Decision,Decisions

No question Estes is THE LONG TERM ANSWER. It's not even close. I have a buddy who's maxed out at AAA COOPER and I'm still at the bottom of the pay scale at Estes. I grossed more than him on average. I was on pace to crack 20k in 12 weeks here. Ultimately, January screwed that up lol.

The money is here man. Once you get out of your terminal to DLT or HOU the money will flow like water. You tell Central you wanna stay out you best believe you're on i10 to California.

Bank can be made at McLane, but the physical work offsets that. You won't work hard here. So, long term... Estes is the only answer. Like I said...

This week...

Gross... $1873
After taxes... $1393 (.5860)

Pay raises every 6 months until you top out in 3 years. (.665 SO FAR for extra board)

 

Well, coming from the Mclane side of things here. I know this forum is mostly a non physical type place that frowns on physical work. Extraboard varies on terminal. I can take time off as long as I let them know in advance. Like I’m on a 4 day weekend cause I needed to care of somethings. But I’m generally off every Saturday and part Sun and sometimes weds. Still grossing 1400-2000+ a week. My buddy runs for Grocery side and doesn’t work weekends cause they don’t dispatch much on the weekend. He sometimes won’t take a run even if they call him. But then again in my area their not as strict. They need drivers badly. Oh on the delivery both guys deliver not supposed to but hey that’s how it’s been for years. Delivering to 7-11’s and gas stations isn’t bad or as heavy as the side I work on. I’m a gym rat and still am. I don’t believe in the body breaking down thing. You just have to treat yourself like an athlete and get proper rest and stretching. I’m a believer if you don’t use your body you’ll lose muscle. Your muscles will deteriorate when not using them as you get older. I’m 40 and I’m still benching 315lbs and can squat 4 plates even with my bad knee.

When I was running linehaul out of 30+ drivers I was the only one going to the gym. Estes is great in pay but it’s OTR life with no physical activity. I never see an inshape driver running linehaul even guys on turns. Now in Foodservice I see more in shape guys then out of shape drivers and some still hit the gym like me. Most drivers in linehaul are on medication. I know 3 linehaul guys who look like their gonna have a heart attack at anytime. I’m just saying while Linehaul is a gravy job you have to be on it with your health. I did it and it was a struggle to keep the pounds off. There’s plenty of dinasours still pushing a 2 wheeler around too and love what their doing.

Estes is a dang good job but so is Mclane. Good luck.

 

Plus being at Mclane might of helped with this Post Office job. As in the interview they thought highly of Foodservice guys. If I take this job I’m gonna have to be on my health again hard core but I won’t be working the LTL hours of 12+ hours a day. Easier for me to hit the gym more often then when I was linehaul. So going to Mclane does help with the resume doesn’t hurt it at all. If you leave other companies know it’s Foodservice not for everyone so you don’t get looked as a job hopper.

 

FYI, YRC (like ABF and some other LTLs) will keep you waiting by the phone as well if you're on the bottom of the board and running linehaul. You wind up working swing shifts. At least that's how YRC and ABF run in my neck of the woods.

You should seriously consider Estes. Knowing your intention to run linehaul, that's what I'd do if given the choices you listed.

 

Only you know yourself, Dave, but I'll give you my perspective.

I've never worked for McLane, but I have done foodservice, and it's freaking hardcore. It will keep you in shape, no doubt, but it'll destroy your body in the long haul. I did it for four years before I was burned out, and I salute the guys who can do it for decades and make a career out of it--they're tougher than I could ever dream of being.

If you have the willpower to hit the gym and keep yourself in shape on your own, I'd say Estes is your best bet. If you need motivation to keep yourself ripped, McLane might be a better option. They both pay well, and they both beat working for Saia, which--ya heard it here first--is headed for disaster within a year or two.

Luck in battle!

 

You've never ran across me then. 5'8... 180lbs solid. Been "regional" my whole career. Most people don't even know I drive. I've put on more weight to gain muscle, but my natural weight is 150lbs. No doubt foodservice pays just as much if not more than LTL, but the physical toll is the deciding factor.

I actually wanted to go to McLane to get my military physique back, but they didn't want me to run delivery. They wanted me to shuttle Nashville loaded and come back empty. I declined. I did 7up and I was 150lbs pure muscle back then. I miss the physique but hated the work.

Now I'm 180, SOLID, but not as ripped.

 

You’re the rare exception. Some people’s bodies can handle Linehaul but most can’t. Some people have the discipline but most people doing it don’t follow through. Usually the former military people stay disciplined like yourself. I was in the Marines maybe that’s why I choose McLane. It’s like when I had the choice between Marines and other branches before I joined but I wanted the hardest one. So I picked the Marines.