Southeastern Freight Lines

Actually, I might have gotten kicked out of the Southeastern website because I don't have my doubles endorsement yet. It says it's a minimum requirement. It's possible that's the reason..

 

I dont know how I missed this thread. I have been at sefl for 3.5 years now, heres my story.

I graduated from highschool a semester early, in january 2008. Went to a community college and got my class A. So June rolls around, ive got my CDL A and Im 18, you guessed it, no one will touch me. A friend of mine has a brother that does P & D at SEFL at the raleigh Nc terminal and he said they were looking for dock help so I applied and believe it or not was offered a full time 'freight handler' job starting at $17.15 an hour, w full bennies and all. Top pay dock and switcher pays $19.15 currently at my terminal. Took it and never looked back. I worked the dock for a few weeks before the outbound switcher drive quit and I asked for that position and landed that. My 1st full year at sefl I made 43k. Stayed in the switcher and worked a few more hours a week and in my second year I made $53k. This past year (2011) I made $53k again. If you are good at what you do, and are flexible and I mean driving city, linehaul, dock, switcher, hooking sets at night you can work as many friggen hours as you want! When I turned 21 (march 2011) I got my hazmat/doublestriples endorsement and kept reminding them that I wanted to drive (over and over again ) and finally got out there on the streets with a trainer. I had a several different trainers ride along with me over a 2.5 month long period everyday. I feel this training was essential because I had no experience on the street and my hat goes off to those guys that led me in the right direction because there is ALOT to learn and there is ALOT of responsibility that went along with this job. So in august 2011 I finished my training period and was let loose on my own. I have had no accidents or incidents (knocks on wood) as of yet and do not ever plan on having one. My usual day starts at 930am and I run a leftover route or a route for someone who is off that day, drive whatever truck may be left over (preferably a tandem) run the route, do the pickups and hopefully get in early enough to get a switchout and come back and work the dock till around 9ish. Every once in a while I get to run linehaul (combo) which is alot easier, less stressful and pays better. I dont see myself doing p & d forver but I have way more cash in my pockets than any of my friends my age by a lonnnng shot.

 

What an absolute feel good story. Good for you and good luck in the future.

 

Thanks. Just take things one day at a time, one stop at a time, etc. It will beat you down trying to take on too much at one time.

 

A friend of mine works for SEFL, he makes in the neighborhood of $20 an hour, and loves his job. He is a local driver, home everyday. From what he has told me, if you are a recent CDL grad, you can probably get a job as a dockworker starting out and move up to driving full time within 6 mos.

 

I'm trying to find their minimum hiring req's online and can't find anything. I'll have 6 months OTR in October and want something like this to keep me closer to home. Any info is appreciated.

 

Well I worked in RAL and we never had to buy our pallet jacks or hand trucks. If I had been instructed to buy one, first I wouldn't have went to work there. Second, why not ask you to put fuel in the truck(out of your own pocket) or buy tires for the truck. Third, your instructed on what you can wear but only given a $100 allowance a year. The shirts you have to buy are $25 on the low side. I've worked for different trucking companies and if we were required to wear something, they furnished them and sometimes had a uniform cleaning company. We would also get messages over the computer that would tell us to check with the dock before going home. After coming in at 7am and getting back on the yard, the last thing I wanted was to work on the dock for another hour.

I am simply pointing out some of the negatives. A lot of people have pointed out all the positives but sometimes people want to know the negatives also.

Don't get me wrong, it's a good company with nice owners. Me and my wife moved farther than I wanted to commute and that's the reason I left. I averaged 55-60 hours a week. I would probably be there if it wasn't for that.

 

Hi everyone! Well, I'm waiting for a call today to start work for SE. =) I did p&d with AAA Cooper, until they threw me under the bus for their crap equipment. But, are any of yall in Odessa? So far from my interview I'd rather work for SE than FedEx. Well, maybe I'll see some of ya around.

 

I was in my first accident this past may and it accepted mine.... Hmmm