Company
Overview

About Heartland Express

http://www.heartlandexpress.com/
Transportation
4050 Employees
Type: Company - Public
North Liberty, IA
Heartland Express is a leading transportation company known for its dedication to safety and reliability. With a strong presence in the trucking industry, Heartland Express offers a variety of career opportunities for those seeking to advance their professional journey. The company prides itself on providing a supportive work environment where employees can grow and thrive. Heartland Express values its team members, offering competitive benefits and a commitment to professional development. Joining Heartland Express means becoming part of a company that prioritizes excellence and teamwork. The company offers a range of positions, from driving to logistics, ensuring that each role contributes to the overall success of the business. Heartland Express is dedicated to helping its employees achieve their career goals while maintaining a positive and inclusive workplace culture.

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What are people saying about working at Heartland Express?

Heartland Express is praised for its family-oriented culture and good equipment, but drivers often criticize low pay, limited work, and strict policies. Mixed reviews highlight both positive aspects like good training and attentive dispatch, and negatives such as misleading pay guarantees and limited home time.

Heartland Express Reviews

Great company

09/20/2024 - North Liberty, IA


Pros

Great company. Family oriented. Take care of you if you put in the time.


Cons

Tough industry but not a knock on the company.

Well organized

07/14/2024 - Tacoma, WA


Pros

Good equipment, no surprises with this company


Cons

There's a lack of upward trajectory

Don't believe their recruiters lies

05/15/2025 - Iowa City, IA


Pros

If you want to make minimum wage and sit in a truck for days waiting to work for a few hours for $16 an hour, Heartland Express is for you.


Cons

Minimum wage at best, if you don't count the days you spend waiting for a load in a truck stop with over priced food.

This company could do better

05/18/2025 - Medford, OR


Pros

Flexibility in drive area: Regional, 11 Western States, OTR. All are attached to different pay scales per mile.Pays after 1 hour of detention at receiver or shipper.Nice, newer trucks.Benefits are ok. Industry standard.Breakdown pay, Layover pay.


Cons

"Guaranteed Pay" is NOT guaranteed. It can be withdrawn if you have a service failure (1 minute late to an appointment), or an extra circumstantial breakdown that they feel is not their fault, or you take 1 minute more than your allotted home time, etc. It is merely a "Performance Pay" and is misleading.Not all dispatchers/operations care to talk to drivers. I find 50% of them will talk down to you if you don't understand their instructions the first time or if you have questions they feel are beneath them and unnecessary. They will do everything to give you the minimum info they can, as fast as they can, then hang up. I have found my own manager to be tolerable, but when he/she sticks up for this awful treatment of drivers and gives excuses, I like them a lot less everyday. I'm not impressed with the professionalism of some operations departments. I will exclude senior management from this, every one I have talked with has been pleasant and easy to talk to. Many are nice and helpful, but its the few that can really skew a driver's attitude for the rest of the day.Even if their navigation takes you on a longer route, the driver manager cannot make any changes to the pay "stated" in the dispatch. All extra miles are on the driver. I have found the routes I have to take to match their dispatch are quite often not suitable for trucks. You will drive more than they pay you, significantly.Additionally, if you decide not to follow your dispatched route on the ELD, you will be considered off route and could potentially lose your "not so guaranteed pay" if anything happens to you or your truck while off route.You will work 70 hours a week and only get paid for your dispatched miles. You do the math. I only average 1700 miles/week. I work everything they send me (unless HOS won't allow it). I do not turn down work and this is the best they can give me for miles. Sometimes, I get better miles, but rarely. It only bumps the average a little bit.If your truck is in the shop for more than 4 days they will assign you to another truck out of any terminal they have within the US. Even if your truck is out the next (5th) day they will not let you back into your previous truck that still has all of your stuff in it. You must move all of your things to your new truck on your own time and at the companies earliest convenience. They do not allow you to borrow a truck. If you choose not to move trucks, you will be completely on your own for hotels and other accommodations, breakdown pay and "guananteed pay" will be forfeit. Had to spend the night in my car because I wouldn't move trucks.

2yrs at Heartland

05/18/2025 - North Liberty, IA


Pros

Steady miles and pay, I understood the assignment. Professionals made my productivity count. I made bank there.


Cons

None for me, I'd still be there if not for this 154" sleeper my partner and I are lounging in these days. I left for family matter.

