Thinking about changing companies....need advice...

You are likely very comfortable with where you are currently since you know your job well and all the people you deal with due to being there 12 years. In my opinion you are absolutely correct to be unhappy with your pay situation and lack of raises.
Only you know what is the most important aspects of your work/life requirements and if proper raises and money are most important you probably need to move on. I never worked for Dayton but from everything I have seen they are a good company and roughly a $100,000 a year job with good equipment and benefits. It appears they also give regular raises. They are also a seniority based company which will reward you with more choices on schedule and routes picked the longer you work there. I personally like seniority based jobs but some times new folks don’t because they want to start at the top.
I don’t see a downside to this move long term, but not everyone wants the same things out of a job as I do.

Make you a pros and cons list on a piece of paper and see if you can decide whether you will like change more or keep doing the same old stuff that you know exactly what to expect.
As @Tall Mike said I also firmly believe change is good.

 

Yes, I understood what you said. That’s why I joked about the “recruiter’s driver” being someone who bleeds the company’s colors. You’re not likely to get truthful or realistic answers.

I guess my joke wasn’t as funny as I thought it was.

 

Just remember, LTL is going to be a completely different animal. Some people thrive at it, others hate every minute they are there. Bumping 25 docks a day, gotta be here before 1PM to make a pickup, then a delivery across town by 2 kinda thing.
I've heard positive about Dayton, good luck to you.

 

Joining ltl, your bottom of the board. Pay might be more, but if your sitting because there’s no work, or sent home early, or told to call at noon and see if your needed, it’s not. It depends on the region you’re in. Change is good and healthy, but really think it through, pros and cons. Go ask in the ltl section, you will get honest responses. Don’t believe a thing the Dayton recruiter or tm tells you. If your serious, try to catch a driver from the terminal your considering at a customer and ask if you can have a few minutes of his time, with a coffee in hand. Ask about drivers sitting, layoffs, everything.

 

The companies I worked for did what I suggest for drivers. Normal people understand changing jobs is a big deal and normal people want to know lots of info before they switch jobs. In many part of the economy working for a few employers per year isn't normal. You aren't being forced to do anything. If someone wants to trust recruiters & company web sites or the Magic 8 Ball then do that instead.

 

I followed my advice on all my driving jobs.

 

If you are a skilled tanker driver (& apparently, you are) -- look for yet another tanker job that will reward you for all that great experience you bring to the table.

If you leave the tanker sector -- you will later miss it.

Easy examples:

• Love's (Gemini Motor Transport)
• Sheetz (CLI Transport)
• Linde/Praxair
• Air Products

All the above are great-paying jobs -- & home daily.

-- L