Union LTL Paystub since everyone is doing paystubs

Posted by Larrythethird22@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 77 comments

Union LTL Paystub since everyone is doing paystubs

ABF Freight city driver they contribute $9.59 an hour into pension so there is no 401k match. None of my check has to pay for health insurance because of course it’s provided for free and is top of the line insurance coverage. Union dues about 80 bucks a month once a month.

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77 Comments

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ohhrangejuice@reddit

Teamster brother 👊

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Larrythethird22@reddit (OP)

🫡

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ohhrangejuice@reddit

Wish my dues were 80 bucks lol

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KatieTSO@reddit

Mine are $70 as a bus driver but we get far less out of it than OP

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PutridContribution41@reddit

Just curious. Why are there so many bus drivers lurking in trucker forums. Do you guys investigate out wages? Serious question. Lol

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KatieTSO@reddit

Because our spaces are tiny and lonely. Also bitching about dispatch is something we all have in common with you. And it's a CDL job, and truckers are most of the people with CDLs we can talk shop with.

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PutridContribution41@reddit

I mean Ireally shouldn't care but your answer doesn't make too much sense, though.There's a lot of bus driver forums out there. Although, both industries require a CDL. The job and lifestyle is completely unrelated to each other. You can't even say "We both drive large vehicles." When "trucks" here are almost entirely referring to tractor trailer combination. Talk shop? We delivered product, you deliver passengers? I am just extremely curious, your answer doesn't add up.

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Larrythethird22@reddit (OP)

I wish my dues are what yours are because your probably making a lot more than me hourly then lol

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ohhrangejuice@reddit

You do nights?

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Larrythethird22@reddit (OP)

Daytime P&D

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Cheap-Mechanic@reddit

Do you run the moffet?

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ohhrangejuice@reddit

Oh hell yeah ill take this over nights for sure.

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overpaidlazytrucker@reddit

If your hourly matched the nons then yes that's free health care but if your hourly is say 15% less than the nons well then it's really not free your making less than the nons and on top of it you're paying dues. I remember my days at yellow when they would brag about free healthcare but if you're making 5 to 10 dollars an hour less than the competitors is it really free? You're paying for it by making less per hour.

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Larrythethird22@reddit (OP)

Ya I totally get what your saying. I seem to make more than the nons or the same in the same amount of hours due to us getting more overtime pay although my hourly rate is lower, and on top of that when it’s time to use the insurance we also save more money than them hand over fist. Plus the non union guys who work til they are very old because they didn’t save for retirement well I will retire at 54 with full pension checks but the non union guys who do retire early because they did save a lot lost lots of that hourly rate due to their 401k contributions. In the end I have realized us union and non union guys are all making about the same in the end overall I just tend to have much better insurance coverage and a large pension checks coming to me when I’m all done.

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overpaidlazytrucker@reddit

I am single work at a large LTL non union and my deductible is 5 grand and then they pay 80% of whatever the bill is that seem to be the standard with the non's. Pension is a maybe thing, it might be funded when you get that age but if it's not they will increase the age from 54 to whatever they feel like. I really don't understand why LTL is not all union. The job, hours, and work life balance is terrible and the paystubs I see are absolutely nothing to brag about. Most drivers can't differentiate how much the CEO made and how much they made that thought doesn't even cross their mind. They just see "o wow I made 100K and I spent about 70 hours for the past 52 weeks to make it I am a high roller" in the mean time the company they work for made 2 billion in revenue and drivers are satisfied with their peanuts.

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Larrythethird22@reddit (OP)

Ya I got a wife and several kids so the free insurance thing and it being good when it comes time to use it comes in clutch for me, and ya the pension thing I understand that is why I’m not solely relying on it and trying to put money into a 401k as well. We got a lot of guys at the terminal who came from the nons and always mention how less stressful it is working here with us at the union company. But a lot of brainwashing has gone on with both the union and no union so it’s hard for them to open their eyes up and see things from the other side

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Gonzotrucker1@reddit

You should open your own Roth IRA also.

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Larrythethird22@reddit (OP)

Thanks I will have to look into that. I like to have it taken out of my check right away so it doesn’t get spent elsewhere lol

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Gonzotrucker1@reddit

Vanguard Roth IRA. It’s easy to set up with the app. Control your own investments.

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Larrythethird22@reddit (OP)

I got a Charles Schwab thing going on the side to mess around with lol but on my 401k thing at work there is a lot of options of where to have my money put but I will look into what u said as well. I just don’t have the discipline to put it all into Roth myself so I like how it comes out of my check directly

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THExPILLOx@reddit

They didn't mention it, but your yearly maximum contribution to an ira is like $6000. So you don't have to be super disciplined to max an ira. Rule of thumb is usually max 401k match, and then if you can afford it, Max a traditional or Roth ira. But since you have a pension, you can skip straight to the ira.

