AAA Cooper | Dedicated pay vs. LTL pay

Waterhead

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As a driver for the wonderful Blue and White for many years, I have worked LTL for two different terminals and dedicated for two different accounts. Dedicated typically makes about $3-4 an hour less, although we are held to all the same standards and rules. In addition, we have stricter guidelines and rules to follow per our customer. I am on the GA Power account. It is not uncommon for us to operate heavy machinery as well. We are also trained to be able to operate in and around electrical substations. Something we had to take special classes for.
I could go back to LTL any day of the week. An LTL driver could not come and do our jobs, without receiving additional training. So why is my job worth LESS to the company?
 
What was the reason given by your supervisor? If you can go back to LTL and make more money, there has to be some reason you've decided to stay on dedicated.
 
When I first transferred to dedicated 4 1/2 years ago, I was right on the edge of layoffs. Dedicated meant more job security for me. Also, at the time, dedicated was a relatively new concept at Cooper, and we were told that after the company got adjusted to it, pay would be adjusted as well.
My supervisor says that he really doesn't understand why we make less either, but that his hands are tied on the matter. Also, I'm not really complaining as much as I am curious. More money is always nice, but I voluntarily transferred so I feel I can't say as much.
 
When you are on a dedicated account there are many benefits yall have versus the ltl side of it. You actually have a schedule so you know when you start and for the most part when you can go home. On the ltl side when you get back off your run you may have to go get a drop trailer somewhere. Plus the work you guys do on dedicated is not as demanding as ltl. The rate of pay is determined by the contract that customer signs as I understand it. Look at any dedicated account or company and you will see they recieve less pay as well. I am not being a hater toward you. I think the dedicated side is the most profitable side of the company
 
I do agree with the schedule part. We usually finish up every day between 3-4pm. In that same respect, on my account, our start time varies daily between 3am-7am. As for the demanding part, I strongly disagree. We routinely pull oversized loads. In the last 6 months I have pulled a load that was just over 16 feet tall from Albany GA to Forest Park GA, and a load of wooden poles 80 feet long from Forest Park to Savannah. Yes we were permitted and escorted. That's pretty demanding in my opinion. We don't have a dispatcher hounding our ass all day asking where we are and get to such-and-such before they close. But demanding nonetheless.
 
Definately demanding on those type loads! I was talking more along the lines of like mercedes drivers and other dedicated runs like that. Thats cool y'all haul loads like that. Sure does give you more experience and notches on your belt. Keep up the good work on the dedicated side and I will do my part on the LTL side. Stay safe driver!
 
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Former AAA Driver out of Jacksonville FL. I worked the Keefe Account I started at a lower rate then the LTL side of the house to start.It was the best driving job I ever had. I ran a Delivery route and I ran the line haul run with it, Hourly on line was great/ Keefe would ask if we could stop and pick things up on the way back. And when we did. They would pad are pay with a few extra hour for doing it. If it was not for Moving to Las Vegas I would still driving for AAA. Oh how I wish they had moved west. I work For R&L Now. Not bad but I like Blue and White better. Vegas is a inbound heavy LTL City. Out Bound is a Dog Fight for the Freight
 
Former AAA Driver out of Jacksonville FL. I worked the Keefe Account I started at a lower rate then the LTL side of the house to start.It was the best driving job I ever had. I ran a Delivery route and I ran the line haul run with it, Hourly on line was great/ Keefe would ask if we could stop and pick things up on the way back. And when we did. They would pad are pay with a few extra hour for doing it. If it was not for Moving to Las Vegas I would still driving for AAA. Oh how I wish they had moved west. I work For R&L Now. Not bad but I like Blue and White better. Vegas is a inbound heavy LTL City. Out Bound is a Dog Fight for the Freight
 
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