3 Ways to Avoid Truck Stop Turkey on Thanksgiving

18 Wheels of Justice Proudly Presents…Trucking Legends 

800-500-3089

Memphis, TN

1. Call Empire or click on any Empire logo to go to website.
2. Fill out Application.
3. Work for Empire.

Empire Express - Memphis, TN only hires drivers in specific areas for a reason.  They get you home when they say they will.  To find out more - read on...



Empire Express began by listening to and embracing an idea from one of their own: a loyal driver.

 

Mr. Ed Gatlin founded and developed a successful automotive refrigerant business, lg-Lo Products Corp.  It was so successful; that the company caught the eye of the Valvoline Oil Company in 1985, and Valvoline made an offer to Ed he couldn’t refuse.

Now, the way I understand it, lg-Lo had a private fleet of 12 trucks at the time, Valvoline realized it wasn’t tough enough for the trucking business and didn’t want to continue to run the private fleet.  Luckily, one of his best drivers (who was also about to be out of a job) approached Ed about starting a trucking company.  Ed decided to try his hand at the “For Hire” trucking business for a few years.  In 1989, Mr. Tim Gatlin, with a belly full of fire and a love for the trucking business, took over and the business grew from 8 trucks to the proud 194 trucks under his careful watch today. 

18 Wheels of Justice likes it when the owners of a trucking company use specific numbers when they are talking about trucks and drivers.  It says a lot about the person, the company and the overall attitude of things there. 

We’ve done this long enough to know whether the owners, managers and dispatchers have a handle on things at their company after the first few minutes of talking to them.  And quite frankly, we are hearing loud & clear that Empire Express in Memphis is running an outstanding outfit.

We were fortunate enough to get a few minutes of Mr. Tim Gatlin’s time to answer some questions for the 18 Wheels of Justice Staff about Empire Express in Memphis (please see excerpts from the interview below).

Mr. Gatlin, thank you for joining us today.  We have heard many good things about you and Empire Express, and we are honored to finally have the chance to speak with you here at 18 Wheels of Justice HQ.  

Now, Empire Express has been in business for 27 years, a big milestone in our industry.  What do you attribute your long term success too?

Empire specializes in safety and time – sensitive freight.  Over 50% of our business is packaged chemicals and 40% is JIT or time sensitive.  This has been our focus for over 20 years and we have a very strong loyal customer base because we deliver the safe, on-time performance they demand. 

Empire is in the top 10% in terms of driver retention in our industry, this is among the best of the best of low driver turnover rates in the country.  Why do drivers who begin with Empire stay so long? 

They stay because of the way they are treated.  We know at Empire Express, without the drivers, we wouldn’t have Empire Express. We have created and encourage a driver-friendly culture.

What is so great about Empire Express for drivers?

They are a name, not a truck number. They get the miles, get paid and get home. During the recruiting process, we make sure the driver lives in an ideal place to get him home regularly.  We know home time with family and friends is so important.  Our customers’ freight is also driver friendly, no-touch high velocity freight. 

Pay per mile is one thing, but miles are important also.  The 18 Wheels of Justice Audience takes their careers seriously and they like to run and not sit when out on the road.  What kind of miles can drivers expect? 

2500 – 3000 per week.

Can they depend on the operations staff to get the miles and get them home when they need to be?

Absolutely! We offer a great pay package, “Pay for Performance”.  Every six months our drivers are evaluated on their performance in Safety, Service and Miles.  The majority of our drivers average over 2,500 miles per week, are safe, and deliver on-time.  This performance qualifies them for the top pay level which helps us retain the top performers and attract other top drivers to Empire. 

Mr. Gatlin, we can’t thank you enough for sharing your story about Empire with us today.  That sounds like quite an operation you have there in Memphis.  How can drivers and operators get a hold of your company? 

They can call our Recruiting Line at 800-500-3089 or visit our website at www.EmpireExpress.com.  Thank you for having us. (Please click on the Empire logos or photo and it will take you directly to the Empire Website)

COPYRIGHT 2012 - 18 WHEELS OF JUSTICE©

How to Stop Unreasonable Child Support Deductions From Your Check in 2012

Return to 18 Wheels of Justice Home
How to Resolve Child Support Issues - There is a Solution
At trucking companies across the nation, many dispatchers, recruiters and operations managers often wonder why a recently hired driver suddenly quits after a few months.  Everybody seemed to like him, he did a good job, he seemed to like working at your company.

