Question about LTL/P&D Jobs

But that is just an extreme example. Everyone on here will tell you that most days are never like this. Most of our freight is pushing a pallet to the back of the trailer and have someone fork it off. Some other stops will be dropping off/picking up an empty or loaded pup.

Someone add on if I missed something... But most "inside deliveries" where we had to handcart freight in by the boxes are usually 200 to 1500 lbs of hotel/hospital supplies or university crap.

I made $22/hour and OT after 8, but that was just my old carrier. Some others pay up more initially but don't give OT until you hit a total of 60 hours. Others pay generous hourly and don't pay OT at all. ODFL, FXF, XPO and I were in a giant circle jerk one time comparing wages. We all agreed it was a wash and we basically made roughly the same.

 

That's a good point. When I'm feeling good and and all my parts are working, the work is kind of fulfilling. I'd just like the option to skip a day once in a while like a gym membership.

 

I kind of do line haul for a food company and it's harder then I think LTL line haul because I'm constantly unhooking and rehooking and breaking down and moving trailers around I build and break down almost 6 sets of doubles during a night transit event.

 

No we don't really run far. About 400something miles a night. Basically drive 2 hours get to the warehouse break down doubles. Get paper work and drive and set up and go 2 hours or an hour somewhere else. Take down switch around and out and set back up and maneuver around and reset up and head back out. Where we came from.

Take down, go get papers rehook and head back to where we came from.

I know some LTL guys the terminal switchers hook up the sets and get it all ready to go and then those guys just take off and go and go and go. Reach a certain mile mark where they meet another fellow and they just trade sets and go back where they came from.

 

This week I tell you what, I didn't eat very much. I would come home find something to eat wasn't much because I had no groceries in the house my freezer was almost completely empty.

I would pick at what crumbs I had at home which weren't much and then at work, I'd take a bottle of water with me and that was really it I didn't really eat much of anything all night. For one I didn't have time and for 2 I didn't want to, I thought ehh that's not good habit to get into I don't need to be eating.

So I didn't in a 10 hour or so shift I drank a bottle of water or two chewed some gum, that was it no need to pack a lunch and I didn't bother with the vending machines or any of that at the warehouse and it wasn't bad.

I remember another fellow on this forum said that he basically on his run drinks water or black coffee those are the only two beverages and has like a piece of fruit and maybe a peanut butter jelly sand-which for lunch and that's it and doing that he hasn't gained a pound. So I kept that in mind and it does work.

The key is don't eat a lot of bakery, one of our guys used to work for Bridgestone-Firestone and he would drive around and make deliveries and at night another fellow would take the truck back to the distribution center and get the load for the next day.

Well he said the night guy was a little heavier and was kind of messy and everyday all there was, on the floor of the cab was wrappers for cakes, pastries , cookies, fig newtons, fruit pies and other bakery.

I would avoid serious carbs I mean a peanut-butter and jelly sandwich one of those a night is not the same thing as 3 extra icing cheese danishes.

 

Actually my favorite part of working on transit was when I got to the yards and I had to figured out where I was going to put the trailers and all the different moves I was going to make. It was kind of fun and a bit of a small challenge made me think a little bit and I found that kind of fun. I know a lot of people just want to pull a trailer and be done though.

 

The one good thing about not eating all day is that when your home... one beer does the trick.