Need opinions on LTL company's

If you want the best pay and benefits UPSFreight hands down.
Yop out is around $29 an hour with time and a half after 8 or 40 hours. OD won't pay OT untill after 60 hours. Estes 55 hours.
Linehaul pay .70-.72 a mile.

UPSFreight also has way better health insurance and gives you a good pension.

They are in the middle of contract negotiations so those rates will be even higher.

 

But they want you in the warehouse to start. To hell with that lol

 

The advantage OD and Estes has over UPS Freight is a higher starting pay and a faster pay progression to top out if I'm not mistaken. They are also much better for new hires running linehaul. UPSF is no doubt the best long-term plan for P&D drivers, though.

In my city anyway, newer linehaul drivers at UPS Freight are starving, only working 3 or 4 days per week at a very low starting wage, while contractors continue to move their freight. And when they do work, it's often short runs. That has been the experience of 3 guys I know. By contrast, new drivers with experience are starting at OD in the middle of their pay progression and are getting big runs right off the bat. And Estes extraboard drivers get all the miles they can handle.

It's all about what you're willing to stomach, and for how long. While I'd totally recommend UPS Freight for a driver who wants to do P&D, I can't really say the same about running linehaul there, unless someone is willing to endure the initial hardship for however long it takes to stabilize. And as always, conditions vary from terminal to terminal, so take what I say with a grain of salt and always do your homework.

 

RE: UPSF/linehaul:

It can be a crapshoot if you're lower on the senority hierarchy as far as linehaul goes here. i can say on the east coast we are desperate for drivers (at least that's what is seems like lately...........and what higher ups are telling me.........).

i've been running my tail off and having a blast. Projected to make 90K+

To address the pay progression at UPSF, i'm still not sure if i would do it again had i really realized how low the starting pay was. If you have a family to support, 2 new cars and a mortgage, you'd better think it thru and crunch the numbers carefully and repeatedly. That said, if someone was to start out as a road driver (i started off as city), i think you could gross around at least $1200 per week provided you were working all 5 days (remember you can volunteer for weekend linehaul for more money.......)

One way i was able to "survive" was to find weekend work. Example Transforce/other temp companies may have some drop and hook stuff on the weekends. That and really not buying anything except food, gas, insurance etc. Do you really want to live like that for 3-4 years?

 

P.S.
There is likely a way you can gross $1500 minimum per week as a starting road driver here AND only have a 4 day workweek. But you'll have to move here. i should also mention it's teams----which is likely a deal breaker in a lot of cases.......

If anyone is serious, pls PM me and i'll look into in more detail.

 

Pretty much my experience. I'm on pace to crack 80K+ but I'm extra board. They feed me whatever I want and central dispatch knows I like 550+ unless it's Dallas or a turn. I'm enjoying my stay here so far. Only gripe is the slip seating.

 

All LTLs have their good and bad. UPS Freight starting at the bottom can be rough. You'll be sitting by the phone waiting by the phone and not always working 5 days. Especially during slow season.
Then you have the low starting pay although I heard a lot UPSF terminals were starting drivers at $23 an hour because they were having trouble attracting drivers because of the low starting pay.
This is supposed to be addressed this next contract.

Some of the other LTLs have their problems too. Like not being paid to fuel and other activities. Some don't pay you anything if you're waiting on loads. You can give up hours for free waiting on loads. Giving up an hour for free before getting paid during breakdowns. No OT or OT after working a ridiculous amount of hours.
Then there's one in particular that if they lay you off you are pretty much fired, but you are eligible for rehire. So you can get your job back but start at the bottom like a new hire.
And then there's the cameras and crazy rules like no talking on even bluetooths or CBs.

Again all companies have good and bad. But for the most part you can make a good living in LTL.

 

I went from driving my stepfathers truck doing oversize (weight, height, and width) to doing p&d for FXF. Was in a 99 W900L with a 48ft RGN normally, and to be honest, yes it's still a challenge, but it's doable. And I love the work schedule, no more out on the road for weeks at a time. It's all in what your personally happy with.

For me, I love it

 

UPDATE:

Some UPSF terminals are starting at $22/hr and 45- 50 hrs per week, meaning $1012-1210 gross per week local.