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DRIVERMAN77077
Joined: 03 Jun 2006
Posts: 47
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| Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 12:07 am Post subject: WHY WORK FOR A OTR COMPANY GO LTL |
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| WHY WOULD ANYONE WORK FOR ONE OF THOSE CHEAP OTR COMPANIES LIKE USA WERNER SWIFT OR JB HUNT THAT ONLY PAY AROUND 30 CENTS A MILE? WHY NOT GET A HAZMAT AND DOUBLES ENDORSEMENTS AND GO TO SAIA AAA COOPER FED EX FREIGHT COMPANYS THAT PAY 42 TO 52 CENTS A MILE OR DO YOU GUYS LIKE TO WORK LIKE ILLEGAL ALIENS :twisted: :evil: :P |
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Ian Williams
Joined: 22 Aug 2005
Posts: 705
Location: Northern NV
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| Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 12:58 am Post subject: |
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Being a steering wheel holder for the Big Blue Screw or Swift is not as demanding.
Some people are not cut out for LTL work. At my terminal about half quit in the first month. |
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Uturn2001
Joined: 10 Jan 2005
Posts: 4669
Location: East Central IL between the corn and the beans
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| Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 1:21 am Post subject: |
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Well for starters not everyone likes doing local type work. Many would like to spend more time running the open roads than constantly fighting city traffic.
Next those type of jobs are not available everywhere, and in some places where they do have them the competition is fierce.
Next there are many companies that are now paying around 40 cpm for 1 or 2 years experience so the gap is less than it was a few years ago.
Finally, if it was not for OTR drivers the local guys would have a lot less freight to haul. :P :P :P |
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AmEagleDrvr
Joined: 09 Feb 2005
Posts: 176
Location: Texas
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| Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 7:32 am Post subject: |
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For starters, most LTL companies will not hire new drivers. You have to have a year or two experience.
I enjoyed my time over the road (2 yrs.), however the pay was less at .29/mi, but I got the necessary experience and LOTS of miles. I got into an LTL company after about 6 months of constantly calling the terminal manager. Had to be persistant. Very few linehaul openings around here. The pay is better, and I am home every weekend. I drive about 26-2700 miles per week over 5 nights. Some nights I get lucky and will pull 1 set 500 + miles, other nights I will stop at 2-4 terminals and have to hook a set each step of the way. The demands are greater, but so is the pay.
I will not even consider being a day driver, as those guys sling alot of freight all day, and sometimes have 15-20 stops. No thanks. Too old for that crap. Definately for the younger guys.
If you think you can go from training to LTL, or just go to LTL at anytime, think again. Most of those jobs are hard to come by. |
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Sealord
Joined: 20 Jun 2005
Posts: 1732
Location: Florida
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| Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 9:41 am Post subject: LTL |
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| Most guys can't afford to start on a casual board of an LTL company. BOL |
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redsfan
Joined: 13 Jan 2006
Posts: 573
Location: Near Cincinnati, OH
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| Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 9:50 am Post subject: |
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Uturn2001 wrote:
Finally, if it was not for OTR drivers the local guys would have a lot less freight to haul. :P :P :P
HA! How true is that?! Good stuff!!! :lol:
Not to mention the fact that I, personnally, don't want a whole lot to do with any wiggle wagons... |
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feederfred
Joined: 22 Jun 2006
Posts: 281
Location: Nevada
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| Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 6:49 pm Post subject: I love wiggle wagons... |
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| :D especially if there are three in a row..... |
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Kintama
Joined: 12 Mar 2006
Posts: 273
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| Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2006 12:53 am Post subject: |
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I'll tell you why, CALL BOARD. I hate the call board, nothing like waiting all day for a call then get one at midnight telling you to come in at 2am. Of course this is after you've been up all day.
2. Newbies get all of the wonderful grocery warehouse, make 1 pallet into 5,000.
I've worked for USF Reddaway and Fed Ex Freight. Reddaway was pretty decent except for the call board, and Fed Ex sucked with all of the Grocery crap. |
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ben45750
Joined: 23 Apr 2005
Posts: 1759
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| Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2006 11:46 am Post subject: |
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I have to agree that living by the phone does suck, Roadway gives you a "slide" where you can request to be called back in 4 hours if the board jumps (increase in freight), so that does help a little but not much.
