Conway LTL

Some Union LTL Companies don't require experience, Call them and find out, you will also likely be on the casual/extra board until you can move up.

 

If it is Conway, they are not union. Most LTL companies have 2 types of drivers, P&D and Linehaul. P&D drivers operate in a set radius from the terminal. They pick up outbound freight form businesses in the service area and deliver inbound freight to the same businesses in the service area.

Linehaul moves the freight between terminals.

LTL companies operate on the seniority bid process. A couple of times per year (More if business needs dictate) there are bids on the various runs and routes available. The most senior drivers bid first and it moves down the line. Most times there are more drivers than bid runs/routes. The drivers that do not get a bid run/route are assigned as extras and fill in when there are extra runs or for a more senior driver who our on vacation or out sick.

I believe all of Conway's drivers are on the same "board" so all drivers bid on all runs (both P&D and linehaul). In my company (FXF) we have 2 separate boards, one for P&D and one for linehaul.

As a line haul driver, when I arrive at a terminal, I am required to work the dock until my trailers are loaded and ready to return to my home terminal. If a linehaul run is over a certain mileage one way ( usually 236 miles) then I am not required to work the dock.

If you do not have a bid run/route you will usually have to work the dock when not driving. Depending on the size of the terminal you may not actually drive a truck for a few months or years until you move up in seniority.

We have some large terminals where the are 150 P&D drivers and 60 linehauls drivers. The bottom 50 P&D drivers and the bottom 20 linehaul driver rarely actually drive.

I am lucky, I am in a smaller terminal so I have been driving linehaul since day one.

If you are patient and willing to stick it out, LTL is an excellent way to make a living. At this point you couldn't get me back to tankers or OTR (my previous driving experience) for anything.

In 6 months working for my LTL carrier I made $36000 last year and have made $6800 just in January of this year. It is not the type of work everyone enjoys, but it works for me.

 

16 hr linehaul day plus yard time..Ill give you a conway specific answer later today.

 

How long does it take for Con-Way to typically get back to you after you've applied. I've been waiting awhile now to hear somthing on two differant positions and don't know how long I can wait. I mean you can't even call anyone...

 

Why can't you call someone? Call the number for Conway ask ask for the number for the local terminal. It might take a couple of tries, but it can be done.

As far as how long it takes, let me put it this way: I applied with them two years ago have been hired by the 2 largest LTL carriers out there, and I'm still waiting for a call............

 

https://www.con-way.com/webapp/serv...astmap2000&logotoggle=S&SICInfo=Y&TTMapInfo=N


go there, put the zip code in of the terminal you applied to.

Ask to speak to the personnel supervisor and take it from there.... you might get the run around if its a big place. Ask for an email address if the CSR's are being a pain.

 

I'll take a shot at it. St Louis is a pretty big terminal like mine but they will still vary because every terminal is operated a little differently. Some things that are consistent are there is no experience requirement, you will work the dock a lot, annoying little rules, hours will be all over starting out, and the pay is pretty good even at bottom rate.

At my terminal all the new drivers start on the night or day extra board or running a yard truck for our night operation. The day extra board does a little bit of everything. They fill in for day line-haul, take extra city runs, run yard trucks, and work the dock a lot. The last few on the board have a lot of days where they never leave the dock.

The extra board at night usually starts on the dock around 7 or 8 and takes the extra night line-haul runs. If they don't get a run they just stay on the dock all night since my terminal is 24 hours. Most of our night extra board runs just about every night. Typically you'll run the shortest run with a lot of time on the dock at the destination. Once in a while you'll get some of the longer runs though.

The one thing that's pretty consistent is a lot of time on the dock. I have a 500 mile run and still work the dock anywhere from 1-4 hours per night. Even our day line-haul drivers here normally work the dock before they go or when they get back.

It stinks being at the bottom but if you stick around and get some people under you it's a pretty good place to work. The equipment has improved a ton in the last couple years and is generally very good. The money can be great and for the most part it's a good bunch of people to work with.

 

i was called the very next day by all 3 terminals i applied to online. Granted your in the OFF season so it could take a day or two longer. But come march when they desperately need drivers they will prob call you the next day.