It was ok

04/13/2025 - Alvarado, TX


Pros

Nice staff, nice trucks, majority terminals clean


Cons

Pay was very lowNot much workWhen there is work they will try to send you out of your area zone you applied forYou will most likely get stuck if you accept a load out of your area zone and wont make it back home for your weekly home time

Promises, Promises, Promises !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

06/15/2024 - North Liberty, IA


Pros

I drove for CFI for 23 months from Novemeber2021- October 2023 I saw Heartland Express acquired CFI for $525 million dollars one of the biggest acquisitions ever in the trucking industry. I admit that I felt my heart sank when I heard the news on Mothertrucker news on Youtube. My miles were very inconsistent at CFI in the last six months with CFI I cleared $1000 dollars only six times my average paycheck was around $750 a week so I visited my first Heartland Express terminal in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee and I saw a banner talking about the Pay Protection Program at the time I was OTR with CFI they promised 1200 a week minimum for USA division. In orientation at Heartland Express Wayne stated that the only requirements were be available for five days and do not refuse any loads, however this was too good to be true he forgot to mention that you could only be off the road for 48 hours tops. So basically tell me you don't want me to take home time without telling me you don't want me to take home time. It never failed, anytime it was time for me to go home suddenly they had difficulty finding me a load to get me home. Sure the terminals are nice but I would like to see a bigger paycheck than a fancy terminal. I decided on May 23rd that I had enough of Heartlands nonsense and their treatment of drivers so I parked my truck in Mt Juliet got a Uber to Nashville caught a Greyhound back home and the rest is history.


Cons

Lack of pay Lack of support Lack of freight when heading home Overworked Under paid

Needed emergency time off

03/15/2025 - Phoenix, AZ


Pros

Orientation was ok. The trainer was awesome. There needs to be more training on the isaac eld system. It's not that difficult to learn but they give you a crash course on it. My problem was that my mom had a medical emergency that sent her to the hospital and I needed time off . The manager allowed me to have a few days off but around the 4th day I was asked when I would be returning I said in a week. I was told that they only allowed 4 days. I'm thinking ok I'll tell my mother to only have a stroke on the weekends. She also has severe kidney disease and a few other problems. So at that moment I knew that the the caring about drivers was not true. The cherry on top was that I was paid 9.33 cents for a liad from Tolleson to tucson. It paid 114 miles so I saw 47 dollars. After taxes it was 9.33 dollars. Uhg. My moms health is more important to me than the job. No one asked if everything was ok . Just when are you returning. I understand it's a business and the wheels need to be rolling but only 4 days . I just needed some time to sort things out fir my mom. So I quit.


Cons

Not enough training on the isaac . Just needed some time off to attend to my mother.

Decent

03/21/2025 - San Bernardino, CA


Pros

Good equipment, good people. Dispatch is attentive and friendly.


Cons

Pay and miles is pretty bad. You end up jumping through hoops just to try to earn the minimum pay guarantee. Cant be home more than 48 hours, gotta have 90% refueling compliance, and a bunch of other things.

Great Training

02/20/2025 - Mobile, AL


Pros

Guarantee Pay, okay Communication, training is fantastic


Cons

Horrible Pay, Equipment, Home Time

Pretty Easy Job

11/10/2024 - Orlando, FL


Pros

You get to bob tail homeThey seem to care a lot for their drivers


Cons

Pay is pretty low when you compare to other OTR companies

Load Planner

03/11/2025 - Mount Juliet, TN


Pros

Great atmosphere, wonderful management, room for growth


Cons

Stressful situations when trying to be creative and make swaps happen between drivers.

Central Florida dedicated

02/17/2025 - Atlanta, GA


Pros

Home once a week consistent freight same customers


Cons

They kick you out of the truck once a month for an inspection. They will try to push the limits of your log book once a week.

Great company low miles

06/03/2025 - null


Pros

Well Organized company .. they get you home on time


Cons

Very low miles always around 1500 to 1800 just not great at all tbh...

Awful employers

10/04/2024 - Alvarado, TX


Pros

I would not recommend no one to work there .


Cons

They do not give second chances



Page 1
Pie chart of the distribution of reviews for Heartland Express. 5.6% of reviews are 'Neutral'. 22.2% of reviews are 'Negative'. 66.7% of reviews are 'Mixed'. 5.6% of reviews are 'Positive'.

What are popular careers at Heartland Express?