The money is still good if your with the right company while your still on the extra board. I worked for Conway and now with Roadway, I didn't do that bad at Conway but Roadway's system works out better for guy's with less seniority because if the freight in your area is slow you can go on the road where ever they need you because of an increase in freight in a different area. Plus if your on the road and freight slows down you get paid to wait for freight. I guess it's all about what you willing to do for a good paycheck?
As for the doubles..... rather pull a set any day of the week that a long box. Any one who pulls doubles know what I mean, just something you get used too and feel comfortable with. Unfortunately word is around Roadway is that doubles are getting phased out. All the new equipment coming in are long box's and twin screw trucks. |
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DRIVERMAN77077
Joined: 03 Jun 2006
Posts: 47
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| Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 9:47 pm Post subject: |
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| work for 28 cents a mile |
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yoopr
Joined: 01 Dec 2004
Posts: 12865
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| Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 9:51 pm Post subject: |
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Uturn2001 wrote: Well for starters not everyone likes doing local type work. Many would like to spend more time running the open roads than constantly fighting city traffic.
Next those type of jobs are not available everywhere, and in some places where they do have them the competition is fierce.
Next there are many companies that are now paying around 40 cpm for 1 or 2 years experience so the gap is less than it was a few years ago.
Finally, if it was not for OTR drivers the local guys would have a lot less freight to haul. :P :P :P
LOL and you're right-Not everybody likes LTL-especially ME |
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Crete_drvr
Joined: 04 Sep 2006
Posts: 169
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| Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 9:44 pm Post subject: |
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Kintama wrote: I've worked for USF Reddaway and Fed Ex Freight. Reddaway was pretty decent except for the call board, and Fed Ex sucked with all of the Grocery crap.
I'm soooooo close to applying at USF Holland. How physically demanding is LTL, generally. |
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teamster
Joined: 14 Feb 2005
Posts: 152
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| Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 10:12 pm Post subject: |
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| It depends on who you go with. I never worked for holland, but I did work for Yellow who now owns holland. If you are going to go on the road, if you can walk to the truck, hold a steering wheel, and occasionally drop or hook a trailer, you will be fine. City driving or dock will be different though. |
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Crete_drvr
Joined: 04 Sep 2006
Posts: 169
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| Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 10:19 pm Post subject: |
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thanks for the response teamster.
I'm totally happy with Crete, I just want more hometime then what they can offer. I don't want to be home every weekend, I want to sleep in my own bed! Besides a weekend to alot of companies is home friday night 8pm-midnight and leave sunday afternoon, no thanks.
USF must be hurting for drivers in my hometown terminal because they are looking for "Local and Linehaul/OTR Drivers".
OK n00b question, what's the difference between linehaul and OTR? Linehaul is terminal-to-terminal and OTR is what I'm doing now? |
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teamster
Joined: 14 Feb 2005
Posts: 152
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| Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 10:29 pm Post subject: |
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Crete_drvr wrote: thanks for the response teamster.
I'm totally happy with Crete, I just want more hometime then what they can offer. I don't want to be home every weekend, I want to sleep in my own bed! Besides a weekend to alot of companies is home friday night 8pm-midnight and leave sunday afternoon, no thanks.
USF must be hurting for drivers in my hometown terminal because they are looking for "Local and Linehaul/OTR Drivers".
OK n00b question, what's the difference between linehaul and OTR? Linehaul is terminal-to-terminal and OTR is what I'm doing now?
Not sure why they are advertising for OTR. I have never seen an ad for them say OTR, as far as I know their linehaul guys stay out for a week, unless they are on a turn bid or something like that. Keep in mind when entering the LTL arena, the first several years can be very frustrating. You will be at the bottom for a long time working inconsistent shifts, runs, etc.. Your income will be hard to figure. You may make 1500 this week, and then 0 the next. They are always hiring, because turnover is high with the bottom guys and they over hire. I went through orientation with 20+ guys at Yellow and most of them quit rather quickly. If you can deal with those types of things and be willing to put the time in you will have a very good and secure job,but it will not be easy. |
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