Seeing if OD is a good fit for me in ft.wayne

Discussion in 'Old Dominion' started by nbetz2710, Apr 10, 2017.

  1. nbetz2710

    nbetz2710 Bobtail Member

    16
    3
    Apr 10, 2017
    0
    Random questions. Any answers would be very helpful and appreciated.
    I have 3 1/2 years experience. Seeking a local and preferably day shift.

    What would be starting pay most likely?
    No touch freight or does that depend?
    Elogs?
    Automatic trucks?
    Do you have to share a truck with anybody?
    Does ft. Wayne terminal have their own maintenance shop?
    Home daily?
    Weekends off?
    How many hours roughly would I work as a day shift driver?
    Chances of messing with a cat scale or do they typically haul light Freight?
    Do they monitor their drivers or does that depend which terminal you're from?
    Forced dispatch?

    Any other random tips would be great. Thank you!
     
    Last edited: Apr 10, 2017
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. nbetz2710

    nbetz2710 Bobtail Member

    16
    3
    Apr 10, 2017
    0
  4. Puppage

    Puppage Road Train Member

    4,235
    7,302
    Aug 2, 2012
    Connecticut
    0
    Kitty has claws
     
  5. Naptown

    Naptown Road Train Member

    1,156
    2,980
    Oct 18, 2009
    Indiana
    0
    Wow, did I miss something? I'm not seeing anything...untoward here.

    OP, I'm familiar with the Ft Wayne terminal. I went through there this morning, in fact, so we'll see if I can help any. I sense you're interested in a daytime gig, so linehaul is out. Daytime linehaul schedules go to the old timers that remember when trucks had wooden wheels and chain drive.

    P&D will give you a daytime schedule, with weekends off and home daily. There may be an exception now and then where you're asked to work a Saturday, but probably not often. Expect to work at least 12 per day. If your route is light one day there will probably be other work for you, trailer swaps at customers, things like that. I'm not sure if FT Wayne has combo positions or not, but I've seen drivers loading trailers so you'll probably get some dock time. Forklift at the terminal, pallet jack when you're out and about. Some customers will load/unload their product for you, so you won't have to fingerprint much. P&D pays hourly. I'm not sure of the rate but it's in the $23-24 range. No OT.

    Trucks are Freightliners, Cascadias and some older Columbias. All 10 speeds. Elogs. Big terminals slip seat. FTW might have one driver per truck since it's a smaller operation. No CAT scales. There's a scale in the yard if you need to weigh out. City drivers pull long boxes. 48's and 53's mostly, still need the doubles endorsement, along with tanker and hazmat. Regular maintenance is handled at the Indianapolis shop. There's a road service on call for things that can't make it to Indy.

    Forced dispatch? You make the picks and drops that are scheduled. I'm not sure what you're asking when you say "monitor the drivers." Dispatch can tell where you are by GPS, but no cameras in the trucks. You can pick that boogie guilt free.
     
    viper822004 Thanks this.
  6. Fatmando

    Fatmando Medium Load Member

    381
    446
    May 14, 2012
    Pittsburgh, PA
    0
    But can I flick it in the cab, or do I have to open a window? :p
     
  7. nbetz2710

    nbetz2710 Bobtail Member

    16
    3
    Apr 10, 2017
    0
    Thank you very much for your time. That helps out a lot! I was also wondering if I started at 3rd shift how many years would you say roughly it would take to switch to a day time shift? I would be okay starting out 3rd but don't want to do it forever.
     
  8. Naptown

    Naptown Road Train Member

    1,156
    2,980
    Oct 18, 2009
    Indiana
    0
    Flick it on the window so it's right in the line of sight of the next driver to get on the truck, maybe miss the pee bottle and dribble on the seat so it smells like some nasty old boar lives inside the cab... Unfortunately I've experienced both before, just not at my current employer.

    In more pleasant news, one of the Ft Wayne drivers told me they are adding another 40 doors to the current 70. Expansions are always a good opportunity to get in the door. I hope they increase the lot substantially too. It's a madhouse when there are 20 drivers all trying to break sets and hook new ones at the same time.
     
  9. Texnmidwest

    Texnmidwest Light Load Member

    279
    415
    Mar 6, 2015
    0
    You could grow very old waiting for a daytime line haul job. Only the bigger terminals even have daytime line haul routes so Ft. Wayne may not have one available.
     
    nbetz2710 Thanks this.
  10. dennisroc

    dennisroc Road Train Member

    1,753
    1,257
    Oct 9, 2013
    Anjung-Ri, South Korea
    0
    Do they help with school or hire students with cdl.
    Any idea of routes they run from Indy to get you home daily ?
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.