How to Apply to TForce Freight (formerly UPS Freight) as a CDL Driver (2026)

How to Apply to TForce Freight (formerly UPS Freight) as a CDL Driver (2026)

TForce Freight (USDOT #2004, historically on #5309 under UPS Freight corporate records) is the LTL (less-than-truckload) carrier acquired by TFI International from UPS in 2021 and rebranded. Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. National LTL network, Teamsters-represented workforce on most lanes, structured linehaul + city P&D seats, strong pension + benefits. This walkthrough covers the application flow post-rebrand, the LTL economics that differentiate TForce from truckload carriers, and the comparable LTL alternatives.

Corporate context — UPS Freight → TForce Freight

UPS announced the sale of UPS Freight to TFI International in January 2021. The transaction closed in April 2021. UPS Freight was renamed TForce Freight and continues operating as a Teamsters-represented national LTL carrier under TFI International ownership. Practical implications for applicants:

• Same terminals + lanes as legacy UPS Freight in most markets.
• Teamsters-represented workforce remains in place on most lanes.
• TFI International parent — a major North American transportation holding company.
• Corporate HQ at Richmond, VA (legacy UPS Freight HQ).

TL;DR — What TForce Freight wants

CDL-A, 21+, MVR within carrier standards, DOT medical current. LTL operations: linehaul (overnight terminal-to-terminal, often 28' pup doubles — T endorsement required or strongly preferred) or city P&D (daytime pickup-and-delivery, hourly, multi-stop, forklift + liftgate + electronic POD work). Teamsters contract drivers at TForce get pension + strong benefits.

How the TForce Freight application actually flows

1. Apply at tforcefreight.com/careers or the TFI International careers portal.
2. Terminal-specific application. Like other LTL carriers (Old Dominion, Saia, Estes, ArcBest), TForce hires by terminal.
3. Recruiter phone screen.
4. Conditional offer + orientation at the terminal.
5. Orientation: paperwork, drug screen, physical, road test, ELD + scanner onboarding, safety SOP, Teamsters enrollment where applicable.
6. Solo dispatch on assigned linehaul lane or city P&D route.

Recruiter phone-screen script

• "Experience." CDL-A years + recent miles.
• "T (Doubles/Triples) endorsement." Expected for linehaul; often strongly preferred for P&D on lanes that run pups.
• "Linehaul vs. city P&D preference." Different jobs — different pay structures and different schedules.
• "Forklift certification." OSHA 29 CFR 1910.178 is a plus for city P&D.
• "Home terminal." TForce hires for specific terminals; which one can you reliably be home from.
• "Teamsters-represented familiarity." For drivers new to unionized environments, the recruiter will cover the dues + seniority structure.

MVR and DAC tolerance — the honest read

Standard mega-LTL tolerance:

• No DUI inside 5 years.
• Moving violations severity-scored inside 36 months.
• Preventable accidents reviewed case-by-case.
• DAC flags reviewed with context.

Pay structure — with sources

TForce Freight pay is structured per Teamsters-represented contract on most lanes, which differs materially from mega-carrier CPM pay:

• Linehaul: typically CPM + stop pay + hook/drop pay, or hourly depending on lane. Teamsters-negotiated rates.
• City P&D: hourly with overtime; Teamsters-negotiated rates.
• Pension: Teamsters pension participation — a significant long-term compensation component not captured in CPM math.
• Benefits: strong health, dental, vision through Teamsters-negotiated plans.
• Bonuses: safety / tenure per contract.

Baseline: BLS OEWS May 2024 median $57,440. Unionized LTL linehaul pay often lands near or above the national median with pension value adding meaningfully to long-term compensation. Raw CPM comparison doesn't capture total-comp at Teamsters LTL carriers — use the CPM → Annual Salary calculator for the per-mile portion, and add pension + benefits value separately.

Home-time reality

• Linehaul: overnight terminal-to-terminal; drivers home most days on pattern schedules.
• City P&D: home daily; typically weekday schedule.

Equipment

• Class-8 tractors with pup-trailer configurations for linehaul (28' pups in sets / doubles; triples where state law permits).
• 53' dry-van tractor-trailers for some city-P&D routes.
• Liftgates + electric pallet jacks on city-P&D equipment.
• ELD + handheld scanner stack (TForce / TFI-specific platform).

Comparable carriers — who else to apply to in parallel

Direct LTL peers:

• Old Dominion Freight Line — Thomasville NC; highest-rated LTL; non-union; premium pay; strong target.
• Saia LTL Freight — Johns Creek GA; non-union.
• Estes Express Lines — Richmond VA; largest privately-owned LTL.
• XPO Logistics — Greenwich CT; large LTL network.
• ArcBest / ABF Freight — Fort Smith AR; Teamsters-represented; similar pension + contract structure to TForce.
• R+L Carriers — Wilmington OH; national LTL; non-union.
• FedEx Freight — Memphis TN; LTL FedEx subsidiary.
• Averitt Express — Cookeville TN; southeast-regional non-union.
• Pitt Ohio — Pittsburgh PA; northeast / mid-atlantic non-union.

If union LTL is your target, TForce + ArcBest / ABF are the primary pair.

What your resume should emphasize for TForce Freight

• CDL-A + state + expiration.
• T (Doubles/Triples) endorsement — required for linehaul, strongly preferred for P&D.
• Prior LTL experience or transferable dedicated-network experience.
• Forklift certification (29 CFR 1910.178) for city P&D.
• Home terminal target.
• Clean MVR window.

Full LTL bullet library: LTL driver resume guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is TForce Freight the same as UPS Freight?

Corporate-structure change: UPS Freight was acquired by TFI International in April 2021 and rebranded as TForce Freight. Same terminals, same Teamsters contract structure on most lanes, different corporate parent (now TFI International rather than UPS).

Does TForce require Doubles/Triples endorsement?

For linehaul, yes — linehaul runs pup doubles (and triples in states where legal). For city P&D, it's strongly preferred but lane-specific.

Is TForce a Teamsters shop?

Most TForce operations are Teamsters-represented. Verify the specific terminal's contract status when applying.

How does TForce pay compare to Old Dominion?

Different structures. Old Dominion is non-union with its own premium pay structure. TForce is Teamsters-represented with contract-negotiated pay + pension. Total long-term compensation can favor either depending on tenure + lane + pension-accrual math.

Can I apply if I'm new to LTL?

Yes — TForce hires dry-van OTR drivers transitioning to LTL. T endorsement is the main friction; get it before applying if you don't already have it.

Build a TForce-targeted resume in ResumeGeni

CDL resume template + ATS analyzer. The LTL resume guide has the specific bullet library.

Related guides

• Main Truck Driver Resume Guide
• LTL Driver Resume Guide
• Local CDL Driver Resume Guide
• DAC Report Guide
• CPM → Annual Salary Calculator
• How to Apply: Walmart Private Fleet
• How to Apply: Schneider National
• How to Apply: J.B. Hunt

Last verified: 2026-04-20. TForce Freight operates under TFI International ownership following the 2021 UPS Freight acquisition. Verify current terminal-specific pay + contract status on tforcefreight.com/careers before applying.