new driver/question

If you want to do OTR, you need to start looking into the "starter" carriers - the ones that do training will usually hire inexperienced CDL drivers.

There are local outfits that will take a chance on a newb, but the deck is stacked against you by the insurance companies. Beat down doors, be persistant - but above all, do it quickly. A CDL without experience behind it is usually worthless after about 6 months in the industry.

 

Did you go to a driving school to get your cdl? If not you are going to have some major hurdles. Most carriers won't touch you due to insurance. You will have to aim for the mom and pop operations or find an owner operator willing to take you on. Most otr companies do not consider local driving as experience.

 

I will attest to this. It's the battle I'm fighting now.

I would add that anything less than at least one year of experience is pretty much as bad as no experience. So don't drive for 8 months and then move into something else thinking you've built experience that'll follow you. It often won't.

 

You just got the strait up facts from the posters before me.

You've been on the forum longer than me but if you haven't read my 5 page "standard copy and paste" information, go find it in a new driver thread or ask and I'll post it.

 

Didnt you have recruiters come in to class to talk to you?? there are a lot of companies out there that will take on Students. Look in the DAC section and see who is who in the zoo, and do the research on the better ones to see who hires students if it is not already clear.

Roehl
Schneider
Swift
JB Hunt
Conway
USX

I am pretty sure all of those and more will hire students

BigJohn will be along soon with a large post with lots of info in it for you too.

 

JB Hunt only hires experience drivers