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

Discussion in 'LTL and Local Delivery Trucking Forum' started by RookieJ1987, May 6, 2019.

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RookieJ1987 Medium Load Member

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Bob Dobalina said: ↑

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.
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Well said! Thx!

RookieJ1987, May 7, 2019

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MACK E-6 Moderator Staff Member

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jtaran06 said: ↑

Estes is always hiring p&d and extraboard.
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Years ago Estes wouldn’t even talk to me. Neither would PJAX or Pitt Ohio for that matter.

Just as well though. I’m happy where I’m at now.

MACK E-6, May 7, 2019

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Texas_hwy_287 Road Train Member

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@MACK E-6 is also happy where he at because he has an automatic truck.

Texas_hwy_287, May 7, 2019

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Texas_hwy_287 said: ↑

@MACK E-6 is also happy where he at because he has an automatic truck.
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In before the banhammer.

Gearjammin' Penguin, May 8, 2019

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Bob Dobalina Road Train Member

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MACK E-6 said: ↑

Years ago Estes wouldn’t even talk to me. Neither would PJAX or Pitt Ohio for that matter.

Just as well though. I’m happy where I’m at now.
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That's hilarious. Same here. Estes and Pitt-Ohio are two of the companies I was referring to that passed on me.

Bob Dobalina, May 8, 2019

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jtaran06 Road Train Member

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Bob Dobalina said: ↑

That's hilarious. Same here. Estes and Pitt-Ohio are two of the companies I was referring to that passed on me.
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Yeah but for the better. Dayton is good place.

jtaran06, May 8, 2019

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speedyk Road Train Member

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Estes talked to me like it was a slam dunk. Then ghosted me.

Meanwhile looks like every office position in PHX is suddenly open after a former TM got hired back, after being let go some time ago, reportedly for being physical with employees. Maybe that's why you all sitting, tbe freight's stuck there with no clerks to process it.

Making Central look good.

speedyk, May 8, 2019

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Texas_hwy_287 said: ↑

@MACK E-6 is also happy where he at because he has an automatic truck.
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MACK E-6, May 8, 2019

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flybynight12 Medium Load Member

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RookieJ1987 said: ↑

Ive been driving for a little over 6 years, last 4 years Ive been doing Intermodal and tankers. Im intrested in doing some freight peddling doing P&D with an LTL carrier like Estes, SAIA or SEFL but it seems like they're really selective about who they hire. So is it hard to get into LTL with no LTL experience??
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I got in ltl 2 years into trucking was in food service at first. With 6 years it's a sure shot you'll get hired if they are hiring. Make sure you call to check on app status now days with technology the robot decides to pull your app to the next step any mistake and the robot terminates it like arnold

flybynight12, May 8, 2019

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RookieJ1987 Medium Load Member

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Man I just wanted share with yall some good news. I got a phone call from Estes. They set me up with a interview for next Tuesday coming up. Local P & D out of Ft Worth, TX

RookieJ1987, May 17, 2019

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