Where can I go?

Hey have a solo linehaul xtra board interview for estes on Thursday June 20th, 2024. How is the interview process? Old Dominion just gave me the job offer right on the spot. I want to go solo and old dominion in Atlanta is too far from my house to drive every day and I don't want to be stuck teaming for ever. Plus there is too many rumors they might be having a mass layoff. Don't know how true that is but I'm trying to cover my tracks. Old dominion is a great company just won't suit my lifestyle in the future because how far I live.. they are hiring in kennesaw ga which is like only 20 miles from my house way better and manageable. I would really enjoy your input.

 

I ve had an interview with Estes. It’s very easy. They just ask a few questions and they want to know about you. You’re pretty much in if they call you for an interview. I got the job and never even took a road test lol.
I turned it down on my first day of orientation and went to Cryo.

I feel like you should stay at OD. Do the teams for a year or so and maybe you’ll end up moving closer. OD is top of LTL and treat their drivers well.

 

Old DOMINION is amazing it's true. But unfortunately we don't plan on selling our home anytime soon or moving brand new home only lived here 2yrs not a good market to sell or buy. I've done team driving for 6yrs I'm Over it.. I used to drive with my wife but she doesn't want to team drive anymore unfortunately it's really because these ltl companies don't allow pets. I already went down the rl carriers road they pulled some non sense so can't work there.

Everything your saying is absolutely correct though old dominion is top notch ltl carrier id say Estes is a close second or tied in my opinion they are both great. Unfortunately I already spoke with the terminal manager at odfl and he said they don't and won't have anything closer then Atlanta from where I stay unfortunately its the only reason why I'm making the switch plus estes doing do layoffs and old dominion isn't looking too safe at the moment so I may be out a job anyways cause this economy isn't going to get better under current administration and will take time to some what fix it as you know..

I basically set up my own Interview with estes called the terminal manager and kinda forced it lol. I just figure Estes is close by my house I can go solo now and id actually be taking a pay raise which isn't the reason I made this decision. I thought about cryo as well but not sure.. I think as far as solo Estes can keep me moving better then old dominion because they do the bagging or sleep in hotels old dominion isn't doing that at the moment and doesn't know when of they will bring it back.

 

Driving to Atlanta and back home everyday is 140 miles round trip like 600 plus miles a week and like 30-40k miles a year on my car plus the 12hr shifts and traffic too and from work it's too exhausting even my terminal manager said he worries if I go solo because of where I live it will be hard on my body and car and gas.. I said he's absolutely right. I will do it the correct way and put in two week notice and leave on excellent terms so that way I'm rehireable in the future if need be.. They offered me a great opportunity and experience I am forever grateful for odfl they are amazing... It will all work out.

 

The interview process is relatively easy. It's just very long from the interview to the actual start day. Odfl is definitely a great company but they're also publicly traded. Keep in mind I'm 2020 odfl did a ton of laying off while we didn't. There were voluntary furlough offered but there was no mass exodus of drivers. I was extra board at the time and that year in 2020 I grossed 156K solo. Money is here at Estes and there's more freedom. Again, odfl is an amazing company, but I doubt they'll let you run recaps, split a run if you're tired, call out if need be, etc.

You have to do A LOT to really get in trouble at Estes. Again, in Georgia... There are 3 center focused terminals. Fulton, 041 & 141. There's plenty of opportunities. You can't go wrong either way, but I vote Estes. I will say this tho... Estes is known to frustrate drivers when they go east. It's too many terminals. Most drivers hate going east because of this and the dispatchers are rude.

Keep that in mind. I love Estes, and have worked through it. You can too! Be safe driver. There are people WISHING they could choose to make 100K+ between either company... Remember that.

 

I hear nothing but good things about OD. How does Saia compare with them?

