Random LTL Rants (all are welcomed)

Saia is been paying over time after 45 for a while.

 

Question for P&D driver when you first stated doing P&D did you say to yourself I like this job? Maybe it’s because I’m a brand new driver and inky my first week on my own but so far I’m not really liking it especially the tight spots at certain shippers that wasn’t made for trucks or the “bumping docks” but then I say to myself maybe it’s because I’m new and had to let it grow in me….I have a chance to do linehaul and debating on if maybe I would like that better although the hours would be ok call since I’m the new driver on the wild board

 

I can give you my experience. I got my CDL from community college and then did 2 years OTR doing reefer and dry van. I tried linehaul first and I couldn't handle the messed up sleep schedule. I can drive at night if I shut down before the sun comes up. I can't ever get used to going to bed at 12:00pm in the afternoon though.

I tried P&D after that. I just left that job last week, I couldn't do it anymore. I did it for 2 months solo and it was just too much. I hated going to places that weren't meant for trucks. I hated the local traffic. I hated slip seating. And I hated the 12-14 hour days on top of a 30 minute commute there and a 30 minute commute back with only one 30 minute break during the day.

While I can never do linehaul because of the messed up sleep schedule (unless I lucked out and got onto a daytime run somewhere), I think P&D would be alright if I were in a smaller town like a Sioux Falls, South Dakota or maybe a Davenport, Iowa or something like that. And only if I had to work 50-55 hours per week (preferably 50) then it would have been better. Those 60 - 63 hour work weeks in a 5 day period, not including commute, is just way too much for me and burned me out fast seeing as it didn't look like there was any end in sight to it (the drivers at the terminal had said they had been working like this for a year straight, 60+ hour weeks in a 5 day period each week).

So for me, no I never got used to it and now I have to figure out what comes next (will probably go back OTR or do something regional). I would say that LTL is a great sector of trucking where you can build a great career for yourself and a place to retire from if you get in with a lot of the LTL carriers. The money is 100% there. Linehaul guys were making 85k - 100k, P&D guys were actually making about 75k - 90k because of how many hours they were working us. That's #### good money with two days off per week, and on the weekends to boot. I will 100% be taking a paycut to go back OTR or regional (if that's what I decide to do) and I understand that, but at a certain point your mental health is worth more than money (and it's not like I'll be poor going back OTR or regional either).

So my advice to you would be to at least do what I did, and stick it out for a couple of months to see if it grows on you. If linehaul or P&D doesn't grow on you and you absolutely hate it, then you can move onto a different sector in the industry. But give it an honest go first because like I said, the money and the benefits are definitely there. LTL companies will not be desperate for drivers like they are now for forever, so now is a great time to get your foot into the door of this sector in the industry.

Hope this helps.

 

Like Mack, I'm staring down the 20 year mark in my career (next year). I've never been OTR.

I started delivering office furniture for 2 years, did lumber for 8 years. And have been with my current employer now for the last 9 years.
Not all COMPANIES are created equal, just like not all P\D runs are the same. IT takes TIME, to get used to the job. Take one day at a time, and let the bad stuff run off your back.

It gets better.

 

Curious what does the 521 mean @road_runner .

 

Houston local truck
terminal 521

 

Ha I pull a trailer like that one daily they don't have to sticker over the logo bc it always said yellow never yrc lol