Quote:
Originally Posted by Graymist
Thanks for your prompt responses. You mentioned something about working the docks and loading / unloading trailers....does that involve working with forklifts and palletjacks, or handbombing as well?...The reason I ask is that I have an injured knee ( torn ligament ) from a work accident about a year ago, and even though it's on the mend, I wouldn't want to exert too much strain on it.
Keep in mind that if you work for an LTL city position P/D (pick-up and delivery), you will be operating a fork lift as well as a pallet jack. From time to time you will also fingerprint some of the load you are delivering/picking up. Generally, your responsibility in LTL ends at the back of the truck. In other words, as soon as the freight is off the truck, you don't touch it anymore. However, if the receiver is paying extra for you to deliver it inside their building, you of course will be unloading freight to wherever they want it.
In addition, some of your stops won't have a dock which means you will either have a pallet jack and bring the pallet(s) to the back of the truck and break them down--or worse--not have a pallet jack, break them down and carry the freight to the back of the truck. However, many delivery locations have a pallet jack that they can lift up into the truck (by forklift) if you don't have a pallet jack so that you can move the pallet to the back of the truck and then break it down.
At times LTL can be a physically demanding job--but not usually as demanding as grocery deliveries. Whether LTL or grocery, you will be in better shape physically than in an OTR position (unless you exersize regularily which is tough to do in OTR).
Frankly, if you apply at an LTL or grocery carrier, they may not hire you because of your relatively recent knee injury. I suspect the odds would be in your favor in considering an LTL outfit more so than a grocery outfit.