What is LTL?

Discussion in 'LTL and Local Delivery Trucking Forum' started by road_runner, Jul 22, 2013.

  1. vikingswen

    vikingswen Road Train Member

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    You think trucking is bad you better not start to become a pilot.
     
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  3. cool35

    cool35 Heavy Load Member

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    I'm right there with you. I also believe the trucking industry is doomed. I can't believe I was making the same amount of money in 1999 as I make today. I just can't wrap my head around it! Not to mention they took all the fun out of the job. The only way for it to be a money maker again is if the economy does a 180 and I don't see that happening. Even if it did a 180 I doubt they would raise pay by very much.

    I'm looking into the medical field. Maybe an xray tech or something. They make about the same as a trucker and not much school. Then I can just keep going to school part time and get something better.
     
  4. road_runner

    road_runner Road Train Member

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    If the economy does a 180, they have no choice but to pay us more. I think a lot of people fall into the trucking industry because they are having a hard time finding work in their trained professions. My wife's friend is an X-ray tech... well, she is trained/qualified in that field. Went to school for it for a few years and even graduated towards the top of her class. After three years, she still can't find employment anywhere (even out of state). It sucks. Once the economy is back on it's feet, you will probably see some form of exodus within the trucking industry. Once our wages go up, the cost will be absorbed by the customer having their freight shipped... which in turn will end up at the consumer level. Bit of a hellish cycle if you ask me.
     
  5. Bflag

    Bflag Bobtail Member

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    That's funny. I have been a Registered Nurse for 21 years and BEYOND sick of the negative changes and insane increase in stupidity during that time. I have been heavily researching how to make a living with a 1 ton diesel dually. Yes, it will be a huge cut in pay but lucky for me I'm single and can live on $2k/month.
     
  6. Apd

    Apd Haystack

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    Ask anyone in any profession and they'll say its going downhill. It's not just the trucking industry.
     
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  7. Lilbit

    Lilbit Road Train Member

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    Very simply . . . Less Than trailer Load

    It's also not just a local or linehaul thing, as many reefer runners end up with multi-pick & multi-drop loads, which is what LTL is all about.
     
  8. road_runner

    road_runner Road Train Member

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    Yup. LTL is applied for flatbedding, reefer, and dry van. If I recall right, guys over at Watkins Sheppard run to multiple furniture stores for multiple drops on their routes. I think with LTL, people usually think of LTL Freight... Whether its unionized or not. They run an entire unique system of relaying trailers to each other via a pre-established network where on the other hand, OTR drivers complete an entire route by themselves.
     
    Last edited: Aug 16, 2013
  9. ACH1130

    ACH1130 Road Train Member

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    right on with that. AND the only LTL freight company that has flatbeds are ABF. Must take time for that. Watkins used to have a LTL branch before sold to FedEx. I have heard rumors of them possibly coming back into it
     
  10. Shaggy

    Shaggy Road Train Member

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    yup, we have flat beds for those Upack cubes and the crawler on tail end. The drivers rack up major hours

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYZBe2X3V_Y
     
    Last edited: Aug 17, 2013
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