LTL Trucking - My Linehaul Job

I really appreciate the follow up, thank you again!

I think my biggest fear is driving in poopy weather. I've never chained but know the trainer will cover this during my 4 weeks.

If the weather/ roads are bad enough to shut down is dispatch able to notify you accordingly and you won't run, or are you expected to run regardless?

Do you get paid if it's too bad to drive? Sorry to bombard you with do many questions!

Hey 6 string!

I received a conditional offer of employment for line haul with OD yesterday and can't tell you how much I appreciate the time and effort you put into your LTL thread.

6 string do you have tips as to how I can get my sleep schedule swapped from days to nights? I'm no stranger to a grave yard shift, did it for 5 years at a previous office job, but currently work a 6 am - 4 pm pd gig with a different employer. Im still at least 3 if not 4 weeks out from starting LH training, and would love to make the adjustment as easy as possible.

Thanks again sir! Bret

Hi Bret. Glad the thread helped.

There's really no easy way about getting acclimated to nights. If you've worked nights before, you probably already have an idea of how to sleep during the day, and what not to do during your night shift. We're diurnal beings - some just tolerate night shift better than others. For me it wasn't as much the work week that gave me trouble, but rather flipping my schedule on the weekends for the family - that's rough. I try to stay daylight now. I run out of a terminal that has daylight runs and I have enough seniority to stay days.

Just got on back on the forum, Ive been lurking lol but not active. I didnt get the job at ODFL, they encouraged me to reapply when my year was up due to lack of verification of driving school from my company I am employed with now. It stinks, I liked the managers, and everything, but o well maybe in the future my year is almost up. safe travels

Have a question for you G-Town, were you running down Rt.72 last Saturday in the afternoon by any chance?

6-String wrote:

Cool brother! Great pic!

I saw a Wal-Mart trailer pulled off by the A&W convenience store / gas station on US 30 in Bedford this evening - only to see a Schneider truck pulling it. Was I mistaken or do you get out to that Bedford Wal-Mart as part of your route? Where are you usually running? I'm always on the hunt for Old School on the turnpike or 81. My head snaps every time I see a grey SAPA Volvo pulling a flatbed.

Hey, you'd look good in a green polo shirt!

Rarely west of York/Harrisburg/Williamsport. Anything east of those three locations is where I spend the majority of my time. My jaunts on WB76 exit at either West Shore, East Shore or RT72. I've been to the Bedford DC area only a couple of times during blitz week (the week before Thanksgiving).

6 string,

I filled out an application for linehaul at OD and have an interview with the terminal manger tomorrow. Reading through your thread now but I'm only on page 5. If you see this post and could give me a few interview tips it'd be much appreciated.

Hello to everyone, I’ll start by introducing myself , JB. I have spent 10.5 yrs. in the military some of which was Desert Storm and I just recently retired after 20 years in the law enforcement field , I did have a Class B @22 yrs. ago and drove a 24 ft. Manual Box truck For 2 yrs. . I already have a start date for Cdl school to obtain my Class A and already have my permit which included Air brakes and combination and a test date to obtain my Dbl&Triple,Tanker & Hazmat endorsements just prior to starting school. I know I’ll be starting over again at the bottom of the Seniority list and the boss at home wants me home every night but I know that is pretty darn near impossible unless I go with an LTL company but even starting out will probably be away a few days at a time , at least until I can get some seniority under my belt . I’m not one to job hop so I would like to find an LTL company that would give me the opportunity right after school that is a good one to work for as I would like to stay with them for the long term . I live approx. 30 minutes from Pittsburgh, Pa.. If anyone can offer any advice or help , it would greatly be appreciated.

I have been doing linehaul for Old Dominion for 3 years next month and have been pretty happy. Being close to a major city will be a huge help for you, basically all the LTL companies have terminals near there. OD hires right out of school but I would call them or other LTL companies and make sure they are a approved school.

Most OD drivers are home everyday except for the far east coast. You might get lucky and be able to be home every night. Pay starts at .55 cpm loaded or empty and tops out in 2 years.

FedEx freight will hire you with a permit and train you. Going in with a CDL and no experience will require you to go through the same training. Their Pittsburgh yard is in Gibsonia. I've heard that they've suspended the program until 2021, but I'm not sure how true that is.

Most LTL companies will require you to have at least 1 year experience, but a lot of them also offer training programs. You'll have to do your research to see what works best for you. Your biggest hurdle will be the postponement of hiring due to COVID and a shortage of available work.