Suddenly a notice comes in the mail to payroll to deduct for past due child support from the state.  It’s different in every state of course, but it typically is such a large amount that it is hard for the driver to live and have this amount “deducted” from his pay.  This notice usually arrives somewhere between one to four months after starting employment, depending on the state, your companies reporting schedule, what day of the quarter the driver started, etc.

A lot of good drivers leave a lot of good companies after a few months and move to the next one.  Some go to companies where they are paid cash or with a 1099, frequently for less pay. 

So… What is a driver or employer to do?  Everyone should pay child support; it’s the right and honorable thing to do.  That is a given.  A lot of smart divorce attorneys manage to have “alimony” or “spousal maintenance” classified as child support at the time of divorce.  This makes it collectable by the state.  This is a questionable practice, but it is done by divorce attorneys every day.  To try and get this amount changed after a divorce is impossible.  I know in the state of Missouri there is a six month waiting list to even talk to someone about a setting up a time for a hearing.  

This article is not about the inherent bias in the legal system against fathers, but the intent is to make the outcome of divorce and ensuing child support workable for our drivers who find themselves in this situation.
 

Recruiters and HR Mangers at every trucking company need to be prepared to address and handle this with every driver who starts at your company.

Every Driver who has this issue following them needs to know that there is a solution to it, and it’s a lot easier than you may think. A lot of recruiters/HR Managers I know have responded negatively to my comments, and refer to drivers child support as none of their business and the driver just needs to pay it. 

Having arrears in child support doesn’t make anyone irresponsible nor a bad parent or person for that matter.  The system has worked against fathers for decades and many have tried in the past to resolve it, hit a brick wall and decided there was nothing that could be done about it.  And they were probably right. 

A lot has changed recently and now is the perfect time to address it and put it behind you.

First of all, from the human resources perspective, you are helping your driver.  This is what you should to be doing from a personal and professional perspective.

Second of all, as Human Resources professional, this is your responsibility as far as I’m concerned.  If an employee has an issue that is affecting his job and tenure at your company, you should have a program in place to help them.  This should be addressed during the onboarding process.  Reach out and take action, help your fellow man and build a relationship.

Finally, you are helping the children involved by making consistent
child support payments a reality.

The Solution

Nearly every state will adjust the deduction.  There are phone numbers you can call where you can explain to them why you can’t afford the $300, $500 or more per week (usually its current child support plus arrears) they want to deduct and they will adjust it.  This is not an official reduction of the amount owed, just an informal adjustment of what they will take out every week. In my experience the state will adjust it to a “livable” amount, $75 to $150 per week depending on salary, number of children, etc.  This is usually accomplished within a week’s time frame.  I have listed the numbers of the Child Support Agencies in each state below.  All it takes is a phone call; just let them know you want to address current or future deductions being taken out of your check.

You can make a big difference in your life or your driver’s life, and children’s lives today by reaching out and helping yourself or your drivers… 

ALABAMA 334-242-9300 mina.roussell@dhr.alabama.gov

ALASKA907-269-6832    david.tredway@alaska.gov

ARIZONA602-252-4045   dmoring@azdes.gov

ARKANSAS 501-682-6828 mary.e.smith@ocse.state.ar.us

CALIFORNIA 888-898-1745

COLORADO 303-866-4300 csecustomerservice@state.co.us

CONNECTICUT 860-424-4989, option 2

DELAWARE 302-577-7171 www.dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dcse/index.html

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 202-724-2254 artish.jacobs@dc.gov

