Very Discouraged

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by deannaeg, Jun 26, 2010.

  1. deannaeg

    deannaeg Bobtail Member

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    My husband recently got his CDL license after training with the delivery company where he works. He has since been driving LTL with them for the past 9 mos. He trained and spent the initial months of driving in Northern Iowa winter conditions. He typically drives at least 1500 miles a week and is home every night. He does pick up and delivery for commercial customers like Best Buy and 30 minutes later is trying to navigate on rural roads to get to a pig farm. So the experience he does have is quite varied. His driving record is clean. His work history is stable. He's had experience on route sales jobs driving smaller trucks (straight trucks?), I know that doesn't really count for anything when you're talking about driving semi trucks.

    We've got to get out of Iowa and get back closer to home - Alabama - for many reasons. He is wanting to drive something that will get him home every few days or at least every weekend because we still have kids at home.

    What is discouraging is that everything we've looked at sounds like no one will touch him without at least a year or two of OTR experience. Would what he is doing now be considered OTR experience or is that only those who drive 2000+ miles out on the road for weeks at a time?
    Are there any comanies who will even look at him before that 1 or 2 year mark? Even though it's only a short time til he hits the 1 year mark we really aren't going to be able to wait before we have to move.
     
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  3. fr8monkey

    fr8monkey Road Train Member

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    I would say not to be discouraged,but be realistic.If he goes otr for the big companies then being home that often is not realistic.Minimum 2-3 weeks out with 2-3 days home and the pay isn't great nor the miles,but if his background is clean and not a job hopper then they very seriously would consider him.Swift,werner,schneider and others are always looking for otr.I know that makes it tough on you and the kids (and believe me,on him too!) but that is otr.Hope that helps k
     
  4. jakebrake12

    jakebrake12 Road Train Member

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    Have you two looked at any of the LTL companies down there? He's actually in a very good career position unless he absolutely wants to drive OTR. Check out Old Dominion, SEFL, Con-way, FedEx Freight/National, UPS Freight, Estes, and some others I can't think of right now. With his experience those companies might be very interested and they're all very very good jobs by industry standards.
     
    Freebird135 Thanks this.
  5. notarps4me

    notarps4me Road Train Member

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    Try mcelroy based out of AL (home every weekend and maverick out of AR, both have the best home time that I know of.)
     
  6. deannaeg

    deannaeg Bobtail Member

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    Jun 21, 2010
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    Thanks for the suggestions -
    Hadn't thought about Old Dominion and Hadn't heard of SEFL or McElroy
    I used to work for a mfg company in Montgomery and the ConWay and Averitt drivers were always great guys. The listings I've seen for them always say 1 or sometimes 2 yrs experience...in fact with every company I've looked at so is that something that there are sometimes exceptions with?
    An old high school friend works with Maverick as a fleet manager (don't know if that's a connection with influence or not) but she's passed his info to recruiter who has emailed him so he'll try to call her back next week.

    It's not so much the OTR that he's wanting - being gone for those long stretches. The kids and I would be fine especially if we can get back closer to family/friends. He is just not wanting to be absent that much. Later when the kids are grown we'd like to do more of that where I can ride along. So I guess what he's looking for is more of a regional type thing...?

    So are ya'll saying we shouldn't be discouraged by those 1 or 2 yrs requirements? That those aren't immovable obstacles?

    I'll check out those companies you've mentioned - thanks for the info!
     
  7. notarps4me

    notarps4me Road Train Member

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    Whats the name of the FM? I might know them. I will send you the website to mcelroy in a PM. You don't have enough post to reply back, but you will have their site.
     
  8. jakebrake12

    jakebrake12 Road Train Member

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    SEFL is Southeastern Freight Lines. Can't speak for every LTL outfit but I know for sure that Con-way, FedEx Freight, and UPS Freight have no set in stone experience requirements. I had 1 1/2 years OTR and have been at Con-way for about the last 7 years and have seen 21 year olds hired here and at other LTL companies with little or no experience. It's worth a shot - what's the worst that can happen?
     
  9. deannaeg

    deannaeg Bobtail Member

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    The fleet manager's name is Laura - we went to high school together but I knew her sister growing up. The recruiter she referred to us is Andrea.

    I was actually already looking at McElroy's site but thanks for passing that on anyway

    I apreciate all the info/encouragement and we'll keep at it and not get blown off by the time restrictions!
     
  10. notarps4me

    notarps4me Road Train Member

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    I know of her. She replaced my FM. Who was donna. I think I gave her a complex. She sent me a qual comm saying I am your new FM. I replied back great, by the way turning in my 2 week notice. She shot back call me...:biggrin_2559: I don't know andrea, but speak highly of all them. Maverick will not tolerate recruiters BSing people. They expect high standards out of their drivers and people in admin. They might not tell you what you want to hear, but they tell you the truth.
     
  11. Powder Joints

    Powder Joints Subjective Prognosticator

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    Tell him to get a hold od the local ready-mix company CEMEX or one of those. They need drivers for powder trucks, bottom dumps and Mixers. If you want home time and a decent check its not bad way to go. It worked for me the last 8 or so years.
     
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