Dutch,
Been out of the game awhile.
But back in the day Big R and ABF drivers ran right around
2800-3100/week. Depending on bid and boards and all tgat crap.
The union card didn't slow them down.
Darn sure didn't hurt their pocketbook at about 25% above non union.
Would have went there, but the unions aren't nice to new drivers.
And I wasn't going to play their games. Plus, I was 100 mikes from
any big terminal.
What I know about the LTL line haul guys is that the high bid guys are indeed making bank, doing their 600 miles per shift like you say, and many of them grossing well into six figures. WELL into six figures, with full bennies. Even the non-union outfits.
Of course the P&D guys are on a completely different work / pay schedule.
Problem is, as you say, that the low bid guys often work only a day or two a week on the crap runs and are making peanuts. Especially today, they can move to any mega and bring in 50 to 70K a year, and make a lateral move to something like cryo or dedicated for a more regular schedule and even more pay.
Some still prefer to stick it out and get on the gravy runs through seniority, and that's their choice, good on them.
