My Experience as a Line Haul Driver

I hate to burst your little bubble, but you're wrong. I said "PROVEN WRONG" not just being POINTED out as being WRONG

 

Hey, get into the Nascar stuff. Linehaul makes for a pretty boring blog going from A to B back to A again no matter who writes about it! Hands down: Linehaul the most easiest job in trucking. So simple, a monkey can do it.

 

Don't ever tell a veteran l/h driver that though AT! They'll think hands down they're the one's that break their back over city drivers any day haha. I've noticed most company rumors also start with L/H drivers. They get so bored at night and after hours on the phone with their buddies one thing will lead to another.

 

Here is my take on the job thing. All companies know you have to start somewhere. He started at what appears to be one of the better starter companies, lasted over a year, left on good terms with no blemishes on his record. He went to a better paying OTR company that was flatbed. No top company would fault someone for that, since this is what a person should do. No good company should fault someone for getting the chance to go line haul local and be home at night.

Now the time is right to make plans for the future. Nascar is not a long term retirement type of job, and the driving is least part of a 7 day a week job. If linehaul is something you like, start looking ONLY at the good companies. Find one that you will only be a driver, and not a driver/dock monkey. I will catch flack for this, but think long term, and go with a very financially strong union company. Your job will be defined, and you can't be jerked around like other companies. Plus, you will have benefits, and be much better off at retirement.

You may have to start out on the dock part time, but you can work your way up to driver only. Driving linehaul and doing dock work is a bunch of crap. Your either a driver or a dock worker in my opinion, not both.

 

Thats how CWF is, driver/dockworker... when I did linehaul for them id do the outbound for two hours, hook, drive to hub a hour away, then do the dock for about 8 hours or so then drive back... I really didnt like doing that. Seems like your place is kind of similar.

I believe at UPSF, and ABF you will do both dock and driver while still on bottom of list. But it will either be driving full day or dock full day

YRC I have only worked the dock 3 times since Ive been here. All inbound because they had a few guys out, and one night they called me in because inbound was heavy(shop steward was not happy as he lost a driver for that day) We had velocity drivers that would go to hubs close by and can work the dock to load their own trucks where ever etc... Road drivers here all you do is drive to the hubs. If the yard switcher is on duty you dont even have to break, or hook your own trucks, they do it all, and when waiting you are paid hourly

 

I give him two more months and he will be gone.He is a job hopper.Third trucking company in how many years.Enough said.I understand you want to better yourself.But at some point you need to show a little staying power and keep a job for more than a year.EvERYBODY GUSHES OVER THIS GUY LIKE HE IS SOMEBODY SPECIAL.All I see is a job hopper that thinks he knows everything about every trucking company he has never driven for.I read his posts with amusement.Sometimes you have to go the extra mile.If that means some 16 hr days thats what you do.You suck it up and do your job.

 

holy hell,what has the thread gone to.

Its a fre country, and the man will seek a job that makes him happy. Let the guy be. He has had jobs at two respectable companies most steering wheel holders cant dream of going! Do your thing A/T

 

he has sucked it up and done his job, there is nothing wrong with being a job hopper if you are hopping UP! I started at Werner, making a quarter a mile. Now, after 7 years and just as many jobs, I make almost 20 an hour, at starting rate, going up to over 21, with a job that gets me home every day, with 3 days off a week, lots of overtime, and great benefits! Sucking it up is for just that, SUCKERS!

what do you think he owes any of these companies that he "should" have stayed at? he did the work, they paid him the money, thats it. Do you honestly think a GOOD local job is going to care that someone stuck it out at a bottomfeeder otr job? nope. if anything, it will hold you back! Praxair and Bluelinx don't care if you have your own fridge, they want you to know how to back into tight spots, drive in many different types of conditions that normal OTR drivers never see, know how to run a paper logbook LEGALLY, do a REAL pre AND post trip inspection, and not show up at a customer in your sweats and flip flops!

 

precisely on target. well done.