FLORIDA 850-617-8099 csepassportdenial@dor.state.fl.us

GEORGIA 404-657-3869 csetaxoffset@dhr.state.ga.us

HAWAII 808-692-7000 wayne.y.izumi@hawaii.gov

IDAHO 208-334-5715

ILLINOIS 217-785-0283

INDIANA 317-234-5700, option 3

IOWA 515-242-6003

KANSAS 785-296-2089

KENTUCKY 502-564-2285 doris.moore@ky.gov

LOUISIANA 225-342-4780225 carol.dewitt@la.gov

MAINE 207-624-4111 kathy.levesque@maine.gov

MARYLAND 800-332-6347

MASSACHUSETTS 617-626-4156 glavin@dor.state.ma.us

MICHIGAN 517-373-2932

MINNESOTA 651-431-4400

MISSISSIPPI 601-359-4879 temekka.williams@mdhs.state.ms.us

MISSOURI 866-313-9960

MONTANA 406-444-3739 cstclair@mt.us

NEBRASKA 402-471-1400 julie.lavicky@nebraska.gov

NEVADA 775-684-0704 cse@dwss.nv.gov https://dwss.nv.gov/

NEW HAMPSHIRE 603-271-4680 http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dcbcs/beas/nhcp/contact.htm

NEW JERSEY 609-631-2670 dfd-lien-levy@dhs.state.nj.us

NEW MEXICO 800-288-7207 (In State)800-585-7631 unit.intercept@state.nm.us

OHIO 800-686-1556

OKLAHOMA 405-522-0028 melody.rotan@okdhs.org

OREGON 503-373-7300 sccuquestions@doj.state.or.us

PENNSYLVANIA 800-932-0211 ra-crbcse@pa.gov

RHODE ISLAND 401-458-4400 richildsupport@cse.state.ri.us

SOUTH CAROLINA 803-898-9314 glenn.hastie@dss.sc.gov

SOUTH DAKOTA700 605-773-3641 kathryn.piersol@state.sd.us

TENNESSEE 800-838-6911 edward.canaday@tn.us

TEXAS 800-252-8014

UTAH 801-536-8500 ext. 22301 cdmiller@utah.gov

VERMONT 802-241-2180

VIRGINIA 800-468-8894 www.dss.virginia.gov/family/dcse.html

VIRGIN ISLANDS 340-775-3070 ext. 5008

WASHINGTON 360-664-5350 lsc@dshs.wa.gov

WEST VIRGINIA 800-249-3778 www.wvdhhr.org/bcse/

WISCONSIN 608-266-9909 marc.dibernardo@wisconsin.gov

WYOMING 307-777-6948 brenda.lyttle@wyo.gov

©18 Wheels of Justice 2012

Happy Veteran's Day

Happy Veterans Day!

18 Wheels of Justice would like to express our sincere gratitude to all who have served and are currently serving our beloved country protecting our citizen’s rights and freedom! God Bless America and the Armed Forces! For all our veterans returning from service, and returning to a slow economy, the trucking industry is hiring and training drivers. Becoming an OTR Driver is full of opportunities, good pay and security. There are many opportunities to buy your own truck and become an owner opportunity after a few years. The future is bright for you in our Industry!

I was blessed with spending opening week-end deer season with my Dad, two of my brothers and my 10 Year old son, Joe, at our family farm in Northern Missouri. After a very enjoyable week-end, my son and I embarked on our two-hour journey home on a rural two lane highway. With a ten year old boy, many rapid fire conversation start and stop abruptly, change course and reignite later at random times. One of many conversations involved the lines on the two lane highway. What do the dotted lines mean? Can I change the radio station? Why is there a dotted line next to a solid line? Look at that cow… Why are there two solid lines? Dad? Why didn’t they make this highway wider?

They made the lanes wide enough for a truck to safely haul freight.

Joe: Why is a truck that wide?

Because the machines they used to make railroad cars are the same machines they used to make trucks and trailers with.

Joe: Why are railroad cars that wide?

The axles and tools that were used to make wagon axles were used to make railroad car axles.

Joe: Why were the wagons that wide?

Because of the Romans

Joe: What does this have to do with Bible?

Nothing, the Roman Empire built Chariots and all of the major roads throughout Rome and much of Europe, and wagon axles were built the same width as the chariots. That way the wagon wheels would fit in the ruts that already existed in the road. The wagons would ride level and the wagon wheels wouldn’t break in a rut.

Joe: Do you mean the rut during deer season?

Not that rut, a rut in the road.

Joe: Ok, then why did the Romans build the Chariots that wide?

Roman Emperor Julius Caesar declared that all official Roman Chariots be built to the width of two horses. There has to be a standard width or nobody would be able to fit on the roads, it would be chaos.

Joe: Hmm. Look at that cow over there…