Wilson Trucking, Old Dominion, UPS Freight, or YRC?

Yes and they try to get rid of you as we'll that's always been how UPS works. Most management are guys and girls my age. It works ok for me as I'm able to be cool with but always watch my back as all management in these companies will screw you over to protect themselves. A lot of the old school Overnite guys say UPS doesn't want to pay supervisors anything so all these young guys all apply instead of people who have time in the industry.

 

I'm a city driver at upsf it's a good job start pay is a little low but tops out at 26.65 and will go up to 28.05 by contracts end if you can get through the first year or 2 it will be worth it also when working the outbound dock your usually on ot so top rate dock work after 8 is around 40 an hour so I'll run a forklift for that kind of money any day I'm at a small term work is pretty steady year around it just depends on your area weather or not you sit at home or work everyday try to talk to some of the drivers at any ltl company in your area most of them should know if you would work or not it's a great job overall and pay is great for driving a truck good luck with whatever you decide

 

Morristown is a good terminal. All the drivers I meet from there seem happy.

I would throw in an application. OD is growing like mad and they need all the help they can get.

 

Oh yea once you hit top rate then the pay settles it up. Just stinks starting so low.

 

Thanks for your service. I did 8 years as a 2T1 with the USAF. I did linehauls with our Army counterparts (88M) back in '09 in Iraq.

I won't speak for most of the carriers you listed. Some of our guys on here already gave you some good info to refer back to. I was hired on-board with USF the same day I separated.

Some words of advice: Get your CDL and all endorsements in advance. It is also extremely helpful that you learn how to use a logbook and know how much weight you can legally carry on both tandem & single axles. Some of the stuff you got away with in the military world will not fly out here in the civilian sector. During your last months in the military, start making some time (including off duty time) grabbing a tractor/trailer and practice your backing ...a lot. Best thing you can do is find a van trailer so you aren't cheating by overlooking the length of a flatbed. I also opened up a thread a while back on all the crap I wish I would have known before I got started: http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...-forum/233622-things-i-wish-i-would-have.html

As for carriers, I will limit myself to USF since you stated you had a Holland terminal close by. Some of USF is union. Most is not. We do not have a pension, and while we do have a 401K plan, we lost employer contribution a few years back. There is no overtime pay (regardless if you are hourly or line) and you may fair better for health insurance if you use TriCare (if you are retiring).

As for pay, linehaul will pay better. Keep in mind, most of USF line will only run nights. Your start time could be as early as 6 PM or as late as 1 AM. If you have a family, chances are you will not see them as much as you would if you were to run P&D. 45-60 hours/week for either line or P&D are a norm for my area. Home 95% of the time with weekends and most Holidays off. Our dockwork is usually right around 3%. Most of it will consist of stripping/adding a bill when you stop at a terminal that is between your final destination. Some experiences will vary based on what routes you run.

I would apply with all the LTL carriers and go with the one that offers you a job. Best time to apply will be March through May... worst time to apply will be September through January. Keep in mind, while most employers love to hire vets, there are a lot more that will not recognize your military driving experience (due to insurance reasons). Getting a local job will really depend on how much you can "wow" them during your test drive... and how bad they need bodies.

Good luck!

 

ABF does work the dock, If you are a P/D when crap hits the fan on dock or just want to get hours or simply want to help out your fella brother, Also the line haul unloads and reloads. All drivers are certified to work a forklift. Many terminals in the nation. my information based on my area. Terminals vary obviously.

 

Really? Darnit! Well they didn't use to down here in southern Cali but that doesn't mean they haven't started. Only reason being is I have a bad back otherwise I'd work the dock. If all I did was the fork lift then no biggie. I can do some lifting but can't break down and build pallets anymore or climb and pack trailers tight like we used to do at Roadway. I might be stuck at Reddaway, still not a bad job though.

 

Don't think the road guys work the dock at all. The city guys have top

 

Road men don't work the dock. They will hook themselves or back trailers to the dock if the terminals dark or if no ones in the yard(yes they get paid for this). Everyone else is combo driver dock just depends what bid your on how much dock work you'll end up doing.