck. It has 350,000 original miles on it. They bought 3 of them from ABC Sports network, all have the same motor and tranny and are well taken care of trucks. Every screw that went loose they took it to either the Freightliner or Cat dealers for service. Most guys probably balk at driving a cabover, but I love em. They had another truck I coule have drove, a 97 FLD condo, but I'd rather drive the COE. Its the medium sized sleeper. You have to remember I'm not going to be OTR in that sense either. I should be home a couple times a week and on the weekends. Its eventually going to get where I'm home more and more.

I'll probably go with them, but I'm not 100% either way. Can anyone give me insight in to crossing the border? They have good paying freight going and coming. Any help would be appreciated. I've never been to Canada so I know absolutely nothing.

[headborg]

Most percentage pay for drivers is based on gross of the load, fuel economy and DH really don't matter. With that said DH miles will basically be free miles but fuel economy doesn't matter.

I hate to disagree with you there, Mike. But many of the smaller O/O and small fleets( for example: Flatbed company out of Harrison, Ar(forgot the name) they pay there COMPANY DRIVERS on Percentage AFTER expenses.

Owner/Operators & Lease operators get percentage of the load- because the fuel and all the other tractor expenses come out of their pocket.

Finding a company that will pay you(the driver) first! a percentage before taking out cost of operation-- WoW that would be kinda sweet. Though I doubt that company will be in business long. Because, see if you did that- there would be no economic incentive to induce your DRIVER to run the truck economically.

Sometimes referred to as NET PERCENTAGE PAY... as opposed to GROSS PERCENTAGE PAY.

Here's a link to an interesting story: Read about How "Keith" has been paid different ways.

http://www.lifeasatrucker.com/trucke...-comments.html

[headborg]

Thats how this company pays, 25% of gross. DH miles are basically free (which stinks). They tell you what your pay for the load is before you take it (no forced dispatch-how nice is that). They have 3 loads a week going to FL (either Tampa or Orlando depending on the day) that they bring back empty. During produce season they will haul melons or something back, but its usually empty. They reason they do this and drivers agree is that it pays the $1.02 per mile loaded to go to Florida. If you DH home and figure all your miles together, you are still making .51 a mile. Not every load pays this good (but they don't deadhead back on most of them).

I like the fact that its not forced dispatch. They don't hardly run NYC or New England because of freight coming back out.

Truck I'll be driving is a '97 Freightliner COE with a 425 Cat and a 13 speed Eaton Fuller. I drove it last night and its a pretty sharp truck. It has 350,000 original miles on it. They bought 3 of them from ABC Sports network, all have the same motor and tranny and are well taken care of trucks. Every screw that went loose they took it to either the Freightliner or Cat dealers for service. Most guys probably balk at driving a cabover, but I love em. They had another truck I coule have drove, a 97 FLD condo, but I'd rather drive the COE. Its the medium sized sleeper. You have to remember I'm not going to be OTR in that sense either. I should be home a couple times a week and on the weekends. Its eventually going to get where I'm home more and more.

I'll probably go with them, but I'm not 100% either way. Can anyone give me insight in to crossing the border? They have good paying freight going and coming. Any help would be appreciated. I've never been to Canada so I know absolutely nothing.

There's some big flews there PA!

Let's say it's Knoxville, Tn- (Homestead, FL)-- I couldn't think of any town more "south" than that in Florida.

1.02 per mile loaded to homestead, fl= 859 HHG miles x $1.02=$876.18 gross and your 25%= $219.05 = 25.5cpm Loaded. But now since you got to DH back to Knoxville for free! 12.25 cpm for total trip.

Sorry Charlie... now that assumes you weren't suggesting that your 25% of the total (to the truck) was $1.02 per mile-- cus that would mean the entire load was actually paying $4.08 per mile(freight to the truck).

[P A Frederick]

I don't know HB, I don't want to argue with you about it. I do know I just talked to the guy and fuel milage has nothing to do with the pay to the driver. I've talked to drivers who get paid percentage before and I have personally never heard of one who the fuel milage effected the pay to the driver. Maybe I misunderstood when I've talked to other drivers, I don't know. Also, how could you tell the driver what the load pays to them before they take fuel milage out?? Each load would be wildly different pay. If you have a load of bottles, your fuel milage would be better (and your pay also) that a load of roll stock paper or something. Weight would have a lot to do with it.

I don't know how it all works, there are still some questions I have that need answered. Got a call today from my dispatcher in Kingsport. I was supposed to deliver this load I'm under tonight by midnight north of Nashville. He informs me that the delivery time has been pushed back to noon on Monday and he has me a reload going to Maryland Monday. Pretty good. Whether I quit Heartland or not I want to get a good week in so I don't miss a paycheck if I move. Right now I'll have about 1400 miles when I get to Maryland sometime Tuesday.

[mike3fan]

Almost everyone I have ever talked to or worked for paid on percentage before expenses. I did work with a guy who was paid 50% after fuel, his pay worked out almost exactly the same as mine at 23%.

