Originally Posted by dirtyjerz

Harvey, do you know how much flatbed ltl work is out there? Would love ltl but love skateboarding too.

LTL companies rarely use flatbeds......But flatbed companies do LTL loads sometimes. Youd have to talk to the guys who are still in the flatbed gamea about that.

We actually do have 1 flatbed trailer but it very rarely gets used.

Originally Posted by Gearjammin' Penguin

Harvey, this may be the most useful thing ever posted on TTR. Well done, sir!!

Part of me wishes I'd started out that way instead of the usual school-to-OTR, but there's one advantage to my history: I know how good I have it.

I'll tell you a little story to illustrate what I'm talking about. There was a guy--call him Bob--who started at ABC LTL about five minutes after the Red Sea parted. He was at the top of the board. (For those of you who don't know, that's where you get first pick of runs, first pick of days off and vacation, not to mention being at the top of the pay scale. It's the closest a truck driver will ever get to calling his own shots.)

Well, ABC LTL was bought out by XYZ LTL, and decided to close down Bob's yard. Bob decided he'd rather quit than drive 20 more miles to the other yard. Everyone told him, "Dude, what are you thinking? You go in there as a displaced driver, you bump EVERYBODY. You'll be on top of the board for the rest of your career. Don't be a fool, man!"

Nope, Bob wasn't gonna do it. So he quit. Last I heard, he still hadn't found another job, and he and his wife were having health issues...I bet that 20 miles is looking a lot shorter now.

Bob screwed himself because he was spoiled. He forgot how good he had it. Having done far worse jobs for far less money, I thank God every day for what I have, and ask Him to help me never lose my perspective.

I couldnt agree more. Many LTL drivers have no idea how good we have it. Going home every night and still making good money. Not to mention overtime, and being paid for every minute we are working. I feel the same way, Im very grateful to have the job that I do have.

I just want to put the information out there to all the wannabes. There are new wannabes on here everyday, ready to sign their life away to the first OTR company that will have them. I want them to know, especially the younger guys, that there are other options!

Good thread. Great info. Only thing that would make it better would be a link to some questionable p0rn.

Originally Posted by FreightlinerGuy

I called the local UPS Freight, and can't find a # to a UPS facility, but the guy at the UPS Freight # told me to go to the website. I told him I tried, and it stopped me right in my tracks at not having experience. He said thats all he knows..

Just a warning, it will take you forever to get on full time at UPS. UPS Freight could possible hire you directly on full time. UPS Ground makes you be a seasonal driver for a minimum of 3 years, before you can even go on the waiting list for a full time job. And thats usually after years of part time slave wages work.

And this isnt second hand information, Ive worked at both.