Random LTL Rants (all are welcomed)

@jmz congrats on getting with fedex freight.

 

The funny thing is, we rebid right before I left, and my new routes were so ridiculously easy. Even with all of those problems I mentioned (late trailers, digging for cases while making my own route, truck breaking down), I only worked 37 hours on my last week.

 

I think it's time for me to get my hazmat and start checking out the night linehaul offerings. I'm mad as hell at my current gig and if it weren't for my wife's insistence that I ride it out (well, and the benefits/pension thing), I would have been out the door and back to the oilfield by now. I'm currently signed on a yard jockey bid, and they've not only cut us to 40 hours, but those of us who've been in the habit of taking out runs from the extra-work board have been barred from that as well. Hello, 40% more or less per week pay cut, just as the household income is set to drop (my wife drives a school bus).
I've got a side gig doing retail store deliveries, but it only pays 45cpm so while it's work, it's not nearly what I was making off the extra-work board.

Wife thinks it'll turn around and that I should wait it out. I'm not so sure... and am checking out the surrounding LTL gigs.

 

Your gonna like LTL. Night and day difference. Since coming back to linehaul from Mclane I’m 41 years of age and officially retired from physical work. Only time I lift heavy stuff is 5 times a week at my gym. I won’t probably ever take a physical job for the rest of my driving career.

 

Outstanding. It's a great company, you'll likely find a few of the same gripes; trailers loaded like crap, late freight from linehaul and having you load the rest of your bills on the trailer etc.

You will however, earn a good living there in a pretty driver friendly culture. Hopefully you get a handful of guys under you before the winter time.

 

I actually had someone give me that line “oh you’ll have the same problems at FedEx or anywhere else.” Good thing I’ll be running linehaul then. Should eliminate all of those issues and the consequence of dealing with upset customers.

 

Congratulations Jmz believe me I have thought about it but cant bring myself to take a pay cut maybe one day lol

 

That was a big consideration, and it’s why I wasn’t desperate enough to apply to multiple companies. But after the interview I felt a lot better, because I was able to get detailed info on the pay structure and what sort of runs I should expect. My paychecks should come out just about even or a little bit ahead with 5 days of work vs the 4 days I had been putting in.

Realistically I look at it with long term goals in mind, and this is a place where I can see myself retiring from in 25+ years. I couldn’t say the same about foodservice.

 

I'm getting 50-55 hrs a week on my route so p&d would be a pretty healthy cut and I'm not a night guy so linehaul is out. I figure I'll do this till I either cant and find something else or bid a relay.