Anyone work for OD out of SoCal?

Hello,

Currently working at JB Hunt out of a dedicated account here in SoCal. Been with the company for 3 years and at Schneider for a year before that, so been a trucker for 4 years now. I've got all the endorsements ("X" endorsement on my DL). I figure I have enough experience to start looking at some better companies, and from what I've been reading anecdotally, Old Dominion seems like one of them. From what I see they have at least two terminals close to me.

I worked intermodal with Schneider for my one year that I spent there, and did two years at the ports with JBH until they lost the contract with the customer we were serving. Currently doing reefer delivering groceries and produce to markets around SoCal. I'm fairly happy here, but I know there's better out there.

Was wondering if there's anyone here that works there doing "local" Linehaul or P&D that can describe what a typical day is like and share their thoughts and experiences before I decide to apply.

 

Well aware of the recession, so believe me, jumping ship isn't something I take lightly. OD is hiring in my area right now. They claim that their line haul drivers average 107k/year. That's about 25k/year more than what I'm making now, so it's enticing. Of course, we all know better than to take what the companies and recruiters say at their word, hence my asking here. They also offer up to 6% match on their 401k plan. JBH is only 3%, which is pretty pathetic when you consider that they are a fortune 500 company and were having record profits before this recession hit. So much so that they purchased BNSF's logistics division as well as purchasing all of Walmarts intermodal assets. They also got the contract to move their intermodal loads, which I'm sure generates a tidy amount of revenue.

The main things I dislike is that the culture there feels a little too corporate sometimes and I feel like I'm never going to make more money working for them than what I am now. Does that make sense? Reefer work isn't bad. I feel that it's pretty recession proof. People will always need to eat. While other local DCS accounts in my area have shed drivers and shrunk, the ones they have that handle food are holding steady, and at least a couple of them, Aldi and El Super are looking for drivers. I belive Smart & Final (owned by the same parent company as El Super) is as well.

 

Carson terminal. It's literally 20 minutes from home for me.

 

Thank you for the reply. I looked at the ad again and saw the "PM" in the posting. Not thrilled with that, but not necessarily a deal breaker. Definitely leaning Linehaul over P&D.

Fortunately, no "E" restriction. Put myself through CDL school so I wouldn't have to be beholden to some company for a year. I learned on an 8 and 10 speed. My first truck at JBH was a 10 speed, though I only got to drive it for about 2 months as they were on the tail end of phasing out all of their manuals. I'd probably be rusty, but I'm sure after a few weeks I'd be used to it again.

Is OD a union company? Not a deal breaker either, just sounds like It from how you describe the way they are structured. Also, did you have to do any dock work starting out?