Experience with your LTL company

It's about right for a starting wage at a decent LTL. Some of the bigger non-union ones start guys around $20-21/hr but the paychecks come out in the wash if they start you down at $18-19 with OT after 8, assuming 10+ hr work days.

 

The majority of the LTL union shops start you out as a casual. You won't get the full pay and benefit package until a certain length of time specified by the union contract. This can be anything from 6 months to 3 years, depending on the contract and turnover rate.

 

I must be crazy but I always loved working the dock. I hostled some trailers, but not while working for a trucking company, that was on construction sites. I always wanted to hostle trailers or drive city, but never had any ambition to drive over the road or line haul. Dock work to me was a blast. I guess to each their own.

 

There is nothing at all wrong with dock work. Keeps you in good shape and the time goes by quickly. The problem is when some drivers think they are "too good" to work the dock. Most LTL drivers work the dock at some time or another in their career.

 

Bump

fast approaching 1 year in LTL, Lots to learn and 3 LTL jobs later ( 2 companies ) time flies and whole new world.
It's challenging, exhausting, rewarding and a ton other crap associated with it. Can i surpass Markstevens in longevity: doubtful.

Enjoy the dock time. Made me a better coworker and definitely a better driver.


Yins folks just put down what is going on in LTL randomly, People do read them and take your advice.
Thanks guys

 

I've been doing trucking for 34 years (16 NYC and the rest in Denver) I've worked for R&L which was the best LTL gig I ever had, but the regional managers were ####### and I was fired. Next I worked for Central Transport in Denver, They treated me like garbage but I really liked my terminal manager there and believe it or not... I really liked my job there. I hear they suck now. I got on with Reddaway in 01/2014 as line haul (Hated it) Not because of the company, but because I'm a city guy. I love busting my hump doing city work. Its easy and keeps the grey matter and the blood flowing.

So far Reddaway has treated me well, I like my TM and ATM, My dispatchers are good guys and as long as you get the job done you will never have worries. Sure I have sucky days and a bunch of idiot customers.... But its because of them I have a good job!

As far as working the dock.... I really only have to do it if I want. If Im not loaded in the morning Ill load myself.... Not too bad. Overtime over 8 and I get 50 to 60 hours every week. So I BRING HOME $1600.00 plus every two weeks.

In all fairness... I hate lift gate work. Not because of the labor, but because some idiot orders something that's twice the size of the lift gate and is unable to understand that it will be near impossible to get off the truck. Then the inevitable question from the customer... well how did they get it ON the truck? With a forklift and a dock you imbecile?!?! What you think we have the Keebler elves loading this stuff?

 

well justcolorado--I know for a FACT--that back in the day when I peddled for Big R--they did in fact have elve's working the dock overnight--along w/gremlins---how else do you explain how on earth they managed to wedge all that #### up against the roof all the way back to the doors in the old 32' low clearence city boxes? Hmmmmmm....LMAO

 

When I worked at YRC they still did that. How else can you fit 21 stops in a small straight truck

 

Hey there ,I'm with yrc myself right now I'm a p and d driver and it's ok.But lately been talking with line haul drivers and wow they make more.Just wondering if anyone here knows if there just talking out there arse..Most say 1600 a week gross is easy .Before I jump just trying to do all my homework thx.

 

I currently work for ODFL, not gonna say from where for privacy sake but I will say it's a major metro area east if the Mississippi.

I'm working as an 'extra board' line haul driver. Work schedule is Sunday night to Thursday night 10pm to whenever you end, which could be anywhere from 6am to 3pm depending on what time you actually get in and clock on duty. If you drain your 14 hours daily, your start time will obviously change on a daily basis. They will give you opportunities to drain it in a daily basis. My barn is also hiring green horns out of school and I've already told a few of them how lucky they are for not having to slave away for a largebage OTR carrier like I did for 2 years.

Hourly pay to start is 20.50 with a 3 year top off at about $27, line haul starts at 50cpm with $1.50 power hook and drop (so $6 per set broken) with a top post at about 63cpm. Health benefits are pretty cheap but I'm not sure how good the network is because I haven't needed it yet.

The cons are:

You may not get an assigned truck, we still run with some rough riding Columbias.

You can get fired if the TM or someone tight with the TM doesn't like how you smell.

No OT until after 60.