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Originally Posted by BDM
I work for UPS Freight as an LTL diver, just think long and hard that this is indeed what you want. You have good and bad days. Money is ok but you can make more OTR per week with the right company. Your hours can flucuate. Yes, I am home daily but I stay more tired now than when I was OTR, I got more rest OTR. Hope this helps. Bottom line it what you want and will best suit you and your family.
When you're bottom man on the totem pole, LTL isn't all $hits and giggles. You get the junk equipment and liftgate trucks with lots of hand-freight. Hours are helter-skelter and you might even find yourself sitting home when freight slows.
But as you build your "strap" (seniority), the tables begin to turn in your favor. You can bid on more preferential runs, better equipment, better hours, etc. Seniority is king in LTL - as it should be.
I've got a 0830 city-bid start time and I work until about 1700 M-F. Lately, I've been working a bit longer because of vacations and call-offs during the summer. At $22.00/hr with OT after 8, I usually gross better than $1,000 per week. Company-provided uniforms with a yearly boot allowance. Home every night and off every weekend. I'll keep this gravy train a-rollin' as long as I can.
With OTR I was out 2-3 weeks, working round the clock making about the same or little better money. No pension and worthless health bennies with high co-pays. $60.00 holiday pay. 2am warehouse deliveries in the Bronx. Going without a shower some days. Trashing my own clothes. Sleeping in parking lots, pickleparks, and truckstops (if I could find a spot - otherwise a deserted get-off ramp). All the freebies and unpaid waiting around. Broken promises from dispatch. No overtime. The list goes on and on and on and on...