ABF Charlotte, NC

Former ABF employee here, from 2010-2015 at the South Chicago terminal. I think they're a decent enough company. Great benefits, good pay, etc.

One of the things dragging ABF down long-term is the improbable, continued existence of YRC. I've never seen a dying cat with so many lives, and they keep inexplicably not closing the doors.

YRC's ability to undercut the competition while still calling themselves a "union carrier" despite only paying 85% pay and 25% pension has been quite the storm for ABF to weather.

In 2013, ABF got greedy and asked for way too much from the union employees, including a 7% paycut and universal one week vacation decrease. That vacation week has since been reinstated, but the damage was done, and I no longer work there.

They're a good company with a long successful history. They are trying to do new things like profit sharing, but mainly they are just doing what they can to stay afloat until YRC does...something.

Overall? If just a couple things have been different, I would probably still be there. The work/life balance was not there at South Chicago. The pay was good, even with the 7% pay cut. The benefits are out of this world.

As with any job change, you need to think long-term. I know you don't want to eat into your savings, but you also have to figure out if what ABF is offering you is worth eating into that savings if necessary.

Everything is booming right now, so I don't imagine work will be in short supply. If anything, my complaint about ABF was that they were working me to death. That may sound like a good thing right now, but it may not in a few years. Lol

So yeah. My information is a little bit old and from another terminal, but overall I give ABF high marks in most things. Life was much better at the southern terminals, for what that's worth. From Dayton and Indianapolis on south, ABF was a completely different company. Those guys had much more time off than we did.

Anyways. I'm around if I can be of help.

 

Oh yeah, I heard about that. I never experienced it personally, thank god. I don't know what they were thinking with that one. I don't know if it's still ongoing, either.

 

We are super busy right now. Really slammed in Carlisle 042. Been to Charlotte a couple times but never talked with any of the local drivers. Call Winston Salem 051. Actual location is Kernersville Nc. It is a break bulk. May get more work out of there.

 

Yeah, the larger the terminal, the more work you'll have. And that sounds like the ABF I knew.

"I'm exhausted. I'm going to bed now, but here's a short answer to your question." Lol