Conway driver apprentice program ?

YRC is and has been in trouble but we are not equipped to handle much more freight. This is the first time though that it really looks like YRC may not survive much longer - only time will tell. I'm hoping they're able to stay in business for a variety of reasons - mainly I would hate to see 20,000 people lose their jobs.

If you miss-pull you're not supposed to get paid for the half of the trip that was with the wrong trailer. I know some people were paid and some were not for mis-pulls. My guess is it's a matter of management submitting the paperwork or something. I mis-pulled last summer - was half way home when I realized it so I had to turn around. They sent a driver up to meet me in the middle and I got the right trailer. I ended up driving over 600 miles but was only paid the normal miles for the trip and wasn't about to make a stink over it since it was my fault anyway.

It's not had to do though - you know how our trailers are numbered. I was supposed to pull like a 317-6509 and I pulled 317-6905 for a back box. Most mis-pulls here are when you're supposed to pull say 315-9920 and you pull a 313-9920. The way to make sure this never happens is to check your seal numbers. After I did that I started checking them twice - once while hooking and once as I was walking out to leave. I'll never do that again..

 

I know what u mean by the trailer numbers, they really r close together. Never thought about checking the seal numbers but thats a good idea. Will have to keep that inmind when I start doin linehaul training and if I have to do it one night

As for yrc, I agree with u. I no a few people who work there, friend of mine worked for roadway but was laid off when they shut down the roadway terminal he worked for and yellow had a diff union so he couldn't stay. From wut he told me that yrc or yellows equipment is so run down and not kept up to date that they've been using roadways old stuff since its in better shape

And as u no elmsford is not a big terminal I can't imagine that much more work coming in, be such a mess

 

Just sent an application for apprentice driver to both Irwin/Pittsburgh and Alliance/Youngstown. Jake do you know anyone at either terminal? How long before I follow up on it? I live about 1 hour from either one.

I currently will be taking at least a 30-40% pay cut on my 100k yr job in the mortgage industry, maybe more thanks to the FED Reserve and the new Dodd/Frank Finance bill of 2010. Time to start a new career.

 

Yeah, actually I do. I know a lot of drivers and management at both terminals and have ran each one as a night line-haul destination.

Not real sure how old you are or what the future might hold in your current industry but I thought I would throw this out there first. It can take a while before you really start making money here. I don't know what your income requirements are but it will probably take 4-6 years before you make 60 or 70 percent of your current salary. I'm in my 8'th year now and have finally reached the point where I can make as much as I want by how I select my job and destinations for the year - was my 5'th year when I started to make the money I wanted to. That said, I now make more than a lot of my white collar friends in areas like Washington DC and Arlington, Va if I choose to so it can pay off.

I have no idea how long to wait before following up because I didn't go that route starting here, but I would think keeping your name in their head wouldn't hurt.

As far as the two terminals go - both are 24 hour operations during the week and serve as nighttime hubs. Lordstown is one of the heaviest volume terminals in the entire company serving as the main East/West link between the Mid-West and East Coast. The main reason is they have triples access on the toll roads. They probably average somewhere around 75-90 total day/night line-haul runs and cover a large area of P&D territory in both Ohio and Western, Pa. They run a lot of different terminals at night - Milton, Pa and Fremont, In are two of their highest volume runs but they also run Cincinnati, Columbus, Toledo, Hagerstown, Md, Clearfield, Pa, Charleston, WV, and Detroit, Mi. There's a lot of dock work there too. My guess is you would probably start off working the dock during the night hub operation - it's a nice easy dock to work and it's just real laid back.

Pittsburgh is a lot smaller operation - my guess in 25-35 night line-haul runs with a few day runs to Columbus - don't get your hopes up, those day runs take like 20 years to land..haha.. They serve a a link between Columbus, Oh and Hagerstown, Md so they have a lot of runs between them - they also run Milton, Pa, Charleston, WV, and Toledo, Oh. They cover mainly East and South suburbs of the city as their P&D territory but go up to Saxonburg, Indiana, over to Latrobe, and down into Morgantown, WV. The Neville Island terminal covers most of the city, Washington, and up through Cranberry/Mars and into Butler. Again with it being a 24 hour operation even though it's smaller, you would probably start on the night hub. It is my all time favorite hub to work even though the terminal is kinda crappy - actually it's really crappy..haha.. It's real laid back and not as congested as most night hubs.

