With regards to OTR and "local" jobs, what are my choices in starting out in? Does it HAVE to be OTR, or do I stand a chance in getting local or state wide (Florida) work? I don't really mind either way, but I would just like to know. And what is this I've heard of about a trainer being with you on the road for your first so many weeks?! Is that still done and the norm?? In the UK, you don't get anyone accompanying you in the truck once you've got your license. You are simply let loose in a 44 ton articulated truck and that's that!
Also, what are company regulations on you having a passenger with you on runs out there? EG, my girlfriend. Do they tolerate that or not?
OTR or local and trainers accompanying you...
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Jon P, Mar 2, 2013.
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I have never heard of local companies training. You will more than likely have to go out with an OTR trainer for 5 or 6 weeks. As far as passengers go that is up to the company. Some allow it others don't.
mje Thanks this. -
Generally, OTR is easier to get hired. Local usually wants some experience, but not always. So you pound on doors and ask. The passenger thing depends on that companies policy. Usually you pay for their insurance requirements. Officially you need a letter of authorization from the truck company to have a passenger. But, I've had wives on board for a week or two without any authorization. A police agency can ask for that letter, if you're stopped. One time I had an Ex on board and my company said to pick up a student and I had to think fast as to why I couldn't.
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Don't know of any local companies that train.Here they all want a yr or more otr exp.Far as having your girlfriend with you.Think most do have a rider program.Better check to see if you have to pay for it and how long you have to wait before she is elligble to ride.Think its like 60 or 90 days.
mje Thanks this. -
A few companies like CTL and Florida Rock & Tank have some local/regional work. They don't have a CDL school, so you would need to attend CDL school before they will hire you.
Don't know anything about this company, just read about it on here, but Windy Hill hires new CDL school graduates and runs between Florida and Wisconsin. Not sure if the info is accurate or if your girlfriend can ride.Last edited: Mar 2, 2013
mje Thanks this. -
I'll second what most of these guys said except that in a lot of local jobs you will have a trainer go with you for a few days or a week and not necessarily for the driving aspect of it, but for learning the equipment, routes, customers, etc......It will be up to the company you work for or their insurance if you can have your girlfriend with you. I've don't think I have ever seen or heard of a casual passenger in a local truck as they would probably think it would be to distracting doing local (city work).
mje Thanks this. -
Local work won't be near as likely to be able to have a passenger in the truck with you. Think about it...would you have a spouse accompany you to a desk job just to sit there and hang out in your cubicle with you in? Not likely. You'll be home again to see her in 10-12 hours...you can wait 'til then. OTR, on the other hand, most decent companies will authorize a significant other to ride along. Sometimes they have stipulations...such as no passengers in the winter months, or no passengers under a certain age, or no passengers until you've been with them for a specified number of months....but for the most part, they'll allow it.
As far as training is concerned, most local jobs that will train you often times promote from within...work the docks until a driver job becomes available and then train into the driver job. They are less likely to hire unskilled, untrained, unlicensed individuals from outside the company. Once you have your CDL, your chances of being hired as an outsider are a little higher, but for the most part you best bet would be to get a job doing something else within the company and work your way into that driving job if you don't have any driving experience. Now if you HAVE experience driving, you have a better chance getting hired. If that experience was overseas, it may be on a case-by-case basis...so you'd have to talk to the companies you are interested in to see whether they will accept that or not. They may have you take a driving test with them, and base their decision off how you do.
Generally speaking, most people coming into this industry do the OTR thing first and if local is what they really wanted to do, they try to make that switch after a year or two. That isn't to say people haven't got their CDL and jumped right into a local job...because some have done that, too. It all depends upon what YOU want, and how many doors YOU are willing to knock on looking for the opportunity YOU desire. Everybody is different in that regards.mje Thanks this. -
A lot of the Budweiser distributors in FL will hire new drivers. I know for a fact that Daytona Bud (Daytona Beach) and North Florida Sales (Jacksonville) do. Work is local, training pay sucks at NFS, and your probably looking at $3k gross a month for your first year.
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