LTL Dock Work

I can relate what guys I work with have told me who are former FedEx Freight drivers, but as @speedyk said, all barns are different in how they operate in order to serve their customers. Our guys have said they often spent more time on a forklift than in a truck when they worked there, but I don't know if it was a situation unique to their barn, running linehaul out of their barn specifically, or FedEx Freight in general. But from what I understand, most drivers do double-duty there.

Try asking on Truckingboards.com . At least you'll get a response from current drivers there.

 

I was told by some drivers that in fact you do start on the dock and run short runs if the freight is there but I’m just wondering if in the end it would be worth giving up some good money and 9 years pushing groceries #### gets old after a while never really ran a forklift that much

 

To give you an example of how different barns can be, one FxF barn has an entry run they've been trying to hire for that goes to a city 3 hours away, does 3-4 hours of Dock, then return with other trailers. The barn down the highway from them does long runs to further cities and return, no dock work. They're within 50 miles of each other.

 

I understand your hesitation. Our dockworkers can perform surgery with their lifts, and I'm just not that good with the tricky stuff (which is plentiful in LTL). I like to say I'm an expert at 40"x48"x4' high skids. Unfortunately, there's way more to deal with than those perfect shipments.

 

Well the center is a breakbulk if that makes a difference

 

My guess would be that you might be on a lift a lot at a breakbulk because of all the freight constantly flowing through. You should ask on the FedEx Freight forum on Truckingboards.com .

 

I talked to them today he said it just depends on the bid nobody wanted or I guess whatever is available when I hire in if I get hired on

 

Depends on your gig. Heck, something like a p&d position, you'll wish you had a forklift over pulling those pallet jacks around all day. Most our p&d guys don't do dock too much cause they run their ### off too much. The line hall just depends on the run you got. Some people run to a place, do a little dock then come back.

I was pleasantly surprised how much I liked the dock, it's a nice change up to the day.