ABF | Atlanta Terminal

Songremainsthesame

TB Legend
Credits
310
Just reposted my app to the Atlanta terminal and spoke with the terminal manager about my app. He is pulling it for review and I hope to hear from him next week about an intterview. Are there any drivers on this board from the Atlanta terminal? Any information that might be helpful in getting on with ABF would be great. Not sure if I'd be linehaul or city yet, but if anyone can tell me how things are going down at Atlanta would be most helpful.
 
now is not the time. there are 10 road drivers laid off and probably more than that in the city. it wont pick up again until march or april but they dont hire alot in atl so dont get your hopes up
 
Not a good time to expect to work. If you can clear the hiring process and aren't working anywhere right now could work out for you. Overall ABF is not a bad place to work. Then all you have to do is pray for our economy.
 
I'm just curious why he'd be looking at putting me on with guys on layoff... Seems if they need folks they'd just bring back the laid off guys, right? I don't know, I've never worked for a union carrier before so I'm a little unfamiliar with how the whole thing operates.
 
Just reposted my app to the Atlanta terminal and spoke with the terminal manager about my app. He is pulling it for review and I hope to hear from him next week about an intterview. Are there any drivers on this board from the Atlanta terminal? Any information that might be helpful in getting on with ABF would be great. Not sure if I'd be linehaul or city yet, but if anyone can tell me how things are going down at Atlanta would be most helpful.
What happen to Con Way ?
 
I'm just curious why he'd be looking at putting me on with guys on layoff... Seems if they need folks they'd just bring back the laid off guys, right? I don't know, I've never worked for a union carrier before so I'm a little unfamiliar with how the whole thing operates.
Usually they won't put you right on the list they will have you processed and ready to work if and when the need arises. With the hiring process being as difficult as it is it is not unusual to have more cleared for work than they will need.
 
I'm just curious why he'd be looking at putting me on with guys on layoff... Seems if they need folks they'd just bring back the laid off guys, right? I don't know, I've never worked for a union carrier before so I'm a little unfamiliar with how the whole thing operates.
They have to bring back the laid off guys first whether they want to or not. That's why they're saying it doesn't look good right now. Traditionally, the first quarter of the year is the slowest so it could take a couple of months for you to hear from them. Even then it's hard to find out how much you'll be needed.
 
What happen to Con Way ?

Nothing happened to Con-way, I'd just like to make more money, get OT after 8 hours. and have a retirement plan. As of right now our top out pay is only 85% of your contract, I don't get OT until 50 hours (which I never get anyway) and they're giving nothing to my 401(k) since I've only been an employee since 2010. They say they "hope" to have something figured out for the new guys' 401(k) by 2nd quarter of this year, but I'm not holding my breath.
 
Well, I appreciate all the info so far guys, but you're not really painting a rosy picture for my future with ABF. Guess it's a good thing I've still got a job, no matter whether I like working there or not.
 
If you hear from them when freight gets busier, i'd try to hunt down a couple local ABF drivers to find out how bad they need someone new. If it sounds like a good opportunity, they really are a good company to work for. Another improvement is that ABF drivers don't pay a penny for health coverage and the coverage is really good.
 
If you hear from them when freight gets busier, i'd try to hunt down a couple local ABF drivers to find out how bad they need someone new. If it sounds like a good opportunity, they really are a good company to work for. Another improvement is that ABF drivers don't pay a penny for health coverage and the coverage is really good.

I like the sound of that :-) Talked to an ABF city driver yesterday, he didn't know much but thought maybe some guys were getting ready to retire and they were looking to fill those retiree spots. Dunno, just hoping for the best.
 
ABF is like any other big company. Some terminals are great to work at and some aren't so good. A lot depends on the managers at each terminal. As a general company I have found ABF good to work for. I will say that if you don't have any other part time income available, I would be very wary of leaving anything full time to go with us. That being said, there may be quite a few guys retiring in the next year due to the contract expiring on April 1st 2013. If you can get on and not spend a fair amount of time on layoff, especially the first few years, you will be the exception to the rule... Good luck, and do what is best for you...
 
You need to track down more city guys and find out how many guys are ready to retire, if you can hit it right , the work will be there when you start as a casual and the rest will be history. Good luck to you. It's a good company to work for.
 
Cnfdude, just get your foot in the door,even if you work casual on your days off. Come show them your stuff , stand out as a good freight man and if you are fortunate to get hired ,keep you eyes open for a road position. Managment will treat you with respect, hands you your bills and you go to work. As an extra board driver you can make six figures a year,health, welfare and pension paid. If you and your co-workers have a chance to organize you should do it for the betterment of you and your family...good luck to you.
 
Cnfdude, just get your foot in the door,even if you work casual on your days off. Come show them your stuff , stand out as a good freight man and if you are fortunate to get hired ,keep you eyes open for a road position. Managment will treat you with respect, hands you your bills and you go to work. As an extra board driver you can make six figures a year,health, welfare and pension paid. If you and your co-workers have a chance to organize you should do it for the betterment of you and your family...good luck to you.

I'm still waiting to hear from them, but I'm hoping for the best. I still don't know what kind of position they want to consider me for. Problem is, my only days off at Con-job are on the weekends. If I could run the road on the weekend to get my foot in the door I would, but I'm going to have to see what happens.

I don't think Con-way will organize, the company will see to that. And I am by no means a "union man", so to speak. But I am a believer in getting the best deal for my services I can. I'm in the freight business for the long-haul and I want to position myself in the best paying job I can get with the most job security. While the job security is still something I worry about with any union carrier, I think ABF is in the best shape.
 
Top