ABF road driver

I am not an ABF employee, but I can relate to you what you will face as a new road driver for any union company. If you are hired, consider getting one of the better truck driving job in the country, but along with the "roses" some heavy rain storms will pour down. Ever hear of a "hog board"? Well most probably, you will find out real fast. A "hog board" is the extra board ran by seniority. You will not work until all senior men are either working or have passed on the trip that now has come down to you. Maybe and it is a slim chance that the location that you will be working out of uses the "first in, first out" system, but it is highly doubtful.

Hang in there and if you can make it a few years, you will be rewarded. My son drives OTR for a union company and he has 10 years seniority, he is still low man on the totem pole, but he made over $90,000 last years, working 5 days per week, home daily. But he lives by the phone and you will too.

 

Really depends on the terminal you work out of. Like Chicago Heights, IL terminal you will never sit. May hold a bid right away.

 

From prior experience with a LTL company that I'm sure you heard of. There will be no set schedule, you will be waiting on phone call. As far a miles I really can't say as you will be the bottom guy on seniority. Pay per mile would be decent as LTL companies pay good wages. It could be a rough start. But if you can endure I promise it will be great. What city are you in. I see all the LTL companies are hiring line haul and team line haul drivers in my area.

 

I've seen that terminal in real life, that's one of ABF's bigger terminals isn't it?

 

ABF has ALOT of Senior drivers. Drivers that came in when OTR and running miles was the "in" thing to do. So they do have a lot of retirements coming up but don't get your hopes up about having a schedule or a bid. Money's there in Cpm better then 90% of company trucking jobs. Just like getting experience you gotta do your time. So expect to work 6-7 days a week and work thru the weekends. This is for any LTL linehaul job. Too many people come in hoping to have weekends off like its a guarantee then get mad when they can't get what they want as a Jr guy. Sorry it's trucking it's LTL extra board. You got to sit down and really think about it before you make a move into any LTL outfit. I don't run for ABF but us LTL guys do talk to each other. We are always trying to recruit each other lol.

 

don't paint all LTLs the same color. Pitt Linehaul rarely works weekends, I'd wager less than once a year, and doesn't have an extra board requiring one to be on call. we never stay hotels unless in the event of an emergency, once again I'd guess is >once a year on average. not all LTLs operate exactly alike.

 

^^^ Same with Dayton. I couldn't work on a weekend if I wanted to.

 

Conway freight is M-F

 

Old D, ABF, YRC, YRC regionals, Estes for sure work weekends. Maybe some regions they don't but out west they do.