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GumboPosts@reddit

ROTH IRAs are really cool, I actually have one myself. They can also be a bit complicated so I would get finance advice about it first, or do diligent research on them. What's neat about my ROTH is that I can take out the cash I put in without penalty, as long as I don't touch the dividends the money earned. It acts more like a tax free savings account, but you usually have a limit on how much you are allowed to contribute each year. That can change depending on circumstances, so please do your research and seek professional advice. Vanguard ETFs are really good, they are very diverse and perform really well. 90% of my portfolio is just Vanguard, the last 10% is SPDR. Personally, what I do, is set an emergency cash budget. Build up to that limit, and then anything over I toss into a ROTH IRA. Also, if your company will match you on contributing to a 401K, do that as well. Don't just let them keep your free money, lol. I would only increase my 401K contributions if I max out my ROTH IRA contributions for the year because 401Ks generally have really big contribution limits. This is just my strategy, and your situation maybe different, but I hope this gives you some ideas.

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kingsnow18@reddit

Same here, I already max out my 2026 contributions for my ROTH IRA. I'm doing 85% VTI and 15% VGT. It started slowly, I open it up in 2022 and was only able to deposit 350 but now the whole account is sitting shy of 30k.

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GumboPosts@reddit

Not bad. I got 45% VTI, 45% VXUS, 10% SPDR. I recommend VXUS to dip your fingers into a diverse international fund. It doesn't have the highest yields, but the spread of investments well help keep the portfolio rock solid.

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kingsnow18@reddit

Yeah, I've been thinking about VXUS and it's probably a good call but for now I think I'm just going to hold and maybe buy it next year.

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kona_kenanu@reddit

Local 149 👊🏾

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Larrythethird22@reddit (OP)

🫡

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Jamo3306@reddit

Jesus. I'm ashamed to show mine. I feel like Medical insurance and 401k are wiping my check out week after week.

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More_Claim_82@reddit

Looking forward to join next year congratulations 👏

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Larrythethird22@reddit (OP)

Thanks! Hopefully it all works out for you!

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More_Claim_82@reddit

Best if you have employee referral? 😀

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CammedLS1@reddit

Hopefully you’re in the western conference where the money is solvent without congress having to bail out the pension

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Larrythethird22@reddit (OP)

I am in the western conference fortunately

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CammedLS1@reddit

A handful of my friends went to ABF in salt lake before and after Yellow shut down. They seem to like it. I’d be there if they’d opened a shop

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JalocTheGreat@reddit

Pension already bailed out

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CammedLS1@reddit

Yeah like I said, only because of Congress. They were cluster fucked before that

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ShoeStunning@reddit

how many hours? i grossed about 2.1 for 57. just about out of here though.

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Larrythethird22@reddit (OP)

58.92 hours. Some weeks I do couple short days like 8 hours then couple days working all day all night like 14 hours cuz we get the double time after 11 hours which adds up fast brother and then of course the overtime after 8. I don’t usually like to work crazy hours but I can gross 2k in 55 hours of work.

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Larrythethird22@reddit (OP)

Keep in mind there is no money coming out of my check for my wife and kids insurance it’s free and ABF is contributing about 400 bucks on top of my pay into my pension/ retirement. I don’t think a lot of guys understand that they lose their hourly rate or pay in their 401k contributions and health insurance cost.

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ShoeStunning@reddit

i dont pay anything on my health insurance but its crap. high deductible 3.5k and they contribute 1000 a year. to hysa. do the company match on 401k. they working me too hard though. might go do flatbed.

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Cant-Gif-Right@reddit

I’m trying to get on with ABF in my area. Just got a rejection email

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Larrythethird22@reddit (OP)

Im sorry to hear that, what area is that?

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Cant-Gif-Right@reddit

Lawrenceville, ga

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Larrythethird22@reddit (OP)

Large ABF hub in Conley would consider applying there although may be a little commute for you. But other than that not sure what to say I’m located on west coast. Hopefully u find something u want good luck brother

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Cant-Gif-Right@reddit

Thanks for the heads up. I’ll check on it

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SteppenAxolotl@reddit

Your weekly 401k amt could be slightly 🤏 higher @ $471.

