Rookie LTL driver…bad slowdown in Texas. Should I go back to flatbed?

I don't know what part of Texas you are in but you could also try a feed mill if you live close to one. A feed mill could be looking to hire someone part time and some pay decent, not as much as you make at SEFL, but still a decent wage. Your slow season is turning into a feed mills busy season. The colder it gets the more livestock eat. If you do sack feed it can be a little work out to take 600lbs of feed per trip down a ramp with a dolly that has a hand brake. But if you do bulk feed, that is a cadillac gravy job.

 

Are they not doing VTO out there? We have rotations where they pay you to take the week off. I'm not sure the exact amount because I've skipped it every time but it's enough to cover withholdings. P&d right now also is doing voluntary 4 day weeks by seniority where you bid for the same day off every week, not eligible for the VTO if you do this.

Stick with it if you can afford to, you won't get laid off and they will try to keep everyone in work, they had drivers doing billing during covid. Eventually attrition moves faster than expected. Old guys retire early, people get fickle and quit and the screw ups start getting fired for stuff they use to let slide. Moonlighting is frowned upon so I'd try to find a non cdl side gig if you can.

 

OD was vicious about firing anyone during a slowdown over inconsequential crap.

That was one of the things that made me nervous working there. Some linehaul guy could drop an empty backed up against the other empties where you cant see the trailer door, you pull it out to hook a set and if they parked it with the door up or didn't latch and it rolls up you could be fired. Hooking a dolly with the tractor without a safety chain to move it even a few feet terminable offense. Moving the truck 1 foot without a seatbelt, terminable offense.

When it's slow, they aren't afraid to nail you on anything.

 

Been here at OD for 12yrs and what you're describing doesn't happen at my location. It's by far the easiest most laid back job I've had in my 30yrs of trucking.

 

All depends on the terminal. Some terminals suck, others are great. The ones with the corporate ladder climbers make life miserable.

 

Well I'm located at a break bulk with the regional vice president's office in our building and clearly your experience is far different than mine.

 

Yep. OD has an imagine of being a wonderful place to work at. One of the best in the trucking industry but that ain't saying much. Most terminals I'll agree.

There's always bad apples though. Bag out enough and you'll see.

 

I've bagged out a ton and still do. Never had an issue at a terminal with any one not being professional. Now central on the other hand is a completely different story. Back in the day when Rex was still here my skin would crawl having to deal with him. There's currently another one in the southern region that's vying for crown of being the worst to have to deal with.