Making A Career Change And Trucking Is My Choice
Topic 15701 | Page 3
Prime has a terminal in Pittston near Wilkes barre. Im not dispatched out of there but go in to drop trailers before hometime. But PA is huge hahah..
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
Pittston is very close to me.
Prime has a terminal in Pittston near Wilkes barre. Im not dispatched out of there but go in to drop trailers before hometime. But PA is huge hahah..
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
Then you'd never have issues getting home. I dont.. but I've also learned where there are about 15 customers within a 100 mile radius of my home. My regular FM always gets ms hone on time.. but when a temp is in I tell them to look for runs with certain. Customers lol.... tell them how to do there job.. that is just like me lol
Fm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.
Hey Jay - yeah, that rhymes.
I briefly skimmed your thread. I took notice that you're in PA, and that you're not interested in OTR. Being in PA, you have many options. Certain parts of PA have more options than others, but in general, you have plenty of opportunities for trucking without having to go OTR. I'm not sure how far into your research you are, but LTL trucking offers some of the best pay for a driver. P&D is tough and usually recommended for folks with prior experience, but linehaul is a different animal. I'm a linehaul driver for Old Dominion. We have a terminal right where the Prime terminal is in Pittston. In fact, there are other LTL outfits in your neck of the woods too. Usually when there is one LTL terminal, there are others. They seem to huddle up in strategic areas for freight. Old Dominion actually has a driver training program that will PAY YOU while earning your CDL. That's in Carlisle, PA and they usually bring potential drivers in from around the state for their school.
I'm not trying to sell you Old Dominion, I'm just presenting options for you, because I appreciated it when somebody else did that for me a few years ago. Like I said, you have a couple LTLs in your area to choose from, if that interests you. And if you're looking at trucking as a job and not an OTR adventure or lifestyle, not many gigs will rival the pay you get from being a linehaul driver in LTL. A lot of areas in the country don't have the opportunities you have, being in PA. For most, OTR is what they have to do.
I went to private trucking school, got hired by OD with zero experience, and the rest is history. I'm home every day, work 5 days a week, and our top rate is now .637 cpm. You can do the math.
Here's my thread about LTL where I cover topics that pertain to Less Than Truckload.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
LTL:
Less Than Truckload
Refers to carriers that make a lot of smaller pickups and deliveries for multiple customers as opposed to hauling one big load of freight for one customer. This type of hauling is normally done by companies with terminals scattered throughout the country where freight is sorted before being moved on to its destination.
LTL carriers include:
- FedEx Freight
- Con-way
- YRC Freight
- UPS
- Old Dominion
- Estes
- Yellow-Roadway
- ABF Freight
- R+L Carrier
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
P&D:
Pickup & Delivery
Local drivers that stay around their area, usually within 100 mile radius of a terminal, picking up and delivering loads.
LTL (Less Than Truckload) carriers for instance will have Linehaul drivers and P&D drivers. The P&D drivers will deliver loads locally from the terminal and pick up loads returning to the terminal. Linehaul drivers will then run truckloads from terminal to terminal.
Linehaul:
Linehaul drivers will normally run loads from terminal to terminal for LTL (Less than Truckload) companies.
LTL (Less Than Truckload) carriers will have Linehaul drivers and P&D drivers. The P&D drivers will deliver loads locally from the terminal and pick up loads returning them to the terminal. Linehaul drivers will then run truckloads from terminal to terminal.CPM:
Cents Per Mile
Drivers are often paid by the mile and it's given in cents per mile, or cpm.
OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
I've been in this business for almost 3 years and I only this year I fell that Its getting easier to make good public relationships in al the places that I stay, or co-workers. I think you first start by getting more involve in this industry. And congrats on taking this step.
One more twist, we have drivers at my terminal that actually commute from other parts of PA. These linehaul drivers will stay out for 5 days, and then go back home when they're done. Usually these drivers are from areas in PA where their local terminal isn't currently hiring. Our Carlisle terminal is the break bulk for the entire northeast, so we have plenty of freight and lots of opportunities for drivers.
For drivers that commute, you can think of it like this when comparing it to a regional driver for a truckload company. These guys are getting paid LTL wages, and are staying at hotels paid by the company when their shift is over. It's like being a regional driver for a truckload company and being gone on a weekly basis, but instead of staying at truck stops in your sleeper cab, as a LTL linehaul driver running a day cab you get to stay in hotel rooms with your own shower / bathroom. For me, that's a no-brainer. If I had to commute for a linehaul job, I'd rather do that than work a regional gig for a truckload company, but to each their own. Just more food for thought.
Hope all this helps.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
Regional:
Regional Route
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.
LTL:
Less Than Truckload
Refers to carriers that make a lot of smaller pickups and deliveries for multiple customers as opposed to hauling one big load of freight for one customer. This type of hauling is normally done by companies with terminals scattered throughout the country where freight is sorted before being moved on to its destination.
