How's LTL like Daytona freight? Should I switch?
Posted by wh0andwhy@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 18 comments
Currently making $32.75/hr flat rate for 10 hours a day. 5 days a week local. Im paid for 10 hours but 3-4 hours is me on my steamdeck or on my phone. Same customer everyday, same dock.
Daytona is hiring for 35.50 a hour and with overtime after 40. How's LTL? Do y'all have the same old route everyday or is everyday something different. Fast pace environment? Lots of downtime or no?
i-c-u-c-me-c-u@reddit
Shots what was (at the time of posting) your job? I’d be happy with $32 and 3-4 hr sitting hitting the same docks
MiguelSTG@reddit
When I did p and d, there were routes, volume loads, and lift gate service. If you had the first two, you mostly did the same thing every day. But, if you were a float you'd cover routes when guys took a day off. But, with it being what it is, even if you have a route someone could call in a pickup, or delivery, to somewhere you don't usually go.
Feisty-Tomato8812@reddit
I’ve been with Dayton Freight for 15 1/2 years. I started here doing P&D for about 5 years and have been Linehaul the last 10 or so.
For P&D the work is steady with mid December to mid February being our slowest time. As a new guy there is rarely a shortage of work as the higher seniority take what call a CC or Company Convenience days on our slower days that don’t require a full slate of drivers the company offers these on a seniority basis and can be taken paid or unpaid if desired. Lower seniority guys rarely get the chance at CC days. It’s a nice way to manage the slow season without having to lay guys off.
As for the actual work side of things, as a new guy you’ll be working where you’re needed and not necessarily on a set route/territory and you could anywhere from 15-30 stops a day with most stops taking around 10-15 minutes. There will be some lift gate delivery and occasional residential delivery but mostly bumping docks. You’ll be provided with a pallet jack to use daily for stops that may require it or to make a stop easier for yourself.
For hours, I would expect and average of 45-50 hours/wk with the spring and fall being busier so you may see 55+ but no more that 60. An unpaid 30 min break is required between the 4th and 6th hour of being on duty.
Typically this time of year we aren’t hiring however it doesn’t hurt to put in the application and give the terminal a call and ask for the manager and tell them you’ve applied. As others have stated it is very hard to get hired in here. If you plan to put in an application and not follow up, don’t expect a call back.
Overall it’s a great company with good culture, open communication with management and a decent benefits package. It has its quirks sure, but what company doesn’t.
I hope I’ve answered any questions you may have, and good luck to you.
GumbysDonkey@reddit
We just hired a guy a few months ago from Dayton for linehaul. He was there 8 yrs, but he came here for more $$. We are both Sunday starts so it's usually just me and him in the yard. Super nice dude, had to teach him how to hook doubles but he's enjoying it and doing a good job. Doesn't have anything bad to say about Dayton, just wanted more $$.
ThePinkMohawk@reddit
Bro if you enjoy sitting and playing Steam Deck while getting paid for a stable 10 a day, stay where you are.
I was at Dayton for about 2 years... one week you'd have 45-50 hours of constant work with dispatch breathing down your neck, and the next you'd have 38 hours with them still rushing you constantly! It's LTL so it goes up and down, but there's typically something depending on your market.
I'm not sure why everyone thinks Dayton is so exclusive either, we had some real knuckle draggers come through while I was there, some barely made it 2 months! It's harder to get into than OTR, but so is every good LTL company.
chico-dust@reddit
Can't speak to Dayton as I've never heard of them before your post but as far as LTL goes it really depends. Some places will have you doing extra board until you "gain enough seniority" to get a dedicated route, others change your pickups every day.
In both cases the only real downtime in LTL that I've had is when I have to wait on a shipper. Idk though 32 bucks to watch Netflix for 3 hours a day out of every shift I'd just kick it there over doing LTL again.
MachineHead5@reddit
I'm with Saia but all the Dayton drivers that I have ran into seem happy and I have only heard good things about them.
LTL will keep you busy most of the time with little bits of down time here and there. It does help the day go by faster. And starting out, you will not have a set route. You will be sent all over to wherever they need help and each day will be different however you will still see some repeat customers with new stops thrown in typically.
Some people seem to love doing p&d while others hate it. Just depends on the type of person you are and what you want.
acd2002@reddit
Some of the places you go to doing p&d are an absolute nightmare
Customers demanding you try to back a 53’ trailer off a gravel road so they don’t have to use their pickup truck to come get there door frame off your trailer.
sleekpete@reddit
I’ve been at Dayton for 3 months. I can only speak on my terminal. Everyone here except me and the next lowest seniority person has multiple decades here. They think they’re special but at the end of the day they bump the same docks as me for the same pay. The company isn’t too kind to new hires. No paid holidays until after 90 days. No uniforms until 90 days. You’re gonna get the route nobody wants which I think is fair as a new guy.
Be careful about your trainer. Mine threw me under the bus (right in front of me so no speculation here) and I’ve had a target on my back ever since. Or at least that’s what it feels like.
Overall, benefits and company culture are good. When I see guys come in from other terminals they’re always happy etc. vacation leaves a bit to be desired.
Unfortunately I’m just at a terminal full of old miserable guys that have been here so long they don’t know how good they have it.
Hiring is a nightmare. Took two months after I applied to even call me. Then two interviews and a more thorough background check than any I’ve been through.
All in all I’d do it again and if I leave it’ll be to pursue something specific, nothing against the company.
cdubose@reddit
Linehaul for Dayton Freight is like my dream job but I've heard it's basically impossible to get hired there. I even saw a Dayton Freight driver (driving a straight truck, oddly enough) and let him know that I was interested and even he was like "yeah basically no one ever leaves so they don't usually need drivers" and then offered some other local LTLs I could apply to.
trucksarekewl@reddit
That's the case with the main ltl players. We just had a guy get a 30 something year safety award and he's got 15-20 drivers in front of him seniority wise. You'll need a crowbar to get these dudes out of their positions, but I dont blame them.
Seebs9@reddit
Dayton is a good company, tough to get into.
It’s hard to give too much info on ltls because every ltl terminal is like its own company. How something works at one might be completely different at another. It definitely would be more fast paced then what you’re used to though.
Wizofsorts@reddit
Dayton is a fine company to work for. You'll work more in the summer and less in the winter but you'll work.
SuperiorTrucker@reddit
My Experience with Dayton is that they always have listings, but never get follow up. It’s like they never take down their job listings
jmzstl@reddit
I’ve seen that about them on here a lot.
OP should apply now and circle back to this thread if they ever reach out for an interview.
BobcatBob26@reddit
Im with OD but it will all depend on your terminal, our guys have sometimes when they are moving nonstop and sometimes they will have to sit and wait. You will probably, have mostly the same customers every day, but it may take a while to have a dedicated route.
Dayton is a good company from everything I have seen.
possibly_lost45@reddit
Dayton freight?
Guzie93@reddit
Interested in the answers, I’m local pulling containers out of rail yards. Dirty work with crap equipment and long hours. Would love to move to something a little easier.