New CDL Here, Doing SAIA Dock-to-Driver

Hey there, TT folks..

Wanted to jump in and give a proper introduction. My name's Adam, living here in Tucson AZ, recently graduated the CDL program offered locally through Pima Community College and acquired my CDL in February complete with endorsements. I started working at SAIA in January ahead of my certification to do their dock-to-driver program, was attracted to the prospect of being able to be home every night and don't mind the stability/predictability of a steady paycheck and route. Plus, so many companies require a year+ experience to start, but hard to land a job to get the experience just starting out.

Working on the dock has been a good experience, and I've learned a lot about loading and securing freight, plus since I have my CDL already they've been having me do hosteling for several hours a night which has been really good experience for maneuvering trailers on and off the docks. After 3-4 months as a dockworker, I'm eligible to apply for the driver training, and am set up to start a 3-5 week training at the end of the month which will take place in Fontana (LA) CA. after that I'll be back at the Tucson hub, and probably do ride-along for a week or two until they set me loose with my own day cab and a city route.

My experience so far with SAIA has been mostly positive, I like most all of the people I work with and the pay is decent. I'm on a swing shift currently which has been a little tough since I'm a morning person by nature but willing to do what it takes to make this work. They have city drivers, and line-haul, city drivers making basically $27-$31 per hour and line haul is paid per mile but potentially more $$$ if you have a good route. As a new driver I will probably be started out as a city driver, which is better hours (daytime, home every night) but also wouldn't mind locking in a nice linehaul if it comes available.

I'm starting in the industry a little bit later in life, I'm 47 now. Worked most of my career as a dental technician making crown & bridge and dentures, but really got burnt out on that industry and was looking for a change. I've also had several warehouse, delivery, Box-truck route, and other assorted jobs over the last 20 years and always enjoyed the work and lifestyle. Getting my CDL and moving up to the big rigs just seemed like the next logical step for me. I would definitely consider doing more OTR style work if I could find the right situation and company to be with. My kids are grown and out of the house, and don't really have a lot of other things tying me down right now. Just want to work and make as much as possible over the next 15-20 years to secure a nice retirement and nest egg. I'm originally form Portland, OR and my kids are at U of O in Eugene, and I have a lil' something going on with a gal long-distance there in Portland, so ideally I'd love to find a lane that has me mostly west-coast or western states with my resets/breaks alternating between OR and AZ.. Gets really stupid hot here in the summer too, and as an Oregon boy I just haven't managed to get used to that despite being here for 4 years now.

I welcome any advice, ideas, questions, comments or whatever. Stay safe and alert Y'all, happy to be here. -Adam

Welcome, Adam. I really enjoyed your comment and story. You should do well because you have a great attitude and realistic outlook. I hope you will post more of your experiences going forward.

Welcome Adam, I’m in a similar position as you. I just completed ABF’s Driver development program. I’m currently working the 4pm till done shift. I start my day doing yard moves with the jockey as well, then grab a forklift and work the dock for a bit. Just did my 1st road run Friday night. From now on, once a load is ready to head to our main terminal , I grab a tractor, hook up, pre trip and hit the road. Sometimes I will drop an empty at a customer, take a full from them and head to the main terminal. All runs include a back haul to my home terminal. Best of luck to you during driver training.

Hey there, TT folks..

Wanted to jump in and give a proper introduction. My name's Adam, living here in Tucson AZ, recently graduated the CDL program offered locally through Pima Community College and acquired my CDL in February complete with endorsements. I started working at SAIA in January ahead of my certification to do their dock-to-driver program, was attracted to the prospect of being able to be home every night and don't mind the stability/predictability of a steady paycheck and route. Plus, so many companies require a year+ experience to start, but hard to land a job to get the experience just starting out.

Working on the dock has been a good experience, and I've learned a lot about loading and securing freight, plus since I have my CDL already they've been having me do hosteling for several hours a night which has been really good experience for maneuvering trailers on and off the docks. After 3-4 months as a dockworker, I'm eligible to apply for the driver training, and am set up to start a 3-5 week training at the end of the month which will take place in Fontana (LA) CA. after that I'll be back at the Tucson hub, and probably do ride-along for a week or two until they set me loose with my own day cab and a city route.

My experience so far with SAIA has been mostly positive, I like most all of the people I work with and the pay is decent. I'm on a swing shift currently which has been a little tough since I'm a morning person by nature but willing to do what it takes to make this work. They have city drivers, and line-haul, city drivers making basically $27-$31 per hour and line haul is paid per mile but potentially more $$$ if you have a good route. As a new driver I will probably be started out as a city driver, which is better hours (daytime, home every night) but also wouldn't mind locking in a nice linehaul if it comes available.

