10 years local cannot get backo.t.r. help

**rich_57** · 11.11.2009

hello can i ask a? have been trucking all my life but last 10 years local when trying to get back o.t.r. they tell me you got to have 6 months or more to be qualified to work for us. please some advice

**jeepskate99** · 11.11.2009

That sucks. I guess driving a truck around tight towns doesn't mean you can drive one straight down the interstates? Stupid companies.

**Bigarmin88** · 11.11.2009

Originally Posted by rich_57

hello can i ask a? have been trucking all my life but last 10 years local when trying to get back o.t.r. they tell me you got to have 6 months or more to be qualified to work for us. please some advice

For some reason,otr companies dont consider local driving as otr experience,dum I know.You could have 30 years experience with a perfect driving record and still no good for them.I don't get it either.

**FriedTater** · 11.11.2009

Actually "SMART COMPANY"
You wouldn't drive my OTR Trucks without OTR "EXPERIENCE"

Most Local Drivers wash out with-in 90 Days or less once they get a good taste of OTR.

(Ive hired 16 of them,but never again)

Originally Posted by jeepskate99

That sucks. I guess driving a truck around tight towns doesn't mean you can drive one straight down the interstates? Stupid companies.

**chief** · 11.11.2009

it's just the same posts over and over and over and over and over.....

"I don't have any recent OTR experience and OTR companies won't hire me because I don't have any recent OTR experience."

advice? I guess you could stay local, or try OTR companies that hire students and drive for 20 cents a mile. or you could start your own trucking company, then you'll find out why local driving doesn't count as OTR experience.

**jeepskate99** · 11.11.2009

Originally Posted by FriedTater

Actually "SMART COMPANY"
You wouldn't drive my OTR Trucks without OTR "EXPERIENCE"

Most Local Drivers wash out with-in 90 Days or less once they get a good taste of OTR.

(Ive hired 16 of them,but never again)

Same goes for anyone in a massive change of life. Even an ex OTR guy that is heading back.

**Peanut Butter** · 11.11.2009

Fried tater, reread his post, he has been driving for 30 years, the last 10 local, he has otr experience, quit being a butthead. Rich 57 contact the smaller companies they just might give you a job. I havent been otr for a year but i am going back otr as of friday for a small company here in idaho. good luck to you Rich 57

**ironpony** · 11.11.2009

Not that I've driven locally before, but it appears to me to be a completely different game than OTR.

With all of the drivers that have been laid off, its an employers market in terms of who they hire - who would you hire? A local guy with no experience, or an OTR guy with lots of experience for that OTR job? When things heat up again, they'll be begging for drivers... anyone who can shift and not bang the trailer, local experience or not.

**Marksteven** · 11.11.2009

Is there a particular reason you want to give up a local position being home daily to live on the road?

**Kabar** · 11.12.2009

It should be perfectly clear that driving a truck with a sleeper on it is not the same as driving a straight truck or day cab. It should be perfectly clear that driving 8-10 hrs straight with only 1-2 15min breaks is not the same as working 8-10 hrs with an hour lunch and a nap. It should be perfectly clear that working any time of day is not the same as working 9-5. Working 7 days a week for 2-8 weeks is not the same as working 5 days and then sitting at home for 2 days. It should be perfectly clear that apples and oranges while both fruit are different.

If you don't have 6mos. experience in the last 3yrs as OTR then stay local.