Freight division.

Discussion in 'Con-Way' started by jakebrake12, Apr 11, 2010.

  1. drgeerjmmr

    drgeerjmmr Bobtail Member

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    Rumrunner- the city is all hourly, where as linehaul is milage when driving and hourly for everything else. Every terminal is different but at mine you would most likely start off at linehaul. Lots of guys by me want city so more runs are available at night. I could do flex city right now but choose to do linehaul because it seems to work better for me.
    As for driving test- you will most likely have to come back to take it after your initial interview. They do the interview first which is pretty basic, and than the drug test and dot physical. After you clear all that they will put you in a truck for road test. It all happens pretty quick though. Couple days or so. My road test was simple. Hooked to a pup and drove around a bit. It was the first time I drove a 7 speed and so was uncomfortable, but overall they understand and so are not overly critical. They are most likely looking for other things such as turns and curbing and such. Make sure you know what you are doing and that you will not hit anything. I was used to pulling a 53 footer so my first turn with a pup I was about 5 feet away from the curb so it was kinda humorous.
    This job is much better than OTR- a lot of guys get hung up on some of the questionable practices and complain alot, but I do not see a lot of guys leaving. You can make good money with descent benifits and be home everyday and off on weekends. Overall its kinda an easy job too.
    Hope this helps.
     
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  3. jakebrake12

    jakebrake12 Road Train Member

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    From your location I'm guessing you'll be at the Milton/New Columbia, Pa terminal. Word has it they cannot cover all their freight since they're so short on drivers so you'll move right on up the board there as they hire drivers. I have no idea if you'll be on days or nights but at a high volume line-haul terminal like that you'll probably be on nights or days with no switching back and forth - either way you'll make some money. They have a big city territory over there and a ton of line-haul. Day line-haul goes to Lordstown and Lodi, Oh and night line-haul runs are Carlstadt, NJ, Lordstown, Oh, Pittsburgh (Irwin), Pa, Albany, NY, Hagerstown, Md and Newburgh, NY which they send a ton of drivers to nightly. Just me thinking out loud but if you're on nights you'll probably go to Newburgh most of the time since they send so many drivers up there already and need more to cover all the freight they're supposed to.

    Hope that helps a little.. Keep us posted..
     
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  4. IwaNNaFlatb3d

    IwaNNaFlatb3d Bobtail Member

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    WooHoo! Just got back from my road test/drug screen/physical and everything went great. I got to drive one of the new Freightliners that Conway just purchased which was really nice! Alot nicer than the trucks at the school! The gentlemen that took me out was really nice and reaffirmed the fact that Conway is an excellent company to be with. I can't wait to get started! Just waiting of them to get a copy of my MVR back and I will be an official employee of Conway. I'll will definetly keep everyone posted here on how my experience goes with getting started with Conway. I've never been excited to go to work as much as I am right now! Thank you to everyone that's posted on here (especially you Jakebreak) it has been a tremendous help in deciding where to start my new career.
     
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  5. jakebrake12

    jakebrake12 Road Train Member

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    Uh oh - you can't kill me if you don't like it though..hahaha..
     
  6. ronrdrcr

    ronrdrcr Light Load Member

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    After reading all of the negative posts on this board about the blood sucking companies, I started to change my mind about going into trucking when I seperate from the Coast Guard next year. I looked into MMI for motorcycle tech training but then read in other places that you get hired after $25k worth of school making $8 /hr for a couple of years. Can't support a wife and two kids on that.

    I was very happy to find these Conway threads and you guys that love them so much. There are a few job postings up for the Tampa area and I think I might give them a call and talk with them while I am there on vacation this year.

    Do any of you know if they accept trainees from vocational schools. There is a school within 15 miles of the house I'll be moving to that I want to attend to get my CDL. I already have my permit, but I want to attend a vocational school because I don't like the ideology of the cdl mills in the area.

    I will be keeping my eyes on these posts and will also let you guys know if I actually go to them. The wife isn't too keen on me getting out at 10 years, but understands how much I don't like my job right now. I need to be out doing something, not sitting behind a desk answering phone calls from people who shouldn't be out on the water in the first place.

    Ron
     
  7. jakebrake12

    jakebrake12 Road Train Member

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    Hehehe.. I'm pretty sure I speak for almost every driver at Con-way Freight when I say we do not love them at all but are willing to put up with the rules/policies/silliness on a daily basis because they pay very well, are a solid company in a volatile LTL market, and we're home daily.

    Don't get me wrong, I like working here and really like my current run but it's no walk in the park starting out. This company isn't for every driver but if you can ignore the B.S. it's a top 5 driving job in my opinion in an industry with thousands of companies. The bottom line is the bottom line - they pay well, pay you for everything, and rather than focusing on cuts they're improving service times, hiring people, updating equipment, and updating technology.

    BTW, they do hire students in some locations. They are generally the larger facilities like Hagerstown, Md, Indy, and say Fremont, In.. Not sure about Tampa though..
     
  8. ronrdrcr

    ronrdrcr Light Load Member

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    You know, that follows pretty close to what I was reading on CAD. According to the ads they placed for Tampa and Orlando, there were no requirements listed as far as previous driving experience, only that you had a CDL.

    Ron
     
  9. IwaNNaFlatb3d

    IwaNNaFlatb3d Bobtail Member

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    Ron,
    I can definitely relate to where you are at right now in your situation. I was having a hard time dealing with my current job and have always been 'interested' in truck driving.

    I went through a local college to get my training, and with just that experience I am going to be starting my new career with Conway. I believe that it's best to get your CDL on your own so you don't 'owe' anyone your time like you do with these big companies having to sign a contract with them. I have been reading this forum for a long time reading about all the horror stories with the big companies. Then just like you I came across Conway and started reading about them. Everything I've read has been positive. Reading about Jakebreak's experience really sparked my interest. I will definitely keep you posted on how my experience goes with my start with Conway.

    Stay tuned for more soon to come...
     
  10. mchid81

    mchid81 Bobtail Member

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    Hi everyone. I had a few questions about getting started with conway ltl. I have been driving for a little over 10 years starting out with a uniform company running routes with step vans and straight trucks with anywhere to 25 to 50 stops a day. For the last 2 years I have been driving for an electrical distributor with 26' non cdl straight trucks averaging 15 to 20 stops a day. Does anyone know anything about the columbus, ohio location and if they offer the apprentice program? Or would I have luck getting my cdl through a local driving school (roadmasters) and try to get hired with my previous experience? Can you get trained at another location and work from the local one? I really enjoy driving trucks for a living and would love to work for an ltl company.

    Mark
     
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  11. jakebrake12

    jakebrake12 Road Train Member

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    I'm really not sure who has the program and who doesn't. The best way to find out would be to contact the terminal. I have not been to the Columbus facility in years but it's a large facility and might offer the program.
     
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