  1. CDL Driver
    CDL Drivers operate large trucks to transport goods across the country. They must follow safety regulations and ensure timely delivery of cargo.
    Find CDL Driver jobs


  2. Maintenance Technician
    Maintenance Technicians keep vehicles in top condition. They perform routine checks and repairs to ensure the fleet runs smoothly.
    Find Maintenance Technician jobs


  3. Billing Specialist
    Billing Specialists handle invoicing and payments for services rendered. They ensure accuracy and timely processing of financial transactions.
    Find Billing Specialist jobs


  4. Yard Hostler
    Yard Hostlers manage the movement of trucks in and out of the yard. They coordinate with drivers to ensure efficient operations and safety.
    Find Yard Hostler jobs


  5. Sales Manager
    Sales Managers lead the sales team and develop strategies to meet business goals. They build relationships with clients and drive revenue growth.
    Find Sales Manager jobs


  6. Claims Representative
    Claims Representatives handle customer claims and inquiries. They investigate incidents and work to resolve issues fairly and efficiently.
    Find Claims Representative jobs


  7. Accounts Receivable Specialist
    Accounts Receivable Specialists manage incoming payments from customers. They ensure accurate record-keeping and timely follow-up on outstanding accounts.
    Find Accounts Receivable Specialist jobs

Where is Heartland Express hiring?

  1. Seattle, WA
    Seattle offers a vibrant work environment with a mix of urban and natural beauty. Employees enjoy a dynamic atmosphere, with plenty of opportunities for professional growth.
    Find jobs in Seattle, WA


  2. Portland, OR
    Portland provides a welcoming and progressive work culture. The city's strong community spirit and scenic landscapes make it an ideal place to build a career.
    Find jobs in Portland, OR


  3. Atlanta, GA
    Atlanta is a bustling hub with a fast-paced work environment. The city's diverse industries offer numerous opportunities for career advancement.
    Find jobs in Atlanta, GA


  4. Los Angeles, CA
    Los Angeles presents a dynamic and diverse work environment. The city's entertainment industry and vibrant culture create a unique backdrop for professional growth.
    Find jobs in Los Angeles, CA


  5. St. Louis, MO
    St. Louis offers a balanced work environment with a mix of urban and suburban settings. The city's rich history and cultural attractions make it a pleasant place to work.
    Find jobs in St. Louis, MO


  6. Redding, CA
    Redding provides a peaceful and scenic work environment. The city's natural beauty and outdoor activities offer a refreshing change from the hustle and bustle of larger cities.
    Find jobs in Redding, CA


  7. Salt Lake City, UT
    Salt Lake City offers a friendly and family-oriented work culture. The city's stunning mountain views and outdoor recreation opportunities make it an attractive place to live and work.
    Find jobs in Salt Lake City, UT


  8. Albuquerque, NM
    Albuquerque provides a unique and vibrant work environment. The city's rich cultural heritage and scenic landscapes create a distinctive backdrop for professional development.
    Find jobs in Albuquerque, NM


  9. Cleveland, OH
    Cleveland offers a resilient and hardworking work environment. The city's strong sense of community and diverse industries provide ample opportunities for career growth.
    Find jobs in Cleveland, OH


  10. Chicago, IL
    Chicago presents a dynamic and fast-paced work environment. The city's diverse industries and cultural attractions make it an exciting place to build a career.
    Find jobs in Chicago, IL

What are similar companies to Heartland Express?

  1. Southeastern Freight Lines
    Southeastern Freight Lines is a well-known trucking company. They offer freight transportation services across the United States. Their main focus is on providing reliable and timely delivery. They operate in many states, including Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.


  2. Werner Enterprises
    Werner Enterprises is a large trucking company. They provide freight transportation services nationwide. They focus on safety and efficiency. Werner Enterprises operates in many states, including Nebraska, Ohio, and Texas. They have a strong reputation in the industry.


  3. ABF Freight
    ABF Freight is a leading trucking company. They offer freight transportation services across the United States. They focus on providing high-quality service to their customers. Their operations cover many states, including California, Illinois, and New York. They are known for their commitment to safety and reliability.


  4. R+L Carriers
    R+L Carriers is a reputable trucking company. They provide freight transportation services across the United States. They focus on delivering goods on time. Their operations cover many states, including Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio. They are known for their strong customer service and dedication to safety.


  5. Marten Transport
    Marten Transport is a well-established trucking company. They offer freight transportation services across the United States. They focus on providing reliable and efficient service. Their operations cover many states, including Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois. They are known for their commitment to safety and customer satisfaction.


  6. Old Dominion Freight Line
    Old Dominion Freight Line is a major trucking company. They offer freight transportation services across the United States. They focus on delivering goods safely and on time. Their operations cover many states, including Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. They are known for their strong safety record and customer service.

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