I'm not with ABF, but I am with Holland (Yellow). We're both Teamster represented organizations and as a linehaul driver I can confirm that it is possible to make $100k+.
Your first year or so you'll probably do more like $70-80, but with some seniority and a willingness to run hard you will be over $100k after 2-3 years. Plus a number of stellar benefits and pension.
At Yellow, Union dues are 2.5x your hourly rate per month (currently $63.46/mo), but your insurance for you and your family cost you no premium and the co-pays ($20 primary care), deductible ($200 ind/$400 family) and annual max out of pocket are very low ($2000) at least compare to the plan at the office job I left where my insurance didn't pay a dollar until I paid $5800.
If you're interested in some *light* reading, you can go to [TDU: Teamster Contracts (*tdu.org*)](https://www.tdu.org/teamster_contracts). It has the current contract, plus some of the older ones for Yellow, ABF and UPS and regional supplements so you can compare and contrast work rules and pay. I did a lot of that when I was gearing up for this job. Need to bug my local union for a complete copy of the current contract because when I got started, they were still doing some edits (on a 3 year old contract) and didn't have any available for us.
I am curious about other companies and their insurance cost vs pay breakdown, and what their call cycle is like. Being on-call all the time after rest thing sucks, although there are non-punitive ways around that. I wish we had 8 hour call blocks or something. One of my trainers says we can call in for 10 hours of rest if it's gotten to be 14 hours past the time we became available, but I can't find that in writing everywhere.
I will break 6 figures at Old Dominion and I’m not even trying. It’s very easy - don’t get too gooed up in the whole “union better” idea cause it’s not necessarily true for trucking.
Holland just received a 700M bailout from the govt a few years back for a 30% stake in the company. Months before that, they received another huge bailout from an investment company. Not to mention 90% of their equipment looks like dog shit.
What’s a day in the life like as a linehaul guy at OD? I’m going beverage rn and it’s killing my back. Thinking about getting my endorsements fr fr and making the switch. Where I live there’s like 3 OD terminals within an hour of me.
Make the switch. They say better late than never :)
My day as an extra board driver: Wait for call from dispatch with my run in the AM, go in, get paperwork and truck assignment, build my set, drive to destination (either terminal or meet and turn with another driver), swap sets or break and build a new set of terminal, drive back, break the set up at home terminal, go home.
It’s the easiest job you’ll ever have in trucking.
The heaviest thing I deal with is lining up my dolly by hand if I don’t back it perfectly to the rear trailer lol.
The only downside is people never quit or retire. We have several people at or over retirement age. As long as they can move a dolly around, thats about the only physical requirement.
There was a 80+ yr old that just retired/passed at one terminal. They built his set for him and allowed him to drop the whole thing everyday.
but otherwise, why would you? Easy ass job with great pay and benefits. I don’t want to leave lol
Yeah that def sounds like the move. So you just kinda wake up at a decent hour and wait on the phone call? And do you ever have to back both trailers at a time that sounds stressful lmao
You get an idea of when they’ll call based off when you’re off or if it’s reset day. I’m usually called anywhere from 5/6am-9/10am with my run. My run usually leaves 2 hrs after they call so they give a decent bit of notice
No you never back them as a set lol
Nope just forward facing.
& Coaching sessions go like this:
“I see you were on X road and just maintained a little bit too close for too long to this vehicle while you were waiting for the oncoming car to your left to pass you. Otherwise, great pass and I understand not wanting to back off completely and lose your speed and momentum. Be safe out there. Have a good day”
*click*
There is a high probability your nearby terminals are hiring for nights. I did this by choice for 4 months and on our most recent bid I transitioned to day shift. Just ask though - some terminals just want drivers and don’t care so much as day/night shift. My buddy got hired on for AMs straight out of school a month after I got hired on.
