Liquid trucking (OFC/ Schmidt/Barto)

Well I've been here a year and thought I'd leave an honest review like I did Heartland express. They are an OTR tank outfit based just south of Omaha, NE with about 150 drivers. Home weekends if you live in their hiring area (Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, South Dakota, and Chicago land) or you can live anywhere and get home less frequently. We will start with the bad, because there's not much.

THE BAD
The trucks are cheap. It's mainly glider kit Columbia's and Cascadia's. They just got some new automatic Volvo's but they aren't that great. I have a Columbia and it could really use some more HP lol. Sometimes I wish I had a nicer truck...but if that's my only complaint I'll just live with it. They are maintained very well also.

THE GOOD
PAYCHECKS-They tell you to expect 64k your first year. I did just under 70k. Guys with a few years experience can make 80 or more. They pay BY THE HOUR. All hours worked. Even on duty. Pre/post trip, fuel, washout, load, unload...just put yourself on duty and your getting paid. I have heard this will change soon, and they will take pre/post trip and fuel out because so many guys milk the clock...but they are going to pay more on the drive time so it should even out. They also pay $196 to do a 34 hour reset on the road.

THEY RUN YOU-this is probably why the cheap truck doesn't bother me...I'm never in the bunk! Most days you run at least 12 hours, but usually 14 and take a 10-11 hour break. When you're empty they have a new load for you. We don't sit. Ever.

CONSISTENCY-Start the same time every day, end the same time every day. 6-8, 7-9, 8-10. No switching from days to nights. No sitting in the bunk till noon for "trip planing" reasons or watever. Consistent home time as well. Usually it's Friday night or Saturday morning. Ask for time off? They give it to you. No jerking you around or lying. They just get you home.

FRIENDLY-This is a big one for me. There's lots of tank outfits out there, but what really does it for me is the atmosphere. Everyone that works here are just decent folks. The safety guys are awesome. Probably the coolest people you could ask for (as far as safety nerds go lol). Dispatchers are pretty fun guys. Mechanics are easy to get along with (and do good work). It really has an "old school" kinda feel. Probably as close to old school trucking as you will find in 2018. Hell, the owner built a bar right behind the yard (and his house) where they all hang out at. If your ever at the yard for a service or something, they will give you a free meal over at the bar. When I was in orientation the safety guy gave me 3 meal tickets. They even have a few company cars that they will let u take and drive around if you're up at the yard.

ORIENTATION/TRAINING- they let me rent a car to drive up to the yard (200+ miles). No stupid bus ticket. When I got up there and turned the rental in they gave me a company car. Orientation lasted a few hours. Just filling out paperwork and drug test. Training was riding with a local driver for 2 weeks and learning the ins and outs of tanking. It was returning to the yard every night and driving my company car to the motel. No sharing a truck at night!

CONCLUSION- I really like this place guys (if you can't tell). I'm also not some company kiss butt (please read my review of Heartland express for proof). Tanks are better than dry van. I could do a whole thread about why but just trust me, it's 100 times more fun. More respect and pay. Less down time. 48 ft trailer vs 53 (makes tight backs at truck stops very easy) there is a bit of physical labor involved but nothing intense. Slight learning curve, but once your passed it you'll wonder why you ever pulled a stupid van. I know I did. Lucy's out...drive safe

 

Thanks lonesome! I always love seeing you rib people in the bad company section for posts like "BIGS TRUCKING MACON GEORGIA DON'T CARE BOUT DIVERS WON'T PAY FOR LOADS U RUN THEN ASK U TO BUY FUEL FOR TRUCK ASKED TO GET HOME FOR WIFE'S SURGERY SAID NO PROB STILL AIN'T HOME WIFE IN SURGERY NOW STAY AWAY!"

 

Well haul all kinds of products. Really depends on the season. Molasses, fertilizer, corn/soybean oil and a little hazmat. I think we go to CF it sounds familiar