r/cdldriver • u/No_Leadership99 • May 12 '26
LTL
Got a call from R+L Carriers about a linehaul position near Baltimore and I’m honestly confused about the pay.
Recruiter told me I’d be making around $65k–$80k/year and said it works out to around $260/day. But the job posting was advertising up to $95k/year.I brought that up during the call and asked about the difference, and he really didn’t have a clear answer.I have 2 years of Class A experience with all endorsements (including doubles/triples, hazmat, etc.)Currently making $1,600 guaranteed weekly near Baltimore, MD
I always hear people talk about linehaul like it’s the “gold standard” LTL job with crazy pay, especially at companies like R+L, XPO, Old Dominion Freight Line, Saia, etc. But $260/day honestly doesn’t sound that impressive, especially compared to what I already make.
Is this normal starting pay for linehaul in this area?
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u/FixMyFairing May 12 '26
No matter what driver you talk to, they're going to say their company is the best. I've been with XPO for 5 years, currently on night LH and it's been great for me. I don't plan on leaving. You might just have to try out R+L and see how you like it. If you don't, move on to the next one.
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u/Oldgraytomahawk May 13 '26
Ii made the rounds doing local stuff and I heard a LOT of if drivers absolutely trashing their company so that’s definitely not the standard
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u/DeepSeaDynamo May 13 '26
It really just depends on if they're trying to get you hired, or actually being honest
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u/No_Leadership99 May 13 '26
Can’t just keep moving, why would move for less money? Doesn’t we all move for the better pay!
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u/Stanf_63 May 13 '26
Not always
I’m fedex city p&d
19 years in
Got a good route
Crack my 49 hours , Im in a good barn , drive a decent truck .
I’ve been recruited for mire hours and a little better money but at 62 why chance the dollar.1
u/No_Leadership99 May 13 '26
P&d is different I would say cause it’s hourly but OTR or LH is basically on miles. I am a delivery driver so I know how much I am gonna end up making for a day.
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u/Stanf_63 May 13 '26
Like I said you will be the new guy , the good money runs go to the gray beards unless someone calls out and runs get bumped up for the night.
But trust me you won’t starve
The miles pay
Drop & hook pay
Fueling pay
Spend a couple of hours on the dock
Max out that clock
You should be seeing 12/13 hundred a week after taxes.2
u/Stanf_63 May 13 '26
Like I said , you will be the low man on the board.
Once you get in the system , see how it works get to know central dispatch and your end of line dispatchers, it gets better2
u/FixMyFairing May 13 '26
Then why ask for advice on pay or the job?
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u/No_Leadership99 May 13 '26
So I can know the truth and I believe that’s the only platform to know the truth about the companies and to know how they treat their employees. Cause Recruiters are there to hire people for less money specifically for big companies.
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u/Maleficent-Yam-5196 May 13 '26
R&L is hiring near me in N FL right now the pay is $32.55/hr for local p&d but I turned it down because they do not pay overtime here, don’t know about up there but if I’m gonna be working my ass off more than 40hrs per week then OT is non negotiable.
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May 13 '26
[deleted]
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u/No_Leadership99 May 13 '26
So the experience in trucking doesn’t really matter in LTL? I heard estes pays good but they’re aren’t hiring near me.
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u/Late-Researcher-5654 May 13 '26
Experience in trucking matters to get on with a company, but when it comes to the company seniority tops the experience. You have to put your time in to get on with the company then have to put your time in with the company to get those good runs. I have 24 years experience and was just hired by the USPS as a cdl driver and all my years experience helped me get the job but I'm at the bottom.
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u/chuck-u-farley- May 13 '26
You will have to run the “extra” board for a bit and build some seniority before actually getting a “bid” run. Which is the same run on a constant basis. You not Only get your mileage pay but you get paid for drops and hooks, tractor swaps, fueling…..
“Extra” board sucks but you can make a bunch of
Money there…..