I'm starting in the industry a little bit later in life, I'm 47 now. Worked most of my career as a dental technician making crown & bridge and dentures, but really got burnt out on that industry and was looking for a change. I've also had several warehouse, delivery, Box-truck route, and other assorted jobs over the last 20 years and always enjoyed the work and lifestyle. Getting my CDL and moving up to the big rigs just seemed like the next logical step for me. I would definitely consider doing more OTR style work if I could find the right situation and company to be with. My kids are grown and out of the house, and don't really have a lot of other things tying me down right now. Just want to work and make as much as possible over the next 15-20 years to secure a nice retirement and nest egg. I'm originally form Portland, OR and my kids are at U of O in Eugene, and I have a lil' something going on with a gal long-distance there in Portland, so ideally I'd love to find a lane that has me mostly west-coast or western states with my resets/breaks alternating between OR and AZ.. Gets really stupid hot here in the summer too, and as an Oregon boy I just haven't managed to get used to that despite being here for 4 years now.

I welcome any advice, ideas, questions, comments or whatever. Stay safe and alert Y'all, happy to be here. -Adam

You're not going to find a "lane" being a newby to Saia LTL that will get you from Phoenix to Portland on a regular basis. You may as well just ask where you can run to if you work the Road. If you don't want to stay in Phoenix your best bet is to relocate with Saia or somebody else in the Portland area and just move and run City from there.

If you stay in Phoenix, you can work City and volunteer (probably) to do road runs on your free time. But those runs will be ... wherever. LTL in a day cab is usually restricted to under 700 miles or less in a day so you can figure out where you can go from Phoenix on a daily basis.

But, then again, I'm not really familiar on how Saia does things so maybe you can get to Portland from Phoenix on a regular basis :)

Zombie reply, gonna revive this thread rather than make a new one…

I’m still at SAIA, coming up on 18 months, which is top pay for the company. After completing the dock-to-driver program, I started as a city driver/P&D and have been doing that for the past year. It was a great way to get a lot of experience and I enjoy the work. Along the way, I also have covered Linehaul shifts here and there and volunteered for LH on weekends.

Recently they offered me a position with Linehaul full-time, and I decided to go ahead and make the jump to that. Since I’ll be the ‘new’ guy on Linehaul, I don’t get a set run right away, and will have to work nights a lot of the time, but I’m kinda ok with that.

It’s hot as F$&@ here in Tucson in the summer and driving at night actually isn’t that bad. Less traffic and BS to deal with. Much rather be doing that than loading and unloading trailers in the 110* heat all summer. Plus the LH drivers make quite a bit more $$ than the city drivers so there’s that.

Once I get to 18 months I’ll be at 0.75¢/mile and average about 2200-2700 miles a week, plus still get to be home pretty much everyday; although I may have to do some lay-down runs here and there. At least they put me up in a hotel if I have to do an overnight, so better than sleeper cab and a truckstop. City drivers top out at about $32/hour right now at SAIA, which is also a really fair wage, but the top Linehaul guys are seeing $2200/week, so quite a bit better. Hoping to get that ElPaso run, that’s about as good as it gets for Tucson. 656 miles per day, plus extra to build/break sets. That puts you right at the edge of your HOS’s but still get to be home every night.

Anyway, just checking in. Any comments are much appreciated!

Hi Adam. Sounds like you are making a great success out of your job. I really admire how you planned things out and have stuck with the plan. A great example for beginning drivers.

In your trucks, what is your limited speed? 656 miles per day is not too shabby.

I'm glad you are doing well and enjoying your job at SAIA, Adam.

Do you get paid any overtime while driving P&D? Once you switch to line haul what kind of accessorial pay-if any-does SAIA pay? Just curious.

I'm glad you are doing well and enjoying your job at SAIA, Adam.

Do you get paid any overtime while driving P&D? Once you switch to line haul what kind of accessorial pay-if any-does SAIA pay? Just curious.

OT after 45. You get paid 30 mins for drops, no pay for hooks or fuel and you have to plug your lead. Health insurance is fairly priced and the company will cover the premium if you've worked there for 10 years. Last I heard, they suspended their 401k match I don't know if that's still the case.

In your trucks, what is your limited speed?

68 MPH, Bruce.

and you have to plug your lead.

Can you please explain that phrase, Banks? I haven't heard that term before, and the LTL world piques my curiosity for the future.

When you're pulling 2 trailers (or more, depending on area), the lead would be the front trailer and the rear is the tail or the kite. Plugging the lead is putting it in an assigned door and the hostler will usually grab the tail.