Random LTL Rants (all are welcomed)

I've been on extra board for the last few weeks until our bid for the next 6 months goes live on Monday. After that I landed 246 mile round trip run that's second cut with dock work. I'm in good with the ops sup at my turn point, so my dock work is hostling in the yard for about 3-4 hours. The upside is the first HFD run is a permanent double turn, and there is a 3rd HFD run under me, so I'm first in line for vias and additional double turns.

The guy above me took a 3rd run to NJ that was 489 miles a week. I was hoping he didn't but oh well. I love the drive to Newark. It might be a blessing in disguise because I ran it on Wednesday, and with a gate time of 2015 to head to Newark, my gate time to leave isn't until 0300, and they made me wait until 0255 to dispatch me. Then the whole drive home you're in a frenzy to beat your HOS clocks because of the GW Bridge x-factor.

If you're thinking of linehaul, I say give it strong consideration. The switch to nights from city wasn't bad. The Sunday before I began line haul, I stayed up all night long and deprived myself of sleep after being up all day, and went to bed at 11am to wake up at 7 for work. From there I just make sure that whatever time I get home I stay up until at least 11am. I see more of my family now than when I was on the city side because I get to have breakfast with them, see the kids off to school, nap with my wife and have dinner with the family before heading in. Pay for same amount of time at work increased by at least $200/week and I'm on the D grade scale at step 3 and have zero stress during my work day.

 

I just started working for LTL company as a hostler. I applied for city driver position but since I have less than 1 year experience they want me to drive xspotter for few months. I really don’t mind because I’m just glad I got the opportunity.

Before this, I did OTR for 6 months. It’s nice to be home everyday/weekends, sleep in my bed, take shower at home and be with my family. It’s what trucking should be like. Plus, my first 40 hour check was just like my average OTR check. I can’t wait to see what my 60 hour check is gonna look like.

 

One more reason that i like my small company. We had a meeting yesterday, at the restaurant next door. With door prizes and ####tails.
And the owner thanking us for being devoted to helping this company grow. Recognizing our efforts.
We're NOT union. We don't pay the top wages in the industry. But for myself, that's OK. I like what I do and with a boss like that. He makes it easy to work there.

 

Honestly, I probably threw beer longer for JJ Taylor in Florida for longer than I should of because they treated me well. Sometimes being paid an extra $3-5k a year isn't worth it if the organization doesn't respect it works, or value there opinion.

That being said, I did leave due to wages, but I found out through current employees they increased wages after I left - so they did listen, but it took them losing a few good people to do so.

 

My barn doesn't do anything for their drivers or even dockworkers. We didn't even have any christmas party or anything like that this year.
The only time they did a cookout was for the driver appreciation week, but most of the drivers didn't really get a chance to eat any food since we all were on the road all day. It was mostly for those lazy bums in the office. They are the ones that keep the company in business.

I'm also not a big fan of our crappy uniforms, they all look the same. Freight, ground, express same exact ####. Drivers from AbF or OD have their first name on their shirt and a jacket. Ours are just plain jane. This company doesn't do jack #### for their employess. It's all about making profit and creating some lame safety rules. I've heard that back in the day during American Freightways it was much much better. I hate this place sometimes

Managemnet sucks big time here

 

When I worked for the beer company we where treated like family.... free beer every week they knew our spouses by name the only thing is the paid us like Indentured servants I doubled my salary almost from my move from beer to food.

 

JJ Taylor used to pay YOU to buy health insurance. They paid you $26 a month if you signed up for insurance, and it was an HSA plan but still a low max out of pocket(3000ish Cigna).

Versus now I'm at cooper who uses crappy blue Cross blue shield with some insane 5500 max out of pocket - that being said better than nothing.

I made about 45 at JJ Taylor, and here at AAA cooper it I'm looking about 58.

So the crap benefits are okay given the pay bump. The 401k is also trash compared to my old one

 

With the beer company the best I made was my last year and it was 38 I made over 75 this year. Insurance was about the same but our 401 has a better match so it's a win win. I'll be a number if the pay is right.

 

Yup I rather be a number. There’s a big difference between 15% per check into a 401k from a 90k year job then a 60k year job. They don’t bother me and they don’t throw rose petals at my feet when I walk into the door like some drivers want companies to do.