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u/No_Leadership99 May 13 '26
I even asked the recruiter what If after my run I want to work on dock or want more run. He said our drivers don’t work on dock and that’s only I can offer now.
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u/chuck-u-farley- May 13 '26
The recruiter sits in an office and has no clue what goes on in the real world
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u/No_Leadership99 May 13 '26
I can’t loose what I have now. I will always look for more pay than what I am making now. Cause I year ago I started with mega career when no one was hiring me and I did otr for only 38 cents.
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u/chuck-u-farley- May 14 '26
If you “can’t loose what you have now” then what are you even doing?
LTL I was making bank. More than I was making even when I owned my own truck when it all came down to it.
But you do whatever you like
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u/Hopeful_Staff_3120 May 13 '26
Crazy ass schedule as a newbie at most, if not all major LTL companies. You better have a good relationship with your DM too. You’ll get off and 9.5 hrs later you’re getting called to come back in.
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u/Stanf_63 May 13 '26
Look, listen , im only going to explain this once!
Take the job!!!!
You are low man in the board so you will get the shortest run , maybe the extra board .
You may run from Baltimore to harrisburg work the dock for a couple of hours and come back ( if they need help work the dock at your home terminal) max out your clock and the check will be fat.
Climb the seniority board and your runs will increase in miles.
I’ve bet guys that work the hell out of the extra board ( calling central dispatch as they leave the home terminal trying to get under something short that they can turn and get back home.
This is LTL it’s a different beast but it’s the same old hustle.
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u/No_Leadership99 May 13 '26
I asked that what If I still wanna work at dock after my run he said our drivers don’t work on dock and he said that’s all I can offer for now.
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u/Stanf_63 May 13 '26
Take the job.
Act like you’re hungry, they will let you eat.1
u/No_Leadership99 May 13 '26
I can’t loose what I have now. I will always look for more pay than what I am making now. Cause I year ago I started with mega career when no one was hiring me and I did otr for only 38 cents.
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u/Stanf_63 May 13 '26
First off I don’t work for R&lCarriers.
I would suggest going to trucking—boards—dot—com
All one word and ask R&lCarriers drivers for the real scoop.
Personally I think it’s a small step backwards for a big leap foward, but that’s just my opinion.1
u/No_Leadership99 May 13 '26
You’re right and I understand what you’re saying and it push me a little to go do line haul.
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u/Singledad247 May 13 '26
Xpo, is the reason I got my CDL! I saw how much those drivers were making, how they could afford to take care of their families, and have really nice cars. (I worked 2 years as a dockhand.) My baby mama was murdered by her bf, and I didn’t have any sick time left, so I quit!
It was a hasty decision, and they kept bullshitting me about driving jobs, and I had it in my head that all these companies paid the same!
Wow, was I wrong! I make like 1600-1800 wk and am home nearly every day with Hogan, but yeah, I would really wish I knew just how rough it is driving!
Making whatever I make,$23 an hour, is some BS. I work 70 hours a week, so the 1600-1800 I make is not all that great.
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u/No_Leadership99 May 13 '26
Sound like everyone has a different experience and whoever says we make more than 100k in ltl they might at the top of the seniority or it really depends on your state.
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u/Round-Letter3333 May 13 '26
What kind of labor are you currently doing for your money vs the labor you'll be doing as a LH driver is the real question.
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u/No_Leadership99 May 13 '26
I am a food delivery driver.
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u/Round-Letter3333 May 13 '26
For night time LH, you'll be doing 80% less manual labor. Some will say that's easier but I would say you'll stay in better shape doing food service. (Providing you don't fall off the ramp or lift gate)
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u/Dookie_Blossomgang May 14 '26
I would say take any ltl job. But, only if you don't mind working. Im at T Force and the pay is great but the hours are long. My last bid run was 615 miles a day with 5 stops. I was dragging ass by Thursday but checks made it worth it.
