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why the ** do LTL drivers get paid a lot more than everybody else.. Please explain!

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by freightwipper, Sep 21, 2014.

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already gone Road Train Member

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freightwipper said: ↑

ABF drivers get paid for everything they do.. as well as other LTL companies. Nothing special there.. unless you talk to an OTR driver at a mega who is clueless about everything.
Whos the best?
I don't know
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ABF is under the same basic contract as Holand, as far as work rules, and what you get paid for. and before you think that ALL ltl companies do, look into it, because a lot DONT. free fueling, free break and build, free drop and hook, free inspection, etc.

already gone, Sep 28, 2014

#161

semi retired semi driver, Shaggy and zenaddler Thank this.
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Not going to argue who is better, Frankly their is no perfect LTL carrier and pointless trying to convince others working union LTL, whom is better. It just comes to personal necessity and how much BS can deal with. We all know each Hub/Terminal is run different and then Corporate Policies / Union Policies counteract each other. Don't get hurt or others and have a great week brothers and sisters.

Shaggy, Sep 28, 2014

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already gone Thanks this.
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already gone said: ↑

ABF is under the same basic contract as Holand, as far as work rules, and what you get paid for. and before you think that ALL ltl companies do, look into it, because a lot DONT. free fueling, free break and build, free drop and hook, free inspection, etc.
Click to expand...

I did look into it, that's why I said other LTL companies, not "all".
Then there are those who pay a higher CPM than everybody else but you don't get paid for line 4 time.
There's also some shady companies out there obviously, this is Earth.

Overall I think union LTL is better than non, you get more.
I'd take a half decent pension any day.

freightwipper, Sep 29, 2014

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already gone and semi retired semi driver Thank this.
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exactly. any pension is better than none. and dont let anyone run you so hard you cant enjoy coast to coast am! being part of the tin foil hat brigade is fun....

already gone, Sep 29, 2014

#164

freightwipper, browndawg and Naptown Thank this.
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I bought a satellite radio just so I didn't have to deal with an 80 mile coverage gap between stations for Coast to Coast. Then I realized I wasn't missing anything.

Naptown, Sep 29, 2014

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lol, just make up your own goofy stories....

already gone, Sep 30, 2014

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I did that and I scared myself.

okiedokie, Sep 30, 2014

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Dp----'''''''''''-----''''

okiedokie, Sep 30, 2014

#168
EphTrucker Light Load Member

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Boy Howdey said: ↑

I'm a road driver with ABF. It sounds easy, and some parts are, but when you look at the full picture it isn't.

For one not all linehaul drivers are home everyday. Out of my barn, most our runs are laydowns. Example last night I ran from Kingman Az to Anaheim Ca to San Bernardino back to Anaheim back to San Bernardino, then I hit the hotel, which is where I'm at right now waiting on my work call to go home.

At ABF we don't have assigned equipment. Everyday I'm in a new tractor, , sometimes 2 different tractors in one shift. As many of you know, that's called slip seating. I'm constantly cleaning these trucks because many other drivers are slobs. I always carry disinfectant wipes to wipe down everything I tough inside the cab to keep from getting sick.

We have the typical AC/Heater and cruise control with tilt wheels but that's it. No radios. We have to.improvise our own radios. Some have homemade radio boxes with CBs, stereos. I use a jambox and regular Oxny Xm. I keep it simple. Some drivers have massive radio boxes that every gadget you can think of.
But it's a pain always hooking and unhooking these radio boxes everyday. That's why I keep it simple.
We also have to our clothes bag, cooler of food and road gear. That's a lot of stuff we have to carry and move tractor to tractor.

Home time is of course better than most OTR drivers. Ya I'm home every other day. But many times just long enough to sleep and repack my clothes and cooler.
Yes the time off is good. I'm an extra board driver, after six trips I get 56 hours off, after 12 trips I get 72 hours off.
If you're a bid driver, you run 6 trips one week and 4 trips the next week. Bid drivers have set days off and schedule call times. For example a lay down bid driver will have every Saturday off and be on call every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday at their home terminal. Every other week they can drop one trip. Usually the the Thursday or Sunday trip.
A trip is one dispatch day. Like my run last night. When I head home today, that'll be my second trip.

We do get paid for everything we do as linehaul drivers. Like last night. I fueled my truck in Kingman, got .25 hours there. Drove to Anaheim, got .75 hours there waiting for my set to be made, drove to San Bernardino and waited 1.25 hours for my next set. Went back to Anaheim and got another .50 hours. So my total paid hours was 2.75 hours plus my mileage pay of 437 miles. I get paid .57cpm and $23 an hour.
On the week days I do very little dropping an hooking. At terminals I sit and wait in the breakroom while the yard guys makes my set and slides my tractor. On weekends I make my own sets since most our terminals are dark on the weekends.

Breakdowns are also paid. I blew a radiator hose a few weeks ago, sat and waited 10.5 hours for new tractor to be towed to me. Yup I was paid the whole 10.5 hours. Now I couldn't finish my trip that day, so once I got my tractor I had to find the neatest motel and finish my trip the next day.

Have anymore questions, just ask.
Click to expand...

How long would it take a new cdl holder in so cal to get into ABF and then get this type of setup. Sounds awesome to me as I LOVE the southwest

EphTrucker, Feb 26, 2018

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We get paid better cuz we taller and better looking.

My company requires 7 years experience with 3 years pulling trains to qualify for LTL line haul, greenhorns need not apply.
I been on this run 22 years.

Jazz1, Feb 26, 2018

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