New CDL Here, Doing SAIA Dock-to-Driver

Interesting, thank you!

I've always been curious how Saia does stuff, never really speak to their drivers. Dayton, R&L, YRC, XPO, AAA Cooper will all stop and chat. Heck even FedEx freight will, once you learn to decipher the grunts and pointing they are probably the friendliest. But, I rarely see a Saia driver outside of their truck.

I'm glad you are busy, I had a chance to transfer for OD to Tucson a few years ago and passed. Sometime I wish I had.

Sandman, if you have any questions about LTL don't be afraid to ask. Right now isn't a great time to get into it, but when things pick up you can easily make 6 figures after a couple years, maybe sooner.

Heck even FedEx freight will, once you learn to decipher the grunts and pointing they are probably the friendliest.

I swear we get flack for wearing that uniform. We're lumped in with ground and people always have a comment. I just keep to myself most of the time, because I tired of having to explain it over and over again.

I swear we get flack for wearing that uniform. We're lumped in with ground and people always have a comment. I just keep to myself most of the time, because I tired of having to explain it over and over again.

I know the difference, I've even defended Freight drivers on the CB and online before. Especially, in winter people will say "there's another FedEx in the ditch" and I'll explain the difference.

I'll explain the difference.

It gets annoying fast. They'll say something like "we're you the one that passed me doing 80?" and I have to explain that I'm governed at 65 and how the opcos operate.

I bet, it annoys me and I don't even work there.

Sandman, if you have any questions about LTL don't be afraid to ask. Right now isn't a great time to get into it, but when things pick up you can easily make 6 figures after a couple years, maybe sooner.

I appreciate that, Bobcat. I still have a ways to go on my rookie OTR year, but I am just always thinking of the future, and what parts of trucking I might want to dive into.

When I was going to work at my last job, I'd frequently see several night drivers heading out from the UPS facility in Addison. If a company does 53s and double pups, is which one you pull something you'd bid on, or might that change shift to shift?

At SAIA on P&D I was getting OT after 40 hrs, and some weeks getting quite a bit, but with the slowdown lately I was also getting unscheduled days of here and there and less OT. Our trucks are governed at 68. I get hourly pay for hooking or breaking sets but only 15 minutes per… Hourly kicks in for breakdowns too, but not much else. The benefits are pretty good, and I only pay like $30/week copay for a whole range of stuff, medical, dental, life, disability etc. They do still match 401k at 3%, so that helps some too. I’m getting older (48) so I put away 13% right now, plus their 3% = 16% to my 401k. I’m also doing the optional employee stock purchase plan for $50/week.

First official week on LH is going ok. Just getting started and schedule is varied. Had a noon gate yesterday and leaving at 10:30pm tonight.

I’ll report back more soon! Thanks for the comments and encouragement

. If a company does 53s and double pups, is which one you pull something you'd bid on, or might that change shift to shift?

It depends on the company, but most of the time you'll either be strictly one or the other. You may have to occasionally pull the other one. I got to pull a CRST 53 2 weeks ago, which is rare. If I pull more than 2 or 3 53s in a year, it's a lot. A couple years ago, one of our P&D drivers asked me to look over his set to make sure it was hooked properly, because he hasn't pulled one since he trained a few years earlier.

Then there are what they call "combo" drivers, they do P&D or Linehaul depending on what is needed. One day could be 53s, one day a set, the next day on the dock.

Had a noon gate yesterday and leaving at 10:30pm tonight.

I'm lucky, with my terminal all our extra board bids are scheduled. I have one with a scheduled 8 am gate time, which is great to keep a set sleep schedule.