Averitt | Dallas, TX

I've been at Central Freight Lines for 6 months, having turned down ABF and FedEx Freight in the last few months. This was mostly due to the fact that I like the people here. But much to my dismay, my family health benefits have shot from $292/month, to $475/month. This is only health insurance, with everything else coming out I pay $650/month off the top for the rest of the package.

This matched up with their measly top pay of $21.10 makes it extremely difficult, so I'm looking into AE.

I'd like to hear some advice on whether to apply for city or shuttle, and ask if these benefits are as unfair as I think they are. I think a move is needed.

Also, starting pay would be helpful to know about, and general opinion of the company. Thanks for any help I get in advance!

I do know out top out pay higher, starting pay in dependent on experience. Shuttle drivers make an average of 10k more a year but that is Monday night through Friday night, drop and hook. My family's insurance is less than 45.00 a week, dental, vision, major med, prescription and short term disability. Dallas currently has both positions open .If you apply put me on the application, Randy Freels

Thanks Randy. You're one of the most helpful guys I've seen on TB. Now experience-wise, are we talking LTL only or does my 5 years of local delivery experience qualify?

I have no shuttle experience, only 6 months of P&D and 4.5 years of food service delivery, but I know y'all are a 53' only line haul operation.

That insurance is second to only a few in the non-Union world, maybe none. They don't discriminate against the young guys with shuttle positions do they? (I'm 28 and only get calls on city jobs, never a call back on line haul).

I want to start a career as a shuttle driver or linehaul driver somewhere. Do you think Averitt is a good choice over the bigger names? I'm a big picture guy and have my eyes 20 years down the road, wondering where I want to be when its all said and done. Money is important, but quality of life and my family are number one.

Thanks for any input guys.

Shuttle positions openings are rare and often taken by in house Truckload drivers who want to be home. Your experience will be fine, as long as it is a class A CDL experience. Insurance would be much cheaper for a single. It is no secret that the big boys pay a lot more per mile than we do, so you must decide that. I would ask how much dock work is involved, for instance Conway works their guys 14 hrs. a day in my area, 11 driving and 3 hours on dock. I started here when I was 19,I'm 46 now, worked my way from the dock to my goal as a Shuttle driver. This place is like family. I ran local P&D for 7 years and loved it, but at the time we needed the extra cash and evenings free for ball games.

I used your name! Thanks again, I applied for City, maybe one day I'll try Shuttle, but we will see. I really like the vibe I get form Averitt. Y'all may not pay like the big boys, but the insurance makes up for so much. That's cheap!

Is it hard to start out on Shuttle? My company makes it hard to get good miles just starting out. I'm very interested in Shuttle as I have been hustling my whole life. What is a ballpark for first year salaries in your area for City and Shuttle? (I know this is a hard question to answer.)

You can plan on working 45-55 hrs a week in the city, and I can imagine that Dallas you can figure on at least 2200 miles a week or more to start.

And you get to work in the same city as the boy who wants SO badly to be a VP, Calvin R. A squirrelly and timid kind of guy. Just steer clear of him and you'll be ok.