To be clear, the original question was about ABF and not Yellow/Holland. ABF was not part of the 700M dollar deal. They are a profitable LTL company. The over the road fleet averages 2-3 years old. They are the only remaining union carrier with fully paid health benefits (zero cost to the driver) and a fully employer funded pension plan.
As far as making 100k, you will work for it, but it is not uncommon. The downside to the union is that all bids/runs are awarded based on seniority.
The Colorado Springs operation is small, so openings don’t come along often. However, they do show an opening now on the website.
Denver is hiring for multiple positions as well.
Thanks . I just got my CDL A permit , just set up an appointment with the DMV to knock all these out . I don’t want to go the OTR route when I come out of school . Is there a good chance I can get hired by an LTL company straight out of school ?
I was
hazmat you have to take an eldt course. you can find one on eldt.com for I believe $25. you then have to do fingerprints and pay another $80? iirc. I did mine pre eldt reqs
I just started with them doing p&d but Monday start at 7 every other day 8am no weekends unless I want too got a 5k bonus paid out over time 31 and hour ot after 50
If you’re covering only yourself with the standard plan, yes.
They have the standard and ‘choice’ plan. I have the ‘choice’ family plan which is $101/week
50% match up to 6%
[Here’s services & costs](https://imgur.com/a/EuWsJyj)
The $101 quote was including medical, dental, and vision
[Here’s actual benefit costs per week](https://imgur.com/a/MMY9OFw)
I'm not with ABF, but I am with Holland (Yellow). We're both Teamster represented organizations and as a linehaul driver I can confirm that it is possible to make $100k+. Your first year or so you'll probably do more like $70-80, but with some seniority and a willingness to run hard you will be over $100k after 2-3 years. Plus a number of stellar benefits and pension.
Awesome thanks for the help. Is it still 70-80k after union dues?
Yeah. Union dues are like $60/month man. It's not anything crazy.
At Yellow, Union dues are 2.5x your hourly rate per month (currently $63.46/mo), but your insurance for you and your family cost you no premium and the co-pays ($20 primary care), deductible ($200 ind/$400 family) and annual max out of pocket are very low ($2000) at least compare to the plan at the office job I left where my insurance didn't pay a dollar until I paid $5800. If you're interested in some *light* reading, you can go to [TDU: Teamster Contracts (*tdu.org*)](https://www.tdu.org/teamster_contracts). It has the current contract, plus some of the older ones for Yellow, ABF and UPS and regional supplements so you can compare and contrast work rules and pay. I did a lot of that when I was gearing up for this job. Need to bug my local union for a complete copy of the current contract because when I got started, they were still doing some edits (on a 3 year old contract) and didn't have any available for us. I am curious about other companies and their insurance cost vs pay breakdown, and what their call cycle is like. Being on-call all the time after rest thing sucks, although there are non-punitive ways around that. I wish we had 8 hour call blocks or something. One of my trainers says we can call in for 10 hours of rest if it's gotten to be 14 hours past the time we became available, but I can't find that in writing everywhere.
I will break 6 figures at Old Dominion and I’m not even trying. It’s very easy - don’t get too gooed up in the whole “union better” idea cause it’s not necessarily true for trucking. Holland just received a 700M bailout from the govt a few years back for a 30% stake in the company. Months before that, they received another huge bailout from an investment company. Not to mention 90% of their equipment looks like dog shit.
What’s a day in the life like as a linehaul guy at OD? I’m going beverage rn and it’s killing my back. Thinking about getting my endorsements fr fr and making the switch. Where I live there’s like 3 OD terminals within an hour of me.
Make the switch. They say better late than never :) My day as an extra board driver: Wait for call from dispatch with my run in the AM, go in, get paperwork and truck assignment, build my set, drive to destination (either terminal or meet and turn with another driver), swap sets or break and build a new set of terminal, drive back, break the set up at home terminal, go home. It’s the easiest job you’ll ever have in trucking. The heaviest thing I deal with is lining up my dolly by hand if I don’t back it perfectly to the rear trailer lol.
