$45K/yr local and home every night...

I have followed countless trailers over, say, I dunno...10 years that have signs saying "NOW HIRING". Should we stay away from them, too?

 

While I have never had experience in food service I have known 2 people that did and it--according to their words--is a very rough job to do.

 

Unfortunately for their drivers, ABF hauls appliances (new) and requires their drivers to bring them inside if the del. reciept calls for inside del. whether its up or down stairs. I know this because prior to the ABF Terminal in my area getting their own Liftgate trailer they used our company exclusivley for their liftgate freight and it SUCKED! My bid run requires a dedicated liftgate trailer so besides my crappy residential/stripmall deliveries i had to do ABF's if it was in my area. When their Terminal was finally allocated a 28' pup with liftgate, it made my day. LTL freight can definitly break your body down, but Food Service can be Worse. I have never seen a Tavern, supper club or convienence store with a loading dock or fork lift!

 

Probably. Never follow them too closely, in any case!

 

Were you replying to me, rockytop?

 

I worked for the Budwieser Dist here in town and it sucked. Talk about back breaking work, they liked to use me on the keg routes. Most routes averaged over 100 kegs a day, at 25 to 30 different stops, and they pushed you to get done in 8 hours. I keg weighs 165 pounds and they ran them out of a pup refer trailer with no lift gate. Most of them went into basements.

From what I heard it used to be a great job 10 years or so ago. You got paid by how many peices you delivered, most guys where making 70-90k working 35-40 hrs a week. They just voted on a new contract right before I started, it was the third contract in a row they took a pay cut. New contract had all new hires, including me, making $17.50 with no raises for the term of the contract.(4 years) Needless to say I didnt stay long, that work will literally wear your body out really quick. Not worth it for me for $35-40k a year.

 

Try septic construction. It was my only chance without experience. I had the opportunity to go OTR but I didn't want to give up my hobbies. I drive a 4000 gallon tank and work45-60 hours a week taking home 750-900 a week depending on overtime. It's very hard but you work at your own pace. I do mostly off road mountain fire trail driving in these parts which is challenging and exciting. Putting that truck in some places makes me miss a 53 footer haha. If you can stand the smell and can dig up a tank 3 feet deep, go for it- it'll make a man out of you

 

Didn't read thru everything. Alot of these LTL like you go thru their CDL school. It's weird I know. So you can stay with them and pay them back like the big carriers. Some will take you if you got your CDL grad but it has to be one of their approved schools, once again stupid. If you have your cdl then you can always try. I just feel these LTL's like new drivers going thru their own schools and programs. Old D has been known to take drivers out of school but it's more your out weekly thing with a team til you get enough exp. I heard not 100% sure.