Current OTR driver seeking info on going local.

I’m a mechanic for Yellow at a major breakbulk in the west. So I can’t speak for Kentucky, but as far as I’m aware, line drivers get paid .55 cents a mile, although I think it’s gone up some since the start of our current contract. The terminal map I looked at shows only end of line terminals in Kentucky, but there is a breakbulk in Nashville if you’re not too far from there. Likely few, if any line driving bids at an EOL.

Mechanics are on par with city/CDL qualified dock workers pay wise. We’re currently at $24.72 per hour. A lot of the equipment is really old and beat up, however it is an extremely easy job and fairly hard to get fired from. You really gotta screw up to get fired from Yellow, for better or worse. Overtime is after 40, and you may be forced when you’re low seniority to overtime or for a 6th punch.

Keep in mind, Yellow is union, and i’d advise that if Kentucky is a RTW state, still join the union. It’s frowned upon to not be a member.

 

Most LTL outfits are hiring. Line haul runs are usually out and back, same day.
Old Dominion
Yellow
YRC
Reddaway
R&L Carriers
Estes Express
Saia Inc.
FedEx

 

At your age find a union job you'll be happy in 20 years.

 

I work for FedEx Freight and in the LTL world seniority is everything. Shift would depend on city/road driver. At my center all new drivers start as a city driver. In the beginning you would be doing some dock work. The city drivers make $28.00+ and $65-70,000 is do able. And all city drivers are starting at top pay at my center. So 60 would be do able first year.

Im on my 3rd year as a road driver. I got really lucky and only did 4 days on the city and was asked to go help doing road runs. And a month later they opened up a transfer. The first year was super easy. Even though I was on the bottom of seniority i still got Lots of miles, they were short handed so i got lots of day runs. Then the second year came and the election year. Things slowed down but was manageable. Last year #### near broke me. It was pretty rough. You might work days one day. Then get bumped to nights. Then not get a run and have to go back and try and get a day run. Lots of time laying in bed trying to sleep when your not tired. Because you "might" get a run the next shift.

But this year things have been great. Im on a bid run. I drive 436 miles a night, no dock work. And i should be around $90,000. Top pay at my center for a road driver is around $130,000 but those guys are on 650+ mile a day runs. They might as well have sleeper cabs.

If you want to get into LTL now is the time. The driver shortage is really a gift. Get in, get your seniority spot and before the next election. You could have some people below you. So when it slows down it doesn't matter.

If you make the change. When things are going good, Put money in the bank. You will be very thankful if things get slow.