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- 08.18.2012 #1Bobtail Member
- Member Since
- Aug 2012
- Location
- Sacramento CA
- Trucker?
- Student
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- 58
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? from a Blue Collard Guy in a White Collard World
I have recently sold my interests in an employee benefit/insurance agency after 35yrs. We had two offices one in so.cal and one is san antonio tx. From 1994-1998 I traveled via I-10 from CA to TX and versa-visa every month, eventually moving to central TX in 1998. On my "commute" when I pulled into a rest stop or Love's I would see the big rigs and think to myself if I changed careers commercial truck driving would be good choice. I have always admired the profession. Now that I am out of the ins.biz I am exploring the opportunities in commercial trucking.
In review of the job opportunities it appears that the majority of the companies require 2yrs OTR experience. It appears that; as in any profession, a person needs experience to get a job. How does a newly licensed CDL driver get the 2yr "experience" to get a job if all of the jobs require 2yrs experience? Any assitence will be greatly appreciated.
- 08.18.2012 #2Medium Load Member
- Member Since
- Apr 2009
- Location
- Knoxville, TN
- Trucker?
- 2 Years
- Age
- 55
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There are plenty of companies that will hire newly licensed drivers. Most will require you to go through some amount of training. Since these are essentially training companies don't expect to make a lot of money, but it will get you the needed experience.
- 08.18.2012 #3Bobtail Member
- Member Since
- Aug 2012
- Location
- Sacramento CA
- Trucker?
- Student
- Age
- 58
- Posts
- 20
- Thanks
- 25
- Thanked: 6 Times
Thank You! Do you have any recomendations of companies that hire newbies?
- 08.18.2012 #4Medium Load Member
- Member Since
- Apr 2009
- Location
- Knoxville, TN
- Trucker?
- 2 Years
- Age
- 55
- Posts
- 699
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- 3,460
- Thanked: 380 Times
reposted in error
- 08.18.2012 #5Medium Load Member
- Member Since
- Apr 2009
- Location
- Knoxville, TN
- Trucker?
- 2 Years
- Age
- 55
- Posts
- 699
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- Thanked: 380 Times
Check out Prime, CREngland, Swift, US Express, Stevens Transport. They all are good starter companies.
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The Following User Says Thank You to TRKRSHONEY For This Useful Post:
- 08.18.2012 #6Bobtail Member
- Member Since
- Aug 2012
- Location
- Sacramento CA
- Trucker?
- Student
- Age
- 58
- Posts
- 20
- Thanks
- 25
- Thanked: 6 Times
Thanks Again!
- 08.18.2012 #7Light Load Member
- Member Since
- Nov 2010
- Location
- central illinois
- Trucker?
- 2 Years
- Posts
- 185
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check your smaller local companys, look on internet, yellow pages, ect. Go in person, don't even call first to see if hiring. consider finding these places practice for finding addresses. You will be better off with smaller local companys compared to bigger mega companys. Just saying.
be safe.
b
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The Following User Says Thank You to kidsdad For This Useful Post:
- 08.18.2012 #8Road Train Member
- Member Since
- Nov 2010
- Location
- Winter Haven, Florida
- Trucker?
- 2 Years
- Age
- 51
- Posts
- 1,568
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Here is my suggestion, enroll in a nice long CDL class thru a Vocational school, (not a CDL mill). During that nice long course spend countless hours on TTR reading the gazillion threads on all these companies. You WILL then be able to narrow things down to a select few companies that take on rookies that are Head and Shoulders above the rest.
Oh, and by the way: No Collar Required. Blue, White, Green, Purple, ect........Makes no difference in the Trucking World.
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The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to xlsdraw For This Useful Post:
- 08.18.2012 #9Road Train Member
- Member Since
- Nov 2010
- Location
- Winter Haven, Florida
- Trucker?
- 2 Years
- Age
- 51
- Posts
- 1,568
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- 967
- Thanked: 894 Times
And one more thing, No sleeves required either. I sure wish deoderant was tho.

Alot of "Larry the Cable Guy" wannabes out here. Just you wait til you nestle up to the bar at Dennys and notice your the only one wearing sleeves or deoderant.
- 08.18.2012 #10Bobtail Member
- Member Since
- Aug 2012
- Location
- Sacramento CA
- Trucker?
- Student
- Age
- 58
- Posts
- 20
- Thanks
- 25
- Thanked: 6 Times
I am a "Larry" at heart. But I know what you mean! Thanks Again!

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