Where to begin?

Discussion in 'LTL and Local Delivery Trucking Forum' started by kegille, Oct 30, 2014.

  1. kegille

    kegille Bobtail Member

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    Hello! I am not currently a truck driver but I have always thought about becoming one. I have read posts about trucking on this forum and others and realize it is not a glamorous occupation but I think it would be a good fit for me. If I do pursue a career as a truck driver I know I would want to do it in the LTL sector. I do not currently have a CDL and would like to know what advice you guys can give in regards to getting my license and how to get my foot in the door in the LTL industry. Should I pay to go to a driving or tech school? Should I find an OTR company that will train me? I would like to take the written test and train for my CDL road test with a friend who owns/operates a septic pumping truck and get my license on my own this way. I would then try to get a job with a local OTR company or other local company if possible and drive for them for a year or so to gain driving experience before getting other endorsements etc. Does this plan sound practical? Like I said my goal would be to get a local LTL driving job and I am 99% sure I would not want to be an OTR driver long term but I would be open to doing it in the beginning to get started and become experienced. I would be really interested in hearing your stories of becoming an LTL driver and any advice or suggestions you could give to me. Thanks!
     
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  3. RJ33RD

    RJ33RD Heavy Load Member

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    Every new driver either goes Otr or the Ltl route for their first driving job. It depends on what you want to do. I went to driving school but I see ltl companies starting to train new drivers to get their cdl. Look at fedex, conway, abf etc. You should put where you are from so drivers can direct you in the right direction. You never know who's in your part of town that can help you out. Good luck.
     
  4. RJ33RD

    RJ33RD Heavy Load Member

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    Otr doesn't pay as good as local in some aspects but if that's what you want to do then do it. I went to school and started with conway for my first trucking job. I did some regional work that was different from local but I have a family so local works for me. It's so much you can do in trucking that once you get started just look around and plan your future job. Good luck
     
    superflow Thanks this.
  5. kegille

    kegille Bobtail Member

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    I live near Duluth Mn. I would love to be able to get my CDL and endorsements and be able to get a local or LTL job to start with, I just figured those type of jobs would be hard to come by and get taken by more experienced drivers. Do many LTL companies hire new drivers? I would like to get my CDL without paying to go to a driving school so I figured if I went that route I would need some driving experience before an LTL company would consider hiring me and thought OTR would be the only option I would have with no experience.
     
  6. Mr.X

    Mr.X Heavy Load Member

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    Local jobs aren't all that hard to get, good paying local jobs are! If you want a good paying refer, flats, dry van... job, find a similar job to start out with and stick with it till you are qualified for the great job. I see guys around here getting Teamster jobs with as little as 2 yrs experience, just gotta hang in there till they need you, and you meet their qualifications.
     
    Shaggy Thanks this.
  7. RJ33RD

    RJ33RD Heavy Load Member

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    Places like fedex has an driver apprenticeship program where they will train you to get your cdl license. A couple of guys I knew started out as dock workers and switched to driver.
     
  8. ACH1130

    ACH1130 Road Train Member

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    Well I don't know your situation so ill say it as is. If you have no family and don't need to be home and want to go OTR then do it, but if your just doing it for the experience to get hired local then don't waste your time with it. I never spent a day OTR. I got hired and trained by a LTL company. With the driver shortage most places will hire you off the street. Guys I talk to from my last job are training guys who can't never even hooked a truck up. These are all the one million accident free drivers.

    YRC, ABF, Fedex freight, old dominion I know will all train you out of school. You just got to decide if you want to do local p/d during the day or night time line haul going terminal to terminal. LTL is good to do, it is rough but not as rough as food delivery. I'm actually leaving trucking in 2 weeks for a job I been wanting for a long time, and is EXTREMELY hard to get. If I were to stay, I was going to look into tanker, dump or those bottom feed asphalt as I got the experience now.

    As soon as you pass your road test GET your endorsements. I believe all LTL carriers require doubles, and hazmat. Some are even ,asking you get tank as well(doesn't hurt).
     
    RJ33RD and superflow Thank this.
  9. RJ33RD

    RJ33RD Heavy Load Member

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    Good luck on your new journey.
     
  10. kegille

    kegille Bobtail Member

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    Thanks a lot for the info ACH1130! I would definitely prefer to never have to do otr, I just thought it would be the most likely way I would have been able to get the experience I need to apply for an ltl job. Most websites I have visited state that they require at least 12 months experience. It is encouraging to know there might be opportunities right out of school or for new drivers. Could you describe what is involved for getting your doubles endorsement? I would expect a road test for that as well and if so how does a person practice/prepare for that?
     
  11. RJ33RD

    RJ33RD Heavy Load Member

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    All endorsements are just written test or computer test. You can study for all endorsements by going to CHRISTCDL . For the ltl companies in your area I would just call them to make sure that they offer driver apprenticeship programs.
     
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