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Why don’t more people want to work in the LTL industry?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by bananajohn, Sep 14, 2022.

Page 1 of 6
  1. Sep 14, 2022 #1
    bananajohn

    bananajohn Bobtail Member

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    Jul 22, 2022
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    I am honestly confused, when I get to know other people and we talk about our jobs, they almost never believe I make (will make) over six figures.

    Why don’t more people see trucking as a honest and respectable career path?

    A separate question is, I know it’s geologically based, and some drivers prefer OTR or City/LTL, but why wouldn’t truckers who are employees and don’t own their own rig, want to work anything other than LTL? Any LTL company driver I’ve talked to is always happy, and our pay rates are really comparable, always more than OTR. Whenever I hear about slip seating, or team drivers, OTR, they just seem really unhappy with the company and pay..

    Since I’ve started with my company, I for the first time in my life am really happy and proud of myself. I really see a future with trucking.

    Can y’all help me understand the stereotypes and pay discrepancies between trucking trades? What’s going on in the industry where OTR is making less CPS than I am? Shouldn’t it be the opposite?

    and yeah I’m completely ignorant to trucking, I’m just getting started so I apologize if I come off wrong or rude, I’m really just curious and want to be well informed.

    Thank you,
     
    bananajohn, Sep 14, 2022
    bananajohn, Sep 14, 2022
    #1
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  3. Sep 14, 2022 #2
    Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    68,331
    143,244
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    I never wanted to work LTL. I prefer OTR even if the pay is less.
    Some of us are wanderers and the routine of LTL would be like a slow painful death.
    We ignore other peoples opinions and just do what we prefer.
    My favorite trucking is irregular route refrigerated trucking running 48 states. Many people think we have mental problems because our choice of trucking isn't the same as their choice.
     
    Chinatown, Sep 14, 2022
    Chinatown, Sep 14, 2022
    #2
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  4. Sep 14, 2022 #3
    bananajohn

    bananajohn Bobtail Member

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    Jul 22, 2022
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    Yeah, I knew instinctually that it really comes down to preference for the professional trucker, and that’s why I love this job. It’s such a kick ### community of people. At the end of the day it doesn’t matter what I’m paid, I get to drive through the mountains everyday and I’m home every night, and I can take care of my wife, that’s all that matters to me. Also, Driving a rig is pretty kick ###. ;)
     
    bananajohn, Sep 14, 2022
    bananajohn, Sep 14, 2022
    #3
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  5. Sep 14, 2022 #4
    Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    68,331
    143,244
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    That's a good deal that you found your niche. Enjoy your new career.
     
    Chinatown, Sep 14, 2022
    Chinatown, Sep 14, 2022
    #4
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  7. Sep 14, 2022 #5
    bananajohn

    bananajohn Bobtail Member

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    Jul 22, 2022
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    Thanks, China.
     
    bananajohn, Sep 14, 2022
    bananajohn, Sep 14, 2022
    #5
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  8. Sep 14, 2022 #6
    tscottme

    tscottme Road Train Member

    11,714
    21,275
    Jul 25, 2008
    Somewhere out West, in my mind.
    0
    I believe one of the biggest reasons so many drivers don't flock to LTL is the perception is it means working nights, permanently.

    For the job, nighttime is the right time for trucking. I did it for 18 years. I'd rather have all the drunks and the deer that comes with driving nights, than 10% of the daytime drivers driving at night. The weather may be worse, the drunks and deer are worse than daytime, but the lack of traffic makes up for almost everything else, IF YOU ARE SINGLE. If you are social or have a wife and kids you will ultimately be tempted to skip your rest on the weekends and either skip sleeping on your "friday" or go to work on your "monday" night without much rest. Being single, I just maintained my regular rest periods during the week and my weekend. Working nights you either miss out on stuff with family and friends or you miss out on some of your rest.
     
    tscottme, Sep 14, 2022
    tscottme, Sep 14, 2022
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  9. Sep 14, 2022 #7
    LtlAnonymous

    LtlAnonymous Road Train Member

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    Dec 23, 2016
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    I think a lot of it comes down to hours. A lot of companies have you run extra board ("running wild" as I've heard it referred to), and that's a whole lot of awful.

    Then you consider that I was extra board for 12 straight years across three different companies, and I don't think anyone will question why I'm a little off in the head.

    The money is great. Yes. But never accept less than what you're getting because the hours (both the actual odd hours you're working AND the length of them) come with a REAL toll.

    I was beyond burned out when I left LTL proper for an...LTL-adjacent job in 2015. Thank God this place has worked out thus far, because after all that LTL nonsense, I had earned nice things. Lol
     
    LtlAnonymous, Sep 14, 2022
    LtlAnonymous, Sep 14, 2022
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  10. Sep 14, 2022 #8
    MACK E-6

    MACK E-6 Moderator Staff Member

    46,052
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    Sep 19, 2005
    Baltimore, MD
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    I think the biggest turnoffs are the slip seating, night time linehaul, and routine. But not all companies are created equal. We for example have permanent bids that include both a territory and a start time, assigned single screws that don’t get slip seated, and assigned trailers for bid run drivers. I personally would go insane having to run different equipment every day.

    Then there’s that FedEx 2 seniority lists thing which I hope stays there.
     
    MACK E-6, Sep 14, 2022
    MACK E-6, Sep 14, 2022
    #8
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  11. Sep 14, 2022 #9
    Allow Me.

    Allow Me. Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

    10,367
    11,207
    May 28, 2009
    Rancho Mirage, Ca.
    0
    I worked LTL for 2 different co's. Both were an agent, the freight showed up at 6 am. Most of the time we had to unload and reload so as to divvy up our routes and maybe add to the trailer freight leftover the day before. The pros: 8-10 hrs a day, M-F The cons: Handling freight both on the dock and at the customers. Some customers have a dock/forklift, some are office bldgs. Loved those "inside deliveries" to the 10th floor with 20 cs of copy paper. Always missed the highway when I was home.
     
    Allow Me., Sep 14, 2022
    Allow Me., Sep 14, 2022
    #9
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  12. Sep 14, 2022 #10
    bad-luck

    bad-luck Road Train Member

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    Nov 16, 2013
    Baltimore, Maryland
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    Some people just enjoy OTR, and some people have health problems and they are not able to perform the duties associated with LTL.
     
    bad-luck, Sep 14, 2022
    bad-luck, Sep 14, 2022
    #10
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