[headborg]

I don't know HB, I don't want to argue with you about it. I do know I just talked to the guy and fuel milage has nothing to do with the pay to the driver. I've talked to drivers who get paid percentage before and I have personally never heard of one who the fuel milage effected the pay to the driver. Maybe I misunderstood when I've talked to other drivers, I don't know. Also, how could you tell the driver what the load pays to them before they take fuel milage out?? Each load would be wildly different pay. If you have a load of bottles, your fuel milage would be better (and your pay also) that a load of roll stock paper or something. Weight would have a lot to do with it.

I don't know how it all works, there are still some questions I have that need answered. Got a call today from my dispatcher in Kingsport. I was supposed to deliver this load I'm under tonight by midnight north of Nashville. He informs me that the delivery time has been pushed back to noon on Monday and he has me a reload going to Maryland Monday. Pretty good. Whether I quit Heartland or not I want to get a good week in so I don't miss a paycheck if I move. Right now I'll have about 1400 miles when I get to Maryland sometime Tuesday.

I didn't write that to "argue" with you either.. but I'd hate for you to quit Heartland paying .40+?? cpm and 34hrs a week at home for a company/ operation where you get a shinny truck( which you can't eat) and .25cpm. but home every other night. ( Unless you're ok with that).. it's just the idea that someone is gonna pay you $1.07 a mile to drive THEIR truck is kinda insane- I've talked to several drivers since I've read that-- and we all agree-- other than "show freight" or other "sensitive cargo" there's nothing going into Florida paying $4.00 + a mile. If this guy is really going to pay you THAT much- you better keep quiet about the name of that outfit before you get jumped and someone grabs your job out from under you.

Welcome to trucking-- where different cargo/loads DO pay wildly different rates- where weight does make a difference both with how much a load pays & costs to move. When they tell you what the load pays per mile they are usually talking in terms of what the broker is paying or what the customer is paying to the TRUCK(Them)- they expect you to do the math and figure YOUR 25% of that.

When companies pay a company driver % of the NET. All this really means is they take out the fuel before giving you YOUR cut. It's not a true % of the NET because they don't take out for maintenance, permits, truck payment etc. Just the usual & customary expenses that are VARIABLE on that particular load. Except for certain cases: Like if you curb a tire, bend a rim. You know the owner isn't gonna swallow that expense- it's coming out of YOUR percentage. Or damages to the truck. Or another big example: Lumper Fee. If the owner can't get the Broker or Shipper to pay it as a "accessory charge" -- and you still don't want to unload it YOURSELF-- guess who's % that will come out of?

After consulting with several driver friends of mine-- we've concluded just about the only trucking areas we can think of that still pay company drivers % is mostly flat bed & bulk hauling. These areas have the least amount of variable expenses( no lumpers, no reefer fuel ) so drivers can more accuately predict what their bottom line is going to be.

I don't know if you can do this- as you're hiring on as a 'hand' but if you were going to sign on a lease or lease YOUR truck to a company-- you could ask to see their Freight RATES- their books-- to get an idea of how much certain loads are going to pay- as well as get an idea of where you want to run to- to be in a position to move their better paying freight. Otherwords, find out up front what markets are "backhaul" markets and what regions to avoid.

[millersod215]

I haven't read the whole thread, and maybe i missed this info. on the new job, but another thing you have to consider is if it's a 1099 job, just by the little bit i've read, with the percentage pay, small company atmosphere, and some of the other policies, it seems to me like this is the type of company to offer that kind of work. In the end it's ultimately your decission, but like i said in an earlier post, i've come across the "grass is greener" type job in the past, that notion bit me in the ass and i had to struggle through a lot of hard times because of it, just my 2 cents........

[seadawg]

Howdy y'all,sitting in another truck stop and been reading all I could about Heartland,seems like they have a decent SE regional out of Atlanta,GA(I live out of Augusta,GA).P A's experience doesn't seem to be a bad one and I'm tired of not going home for 3 weeks at a time.Some of the things that I didn't like was them searching trucks,would really like to hear from some others that know about Heartland,got over 6 years good clean driving,got Hazmat,tanker,hauled gas local for a year,then decided I wanted to be back on the road,now,I need(more than want)to be home or close to home more often.Hey someone give me a shout,be safe and God bless.

[1catfish]

hey, where did all the heartland drivers go? need some updates of how things are going lately. just curious.

[P A Frederick]

Howdy fellers! Been a long time since I wrote it about anything. I've been busier than I can stand!

I ended up going to the smaller company in Knoxville. In ways it was better, ways worse. The pay was 25% before expenses and I did pull some really, really good paying stuff for them. I was in Knoxville once during the week, and off every weekend (except one when I delivered a load in San Antonio out of Kville) and I volunteered for that. There were bad points that are too numerous to mention, but I wouldn't recommend anyone go to work for them. If you need to know their name (they only hire out of Knoxville and only have about 6 trucks) PM me and I'll warn you. Things like: not looking for you a load until you were empty (and then getting screwed on your pay because of it), running WAY too hard, broke down equipment (most of it was junk they refused to fix), dispatcher flat out lying to you (and he was the man in charge), etc. Overall it was a good learning experience, but not a good working one!

