ABF vs. SEFL...pros and cons for a new driver? Training, benefits, equipment, etc.

Yeah...I have to admit that is one of my biggest concerns. Starting out just about anywhere...I'll be planning on operating at a loss for about the first two months (training pay...initially). If I'm going to keep afloat at a decreased/newbie salary...I need to at least get full hours in (or good loads if I'm heading to a company that pays by percentage or mile).


I've been around (i.e. The military). I understand that regardless of where I start out...I'll be starting out at the bottom of the pile.

Does this apply to "recent CDL graduates" (already went through a four week program) that have their endorsements...or does your first paragraph apply to me? Based on what I've "heard," I was expecting to do OJT at the terminal...not to be shipped off for training.

Thank you for the information. I applied at OD and ES too. I haven't heard anything back from them though.

That's what I keep hearing. That's a big plus to me, as I'm not a fan of job hopping.

The pension would be nice. I'm curious though...how much of a cut does the union dues take out of peoples paycheck? i.e. How does the additional pay vs. bottom rung LTL's balance out once you factor in union dues?

Yeah...if someone asked me about unions 10 years ago (before I went through a business program for my undergraduate degree and processed how that system works)...I would likely have thought the same thing as that poster. Until people begin to process how wages have been suppressed over the past 10+ years...workers will continue to get nickel and dimed to death.

i.e. I worked a part time job for a major home improvement store in 2000. I made $11/hr. In 2013, I got a part time job doing the EXACT same thing for a major home improvement store....at $10.10/hr. It wouldn't be difficult to find other instances where the wages for the EXACT same job has gone down in the past 10+ years.

My $.02...unions are every bit as relevant at the moment as they were ~100 years ago. Business have just done a great job over the years at making them the scapegoats whenever a labor discussions breakdown. Granted on some occasions, the unions are to blame, but it doesn't change the fact that unions are every bit as relevant now as they were decades ago.

I've heard good things about UPS. When I worked the dock at FedEx years ago...most of the guys there talked non-stop about getting in with UPS at some point.

Yup. I had a 401k at my previous employer that was adding up, but that'll likely never amount to the payout that I might get from a decent pension.

They didn't call me back...I called them (the same with the other LTL companies that I've gotten ahold of). The ABF recruiter that I spoke with said that the terminal manager reviewed my application and had be slated as "Pending Interview." They were going to get ahold of me eventually (I only applied a week ago), but I managed to kick-start the process.

That sounds like it will be a given for the terminal in question, but I'll definitely ask that question during my interview. I have to assume 4 on 3 off and not 5 on two off because of the work hours thing (I expect that each shift will be 12+ hours). That and it sounds like their drivers mostly work M-F.

That's my priority. If I get in somewhere, I'm treated in a professional manner, and I'm making a fair wage...I'll stick around for a while (I was with my last employer for over five years). I'd rather get in somewhere decent right off the bat, as I have no interest in having to job hop in an attempt to find a tolerable workplace.

Thank you for all of the responses.

 

Manassas, VA. When I applied, I didn't see anything about "City Driving School." I just applied for a regular full-time P&D position. Now that you mention it... I looked again and "City Driving School" is on there for their location now.

I'm sure it would be great training, but one of the reasons I'm hoping to find a local gig is that I don't want to ship off for 2-4 weeks for training. We'll see....maybe that's unavoidable. The thought of having to double-up in a hotel room for 4-6 weeks doesn't exactly appeal to me. It's one of the reasons I'm not considering OTR and I'm not thrilled with the thought of doing regional.