Good, Bad, and the Ugly about LTL (or your company)

I started with this company back in July. I'm 52 years old and this is the first time I've ever been in a union so here's my pros and cons.

Pros:
Excellent pay and benefits. Probably the best benefits I've ever had.
Hometime. I usually only work 4 days a week, 10-12 hours a day. I actually have a life.
I have all holidays off.
Drivers and management get along extremely well. Haven't found anyone yet that isn't willing to help you out.
All of our tractors are brand new.
Paid by mile, stop and, if your on certain routes, by the number of cartons delivered I'm not a bid route yet, but I do fill in when someone calls off or is on vacation. I really like the exercise I get when delivering to stores.

Cons:
Trailers are old, but they are in the process of replacing them.
Don't work the same days every week.
Getting called in on your day off if someone calls off.

 

I will keep it real simple just in case some one from my outfit is spying on me

Pro's
I dont slip seat, assigned a single axle CH in somewhat decent shape
Assigned the same 40 Ft. single axle liftgate trailer

Con's

Residential deliveries Suck!
Retail deliveries Suck!

At least i didnt incriminate myself.

 

Pros:
Decent pay and equipment
Majority of the people I deal with are good
Good Benefits

Cons:
Sometimes takes the mechanics awhile
Schedule tends to vary
The worst is that since I'm not full-time I sit in the middle of a daycab because my manager wont get a tractor that seats 3, why hello leg cramps

 

Wait, wait, wait. What?!

 

Pros:

Better pay than I expected. On track to hit $60k first year with a CDL.
Daily home time.
Weekends and holidays off (holidays paid).
My company doesn't pay as much as the big LTL guys, but I don't worry about layoffs or call-offs. I could bump my 70 every week if I wanted.
Helpful coworkers.

Cons:

Equipment woes (though it has been getting a lot better lately).
There are only so many routes you can run before they start to get tedious.
Slip-seating/dirty co-workers. I don't know how some of these guys are not dead from the plague by now.

 

Was local Chicago LTL/house truck for 7 years with same company:

Pros: Liked the other driver
Home at night
Holiday Pay

Cons: Boss knew absolutely nothing about trucks
Slip seated truck w/night driver who hit poles all the time with it
Used same trailer ALL the time; complete w/6 bald tires and usually 1 clearance light missing
Insurance was outrageously priced
Same old route EVERY SINGLE DAY - how boring. Got to get on the highway maybe 2x a month; rest of the time hitting
traffic lights all the time in 35 mph zone

 

Yes you read it right. I should snap a pic of the seating

 

I am working LTL for Werner Enterprises Net Ops, shag driver

Pros:
Ok Pay
Paid weekly
On Salary, so if my truck is broke down, I still get paid, believe me, it breaks down alot.

Cons
Set income
Varying hours, may work 8 one day, then 14 the next.
Dispatchers are no help. (Refer to one of my other posts)

Above all, I love my job

 

Been working 3 years now at A.Duie Pyle, a LTL freight company based in West Chester, PA.

Pro's:
Excellent pay, $65,000 to $80,000 once at top rate
Excellent benefits medical and dental, 401K, pension, paid holidays, paid vacation and personal time, overtime after 45hr.
Tractors and trailers all kept in good working order, older tractors and trailers phased out.
On site full shop and truck wash.
Home every night for P+D and weekends off, holidays also off and paid.
Typically 10-12 hours days
No Layoffs when slow season hits
Ability to have a route in the same area unless you are unassigned

Con's:
Residential deliveries
Liftgate deliveries can be a pain
City work, although you typically go with a single screw and 40-45ft trailer
It can be stressful when managing deliveries and pick up's.