Newbie Frustrated *** Updated** working for ABF now

Well, it took 2 months from the time i was hire till my first day of work.
ive been working on the docks. i did 3 day shifts, 2 swing shifts and tonight will be my first grave shift. i have a flight scheduled to Arkansas on november 25 for city driver training. i retur on December 21st.
so far it seems lke its gonna be a good job.

thanks for al that replied. see ya out there, Mike

The worst LTL carrier is 10,000 X better than the best OTR outfit.

But you're at the top-o'-the-heap: Teamster pay, health-insurance with $0 out-of-pocket expenses...and best of all a life outside of and away from the truck. Who says you have to be used/abused by these OTR coolie-carriers?

Congrats to you, Mike. Hope you stay with it for the long-haul!

[terrylamar]

Well, it took 2 months from the time i was hire till my first day of work.
ive been working on the docks. i did 3 day shifts, 2 swing shifts and tonight will be my first grave shift. i have a flight scheduled to Arkansas on november 25 for city driver training. i retur on December 21st.
so far it seems lke its gonna be a good job.

thanks for al that replied. see ya out there, Mike

The worst LTL carrier is 10,000 X better than the best OTR outfit.

But you're at the top-o'-the-heap: Teamster pay, health-insurance with $0 out-of-pocket expenses...and best of all a life outside of and away from the truck. Who says you have to be used/abused by these OTR coolie-carriers?

Congrats to you, Mike. Hope you stay with it for the long-haul!

First you tell him LTL is better than OTR, then you tell him to go long-haul. Make up your mind!

First you tell him LTL is better than OTR, then you tell him to go long-haul. Make up your mind!

Uhhhh...ABF is predominantly a National LTL carrier (although they have been diversifying into regional markets as of late). This means they mostly haul long-haul LTL freight. :P

[all18wheels]

we have city drivers (like me) and then theres line haul drivers that go from terminal to terminal. i think mostly the line haul runs are 2 days out.
its wierd, the stay in hotel rooms! there arent any sleeper trucks.

i understand for the first few years, i will do alot of different jobs and shifts. dock work, p&D, hossling or whatever they want me to at whatever shift they need me for.

actually, i find that i like the graveyard shift. and, driving a forklift is kinda fun (for now).

see you out there, mike

[Snowman7]

we have city drivers (like me) and then theres line haul drivers that go from terminal to terminal. i think mostly the line haul runs are 2 days out.
its wierd, the stay in hotel rooms! there arent any sleeper trucks.

i understand for the first few years, i will do alot of different jobs and shifts. dock work, p&D, hossling or whatever they want me to at whatever shift they need me for.

actually, i find that i like the graveyard shift. and, driving a forklift is kinda fun (for now).

see you out there, mike

Driving a forklift on graveyard shift in Sacramento in November may be fun but driving a forklift on graveyard shift in Ohio in January sure aint! The dock gets mighty cold around here!

Congrats on the job, its a great gig. One word of caution would be to save a little when times are good because unions and LTL spell no work at the bottom when times are bad.

what is a coolie carrier? and dear god not another booger flicker.

[all18wheels]

what is a coolie carrier? and dear god not another booger flicker.

how did you know i was a booger flicker? :wink:

ABF...A Booger Flicker, A Bull Frog, Another Butt F******

[all18wheels]

well, i arrived in fort smith arkansas today. had to take a flight to dallas
then get on a puddle-jumper to ft smith. ill be here for 4 weeks. i will keep
y'all posted if anyones interested.

[shaun]

well, i got hired at ABF.
Pending HR approval with the background check and all that.
it looks like i'll be on the docks and hosling trailers around the yard.
some city driving mixed in there.
oh yeah, and i gotta go to arkansas for 6 weeks for training. YEEHAW! :wink:

thanks for all the help guys.

How's the starting pay?

[all18wheels]

well, i got hired at ABF.
Pending HR approval with the background check and all that.
it looks like i'll be on the docks and hosling trailers around the yard.
some city driving mixed in there.
oh yeah, and i gotta go to arkansas for 6 weeks for training. YEEHAW! :wink:

thanks for all the help guys.

How's the starting pay?

16.55/hr give or take a penny. right now, im making 16/hr because im classified as a casual dock worker until i finish training.
pay progresses every 6 months until you top out at 22.50/ Hr.
it takes 2 years to top out. but by the time i hit two years, it is estimated at approx. 24.00/hr.t
this is the same pay scale nationwide.

teamsters..... all pension and health ins paid by ABF.