Strictly work wise Lordstown has more options but I would prefer to work at the Irwin terminal given a choice. It's really laid back and they have a really easy going bunch of drivers. Lordstown does too but I would personally prefer Pittsburgh. This is purely conjecture on my part and in no way should you let it influence your decision in any way, but this company spends a lot of money on infrastructure and maintains excellent facilities for a trucking company - Irwin and Neville Island are both dumpy terminals that don't compare well to our typical newer facility like Lordstown or even Bedford, Pa. There's a long standing belief that at some point the Pittsburgh area will be reconfigured by building a large new facility somewhere between the Turnpike and Washington, Pa. I wouldn't let that influence you but keep in mind the company will make major changes fast if they feel they need to.

Hope that helps a little. Feel free to shoot any questions you may have my way and I'll do my best.

 

Wow, I knew I come to the right place for answers. Thanks for the input! I'm mid 40's and fortunately, I did save up some money, so I can afford somewhat of a lull in income in lieu of starting a new career. What do you think is realistic 1st and 2nd year income? Is it possible to make 50-60K or is that unrealistic for the first few years?

I really want to make a good decision because I'm not the type of person that likes switching jobs. I've had 3 in the last 18 years and the last 2 were with the same supervisor as he had me go with him when one of the company's shut down that we worked for.

I honestly would prefer working nights too. I live north of Zelienople so any terminal near Pittsburgh would be great.

Thanks again for the info, it's much appreciated.

 

Well it's a small world isn't it.. I just drove right passed your neck of the woods early this morning on I79 heading back down here - I'm from Erie and spent the weekend up there at my parents house. If you saw a green late model Yukon Denali driving erratically at a high rate of speed around 7AM'ish that was me..haha.. I love my parents but will never forgive them for what they call weather up there..haha..

I have my past W2 right here on my desk so I can tell you what I did my first two years - 2004 was my first full W2 year at Con-way and I did $49,654 - in 2005 I did $52,979. Should mention in 2007 I only did $45,471.. You might do a little better since I think the pay rates are a lot better than they were back in 2003 - my first hourly wage here was like 15 or 16 something an hour - I think it's over 19 now.That said, my 2009 was $82,500, and my 2010 was over $87,000 and I wasn't running long.

I used to work at a terminal that would have been just perfect for you where you're at - Sharon, Pa. It was closed back in 2008 and I've since moved to Eastern Pa to keep my job with the company. I lived in Wexford for years while working there - even get a new Wright Wexford license plate bracket for the Denali every spring when I pass through.. When I first started at Sharon, I would run down to the Veka plant in Zeli to pick up before I'd head out on night line-haul.

Anyway, if you're up there Lordstown might be the better option. That seems like more than an hour commute to me for Irwin - the terminal in 4.5 miles West on 30 from the Irwin interchange plus tolls. Even if you jump off at Monroeville you still have the tolls and traffic coming in that way. The terminal is actually in North Huntingdon and there is simply no good way in. Lordstown sits right behind the GM plant off the Ohio Pike and is only 2 miles and 3 lights North of I76 off Bailey road.

If you don't care about the commute at all I'd say Irwin but Lordstown seems a lot closer to me..

 

My last job before Swift was Lowe's and I got fired there. The one before that lasted 7 months before I got laid off. Lots of verifiable self employment. I am 53 and thinking that and Lowe's hurts me for Conway LTL.

I have been at Swift 13 months with no glitches.

Being home is important. I may have to do another year OTR to get local. Conway or Crete may get a call from me.

LTL has my application. I have got no interest from them in Nashville.

 

Thanks again Jake. Yea that area from about Edinboro north is horrible in winter. Sharon would have been great, only about 35 minutes away.

Those 1st year incomes definitely sound doable. Probably have to put the better half to work part time for a while. I was hoping you wouldn't say 35-45K, that would have been a real letdown. I will be sure to follow up with the terminals sometime this week if I dont hear anything. Are hiring decisions made at the terminal level or is it a corp person that I need to follow up with? What is the title of the person that I should ask for?

 

I can actutally answer that. When I applied I waited about 2 weeks before I called to ask about my application. I told them I wanted to find out what the status was and they told me who to ask for. They will go over ur application with u and ask u to come in if the spots still available. When I went for my interview, I spoke to the personel manager and then u speak to th terminal manager and he has the last say. The interview was quite long ad they will tell u on the spot whether they want u or not

As far as pay goes u r paid by the hour like jakebrake said. I'm an apprentice and right now I make 13.89 a hour. It is about 19 something when ur a driver. Not too sure how the linehaul paid by mile works, ud have to ask jakebrake.

If u got experience with a forklift or dock work they do prefer that. I however had none, but I've been playin with machine like backhoes, tractors with buckets, sizzle lifts etc. I'm actually starting my class next week, and I wil keep everyone posted on here on wut u do in class

P.S. It helps if u have ur class a and endorsements already. I have mine so they say my class will b faster. Good luck and let me know how it works out

 

Thanks ACH, I couldn't wait and made a call today to the Irwin terminal but the guy in charge was off today.