CDL section?

[Jason]

Abf isn't bad. Im on with Con-Way freight, and while I don't partake in their insurance (My wife carries a blue cross/blue shield policy on all of us thru her employer, most badass insurance policy you could ever ask for), i do take advantage of the 401k, their paid vacation, profit sharing, etc. What you have to keep in mind with an LTL carrier is this. They are huge on senority, bottom guy does all the junk nobody else will..bust your as, take everything they give you, and you will go far. We have several 20-25yr guys, on linehaul, and they have their run they do everynight, do nothing else..and they are making $90k a year. You will spend some time every day on a forklift, and some time waiting for shti to be ready, but you are paid for EVERYTHING you do, un-like an otr gig, or other things. If construction has the highway shutdown, while other guys are crying about it, my clock is running, and I sit and listen to the sirius radio in the truck. You will get damn good at manuvering doubles, putting a truck into places made for a pickup truck, and doing paperwork, but it is rewarding. As much as I miss my high powered 10 meter Galaxy cb radio, I have no use for it, I slip seat trucks, and just carry a backpack with my clipboard, tape measure, labels, etc., and that is all I need for my job.

We are NOT union btw, my company is allergic to it.

Im not trying to push the ltl carrier on you, just stating...if you want a career, retire from it type gig...that will probably be the way you want to go.

 

[dirtflinger92]

How hard is it to get on with Conway I have heard they are a great company. I am almost 21 and planning on getting my cdl within the next few months and hoping to get on with Conway

 

[Jason]

Wasn't hard at all, just time consuming. The hiring process took about 5 weeks IIRC. There was a few hold ups though, as my having been self employed made it difficult for their background company to verify some things.

They are like anything else in the trucking world...they all have their draw backs, and stupid rules etc., i am just able to put up with theirs a little easier.

 

[6point0damn2004]

Hauling gas to a station? That looks like a major headache. Trying to get the whole rig into some little corner lot with cars buzzing all around you.

I dont haul fuel, but i deliver product for a convenient store chain. Having to back across some of the lots and maneuver around idiots makes it fun. Im probably better at driving in reverse than i am going forward LOL

 

[Dieselgeek]

Abf isn't bad. Im on with Con-Way freight, and while I don't partake in their insurance (My wife carries a blue cross/blue shield policy on all of us thru her employer, most badass insurance policy you could ever ask for), i do take advantage of the 401k, their paid vacation, profit sharing, etc. What you have to keep in mind with an LTL carrier is this. They are huge on senority, bottom guy does all the junk nobody else will..bust your as, take everything they give you, and you will go far. We have several 20-25yr guys, on linehaul, and they have their run they do everynight, do nothing else..and they are making $90k a year. You will spend some time every day on a forklift, and some time waiting for shti to be ready, but you are paid for EVERYTHING you do, un-like an otr gig, or other things. If construction has the highway shutdown, while other guys are crying about it, my clock is running, and I sit and listen to the sirius radio in the truck. You will get damn good at manuvering doubles, putting a truck into places made for a pickup truck, and doing paperwork, but it is rewarding. As much as I miss my high powered 10 meter Galaxy cb radio, I have no use for it, I slip seat trucks, and just carry a backpack with my clipboard, tape measure, labels, etc., and that is all I need for my job.

We are NOT union btw, my company is allergic to it.

Im not trying to push the ltl carrier on you, just stating...if you want a career, retire from it type gig...that will probably be the way you want to go.

It will take a few years to get a decent bid shift at ABF, but I'm willing to put in my time. I'm worried about their financial and Union situations currently. They are negotiating with the teamsters currently. Gas hauling is IMO the most stable form of trucking... Company I interviewed with has 400 + stations, and their own terminal. I would work at night, more money that way. No OT is the big downfall with the gas hauling job.

 

[Bobby@cp]

 

[abbottfarms]

That's a interesting unit, ugly it may be.

I have never worked for a large company other then hiring my trucks onto them, I have been self employed since my father passed, and before that I worked for him. But I can imagine if you could get on with a large company that paid well and had good benefits you could have good job stability if you can survive the first few years of getting the crap loads they wouldn't dare give the guys that had been there for 10+ years. I have hauled for some large company's with my trucks and it was not a bad experience, but I prefer to find my own work/haul for the little guys. Sometimes you don't make as much money but all in all it suits me better. I downsized a fair share in the last year, even though I have less trucks on the road and less work I am making the same sort of money because I have a smaller fuel bill, less repairs and less in payroll. The work I kept is all good paying work so I guess it works out better.

 

[Bobby@cp]

That's a interesting unit, ugly it may be.

I seen it on facebook, Car and driver did a story on it and its different.... 2 levels in the trailer with a lift inside of it.

 

[Dieselgeek]

Walmart is regarded as possibly the best trucking company to work for... They are incredibly picky about who they hire, but pay incredibly well, and great benefits.

 

[abbottfarms]

I seen it on facebook, Car and driver did a story on it and its different.... 2 levels in the trailer with a lift inside of it.

By the looks with the doors on the front of the wagon, that smaller box behind the cab is for additional capacity. Makes sense, since most the the stuff they haul is light.

 

[Dieselgeek]

I think you may see more and more companies using day cabs, and running more regional runs rather than long haul runs.

Here's an article about the Walmart Supercube truck...

http://www.trucknews.com/news/walmart-canada-unveils-first-of-its-kind-supercube-trailer/1001824268/

 

[TrailerHauler]

It looks terrible, but they seemed to use all possible space within most limits. Interesting read.

 

[abbottfarms]

With fuel prices now, it's no wonder the large company's are going with trucks like that.

 

[abbottfarms]

Bumping it back up.

 

[Dieselgeek]

Been slow at work lately. Not much to haul around in the winter time for me. Thinking if money were no object, what truck would everyone buy/use?

 

[abbottfarms]

I'd probably buy a old 359 exhd Peterbilt and restore it into a tri-axle day cab tractor.

 

[duddy]

Pete 359 EXHD 450hp 855 cummins with a 13 spd sounds mighty nice.

 

[Dieselgeek]

I'm a true fan of Work trucks...

I like older 3406b or 3406e Cats, or a 6nz. I enjoy Kenworth T800's.

 

[fordfreak4life]

Pete 359 EXHD 450hp 855 cummins with a 13 spd sounds mighty nice.

Junky Cummings, need a pussy powered Peterpuller

Sent from my Milestone X2 using Tapatalk 2

 

[duddy]

Junky Cummings, need a pussy powered Peterpuller

Sent from my Milestone X2 using Tapatalk 2

To each their own, I have way more connections to tools and parts to make the 855 go over 855 ponies!:blitzed: and most will only cost me beer!oke: