Question:
I've read quite a few posts on here about how to get started and how much money will be made. I read a lot of posts on here before doing what I did. Maybe this will help someone in making up their mind.
I was lucky enough to have friends that were drivers with different companies to get the straight story from. I went to Old Dominion Freight Line and applied to enter their training program. I had friends working there and knew going in I would be driving team possibly with one of them. I entered the training which lasts 5 wks. and was paid $371.25 per wk during training. At the end of training I used their equipment and passed my roadtest and obtained my class A license. I was then roadtested by the safety dept. and approved to drive. One of my friends had called me during my training and said he wanted to team with me.
First week out we went 5,147 mi. and my pay rate is .327 per mi. All runs are drop and hook pulling doubles. We get paid for drops, hooks and fuels. We did this in 5 days running with 2 days off in the middle. We used a cooler and brought food and drinks with us. My total out of pocket was $65 and grossed over $800. Next trip out we stayed out 14 days and were over 7,000 mi. per wk both weeks. I'm now sitting here with 5 1/2 days off feeling really good about my decision to go with OD.

Answer:
You must be driving out of Old Dominion's White Pines, TN location. Allow me to wish you all the success in the world. You could have done a lot worse, Old Dominion is probably at the bottom of the pay scale as far as LTL companies go, but at least they gave you a chance. Hang in there!

Answer:
Thanks for the encouragement. I do run out of White Pine,TN. As far as pay goes I felt that their pay scale was OK and definetly better than any TL carrier I could train with. My partner is topped out after 2 yrs. at .46 per mi. Due to his seniority we will start a scheduled run next week so I'll have planned home time. The benefit package is as good or better than most and includes pay rate increases based on company profits. There have been a few others on this board that have taken the same route and sound like they are making money and happy. Timberwolf and Mrs. Jabo's husband are 2 that come to mind.
The biggest concession is we don't have flashy trucks.

Answer:
Hey Beeman I read your post and you said at the end that you don't have a flashy truck.I can tell you from experience usually a flashy truck means less pay than just a regular truck.The main thing about a truck is that it is safe and mechanically sound,Good Luck

Answer:
I am graduating Sage Technical, Denver in about 3 weeks. Have heard some good things about Old Dominion - so would like to explore employment with them. Have a 3-year-old at home, so would really like to have weekend home time.
Is this something that can be done through ODFL Denver? Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks!
James
"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me."
Galatians 2:20 NASB

Answer:
Bondservant,
I've been to the Denver terminal but don't know much about their operation. Our terminal is much larger and has almost 400 drivers. We have 4 different type of runs. There are single and team scheduled runs which are just what they say. You know where you're going and when you'll be back as long as the freight is there for your run. Sometimes you have to be a little flexible. These runs are bid on by drivers with seniority so usually a new driver won't get on a schedule unless he teams with a driver that has seniority that has a scheduled run. The other 2 are team and single wild where you run where they send you. I don't know much about single wild, but team wild has choices on length of time out. 6 days gets you 48hrs. off, 10 days 72hrs. and so on. You can stay out as long as there is freight and you have hrs. to run.
As far as the flashy truck that was the point I was trying to make.

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Okay it's been 6mo. and I just got my first pay increase. to .3825 per mi. Also went to annual meeting and found out the benefits are improving at no extra cost and the cost of living raise will add another .01.
My partner bid on a schedule so we know where and when we run Average is 5,000mi a wk with plenty of home time.

Answer:
Congrats to you Beeman.It seems that the choice you made has worked out well for you.Its good to hear from a newbie that has positive things to say from his experience's on the road.Stay safe out there.
The Governor

Answer:
I did it altogether different. And, up front, there will be those here that will call me an outlaw or worse. Perhaps thats true, but here I am making a pretty good living as a truck dweller.
I have actually had my CDL for four years, but have just started driving full time three months ago. For the last 32 years, I worked in the corporate environment, driving a desk and computer. Three months ago, I was "down sized" out of that job. So now I'm a full time truck dweller. Story follows.
How (and why) did I get the CDL? It was just something I wanted to do before I die. Went down to Florida and took the written test. Florida is one of a few states that grants an interstate "learner's license". Most states will only let you drive with a trainer within your home state. With Florida's you can go across state lines as long as there is a licensed driver up front with you.
Next step was to find a company that would give me a ride with a trainer. Found one in South Alabama. Not the best reputation for a company (actually pretty low... make that REAL low), but they put me on a trip to California with a trainer. Typical story.. a hundred miles down the road, he told me to take over and he hit the bunk. Fortunately I catch on pretty quick and did my half of the driving without killing anyone. To my knowledge, the only thing illegal about this experience was that he was in the bunk and not up front with me. This was the first time I'd ever been inside a semi-trailer truck!!!
Once back in Alabama, I borrowed a truck from the company, did some practice backing in the yard, and had a buddy drive me down to the examiner for the road test. Passed it the first time. Maybe I should mention that I'd done a LOT of reading, internet surfing, and asking questions. I also have a decent aptitude for things mechanical and mobile.
Two weeks into my "training" and I held a class A CDL, hazmat, double, triple, etc. And I was $500 richer for the ride to California and back. So far, so good.
I continued to drive part time on weekends doing local stuff (Alabama to Miami mostly) for the "outlaw" company. Two or three times a year, I'd take a vacation and make a run to California and back. While this company was not opposed to cutting through legal hurdles from time to time, all of my driving was perfectly legal. Inexperienced and perhaps unsafe (a matter of opinion), but legal according to all of the laws in the U.S.
After two years, I got tired.. actually VERY tired of the BS that came with the "outlaw" company($2500 escrow hold-back for example), and quit driving altogether. A couple months later, another OTR company rep contacted me and asked if I'd like to do locals for him. This is a top-of-the-line company and I jumped at the chance.
Another two years later and the corporate lay-off came. My total experience at that point was four years, more or less, of weekend driving and two or three coast to coast runs a year. Maybe 10 or 12 at most.
When I got zapped from the desk job in April of this year, I asked for a new truck with my name on the door. No problem. In the last three months I, along with my co-driver wife, have logged 62,140 miles in a pretty little, brand new 2003 Columbia pulling 53 foot refer, and together we've averaged just over $2,000 a week AFTER TAXES, IN OUR CHECKING ACCOUNT. Note here, we expect significant reductions in pay when Summer rates are over.
We drive strictly precentage of the load. No detention pay, no deadhead pay. Company picks up all expenses including up to $25 a month for cleaning supplies. Good company benefits like $75 a day for all holidays, paid one week vacation, Blue-Cross, and good, well maintained equipment.
We haul dry freight West and mostly produce East. And we HAUL FREIGHT. Two to three weeks on the road, turn on the yard, etc. But that comes with the territory, we expected it coming in.
In Summary, while I have $Zero invested in my training and CDL, I consider myself "professional". I do the job safely and efficiently without benefit of organized classes or tutoring. Company performance reviews confirm this. I know well that there are those that consider this unlikely at best, even impossible to achieve. I understand that this approach can not work in most cases, but with the right aptitude and attitude it IS doable.
Just thought you'd like to hear from the other end of the "training" spectrum.
Regards
RT

Answer:
Ron,
I would venture to say that the odds of someone doing it the way you did today would be slim to none,but the fact is you did it your way and it worked for you.Sounds like you are happy with the choice you made regarding your career change and thats what really counts.Stay safe
Answer:
Well it's a year later and I'm still driving for ODFL. For the past year my partner and I have been on a bid run to Texas. More or less worked 4 days a week and was home most weekends. With the way our runs layed out my partner used his vacation and we took off about 5 wks, of course I took off without pay. We were lucky and between his vacation and how our runs layed out we were home every holiday except New Years. After starting driving at the end of Jan. and taking all of that time off I still grossed right at 40k. We now have a Calif. run and run 4 days out possibly 5 with Fri. and Sat. off. Pay is now up to .44 per mi. and at this time next year with COL increase should be close to .48 per mi.

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Glad to hear that you've settled in with OD & things are going swell for ya.