Newbie wanting to get into the LTL game

but the ATA said we are having a driver shortage, read it almost every week in Transport Topics..bunch of scum bags

 

Hahaha! Yeah I keep hearing that too. What a joke!!! They need to add in "only bottom feeder companies are having a driver shortage"

 

Must be based on where you live. UPS and FedEx are impossible to get on board with here in Montana. All the guys that run up here with those two carriers have been there for ages. Same seems to be with Conway. All I can say is that I am green with envy over their equipment they run. I have never ever passed one of their trucks that wasn't broke down. Totally hating on all those guys. My junker goes 0 to 60 in 5.5 minutes. Hate hate hate!!!

 

CBQ, heres my suggestion on UPS (freight side anyway). Start going in now and fill out any and all paperwork they may be willing to give you (they usually do all hiring of the net though).
Start small, apply for their dock cdl job, this will put you in the door and still have the ability to drive. In this position when driving it would mostly be P&D with a few road trips thrown in here and there.
Once in the door you can transfer over to the road, the first year is hell pay wise, 2nd is much better than any otr gig out there and top out,well you can figure that one out.
Not sure about family for you but benefits there are better than anything ive eve seen before and as in any company theres quite a bit of BS but nothing worth discussing. Good luck.

 

Butte, MT has openings occasionaly, I remember a linehaul job was on there for about a year
It's not on there now but, keep checking atleast once a month
https://jobs-freightinc.icims.com/jobs/intro?hashed=0

 

Thx sharpshooter. I live fifty miles east of the pass. I know Roadway and FedEx got a terminal in that town. Until then, I will stick with my current carrier. They've only been good to me. I am just upset about our hand-me-down gear we got.

 

I work for FedEx Freight..Been here since the Viking days..As some other posters have said, we are cutting line haul runs and consolidating terminals. We do NOT train drivers anymore. Your best bet, if you find an opening, is to start as a city P&D driver. The hourly wage is good, you will have a life and it's a foot in the door. We do require doubles/triples/hazmat. Good luck.

 

They still have alot of driver apprentice jobs posted

 

I saw the same thing. They posted one in Nov, and another this week for Driver Apprentice in my area. Thinking about applying, but if they are not training drivers, then I would look elsewhere. Why would they advertise this job if not training???