What Trucking job is right for me!?

I don't know too much about fuel delivery, so I can't really make a comment on that. I'm sure someone on here can answer your question.

The only problem I see that your gonna have is not having recent driving experience. Most likely, your gonna have to put in your dues one way or the other to gain some experience in order to find that job that'll meet your requirements.

I still think LTL P&D meets your criteria. It's not long distance driving like linehaul. Lots of multiple stops, so you'll constantly be in and out of the truck, and the work is nowhere near as physical as foodservice. Practically everything that's checked off on your list. Some LTL's, like UPSF and YRC have bid runs that have late start times, around 10-11:00 am, so you can work around 45-50 hours a week with weekends off. They all pay close to $30 an hour nowadays at top rate, at least they do around my area, but cost of living will probably dictate pay rate. Practically all of them will have some type of apprenticeship, training or dock to driver program for new or inexperienced drivers.

Another option might be car hauling. Moore Transport sometimes hire new students to be trained in their 6-8 week program for short haul runs. They're home every night and get paid around $1.50 cpm and paid $10 for every car that's unloaded. I got a buddy who works for Moore and he does nothing but short haul runs.

Or maybe try looking into Local Mail Contract Carriers. A lot them work 8 hours a day. 40 hours a week, depending on bid runs. Some of them make $25 an hour plus $5 an hour for H&W. Multiple pickup and deliveries and all you do is push mail carts on wheels off. Still physical activity but nothing strenuous.

 

Haha that’s what I do. Local P&D starts around 25hr. Usually start time around 9am Monday to Friday. Best company I’ve ever worked for. It’s a smaller northwest outfit.

 

I work for a small propane company as a bobtail driver. Feel free to ask me any questions. I'll tell you the good the bad and everything in between

 

Another option might be to become a mailman (letter carrier) for the United States Postal Service. The job is similar to being a package delivery driver for UPS and the pay is slightly less an hour at top rate, but they make time and a half after 8 and doubletime after 10, which equals to around $64-66 an hour. They're federal employees, so you'll be working for the government.

Only problem you'll have is that you'll have to start off as a CCA (City Carrier Assistant), which is a non career position, which means you get no benefits or retirement until you turn full-time (career). They're also severely understaffed nationwide as well, which means A LOT OF OT. You don't get no bid runs as a CCA, and I think you're only guaranteed 1 day a week, but believe me, you'll probably work 6-7 days week. Full-time senior drivers at top rate can make as much as $150-200k a year if they're willing to put in the OT. They're LLV's are outdated and old and don't have A/C either. They were never designed to be able to handle parcel deliveries, but e-commerce and Amazon pretty much changed all of that. But that's about to change soon as a contract is about to be awarded to a manufacture to build the new fleet of delivery vehicles, which will be designed to handle parcel deliveries a lot better...plus they'll all have A/C now too.

I'm not gonna lie about the job. There's a HIGH turnover rate because CCA's don't get any benefits or retirement, and depending on location, whether it's city or rural, and how severely understaffed they are, will dictate how many hours a day you'll work. You might only work 3 days a week if they're fully staffed...or you might work 12-14 hours a day 7 days a week if they're understaffed.

 

Starting pay at my company is $18/hr. I've been with the company a little over 1.5 years and I'm making $21/hr. One guy at this company was making $25/hr.
I like delivering propane for the most part but winters can be brutal. Expect 10-12 hour days during the peak season. If it snows in your area it can be really physical work because you're digging out tanks at every location.
About half of the customers are really grateful and appreciate what you do. I've recieved plenty of tips and treats during the holidays. But with that being said the other half of the customers are complete @$$holes. They will complain about any little thing and accuse you of cheating them. Turning off delinquent accounts isn't fun, you'll hear all of their sob stories or get threatened with violence. Then coming back to turn them back on after they pay their bill is usually uncomfortable. You will have to go in some of the most disgusting houses to do leak tests and light pilot lights on appliances.
Pulling the hose to get to certain tanks can be a pain depending on the yard and dont break anything in the process or you will receive a complaint. Dealing with aggresive dogs is a regular thing. Carry dog treats with you. Keep wasp spray in your truck because you will always find wasp nests under the tank lid in the summer.

With all that being said I do like the job. I'm my own boss for the most part when I'm out on my route. As long as I get everything done I can go at my own pace and do the route the way I wanna do it.

If a better opportunity came up I'd look into it but I would definitely stay as a tanker driver. I've done beverage distribution and trash service and I wouldn't go back to either.

Hope this helps.

 

Yep...the guy in the blue uniform that delivers the mail or packages to your mailbox.

Starting pay for a full-time letter carrier is around $18 or $19 I believe. Only problem is it takes 12 years to reach top rate...but it'll be whatever the top rate will in 12 years, which will probably well over the $40 an hour mark.

The pay system is very complicated to explain, but to simplify how it works...you basically get about 4-5 raises a year...which are 2 COLA raises, 1 or 2 step level raises and an annual raise...and you get that every year for 12 years. Once you hit that 12 year mark, you stop getting step level raises and only get 2 COLA's and an annual raise from that point on. Top rate will literally change 3 times a year, so it's hard to predict what you'll make in 5 years, let alone 12. Currently, top rate is around $31-32 an hour, and it'll only go higher and higher as it'll change 3 times every single year.

With a population that small, you probably have Rural Carriers delivering the mail.

Rural Carriers are different from City Carriers. City Carriers are your typical mailman in the blue uniform. Rural carriers don't have to wear uniforms and wear civilian attire, but they are required to dress professionally and must wear their federal badge at all times to let people know that they are actually a mailman, and not some trespasser. That's what gets Amazon Flex carriers in trouble, because they have no official uniform or ID badge...like UPS, FedEx and USPS has...to let people know who they are. Rural Carriers also use their own vehicle, unless they have a Postal Vehicle assigned to the run, and it has to be large enough to deliver mail and protected well enough to prevent theft. They're also given an EMA (Equipment Maintenance Allowance). Both jobs are union. City Carriers are in the NALC (National Association of Letter Carriers) union and Rural Carriers are in the NRLCA (National Rural Letter Carriers Association) union.

Yes it is based off of seniority. CCA's have a seniority list, so whoever is on top is the first man to get converted Full-time Career.