Looking to getting into the game

So many people think they must go OTR. This is just not true. Sometimes local pays way better. It all depends on where you live and what you want to do. You live in a good area. Some people hate running local others love it.

 

One thing I really like about OTR. Always changing.
Never get into a daily rut. Same time, same days, yadda yadda .... yuck

 

Two childhood friends of mine had dads who drove OTR. They were allowed to take their trucks home with them. They did not have to drive to the terminal in their pov.

 

The "negative stigma" you refer to is only in the minds of drivers with low self-esteem. Mature men and women don't have that to deal with.

 

In my time my possessions were one car at parents on their land, and a suit case with just enough bedding and clothing for any season and any weather 7 days.

I did not have a permanent house until marriage about 20 years into trucking. We paid off the house which had enough land to park a 18 wheeler in the low 30K price range here in the south in a few years. Everything I did supported trucking. Land is key. Good land in particular with one dump truck load of gravel laid down each year in a non flood zone so a hurricane does show up and rain for 10 days and it just gets wet without getting that semi stuck.

That house took way more than 30K to bring to code, but we were happy to do it. Gone 9 months of the year, home in winters for 4 months. No problem.

 

Here's a good job and after qualifying for 1st seat driver, can make $70K per year. Don't need a cdl-A to start, just need a cdl-A Permit.
Sygma Network (driver trainee) - Columbus, OH
For a minimum of 30-60 days you will assist drivers in unloading of product at customer locations and be evaluated to go to a certified truck school to obtain CDL-A.
Driver Trainee
Job Description
JOB SUMMARY
For a minimum of 30-60 days you will assist drivers in unloading of product at customer locations and be evaluated to go to a certified truck school to obtain your Commercial Drivers License.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Unloads product at customer’s locations according to customer’s invoices.
• Develops and establishes good relationships with customers by providing excellent, courteous service.
• Follow all company policies.
• Assists in all aspects of route paperwork.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Works safely by following SYGMA’s Preferred Work Methods.
• Must be able to be out on routes for up to 72 hours straight.
• Must work nights
• Attend Class at a Certified Truck Driving School
• Continue to assist in delivering product on Friday nights while in school.

Requirements
Requirements

• Must be 21 or older
• Must obtain a Class A CDL permit before attending orientation
• Clean MVR
• Ability to work any day and any shift
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs repetitively throughout route
• Ability to work in all weather conditions
• Ability to safely operate a 2 wheeler
• 
• 

 

Schneider has an oc in obetz and a Walmart DC in Washington courthouse. For the Walmart account they do have a program where they will pay for your CDL school with a one-year contract obligation. You will get home more frequently on the Walmart account but I don't know if you would be able to make more money than what you are right now doing it. I don't know for sure if you could do the CDL program and get on to the OTR side. You could probably make more money OTR with Schneider rather than doing the Walmart account.

A lot depends on how much you put into it. So take what I'm telling you what the grain of salt. But you were looking for options and this is just one of them. The company that Chinatown posted sounds like a pretty good deal for what you're looking for.