Anyway, my family and I moved back to Southern Illinois in February and couldn't be happier! I was going to drive for a farmer (hopper bottom, $15 an hour, no time and a half though) but the roads were closed when I moved and grain prices fell. I got a job instead in a factory making grain handling equipment. I'm operating a press brake and making 12.73 an hour, working 50-60 hour weeks (gotta love the time and a half) and have good benefits and a laid-back working environment. It was tough getting used to standing and walking all day, but my back and hips feel tons better than sitting in a bouncing truck! I also enjoy being home with my family, coon hunting every night (I'm not even joking) and being closer to our extended family.

Also, when I was in the truck I had no time to attend church or do really anything in the church (I did move to TN to attend Bible college after all). Since we moved I am now the youth pastor at my home church and the choir director. Everything is working out nicely.

As far as Heartland, I would recommend them for the terminal I ran out of (Kingsport, TN), but I can't for the others as I know nothing about them except here-say. I did get home 3 out of 4 weekends, ran my 2000+ a week and the people were decent to me. I'm sorry that I don't have anyone's number who I worked with so I don't know the latest on them.

After thinking about BIG companies, here are some general pointers I think work well. they may not work for everyone, and I might be flat-out wrong about some of them.

1. Don't pick a company with the closest terminal more than 100 miles from your house. What if you get fired/quit, how you gonna get home? My wife came and got me from Kingsport (they were very good about it when I turned in my notice).

2. Pick a company with a good smattering of terminals that offer showers, fuel, laundry, etc. It's nice to know you won't have to fight a truck stop in Atlanta or somewhere due to the terminal parking.

3. Pick a company that takes a little pride in the appearance of the trucks. No off colored bumpers or dirty filthy trucks. We had to wash at the terminals if they weren't froze or broke ( and they were good about fixing them there).

4. Pick a company where the dispatchers have worked there a while. My dispatcher had been with Heartland since they bought out A&M or whoever had the Kingsport terminal before them. He worked for that company 11 years before that as dispatcher, and for Mason Dixon for close to 10 as a dispatcher before that. He knew what he was doing.

5. Don't pick a company who's trucks you hardly ever see in your hometown (if you have several industries there). This is a sign, you won't get home!

6. Don't pick a company until you talk to 5+ of their drivers first! Buy them a cup of coffee and pick their brain about the pros/cons of the co. Remember, anyone can have a good or bad day/week and be really up or really down on the company, thats why I suggest at least 5. I didn't do this with Heartland, but I guess I still got lucky.

********

Hopefully these little tips will help some drivers. They aren't set in stone, but they may be of some use.

I'll still be checking in from time to time on here. Keep up the good work on the roads. Those that can live OTR have both my respect and sympathy. I respect the fact you can do it, but I feel sorry for you having to live in a truck. I know many, many people chose this lifestyle, but it's not for me.

God bless you and yours. Be safe, have fun, don't do anything stupid!

[BigWheels]

Good advice and good to hear things are working out for you!

[Phreddo]

PA> it sounds like you found what you were looking for.
I think trucking is something many people should try, but it's not a career for all those people.
I've seen guys who are born to drive, and I work with guys who should have gotten out years ago.
For me, personally, I've gotten into a local position so I can make a living and be with my family. But I know I won't drive forever. I'd rather have more time than money, and if I could work 40 hours a week and make 10% less than I do now, I'd do it in a shot.
But you'll never know until you have to do it.
Good luck with the new job, and don't be surprised when you start to get the itch for the open road. It's why we got into the truck in the first place.

[geeshock]

hope all goes well for you. those recommendations are good ones, I generally follow them except in this case where I had to go with what came my way. As stated in the last post, some are cut for this industry and some aren't. As for me my only regret is I didn't get into it right after I got out of the Navy, lol. I couldn't see myself doing anything else now.

[bentstrider]

hope all goes well for you. those recommendations are good ones, I generally follow them except in this case where I had to go with what came my way. As stated in the last post, some are cut for this industry and some aren't. As for me my only regret is I didn't get into it right after I got out of the Navy, lol. I couldn't see myself doing anything else now.

I especially agree with #5.
I never knew Victorville was such a major hub for deliveries.
At least that gives me plenty of opportunities to get myself out of here once the time is right.

[Trucker4Life01]

i never knew that about victorville either till i worked for marten and prime and i lived in hesperia i was home once a week now i drive a super10 locally

[1catfish]

I especially agree with #5.
I never knew Victorville was such a major hub for deliveries.
At least that gives me plenty of opportunities to get myself out of here once the time is right.

there is a pilot at the shelbyville,in. exit, off of 74, there must be a kroger dc or something back off the road where you can't see it. because there is crap load of england's and marten trucks coming and going all night. also seen us express tractor's pulling kroger trailer's.

[rwethereyet]

there is a pilot at the shelbyville,in. exit, off of 74, there must be a kroger dc or something back off the road where you can't see it. because there is crap load of england's and marten trucks coming and going all night. also seen us express tractor's pulling kroger trailer's.

There is a walmart distribution center down that road that moves frozen and perishable food.