 

Thanks for your response. I got the job at Estes at the clinic now waiting to take my drug screening and physical. It will probably take a 2-3 weeks before I put in my two weeks notice with ODFL. I BELIEVE this wasn't a coincidence this job manifested itself too me when I needed it the most.. I would have had to drive to Atlanta everyday with odfl. Because they are not really doing the hotel thing that much anymore so I won't be Able to really get the miles I want consistently.. kennesaw is like 20 miles from my house so it's the right decision. You have helped me make the best decision Thanks.. ill keep you updated and I'll have many questions a about Estes when I start to help me get up too speed and learn the system so we can set me up for success in the extraboard system.

 

In my personal opinion. Saia is trash. Lol. P&D side is micromanaged, they have a high turnover rate. They don’t give you OT either. An example, you clock in, you get a pep/safety talk, you receive your paperwork for deliveries, go out to truck and do pretrip, find your trailer on dock door, hook to trailer pre trip and verify the freight in trailer matches paperwork, re work pallets if you need to. Then around your first stop you’ll get a message from dispatch asking why it took you more than 15 minutes to get off the yard lol. Bull crap like that.

Never done Linehaul so can’t speak for that but heard some guys on this thread say it’s good.

 

I'm available any time. The objective is always to get to El Paso... Remember that. 600 miles either way to the nearest terminal (you can't stay in Odessa/Sweetwater). All the miles you want as long as you prove you can handle it. Just know, Estes is A LOT LESS STRUCTURED than odfl. The equipment isn't as good either.

All in all I don't think you'll regret it. I've been running recaps on a scheduled run for 3 weeks now lol. It's all you can eat!

 

Odfl was structured for sure I did like that but ive dealt with unorganized my whole career ill manage. I know the equipment at old dominion really isn't that good either it's all if the drivers report issues or not to weather or not things get fixed which is what makes people sat equipment is good or bad.. they run they trucks to 1-1.5 million miles and my truck broke down my 3rd day at work at odfl even then manager said that's not a good look on our part you just started I said nope certainly isn't. I found out the manual 10 speeds the transmission may be wore out but they have less problems in the long run.

I've ran teams my whole career ran a few solo xtraboard runs at odfl which I enjoyed we been doing 6-6800 miles a week teaming at odfl because I learned they system quickly and set myself up in the better areas and chances of getting miles been doing this since like the 2-3rd week going to rialto ca, to memphis tn, to dallas tx, to el paso and work my way back to Atlanta all in 5 days or less at 65mph more like 64 mph lol.. me and my teammate keep the wheels turning so I think I can manage and this is on not good sleep. As you know it's hard to sleep when your a team driver that's what I'm going to appreciate is sleeping in a bed each night thats stationary lol.

I don't know anything about recaps never used it cause I've always team drove so ill definitely need help with that.. ive learned a lot of patience at fedex ground sitting waiting for loads for 24hrs at a time with no pay dealing with disgruntled dispatchers so I don't let that bother me anymore.

I understand some weeks will be drop and hooks and not the best miles doing multiple drops a night which feels that's all you accomplished and other weeks where you feel you only did a few drop and hooks and just kept the wheels turning which is what you want less work more driving sure you get paid drop and hook and it adds up but not as much as them miles going to add up if you stay moving.. im cool with 2500-2800 if I can average that but I'm definitely aiming to try atleast twice a month if possible to do 3k-3500 miles plus.

I'm sure I'll start off slow to learn the process but after a few weeks or months I think I'll have a better understanding of how they operate and find my groove with your help and expertise. I'm excited just waiting for background check did my drug screen and physical yesterday got that done I learned to drive a 10spd at odfl they paid and trained me so not nervous about road test anymore lol.. still not perfect at shifting I float but I can get through my whole shift no problem I prefer the manual honestly but don't matter either way lol..

Odfl doesn't haul that much placards loads I realized I can go multiple weeks without placards that was awesome.. they paper work tells you if it needs placards and has a picture diagram of what placards the trailer needs does estes do this as well? Or do you have to just know what placards to put because I always thought it's the shippers responsibility to provide that information and what placards you need after you leave the terminal then it's drivers responsibility correct?