Your Thoughs on working for ABF

Reddaway was indeed a USF company.I do believe YRC bought all of USF in the transaction.I had left them(holland) before that happened.

 

Just realized OP is a female with zero experience. I've seen zero LTL ladies
OP. The odds are near impossible.

 

Ive seen just 3 female ltl drivers, one female linehaul driver for my company out of a different terminal, and one each as city drivers for old dominion and estes, chances are you will be the only one if you are hired

 

Interesting thread, some good info, but I would like to see more from guys who work for ABF. I have a couple of friends that left my current carrier for the fields over at ABF, they have been after me for a couple months to make the move, but I am having a hard time deciding.

I am currently working for one of the "big boys" in the TL sector. I drive a day cab (local intermodal), home every day, avg around 1100 a week gross. Fully vested in my 401k and get 2 weeks of paid vacation a year. I pay around 150 a week in benefits.

Some of the things I hate about my current position; I have to keep track of everything I do to make sure I get paid for it, it takes weeks to get paid for things that get screwed up. Big brother is always watching, stupid Qualcomm. They babysit every move. Office staff is mostly incompetent and have no clue what it takes to get a load picked up and moved. Seniority means squat at this company. Dispatchers have their favorite drivers and give them choice runs and stick everyone else with the grunt work.

Some of the things that make if difficult to make the decision to move over to ABF; bottom of the totem pole, not home daily, potential lay-off, uncertainty of a new carrier and the unknowns about being somewhere "new"

My buddies have told me that ABF is going to hire 4 drivers in my area this month and have encouraged me to apply. I have 18 years of practice, 0 CSA points, no accident or tickets, and a full set of endorsements.

So what does the forum think? To make the switch or not?

Thanks, Chickn

 

Nobody has a working crystal ball,but knowing what I do about the past 30 years in trucking I'd be down to the ABF office Monday morning.
Good Luck

 

P&D is actually better than most imagine it to be. I came off linehaul and worked P&D for 3 months for famly reasons. True I made almost half the money as linehaul. But, it was 7 to 5pm, not 8pm to 7am! You actually have a schedule that allows you time for friends and family. The delveries are a breeze, backing in 28' trailers vs. an OTR 53'. Most of the businesses are small and you start becoming friends with most of them that you see every few days or every day. You loose weight and feel better.

Linehaul night driving really stresses the body. We weren't meant to sleep days and never have social interactions. Sure, you get weekends off, but you must keep your sleep schedule even on weekends to ensure you stay awake the next week. No Saturday morning ballgames with the kids, no church on Sunday morning. You feel like a walking zombie most days, and require 2 pots of coffee to stay upright.

 

Yes it is possible to be hired as a line driver for a LTL company. YRC ABF CWF and ODFL will hire and train rookies. Being a female you'll have a better chance of being hired. I've only seen two female LTL drivers so you'll be most likely the only one.

Reddaway, New Penn and Holland are all owned by YRC. YRC is in bad debt although doing better so I'm not a 100% on the regionals. Its a shame, best job I had but unless you live by a big hub its a 20+ year wait for a line haul position.

 

Abf offered me a job starting line haul years ago. I refused the offer. Not saying I don't think they're a good outfit, because they are. I was just making better money than they paid at the time. I believe they are up over $.60 a mile these days and get money stuffed in their pockets for many other things.

 

There is an itty bitty girl that runs Reno/Sac, real ######. Impressive to watch her 100 lb self chaining on Donner.