Lets Talk Money: P&D, Linehaul: My Story

So I think I'm working my way into driving, what has gotten me to this point is, after 10 years of hard dedicated service to my current job, I can finally see that I'm just spinning my wheels here. Next, I only have a high school education, came out of high school gung ho ready to bust my butt and let my hard work get me to where I needed. Well, non of that happened. Now I'm 34 and deemed stupid in the work world because I don't have any specific set of "skills." I can do whatever with a little bit of being taught and shown. But that's obviously not good enough for employers.

In doing my research I've found about 2 things I think I'd want to do that also seem to pay well. The railroad, and driving a truck. The thing with the railroad is, those are great paying jobs, with great benefits, but positions don't become available too often and when they do there's 200 guys trying to get one job. Upon researching driving jobs, primarily on glassdoor.com, some of the best if not the best paying driving jobs are in LTL in the form of P&D and Line haul. P&D seem to average about $24.00/hr, while line haul have a somewhat wide range of $55,000-$100,000/year. Trying to learn more about line haul is what led me to this site and ultimately joining thanks to 6 string rhythm's post of LTL Trucking - My line haul job post. Learned a lot reading through there. Still researching though. The downside to glass doors salaries, are sometimes there are only 1-2 posts, which could sway an average. Old Dominion does have about 7-8 posts of line haul salaries that average to $76,000/year, Saia is second with 4 at $71,000/yr.

So to all the Line haulers out there, are this figures somewhat accurate? Anybody want to talk salary? I'm not gonna lie, I'm after the money! LOL The opportunity to be able to make $60,000-$100,000 with my high school edumacation.

This is irrelevant for trucking, but I work in a warehouse now and make $40,000/yr. Up to $43,500 if I want to work overtime. My job is EASY. But it has become toxic with the people here. I'm a "problem employee" because I bring the real problems to my boss who will do nothing about them. Theft, salesmen inflating sales numbers to receive bonus checks, laziness, employees who have came in, clocked in for work, and immediately left the premises to go get breakfast while the boss is out of town, ect. So while I am what I think to be a model employee, show up everyday, on time, pull more than my weight, wear many different hats while being highly adaptable, but I don't take sh*t from the people skating by and I let my boss know about it, but he just turns his head to protect his reputation to his superiors. This then affects moral and leads to turmoil amongst co-workers. So it's time for me to go. He doesn't appreciate me now, but he'll miss me when I'm gone.

I have just gotten hired at FedEx as a part-time dockworker, while still working my full time job. This is in hopes that I can maybe get into their driver apprentice program and become a driver, and not have to pay for CDL school which I was going to do at the first of the year. I've talk to some of the FedEx drivers that come to my warehouse and they seem to agree that the figures are pretty accurate. One P&D guy said he made $85,000 last year, but worked quite a bit of overtime and some Saturdays. He also said he's pretty sure they have a line hauler that breaks $100,000/year. I'm necessarily against P&D, but don't really want to drive and semi around the city all day and deal with customers, however, I'm not totally ruling it out.

6 string has commented that $65,000 is definitely doable. With all this, I'm just trying to reassure myself that I could make a good living by heading down this path. All these #'s sound great to me coming from $40K/yr, but then there are other websites and drivers, and even some posts on here that talk about guys barely making $40,000/yr and being away from home weeks on end. Sounds like that's primarily OTR though.

Any and all comments, reassurance, would be greatly appreciated.

I may be able to answer some of your questions regarding the Fed Ex Driver Apprentice program as I will be starting it in a week or two. Im in California and the particular terminal I will be working from is non-Union. Starting pay while in the program is 21.25/hr. After4-5 weeks of training(I have my Class A license already, just no experience) and once I become a full time P&D driver pay goes to 23.43/hr. In time pay will top out at around 26.50. from what I understand there is more money to be made driving linehaul , but those positions are usually taken by the more senior drivers. I have a long time friend that has worked for Fed Ex for a long time and has always been happy there. He has done everything for them(dockworker,driver,dispatch,and management) and has been promoted several times. Also if u get into the program u will need to stay with the company for a year or you will be required to pay them back for training. There is a percentage you have to pay back if you are not there a year. I hope this helps and good luck to you.

I would add that those drivers have experience. Yes it is possible to land one of those positions out of school, quite another to keep it with limited to no experience.

I'd never bash another man's dreams, just trying to point out the difficulty of what you are saying.

Good luck and all the best.

.02

Keep me updated as to how things are going Skippy. Good luck in training. I had a FedEx city driver tell me the other day that he made $85,000 last year, working overtime and some Saturdays. He also said he's pretty sure they have a linehauler that broke $100,000. This is here in the Midwest.

If a company is willing to invest in me for me to acquire a CDL and a chance to make $60K+ a year, I don't see why I wouldn't be with them for a while. I'm not a job hopper. All I am is the guy with a "high school education" looking for the opportunity to make good money. So if a company gives me that opportunity, we should mesh really well together.

I may be able to answer some of your questions regarding the Fed Ex Driver Apprentice program as I will be starting it in a week or two. Im in California and the particular terminal I will be working from is non-Union. Starting pay while in the program is 21.25/hr. After4-5 weeks of training(I have my Class A license already, just no experience) and once I become a full time P&D driver pay goes to 23.43/hr. In time pay will top out at around 26.50. from what I understand there is more money to be made driving linehaul , but those positions are usually taken by the more senior drivers. I have a long time friend that has worked for Fed Ex for a long time and has always been happy there. He has done everything for them(dockworker,driver,dispatch,and management) and has been promoted several times. Also if u get into the program u will need to stay with the company for a year or you will be required to pay them back for training. There is a percentage you have to pay back if you are not there a year. I hope this helps and good luck to you.

How's the Apprentice program been going for you Skippy75 D.? Is it tough? Hoping to get into one myself.