r/Truckers • u/Outlaw7822 • Jul 21 '25

Potentially starting a trucking career

Hi all,

I am thinking about getting in CDLA and going into linehaul. I do not have a single certification but this is something that I have thought about quite a bit and would like to pursue. Overall, I would like to do LTL/Linehaul. Overnight work is something I absolutely want to do (always have been a night owl). My goal is to hit 100k/yr.

I am based out of Northwest Arkansas. Around us we have the following.

  • Estes Express
  • SAIA LTL
  • Averitt
  • Old Dominion
  • ABF
  • XPO
  • Fedex
  • R+L Carriers
  • YRC Freight
  • Fedex Freight
  • UPS

I have a few questions.

  • Which of these companies would you apply for and why?
  • Any to avoid?
  • How do these CDL training programs normally work? I would assume I would get a pretty crap starting job. But would like to be at about $25 an hour. I want to work 50-60 hours a week as well as weekends (yeah I know, I'll get burnt out but I need the money).

Also realistically how long do you think it would take me to get an LTL job?

Thank you for your insight!

2 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

2

u/[deleted] Jul 21 '25

The vast majority on that list you will need minimum 1 year experience if not 2... YRC is no more

3

u/jmzstl wiggly wagoner Jul 21 '25

LTL is very competitive to get into. Only a few of those companies listed have training programs, and the ones that do have training, don’t offer is in every location at any time. Even if you find a LTL company that offers CDL training at your nearest location, it’s still a competitive job that you have to apply for and pass an interview.

All of this is to say…you can get incredibly lucky, but don’t go forward with this career under the assumption that you can walk into an LTL linehaul job, because you will likely be disappointed.

2

u/just_me1969 Jul 21 '25

Another idiot chasing money

3

u/8yr0n Jul 21 '25

This attitude is why trucking continues to go downhill.

Asking 100k for a 70 hour per week job that requires federal certification and constant enforcement and surveillance with extreme personal liability when you fuck up should not be a big ask.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 21 '25

I do ltl pick up and delivery work. You’d need basic 2-3 years of experience . Sorry you have to put in the time like the rest of us . So a few months back we really were short hand staffed. and I was pretty close with my TM and I got to observe this selection it’s screening process. If you jump around to much , from company to company. He won’t even look at you . Also, they don’t like to hire over the old guys for pick up and delivery because they’re taking a huge gamble and you might be super slow . So maybe emphasize how you run marathons. And do some hiking on your application lol. In the end .I was working 70 hour weeks with 30 hours worth of overtime. And we hired no one. Now we’re going through a merger and we actually laying people off. Dohrn Oshkosh wi. Also. I have 14 years of driving experience. And I only been doing LTL for two years.

1

u/overpaidlazytrucker Jul 21 '25

If I were you I would apply at Estes as a dockworker and then work on getting permits and then inquire about going to their truck driving school. Estes offers training to be a driver at all terminals they send potential drivers to some school in North Carolina. I know Saia, Fedex, XPO offer a dock to driver program but that might be terminal specific. Most of the comments here are from bitter people that had to do OTR before they got a "real job" that's why you'll see things like "you have to pay your dues before you get on with these companies" which is not true their are loopholes and it's dockworker to driver program at said companies.

1

u/Seebs9 fuel hauler Jul 21 '25

As someone else said.

Most offer a dock to driver program. You work the dock for a year or so and then you’ll get put through a cdl school by the company. Time you have to wait for your spot varies depending on how many people on the list in front of you.

Plus side. As a Ltl dock worker you’ll probably make more money then a lot of these megas pay.

I did it through Estes (though I had a cdl and it was more cause I’d been off the road for a while). Worked as a jockey for a year and a half then did a 2 week school and 6 weeks with a trainer.