ABF

actually it was the opposite. I was actually one of the fastest drivers for P&D because I didnt dick around at customers. The 4 guys below me lived real close to the terminal so they would get called in when dispatch would start panicking that we were getting swamped, vs I lived a hour away and they wouldnt plan a couple mins ahead and have me come in at the normal time they started getting orders everyday.

 

ABF sounds like one of the better LTL outfits. I am seriously considering applying there myself.

 

I like here. Where do you live? You thinking linehaul or P&D?

 

I am thinking linehaul would suit me best. I live in the Harrisburg Pa area and I believe there is a large ABF yard in Carlisle. The problem is giving up a full time job making a little over 70k a year with 3 weeks vacation, holiday pay, sick days, etc to be low man on the totem pole at another outfit. In the 11 years I have been with my current employer I have seen a steady reduction in pay, bonuses, and a complete suspension of 401k contributions. Now the company is increasing the medical insurance premiums yet again. All told the changes in pay have cost me about 7 grand in lost wages and benefits.

It would be great if you could give me some inside info on the pay structure and benefits package. Feel free to PM me if you would prefer to keep that info private.

 

if your making 70k now, your def going to be taking a pay cut for a good while. even when I was doing one of our longest runs at 404 mi a night 2-3 times a week, I couldnt pull off 42k a year to save my butt.

Other thing is vacation. At least at conway it was a per week earned vacation, not a set amount at the beginning of the year. You earned like 2.3 hrs of vacation per week after your probation. so you can accumulate it fairly quickly, or use it to supplement getting your 40 hrs on weeks you only work 30.

 

Sure. Our linehaul pay is .60cpm and $24hrly. We are guaranteed an 8hrs in pay. Basically we get what ever is greater. Like the day I did only 284 miles.

284 x .60= $170.40
Or
8 x 24= $192.00

So that day I was paid the $192.00

We also get paid for all our delay time, break downs and any work done not driving.
I average about 75k

I have 8 years in. 1 week vacation after 1 year, 2 weeks after 2 years, 3 weeks after 4 years, 4 weeks after 15 years, 5 weeks after 20 or 25 years, and 6 weeks after 30 years.

We get a pension funded by the company 100%. And a 401k but no match from the company.

Now I'm not sure if Carlisle runs a hog board or a wheel board.

Your first couple years could be as little tough.

Oh, it takes 3 years to hit top of pay scale. As a new hire you start at 85% for 1 year. 90% after 2 years, 95% after 2.5 years, then you hit 100% on your 3rd year aniversy

 

This is very helpful and I really appreciate you sharing this. A follow up question if you dont mind; What kind of medical insurance plan does ABF offer and how much does the driver have to contribute?

 

I don't mind at all.

I can't really answer the insurance question though, because it varies from conference to conference. And I'm in Az(western conference).

But we pay zero for the insurance. All our health and welfare benefits are included in our union dues which varies from $50 to $65 a month.

Please don't be afraid to ask me anything.

 

ABF has no OTR openings out of Kingman right now but I completed the online app last night. Sounds like a pretty good job. I'm about 45 minutes away in Bullhead City. If they're real picky about long-term driving record, then I'm probably screwed. From 2003 to 2007 I had lots of various different kinds of tickets including a trailer length violation, two failure to maintain lane violations, passed a slow-moving vehicle on the hill out of Needles, one speeding violation, and double trouble in Oregon: failure to chain plus logs not current. From 2008-present I've been pretty clean, just one speeding ticket and one minor preventable.

From what I've been reading here about IWX they look like they could also be good. I'd like to find something out of Kingman this time. My previous two jobs were based out of Ontario CA (1999-2010) and Henderson NV (2010-2012).

 

I interviewed for a job with ABF last week. I think they are rather picky about your MVR. Another thing they want is no lies on your application. They specifically asked me in my interview if I told them about all previous employers, accidents, tickets, etc etc. They go back 10 years for your record, so you may throw up some red flags to them. I applied for dock/p&d work. Manager told me the best thing you can put on your application is under shifts available to work... list ANY. He told me he throws away many applications for people who want certain shifts... It isn't going to happen for a few years, seniority rules all... Good luck