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Larrythethird22@reddit (OP)

I’m not necessarily looking to purposefully max out my 401k for the year I’m just doing a flat 20 percent of weekly earnings it’s what I can afford right now do to situation but subject to change of course

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SteppenAxolotl@reddit

I think every single worker should do just that, since the next 2–3 years are fraught with employment risks for everyone (for reasons usually forbidden from articulation on this sub). Options are more limited when you have a family. The median annual personal income in the US is ~$51k 🫡

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trucksarekewl@reddit

Bro we were finally done with this nonsense

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Larrythethird22@reddit (OP)

Sorry

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haydukelives56@reddit

i keep seeing all these union gigs - can you tell me how the union process of getting a job works? like once you join the union, is there a waitlist to get a position while you’re just paying dues? how do you go about joining the union in the first place? i just looked into my area and we have teamsters down here and their website says they hold meetings, would that be the best place to go to find info?

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redwingcut@reddit

Union ain’t necessarily better, at my job it seems kinda useless. We don’t get any paid holidays or paid vacation time, which seems like the point of a union.

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Larrythethird22@reddit (OP)

Ya Iva head some union jobs are just whatever like some dont even have a pension, when it comes to LTL I have worked at other major carriers and for me I think the union one is best to work for. 7 sick days 2 personal days, all holidays plus mlk day, birthday off paid, hire anniversary date off paid and that doesn’t include vacation hours

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redwingcut@reddit

Nice that’s good that the unions good for you at your current job. In my situation I don’t really see what benefit I’m receiving from paying $40-70 every week.

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Larrythethird22@reddit (OP)

Ya I’m not paying nearly that much a week than u are at all and I’m seeing lots of benefits from it so it’s working out very good for us over here. Countless things over here that the non unions don’t have.

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jmzstl@reddit

You just apply for the job like normal and hope you get called for an interview. If the company decides to hire you, there’s probably a probation period and at the end of it you automatically join the union.

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DeeDee_Z@reddit

> Union dues about 80 bucks a month Curious to know if that's a flat rate, or a percentage, or something else. During the brief period I was a Teamster, union dues were 2 hours pay/mo, from the first check of the month. (So, "relatively" constant.)

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Larrythethird22@reddit (OP)

Ya I don’t make a high hourly rate so it’s 2.5 times my hourly rate I believe once a month first check of week like you said. We make our money on overtime and there is plenty of it actually to much

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-HunterLES@reddit

It’s worth it. You’ll be much better set up than most truckers. My union dues hit hard as well but I don’t trust the future of our country or industry. Good to be set up

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Larrythethird22@reddit (OP)

Thanks man my checks net out to a small amount but seeing how time flies I think it’s best I live frugally and save for retirement and if I die before that pension hits my wife or kids only get so much instead of my wife getting the monthly pension checks if I die after starting to collect it so I think a 401k is a good idea

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Radiant_Swan187@reddit

You dont trust the future of the country but somehow investing in it will set you up??

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Perfect-Leather4521@reddit

Where are you located? A big city?

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Larrythethird22@reddit (OP)

Yes big city. Probably averaging higher weekly checks than a smaller city guy, but also that could be wrong because smaller city might have less guys at the terminal so those less guys get all the hours and work. I wouldn’t know for sure.

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InvstrJester@reddit

Show that slow week

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Larrythethird22@reddit (OP)

Lol I can show you some slow weeks brother but don’t be hating on us over here lots of us city guys at my barn making 105k-115k. My checks are steady week before this I grossed like 1900 this last week I’ll gross over 2k again. Average 55 hours our so a week easily. Overtime after 8 double time after 11 hours. Crazy thing for my route is for me to only gross like 1500 for the week I have to try really hard to make that happen, the 2grand gross weeks just come easily.

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External_Result_8560@reddit

Paychecks are so last week

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scottiethegoonie@reddit

I wanna see loss porn not gains.

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Maximum_Papaya_1885@reddit

Gotta get on Wallstreet bets. Best loss porn around.

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Larrythethird22@reddit (OP)

Sorry I didn’t know

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Pocket_Biscuits@reddit

Its lumper fees now

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Larrythethird22@reddit (OP)

🤣🤣

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RemoveTheRC@reddit

Jesus that’s alot of deductions. I get paying into union dues and a retirement plan, but almost 50 percent is a lot.

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Larrythethird22@reddit (OP)

20 percent of the 43% defections is 401k right off the bat other than that it’s taxes no union dues came out of this check so if I didn’t die the 401k would of been 23 percent deductions

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RemoveTheRC@reddit

Oh gotcha, you set that yourself, makes sense. You’ll retire earlier then most at that rate.

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Rikishi6six9nine@reddit

You'll be set in retirement that's for sure 👍

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lleu81@reddit

Do you know what your teams make?

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Larrythethird22@reddit (OP)

Not sure exactly I could ask one of the guys but we don’t do teams all solo linehaul positions but they definitely make a lot more than city drivers lol

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