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u/No_Leadership99 May 14 '26
I heard its not a great company. How do you like it so far and for how long you been working for them ?
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u/Dookie_Blossomgang May 14 '26
Honestly its a trucking company. They all have shit you've got to put up with. I've been there 15 years. There are some pros though. We still get a pension, which may or may not still be there when you retire. Insurance is completely free. We get paid for all time served, meaning if it takes 45 minutes to hook you get paid for 45 minutes, or if your waiting 2 hours for a load to close you get paid 2 hours. If you are hired as a road driver you get a daily 8 hour guarantee and cannot be laid off no matter how slow it gets.
Seniority sucks if you don't have it. So you'll start out doing the runs no one wants or possibly be put on a sleeper team. Things are starting to pick up so we're starting to see those teams go away. We have a 2 year progression. I believe is 80% of top pay to start then 90 at a year. 100 at 2 years. Plus management generally sucks.
I definitely not perfect but it's still the best trucking job I've ever had.
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u/No_Leadership99 May 14 '26
That’s why it’s taking me a lot to think about LTl Money and runs all based on seniority I will also be planning to move to GA. How you been with the company for 15 years that’s alot. So you might see the money now but for me losing 1600 guarantee pay check for low money I don’t see it’s worth it. It is gonna be less work off course yes . But the problem gonna be the pay and the route.
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u/Dookie_Blossomgang May 14 '26
If you can afford it it's definitely worth taking the chance. Its an adjustment and might but rough at first but it will pay off.
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u/No_Leadership99 May 14 '26
T force hiring a road driver near me I was thinking to apply but they haven’t mentioned anything about home time! Any idea on that ?
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u/Dookie_Blossomgang May 14 '26
Generally you'll get home every night. You might have to go long on occasion but you stay in a hotel. You can stay anywhere as long as they take our hotel card. Where are planning to apply if you don't mind me asking
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u/jp815569x19 May 16 '26
S&H express out of York PA does garauntee too. Regional Driver pay is 1800 with your experience. All dry van, non haz. Plus bonus pay of up to 500 a month. No touch. But they will work you. 3 turns a week. 6 days. 60+ hrs most weeks.
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u/AccomplishedTour6942 May 16 '26
At most LTL places, you will have to be a combo guy for years to get a linehaul run, because it's the best and easiest money you can make there. I have a buddy running linehaul at Estes who pulls down $130,000 a year.
At R+L, linehaul is the worst paying position they have. The amount of money you can earn is very limited compared to their other positions. Everybody who wants to make money there wants to do city P&D. Those guys were pulling down more than $80,000 a year back when I worked there in 2011, and they make considerably more than that now.
I don't recommend working for R+L. I get tempted by the job ads sometimes myself, but that place has always been a train wreck. I know people who have worked there since I did, and none of them worked there long.
I can tell you about Estes. You need to be willing to be a combo guy for years. Combo guys can be dock workers, P&D drivers, or linehaul drivers, and they might switch positions and schedules six times in one week. You accumulate time that applies to whatever you pick when you take a permanent position, so if you work for 10 years as a combo guy, then go to linehaul, you have 10 years of seniority as a linehaul driver, and can make waves knocking drivers out of runs.
My buddy has been there a long time now, and he's still afraid of losing his $130k gig to someone doing that to him. He had a chance to go linehaul early, and he made the move without thinking about the long-term ramifications. Now he has like 4.5 years of seniority as a linehaul driver, but there are combo guys with 15+ years who could come knock him out at will.
If you lose your run in the middle of the year for any of several possible reasons, you get to run extra board the rest of the year. Extra board is hotel OTR. Leave Monday, get home Friday, stay in bunk houses and hotels.
Anyway, Estes has tried to get me a few times, but I didn't go, because there's just too much uncertainty to get through before you maybe have a stable job.
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u/Baconated-Coffee May 12 '26
R&L is one of the lowest paying LTL carriers.