Is there any way to avoid OTR as a recent grad?

Otr is easier than local. Being a new grad how to do feel backing a pup trailer in downtown, while tons of pedestrian walk behind ur trailer, trying to fit into an ally way the has a 90 degrees bend? Or blindside from a major road, when u know you only have 1 shot to try to back into a dock before traffic starts building up and eventually u have to drive around the block to try again?

Or working 14 hours a day, sweating and tired, have to drive a hour home. Try to sleep for 6 hours. Wake up. Drive 1 hour to work and do 14 hours again?

Just my experience doing local gig. Will I go back local? Yeah sure....maybe....we'll see...

 

America likes to make things as difficult as possible. I was hoping to drive locally but found out they all want this OTR experience. Lot of these trucking schools want your money and don't tell you the facts. If you live in the East there are some great OTR companies but in the West we are stuck with the major ones. Usually for local jobs right out of CDL school you have to know someone. Best of luck though in your search.

Schneider have a lot of regional or dedicated. Could start there.

 

You should have done your research before starting school.anyway how does being home every weekend sound?mostly every company offers that.but you'll still need to go out with a trainer for six to eight weeks.

 

Fun times,lol.I thought I would like local but hated it.i had worse luck keeping a local job.I would like to go back otr but my dad prefers me home otherwise he would be in a nursing home and I'm not having that.local driving isn't all that great like some may think it is.you have more of a social life otr.that's my thoughts anyway.

 

I have done regional, I have done OTR... I currently do long haul OTR, average length of haul around 2k miles. It is what I prefer. We are all different, but I get more rest and relax more going coast to coast.

 

i got hired for a beer company in Cali with zero experience. It's local work I'm home everyday . It's a 4/12 schedule. You should try Coke, Pepsi or any other food and beverage distributor. I had to keep bugging them though. Once I complete my 1 year of employment here I'm going to find a better job

 

Another vote here for looking to see if someone like Schneider or otherwise has any dedicated runs nearby. They will take new graduates. When I was a company driver, I was home every weekend. It's a start.

 

I went OTR my first driving job. First trip out with trainer was out 7 weeks. Did it suck mightly at times? Yes it did.. Did I see alot of the country? Yes I did.

Local jobs require very good driving skills which alot of people dont have right out of school - hence the OTR gig.
Good luck

 

Call the construction companies in your area. That's where I started and was able to be home daily. Just be aware that lots of that work is night work (highway repair) but I was home and my wife is happy.

 

@AnthonyM757 - If you get an actual offer from either LTL company, do whatever you have to in order to make that happen. Spring is a basically just one month away; freight will pick up by April. @TROOPER to TRUCKER had a point, but Old Dominion isn't hiring due to turnover or it being a horrible job; they are turning to new CDL holders because their growth is the highest in the (LTL) industry (over 19% yearly increase in revenue).

In a bad starter OTR situation, you could earn 30 to 40k your first year. With either of those LTL companies, you will easily make 50 to 60k your first year if you do daytime P&D work, and much more doing nighttime linehaul.

To me, it's a no brainer.