Coming Back to Trucking and into LTL?

LOL I called ABF, did an online app and all. Finally finally talked w/ the guy doing the hiring... he goes sorry sir I have 300 applications I will need to review, but since you got a hold of me I'll check your application. He said he will call me back if I have the experience they are looking for. ABF has student local training schools also, I havent got called back yet.

 

edit double post

 

Hey rr, difference of opinion is what makes horse races!

Well, I don't know about Chicago, but I do know that some LTLs DO promote off the dock. However, it may be that where you are, unions get in the way. (NO, that is NOT meant as union bashing.)

I am in a much more rural area, so what works here, might not work there.

 

yes most companies will promote you to a driver if your a dock worker

I will list some LTL companies that will hire rookies/not driven in a while

ABF - although you will have to go to there school. Its a two year contract with them as well.

Con-Way Freight - will re-train and have a 4 week class. I would watch them though

Estes - I applied there with only 8 months experience and they require 2 years. Took a while but the called me to offer me a job but I had already started a new job

UPSF - They will hire with less experience. I applied with 4 months at the time, they didnt hire me due to tickets with my personel vehicle...

YRC - I was hired with only 8 months exp, they require 1 year. As of now they are offering classes for drivers with less than a year or havent driven in a while. We have a HUGE terminal in chicago and are hiring road drivers(guy on this forum is from there) Although you might have to run teams.

I never spent a day OTR, was always in LTL

 

These guys all summed it up very well. In a major market like Chicago I can't see you having too much trouble. Most ltl carriers have no set in stone experience requirements. Even most that do don't adhere to them.

 

haha i can use one now. YRC had me running like a chicken without a head all week, made killer money though so i wont complain

just so you know you will start out on the extra/flex board no matter where you go... I know CWF I had to call every morningat 6am to see if there was work, and it could either be P/D or Line-Haul YRC when I was doing P/D I had to go to the terminal every morning, sometimes had to go home due to no work. Later on the union rep would call/text me if there was nothing this way Id save gas. AT line-haul you pretty much llive by the phone. They call you when its your time. They give you two hours to get in. Like I said in Chicago on the extra board you might run day-cabs or teams... The teams here make a LOT of money, the guy on here I know told me he never made so much in his life.

Now with CWF line-haul its Mon-Fri which was nice. at the other companies its 24/7 operations, open all year round. Yea im young and miss my weekends off, but I needed to work, and its actually not bad. Plus all my friends are now moving away or returning to school. Or even getting married or having kids, and im no where near ready for that... Id rather move in with the gf first before Id even think of giving a ring

 

Put in apps at all LTL's now cause its hiring season for LTL. You have previous driving exp somebody will pick you up especially when it hits the fan and freight gets left on the dock they'll need drivers. These places will grab anyone with or without exp. Last year when I got hired they were leaving freight on the dock cause there were no drivers. Got fired(never been fired in 17yrs) on fri, put my app in early monday morning online, got a call at noon to come in on a interview same day I put my app in. Here I am LTL a year later.

 

haha randman we always seem to think alike... I left my last job in a really really bad name, but was greatful YRC gave me the chance. A lot of LTL companies dislike the others and know what some do so they always give a chance... Where did you work before?