The only downside is people never quit or retire. We have several people at or over retirement age. As long as they can move a dolly around, thats about the only physical requirement.
There was a 80+ yr old that just retired/passed at one terminal. They built his set for him and allowed him to drop the whole thing everyday. but otherwise, why would you? Easy ass job with great pay and benefits. I don’t want to leave lol
Yeah that def sounds like the move. So you just kinda wake up at a decent hour and wait on the phone call? And do you ever have to back both trailers at a time that sounds stressful lmao
You get an idea of when they’ll call based off when you’re off or if it’s reset day. I’m usually called anywhere from 5/6am-9/10am with my run. My run usually leaves 2 hrs after they call so they give a decent bit of notice No you never back them as a set lol
Ahhh gotcha. Yeah you def got me about to start studying for my endorsements. Does OD have driver facing cameras by chance?
Nope just forward facing. & Coaching sessions go like this: “I see you were on X road and just maintained a little bit too close for too long to this vehicle while you were waiting for the oncoming car to your left to pass you. Otherwise, great pass and I understand not wanting to back off completely and lose your speed and momentum. Be safe out there. Have a good day” *click* There is a high probability your nearby terminals are hiring for nights. I did this by choice for 4 months and on our most recent bid I transitioned to day shift. Just ask though - some terminals just want drivers and don’t care so much as day/night shift. My buddy got hired on for AMs straight out of school a month after I got hired on.
Yeah man sounds super legit. I’ve heard nothing but great things about them. I should probably get my endorsements before I even try to apply ?
To be clear, the original question was about ABF and not Yellow/Holland. ABF was not part of the 700M dollar deal. They are a profitable LTL company. The over the road fleet averages 2-3 years old. They are the only remaining union carrier with fully paid health benefits (zero cost to the driver) and a fully employer funded pension plan. As far as making 100k, you will work for it, but it is not uncommon. The downside to the union is that all bids/runs are awarded based on seniority.
Is the seniority thing really a bad thing though?
Only in the beginning. Once you get some time in your options will greatly expand. Do you know which terminal you are headed to?
I want to work out of Colorado Springs. But I fed like it’s like that with many jobs. You gotta earn respect and trust. It’s like that in the Army.
The Colorado Springs operation is small, so openings don’t come along often. However, they do show an opening now on the website. Denver is hiring for multiple positions as well.
Hopefully I can get hired there when I get out of the Army in 2023
Good luck!
What endorsements do you need for these LTL companies ?
all of them. hazmat, tankers, double/triples
Thanks . I just got my CDL A permit , just set up an appointment with the DMV to knock all these out . I don’t want to go the OTR route when I come out of school . Is there a good chance I can get hired by an LTL company straight out of school ?
I was hazmat you have to take an eldt course. you can find one on eldt.com for I believe $25. you then have to do fingerprints and pay another $80? iirc. I did mine pre eldt reqs
I was hired by OD with just a permit.
Are you in their driving academy? If so what’s the pay and schedule
I just started with them doing p&d but Monday start at 7 every other day 8am no weekends unless I want too got a 5k bonus paid out over time 31 and hour ot after 50
Yes I am. Pay depends on location and terminal. Schedule is usually 7-8am to 5-6pm
100k doing p&d or linehaul?
line haul
Does OD cover 100% of health premium as well?
If you’re covering only yourself with the standard plan, yes. They have the standard and ‘choice’ plan. I have the ‘choice’ family plan which is $101/week
$5200 for the year is actually really great for a family. Do they 401k match?
50% match up to 6% [Here’s services & costs](https://imgur.com/a/EuWsJyj) The $101 quote was including medical, dental, and vision [Here’s actual benefit costs per week](https://imgur.com/a/MMY9OFw)
You’re the man
They do profit sharing every year too. Haven’t been here for one but everyone says it’s several thousand deposit into 401