What does local class a cdl drivers average.

If you'd tell us your loacation, it would be easier to answer you. The odds are stacked against you to get any CDL job at 20 though.

 

Try LTL carriers. Chances are you won't get to do linehauls since some require you to still leave state borders. You might get to do local P&D runs if you are lucky. You can always apply to be a hostler OR a dockworker. Most LTL carriers promote from within their company before they chance hiring a new driver off the streets. As for pay, here is a breakdown (for an average in my area in Mt):

P&D: $16.50/hour
Linehaul Driver: 39 cpm & $15.50/hour for none driving duties (waiting on trailers, fueling, hooking sets)
Hostlers: $16.00/hour
Dockworkers: $9.50/hour

I was a new hire and recent CDL graduate, and still landed a local linehaul position out of school. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't go local right away. Needing 1 year prior OTR experience for a local position is a myth

 

I was a new hire and recent CDL graduate, and still landed a local linehaul position out of school. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't go local right away. Needing 1 year prior OTR experience for a local position is a myth[/QUOTE]


Ditto! Problem is most people don't want to put in the legwork, they don't want to put in the apps, make the phone calls. Nobody should have to go thru a bottom feeder OTR company, if you do the work you won't have to. I will give you this, in trucking there is a lot of times where you have to be at the right place at the right time to get that sweet gig.

 

Yeah. There is a lot of groundwork you need to do. Location is also a big part of the issue. If you live in Island Park Idaho (population 200), chances are you won't be anywhere near a LTL terminal. It took me a few weeks, hours of working on a resume, and knocking on lots of doors, making phone calls, and filling out application after application. It did pay off in the long run. I get to be home everyday and off on weekends.

 

Depending on the market, UPS is probably the hardest to get on with even working in the warehouse. I have a friend who worked 3 Christmases in a row as casual help 11pm til 3 am doing pre-load at UPS. The job started Nov. 1st and ended Jan. 15th every year. After the 3rd year, they offered him a part-time yr rnd gig in pre-load. 2 yrs later, he moved into loading, again part-time 4 Am til 9 AM. 4 yrs later a slot opened for him as a helper on a truck during Christmas, which later led to him getting a route. 5 yrs on a route truck and the put him through tractor trailer school and he's finally driving class A vehicles. 9 yrs to get in a semi.

I know in my area, Fedex, Conway, SAIA, R&L are always hiring, but they want exp., not students. For that matter, even the food service companies want at least 1 yr OTR exp. before they will hire, Shamrock Foods is now hiring, $15.50/hr to start with 1 yr driving exp..

 

You are absolutely right. But some carriers will substitute that one year of driving if you've recently graduated (within 6 months) from an approved school. I was turned down by FedEx, UPS, Coca Cola, and Old Dominion before I landed my current job. Has a lot to do with location... Some luck and having a good resume also helps. We are still hiring two local P&D drivers... And they require 1 year of experience or the schooling. So far the positions have been vacant for at least a month now.

On a side not, Old Dominion trained their own drivers for a CDL... Yet refused me as a recent grad. What a load of butter sandwiches.

Oh yeah, I would have loved to gotten on board with FedEx. They must have the fastest trucks on the road. My junker is governed out at 63 mph... She pushes 67 pointing downward on a 6% grade.

 

Location as already stated will make a huge difference in what you will make. Non union local jobs here range from about $17.00-22.00 hr. Get your hazmat and doubles with with cdl.
Try looking for companies that do intermodal work( Rail yards, containers and piggybacks) they seem to be beginer friendly

 

Doesn't hurt to also have the tanker endorsement. Our company is making everyone without it test for it. The reasoning is that supposedly the government is trying to redefine the law to where if you haul more than three liquid totes, they want you to have tanker endorsements. I have no idea how much truth there is to that... But it seemed plausible enough for our safety director to pass a company-wide policy letter on it. It also doesn't hurt to have a valid passport... Some LTL carriers have terminals in Canada.

 

I've worked at Con-way for a while now and they do hire drivers with no experience at most locations. The one I was hired at required experience but the terminal I'm at now doesn't. I know FedEx Freight, UPSF, OD, and UPS Parcel do as well in some locations.

Start pay at Con-way is like 18 an hour and 40 something per mile now - that's pretty standard for all the big LTL companies. All of them top out in the 24 to 26 an hour range and high .50's to low .60's per mile nowadays. Any seniority based board sucks when you're at the bottom but they're pretty nice when you have a little seniority. I've been based out of a few different terminals and know a lot of drivers at FedEx and UPS that have too - the bigger higher volume terminal is always better.

I've worked here for over 9 years now and don't think I could do anything but LTL if I am gonna be driving. We have a good number of line-haul drivers at my terminal breaking 6 figures now. I don't wanna work that much but it can be done at most of these companies in the 65-70 hour a week range at top rate.