Considering ODFL As My First Employer
Topic 29679 | Page 1
There are OD drivers on this forum. They will probably tell you that doing the local city stuff might be tough for a rookie driver. Congratulations on getting your CDL! Stand by, someone will chime in with more info eventually. I hear "Bobcats" have good info.
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.
First one is a night driving. On positive side the roads should be empty at night but it is unnatural and could be very unhealthy in long term I think. Maybe I should start as a Linehaul and transfer later to local?
Thank you
Everybody is different and it's proven that there are night people who function better being up late in the afternoon and all night. I happened to be one of those and have been since I was a baby :-)
During my active duty Air Force years, when I was in pay and accounting, I had to be at work at 0730. Throughout that time frame, I would be late frequently and would get Letter of Reprimands. The accounting side was more lenient and I would work from 1100 to 2000. When I did 1.5 years in LE, I worked three swings, three mids and had three days off and I thrived!
My company that I drive for now tries not to get 0600 appointments. :-) Hauling food, most of my appointments are at night fortunately. However my one dedicated run , delivers at 0400 my time :-( So if you are a day person, you will get used to it eventually but it will be tough on you.
There will be guys that will be better at answering your question about line haul and local delivery. Personally I wouldn't do either for the first year but go OTR to get more experience.
Welcome to The Forum!
Laura
Dedicated Run:
A driver or carrier who transports cargo between regular, prescribed routes. Normally it means a driver will be dedicated to working for one particular customer like Walmart or Home Depot and they will only haul freight for that customer. You'll often hear drivers say something like, "I'm on the Walmart dedicated account."
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.
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.Line Haul:
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.HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
My natural clock is 7-8pm to 2-4aam recently, so I am not on a standard side. OTR is still on my mind anyway.
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.
A majority of linehaul runs occur during the night for numerous reasons. Personally i like starting my day around midnight. Its not the greatest for family life but its far less traffic and less stress. Most terminals also have daytime runs but its all based on seniority. It's difficult to say how long it'd take to land one but its likely several years at a minimum.
Steer clear of the P&D driver especially in your area. Many drivers, even experienced, hate going to that area of the country and they have the skill to safely do it. P&D as a rookie in any market is likely to result in accidents. Get enough of them and you'll be unemployed. Many reputable companies won't touch you if you've been terminated due to accidents and still inexperienced.
Hopefully Bobcat can chime in with ODFL specific info.
Good luck
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.
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.EPU:
Electric Auxiliary Power Units
Electric APUs have started gaining acceptance. These electric APUs use battery packs instead of the diesel engine on traditional APUs as a source of power. The APU's battery pack is charged when the truck is in motion. When the truck is idle, the stored energy in the battery pack is then used to power an air conditioner, heater, and other devices
You can always aim for small and mid size oversized loads or just machinery in general. It's generally mandatory daytime permit driving and i've never had a night load or unload with machinery. Super loads can require night driving depending on the state and load though.
Paging @ Daniel B. ~!
And of course, Bobcat Bob, too. . . .
Those are our two main OD guys in here...will have much to share! In the meantime,you can look up their threads & posts by their screen name. Wish you the best!
~ Anne ~
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Whatever happen to six string rhythm? Wasn’t he odfl?
I've been doing linehaul for Old Dominion for 3.5 years and highly recommended them. Personally I'd say avoid P&D in NYC especially to start, at least with lh you will probably be able to get on the open highways and have some elbow room.
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.
Whatever happen to six string rhythm? Wasn’t he odfl?
Yep, he was... and maybe is ?!?
I'm 'thinking' that he got into a 'squabble' with someone on here; Brett, Old School, or G Town might recall. I was in 'read only' mode back then.
He was some good input; above are some posts.
~ Anne ~
ps: Daniel B. is currently 'expecting' IIRC, so.. has other priorities, of course!!
Thanks, Bobcat Bob.
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I just got my CDL A with all endorsements (yesterday I had appointment for HAZMAT fingerprinting so that one will take few more weeks) and considering job offer from ODFL in NYC as their terminal is 15min from the place I live. Looks like they accepted all my credentials, are willing to train me and tomorrow I will go for interview. From what I heard it is good company to work for but I would love to hear your opinion. They have Linehaul and local positions. First one is a night driving. On positive side the roads should be empty at night but it is unnatural and could be very unhealthy in long term I think. The other option is day driving but in NYC. Dont know if I should consider it as a beginner. Maybe I should start as a Linehaul and transfer later to local? What do you think? Is it good opportunity and I should not be so picky or there are better options in the trucking world for rookies? I would appreciate any advice. Maybe there are ODFL drivers in this forum ?
Thank you
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
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.
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.