LTL carriers include:
- FedEx Freight
- Con-way
- YRC Freight
- UPS
- Old Dominion
- Estes
- Yellow-Roadway
- ABF Freight
- R+L Carrier
Day Cab:
A tractor which does not have a sleeper berth attached to it. Normally used for local routes where drivers go home every night.
Linehaul:
Linehaul drivers will normally run loads from terminal to terminal for LTL (Less than Truckload) companies.
LTL (Less Than Truckload) carriers will have Linehaul drivers and P&D drivers. The P&D drivers will deliver loads locally from the terminal and pick up loads returning them to the terminal. Linehaul drivers will then run truckloads from terminal to terminal.
Cool, I missed that Auggie69 posted about Fed Ex Freight. They're another LTL company worth checking out Jay. I list a bunch of LTLs in my thread I posted the link for. But to briefly mention a few, you've got Fed Ex Freight, Old Dominion, UPSF (UPS Freight - not Parcel), Estes, ABF, NEMF, and there are others. If union vs non-union matters to you, Fed Ex Freight, Old Dominion and Estes are not union, while UPSF, YRC, ABF, and NEMF are union shops. There are others, but I'm just listing a few to get you started.
LTL:
Less Than Truckload
Refers to carriers that make a lot of smaller pickups and deliveries for multiple customers as opposed to hauling one big load of freight for one customer. This type of hauling is normally done by companies with terminals scattered throughout the country where freight is sorted before being moved on to its destination.
LTL carriers include:
- FedEx Freight
- Con-way
- YRC Freight
- UPS
- Old Dominion
- Estes
- Yellow-Roadway
- ABF Freight
- R+L Carrier
I think one of my buddies works for old dominion. His name is Frank C. Don't want to put his last name online.
Hey Jay - yeah, that rhymes.
I briefly skimmed your thread. I took notice that you're in PA, and that you're not interested in OTR. Being in PA, you have many options. Certain parts of PA have more options than others, but in general, you have plenty of opportunities for trucking without having to go OTR. I'm not sure how far into your research you are, but LTL trucking offers some of the best pay for a driver. P&D is tough and usually recommended for folks with prior experience, but linehaul is a different animal. I'm a linehaul driver for Old Dominion. We have a terminal right where the Prime terminal is in Pittston. In fact, there are other LTL outfits in your neck of the woods too. Usually when there is one LTL terminal, there are others. They seem to huddle up in strategic areas for freight. Old Dominion actually has a driver training program that will PAY YOU while earning your CDL. That's in Carlisle, PA and they usually bring potential drivers in from around the state for their school.
I'm not trying to sell you Old Dominion, I'm just presenting options for you, because I appreciated it when somebody else did that for me a few years ago. Like I said, you have a couple LTLs in your area to choose from, if that interests you. And if you're looking at trucking as a job and not an OTR adventure or lifestyle, not many gigs will rival the pay you get from being a linehaul driver in LTL. A lot of areas in the country don't have the opportunities you have, being in PA. For most, OTR is what they have to do.
I went to private trucking school, got hired by OD with zero experience, and the rest is history. I'm home every day, work 5 days a week, and our top rate is now .637 cpm. You can do the math.
Here's my thread about LTL where I cover topics that pertain to Less Than Truckload.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
LTL:
Less Than Truckload
Refers to carriers that make a lot of smaller pickups and deliveries for multiple customers as opposed to hauling one big load of freight for one customer. This type of hauling is normally done by companies with terminals scattered throughout the country where freight is sorted before being moved on to its destination.
LTL carriers include:
- FedEx Freight
- Con-way
- YRC Freight
- UPS
- Old Dominion
- Estes
- Yellow-Roadway
- ABF Freight
- R+L Carrier
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
P&D:
Pickup & Delivery
Local drivers that stay around their area, usually within 100 mile radius of a terminal, picking up and delivering loads.
LTL (Less Than Truckload) carriers for instance will have Linehaul drivers and P&D drivers. The P&D drivers will deliver loads locally from the terminal and pick up loads returning to the terminal. Linehaul drivers will then run truckloads from terminal to terminal.
Linehaul:
Linehaul drivers will normally run loads from terminal to terminal for LTL (Less than Truckload) companies.
LTL (Less Than Truckload) carriers will have Linehaul drivers and P&D drivers. The P&D drivers will deliver loads locally from the terminal and pick up loads returning them to the terminal. Linehaul drivers will then run truckloads from terminal to terminal.CPM:
Cents Per Mile
Drivers are often paid by the mile and it's given in cents per mile, or cpm.
OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
I know a Frank from our Buffalo, NY terminal.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
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Depending on where you live check out roehl if home time is important. They have several different home time fleets and even if you do have to go otr then you can still get home every other weekend. They offer paid schooling and training as well.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.