Good suggestions MACK E-6, you have to start out somewhere to get some experience, It might not always be the best paying job but at least you're getting experience. I always say you have to crawl before you can walk

thanks for the advice

Personally for me it will take a long time before I get to do long haul....my kids are coming first. But with that in mind, my dream, I do have my Class 1A with air, and I'm told that unless I do something beyond stupid that causes me to lose my license altogether, I do have that starting off point. I've been checking into companies in town that will hire drivers in whatever form that happens to be. Be it a dump driver, or a 5 ton with flatbed in tow, either will give me a jump point. A few years doing that, set aside a little earnings and I will have 2 options:

1) contact the companies for hire as I'm doing now (simply for research and "feel")....amazing how many wish to jump to get me my full license (immediately if I were just "stupid Jane of the jungle" most of which I would not waste my time with) but if time taken can do the proper research maybe not write my ticket....I'm not that niave but at least sign on to some of my own terms.

2) put my time in as a city driver, pay will not be great but don't assume we'll starve, get some benefits (again some is better than a kick in the arse) pay my own way into school again if necc. Go to the specific companies that I have been following, write a better ticket, put my time in again and prove my worth.

Thus far I have learned 2 great lessons in life (more but these are the important ones for me)
1)you're right being a PROFESSIONAL driver is not for everyone (having watched little boys cry, as they tucked their tails between their legs and gotten fired),
2) but determination, common sense, use of working braincells to find information to be at least a little bit prepared in life will get you far.

Originally Posted by camo

If your looking to start out as an otr driver then the best option is a company that trains new drivers (SNI,Swift,cr england,etc)If you stay with SNI for 1 year the schooling is free.

We like to give good advice on here! CR??????????????????????? How long have you been in trucking?

He's a former CRE driver who leased a truck for them for about 6 months or so. Then he left and went to JB Hunt for a while, then went to CFI, and just left them a short time ago. Now he is looking at various options, including going back to JB Hunt as a dedicated driver on a Family Dollar run.

Some of those local jobs pay better than you think. I know out in Las Vegas NV hauling dirt with double 40 footers pays better than any large OTR company. Also once you get the experience you can try for the oil companies that even pay better. But I agree that learning the way MACK E-6 suggests is a very good way to go. I always say work for a company that does NOT get their revenue from the truck and you'll be better off.

Try some of local distributors for the breweries. You find your local Bud or Miller distributor. They will help you get your CDL, usually as long as you get the learners permit , and the city maneuvering is invaluable, plus good exercise and $$.

And as MACK said, the dump truck companies, work your way up to frameless dump. It's always a rush when put 39 to 40' frameless aluminum in the air.

Look around, ask ?, It will happen.