Looking at LTL City and Line Haul jobs... need some advice!

Thought about going back But then I remembered 2 wheeling in snow, up and down stairs, 0-20 degree weather, 2-3am start times. Then I said nope my LTL linehaul gig is way easier now it's like turn up and down the heat knob and glad I'm in my warm truck.

 

There's not enough money in the world to make me want to break my back doing food service.

 

Best 23 years of my life was the 23 in LTL. Truck load is a joke,too much free trucking.

 

Too much work for me

 

Sysco most drivers work 4day work weeks when it's extra busy could work 5-6days a week. Avg driver at my location makes 70s on 95% 4days a wk. I'm not a driver so I can't tell u how the pay breaks down. But your gonna earn every penny of it touching every case on your trailer ATLEAST once.. And to transfer just like someone esle mention let HR know where your interested in going gets approved may have to wait lil bit and on your way.. Cbake is a driver at sysco maybe he can share some info if anyone is interested

 

Estes just got a big ol fat raise at the beginning of the year. Biggest in company history

 

got 3cpm raise as a LH driver.

 

Hi all, new to this forum. I have a similar situation, but different location, hope it's ok to piggyback on to this thread. I've been looking to get into a nice gig, maybe with one of the big LTL outfits as well. I'd like to do local P&D, or any other tractor-trailer work that fits into a reasonable work day. I have no problem unloading freight, backing into tight alleys, dealing with customers, dealing with managers, helping out on the dock, dealing with snow, and so on. I'm used to it. I can also do flatbed, but it's been a little while. I'd rather not get into inconvenient start times or overnight shifts at this point, which I know limits my choices, but I did enough of that and it's not for me anymore. One good-paying unionized job that I was offered had shifts starting at midnite and returning around noon. I had to really think about it, but decided that I wouldn't be happy. I like working, but I also like home life, not to mention my health. I understand that this is trucking, and even at a "good" job you sometimes have to work on a weekend or go back out on another run after you just worked a fully day, or come in on your day off every week for the holiday rush and so on, but I wouldn't work somewhere where these things are every single day. Are all the LTL P&D jobs pretty much like that (dawn to dusk, 6 days a week), or are some of them better? At my current job I clock in at 6:30AM and am usually back at the dock by 2, unloading the pick ups I made and then going home. Today I asked them if they were really sure that there wasn't anything else that they needed me to do, and clocked out at 3. I know, sounds like a Goldilocks gig, and it is... except for the money.

I applied to all of the big freight companies taking applications - A. Duie Pyle, ABF, YRC, and I'm waiting for OD to open the application process for the local terminal (the manager there said to keep checking with him). I live in northern New Jersey. The volume of freight here is unbelievable. The ports are getting busier, and rail freight is starting to get serious as well. The local want ads are flooded with driver jobs, but I know most of them are for bottom-feeder outfits that will hire inexperienced drivers and pay them $18/hour to drive questionable equipment. Bear in mind that $18 or $20 is not as much money in this area as it is for most of the rest of the country. Certainly not enough to risk your life in a soot-covered International with bald tires. Anyway... any local advice on getting in with a solid outfit in this area? I'm not interested in long distance, been there, done that, got the t-shirt, don't care how much money it is or how shiny a truck they let you drive. It might sound like I'm picky, but I think I'm at the point that I can afford to be. I have over 15 years with no accidents, DWI',s or other nonsense. So I can bide my time and be on the lookout for one of those "right time, right place" situations, but the thing is I feel like I just missed a big hiring boom at all the big freight companies because I was busy being loyal to my current employer. All the big LTL firms have dozens of new trucks running all over the place around here, but never give me more than an email confirming my application. I'm sure they get a zillion applications for every job posting, especially with all these shady CDL-staffing businesses here promising big jobs to drivers with barely any experience, but how does a driver with a good record and good experience get in with a suitable firm?

 

I am in pretty much the same boat as you. I too have been driving for 16 years and also have a spotless record with all my endorsements. I am looking to make a change also and I am leaning towards LTL. I have applied at several of the large LTL companies and not heard a word from any of them. It is very frustrating that they can't even send out a simple e-mail saying they got my app and are reviewing it. I mean what is the point of having an online application process and not use it.

 

pester them w/o mercy