Random LTL Rants (all are welcomed)

I worked 3-4 days a week last peak as a seasonal. The 30/hr rate was nice. Will be a change being up on the board having a cushion below.

 

Somehow this is already going to be my 5th peak season. Wow. That kind of blew my mind.

 

Lol was referring to the wage adjustment for new hires. Been some odd things going on with pay rates lately.

 

I know. I was just joking about how out of the loop I am.

If I had to guess? It's probably a typo. But we will see.

 

It's also gotta feel good not thinking/knowing that come December 24th you aren't gonna get the "thank you, we'll call if we need you next year".
You guys are both very new so I'll give you a lil advice. Take it for what it is because I'm just a jerk off on the internet lol. They tell you it's a marathon not a race but treat it the other way around. Things are changing fast there and they aren't getting any better so ##### up the work while you can and save your money so if you get to the point where you don't want to anymore you don't have to. It's almost one of those let's have this same talk in ten years and see how it sounds lol. This is not meant to make it sound bad because it isn't...you guys both landed what was probably the most coveted job in trucking and didn't have to jump thru the hoops that everyone before you did to get it. You will make a lot of money here....I mean a LOT!!!! Lol. You will have security for your family knowing that paycheck is there and the company is not going anywhere. Remember to save that money so if the shareholders keep cutting it up to the point where you wanna go work somewhere else like half of the guys did that I work with now lol you can. Any and all safety training they give you may sound like ######## but it is all solid solid advice that will only make you better drivers every day you implement it. Stand your ground, get to know your show steward very well because if you give them and inch they will try to take a mile. Do not ever let a sup pull a pallet off that truck or drive it unless it's your s&v, that's your job and your money. You will see them do this from time to time during peak and code them 05 or as part time sups to get around hos...it's ####ed up. Keep your uniforms clean, always smile no matter how bad your day is because that's what people expect of you...you are UPS....not the ####ty miserable otr driver. Last of all just enjoy it, make the best of every minute while you are there because there will be plenty. I don't know what you are doing (linehaul or p&d) but with p&d you get the hot chicks and cool guys at docks to bs with with and everyone generally like you because you are ups. Good luck guys, I'm rooting for ya over here.

 

Sage advice, all the way around. Thank you for that.

On a side note, I was kind of laughing toward the end there. I never would have thought a uniform would change the way people viewed me. But there just is something a little extra special about this one. I laugh and tell my wife I have never had so many doors held for me at truck stops.

I hope I will always enjoy this job as much as I currently do.

 

Uniform makes all the difference in the world. When you have to take a #### guess what... customers will let you. They don't let fat flip flops tho. Being the ups guy is the best....even better in a package car. 4k in tips every Christmas, when my daughter was born I must have gotten 10k in baby shower gifts lol (I was in one of the richest parts of the country). Sleeping with half the girls on my route when I was young, I can't really recommend that one tho because there is a town that I would never visit ever again just because of that. People respect you in that uniform because they know you are getting paid to be a pro. They could just as easily get fat flip flops to haul your freight for 1/3 as much but they don't because they want to deal with you.

 

Same here. Most of the people I've encounter have been nothing but helpful. Management included.

 

I'm glad you are liking it! I will say even tho management seems helpful don't get too comfortable. You will see that you will always have new sups because of promotions and they can and will use you for an atta boy. They are kinda like an assistant district attorney starting out and every conviction is a stepping stone on their career no matter how bogus it may be. It's a union carrier for a reason, do everything you are supposed to for them and keep it at that. Yet again just some jerkoff on the internet so do with it what you please but just a heads up....they are not your friend and they have 0 power to try to do anything for you, that all comes from the building manager.

 

We had numerous drivers who were drawing their pension, social security and working. IE they were in their 70’s and some were in their 20’s when they hired in. We had a retired cop who was in his early 70’s and was on a 6,000 mile sleeper bid. He also was drawing his police pension, social security and his Teamster pension. The number on man on our board was number one in 2002 when I hired in and is still working because he still likes his job. He is one of the nicest drivers there and he was the first feeder driver in Louisville.