Is it hard to get into get into the LTL side of trucking?

It might be easier to go with a carrier that is both OTR and LTL.

For example years ago FFE featured that out of Lancaster. There was a separate building that organized and transshipped multi-stop loads.

It is usually hard to get drivers to do that kind of labor for the miles. However there are some.

 

Old Dominion hires new cdl grads even. This company even recruits from cdl schools in PA.
You're more than qualified for Estes Express, Old Dominion Freight Lines, Saia, R&L Carriers.
Old Dominion > click here > Apply On Company Site
Estes Express - click here > Apply On Company Site
R&L Carriers > Apply in person: 3235 PENN ST., HATFIELD PA 19440 or online @ Employment Application | R+L Carriers
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These companies have openings at various terminals in your area for local (home daily) and line haul (home weekends)

 

FFE (Frozen Food Express) still has LTL routes.

 

Just start knockin' on some doors.

 

The answer is yes and no.

Yes, in that LTL freight carriers can afford to be as selective as they want to be in terms of picking the applicant with the most experience and the most relevant experience (multi-stop, time-sensitive, difficult delivery situations, etc.).

No, in that companies can't just limit themselves to trying to poach existing LTL drivers from each other. If so, nobody would ever get experience in the first place. However, drivers with P&D experience will certainly get primary consideration for those positions.

My terminal just hired 6 drivers from New England Motor Freight, which closed down in February. You can be sure those applications went to the top of the stack. They already know what they're getting into and already know most of our customers, because they were recently going to the same exact places, just with different uniforms on.

This is my advice: keep trying and don't give up. I had 12 years experience before I got my job, and periodically tried getting an LTL job after around 5 or 6 years. At that time 5 years was pretty much the minimum even considered (luckily it is a little better these days, though). In the meantime I kept my license clean working local daycab jobs, only moving on when a better opportunity came up, and not job-hopping. I was rejected by several LTL companies, but I didn't take it personally. In the end I got what I consider to be a better job anyway, and it was worth the wait.

One thing my terminal manager commented on when he interviewed me was that I only had two jobs in the prior 8 years. He said he can't hire guys who have 10 jobs in that period of time, and he gets applications like that all the time.

Don't give up. Keep your license clean, have all your endorsements ready, don't job hop and the opportunity will eventually come.

 

What's your driving and work record like?

 

Like @Bob Dobalina mentioned...yes and no.

Being around the Philly area, they're ALWAYS looking for P&D drivers. Doesn't matter which company it is. Go on indeed.com and you'll see what I mean. Practically all city driver positions.

Prior LTL experience is definitely an advantage. Most, if not all, will look at experience over someone with no experience. Doesn't matter if you have 20 years experience, if it doesn't involve some type of city driving, most likely they're gonna pick someone else...even if he only has 2 years experience in P&D. But it doesn't mean you can't be hired though. All depends on how desperate they are for city drivers. I'm sure there are a lot of people who want to get into LTL, but can't cope with the pressure, demands, and skills you need to make deliveries in residential and highly dense areas such as Philly. You gotta know what your doing, and be prepared for what's actually involved as a P&D driver.

 

Estes is always hiring p&d and extraboard.