Need advice on LTL driving jobs like ABF, UPS, Fedex, and other local jobs.

If LTL is what you really have your hopes for, try applying for UPS Freight's full-time dock worker position. The job is really easy, you drive around in a forklift all day, and top rate is $28 an hour, which is a doller less than what the P&D drivers make. And since you have a CDL, you may be able to do the yard jockey position, which would greatly improve your backing skills. It's not the drivers that do the yard jockey position, it's the dock workers that do it. So this way you can slowly transition into P&D, or linehal, if you wish, or maybe you'll like driving a forklift all day and make as much as the P&D drivers do.

Hope this helps.

 

Yes this is true, but you won't see that type of money for years, until you build seniority.

 

This is the best advice so far.
We have had several dockworker move into city positions by following these steps.
By having your CDL from the start, it may also be possible to ride with some city drivers and learn the system, and later fill in when those guys go on vacation.

 

I currently drive for R&L carriers see if they have a terminal near you. they would possibly bring you in as a combo driver work dock part day and drive the rest. They are non union. good company to drive for and really laid back. I am a p&d driver for them and paid hourly. they also have line haul that is paid by the run

 

UPS Freight has city drivers/P&D. And yes it is tractor trailer. UPS ground has the package delivery, and they are the van drivers that deliver to your door. They make just as much as the feeder drivers do, so if you want to be a feeder driver, starting off as a van driver is probably your best bet.

 

I've worked for R&L and FedEx Freight. R&L- line haul for about 2 months or so, then became a team driver dispatcher at their corporate headquarters. Quit them to go to FedEx Freight, transferred to Terre Haute to keep my job during the merge with FedEx National. All that being said, I drive for Walmart over the road now.
LTL trucking isn't for everyone. It can be very stressful, especially when you're low on the seniority board.
You may want to follow the advice of starting out OTR, then transition into LTL after you get a few years experience.

 

Hey there mate, what's a typical like as a city/P&D driver

Thanks

 

No idea. I was linehaul at both places. Sorry.

 

Here's a brief description of how LTL (Less than truckload) works. There's basically three positions. Dockworkers, City Drivers/P&D (Pickup and delivery), and Road Driver/Linehaul/Shuttle driver.

Dockworkers basically work the docks. They usually drive around in a forklift and unload the P&D trailers and reload onto the Linehaul trailers. They seperate the freight, match pro numbers, and load onto various different trailers. Their usually paid hourly. Most new employee's have to start off on the docks, before moving onto P&D or Linehaul. Only downside is during the winter, you will be working in subdegree weather, unless you live down south.

P&D is basically daytime work. If you like a 9-5 type job, then go for P&D. Start times are usually around 8-10 am. You'll be making various pickups and deliveries to and from commercial, industrial, and residential areas. You need a doubles and hazmat endorsements. P&D can be very stressful at times, because you will be pressured to make as many pickups as you can and deliver freight as well. You can have up to 20 P&D stops, and you get no directions either, so you need a good GPS. You also have to make residential deliveries as well, so make sure you watch out for low hanging power lines. It can get physical at times because you will be delivering general freight from furniture, flooring, tv's, basically all the big freight that pakage delivery guys like UPS, Fed Ex, and USPS can't deliver. Usually you use a liftgate, pallet jack, or hand hand truck when making residential deliveries. You also need to be updated on hazmat rules, because some hazmats can't be mixed in with general freight. There will be a lot of city driving, and you will be backing into some really difficult places. Usually you get paid hourly and work around 10 hours a day.

Linehaul is much easier to explain.Usually linehaul is done at night, so if your not a night owl, linehaul isn't for you. After the P&D guys come back with their pickups in the afternoon, freight is offloaded and reloaded onto the linehaul trailers, and basically you shuttle trailers from terminal to terminal, where it's offloaded and reloaded onto the daytime P&D trailers. P&D drivers don't pull doubles, if any, as much as linehaul guys do. Usually they get paid cents per mile or by the load.

LTL does have slow periods, where junior guys will either have to work the docks, or may not even be called in. There might be days where bottom guys will only work 20 hours a week, so be prepared for that.

So there you have it. The rules may vary from different companies, but the concept is the same.