Hello everyone , I have not been on here for a while but am checking back in.
I have worked and lived in South Korea for 14 years and will retire in 6 months and move back to Indiana.
I have no CDL or experience but see that the news is reporting a shortage of drivers ???
Before when I was on here I had thought about going OTR but things have changed and need to be home more.
I would be interested in getting my CDL and do a dedicated short run or local and I know most people who have a lot of experience probably get those jobs. But is it possible to get a driving job and be home every night or every other night ? Before it seemed unlikely to get a job like that but I thought now with the shortage maybe more jobs out there.
I bought a house north of Indianapolis and heard this was a good area for drivers before.
Does anyone have any info on someone like me getting a job like this ?
Thanks
Retiring soon and maybe looking to drive a truck ?
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by dennisroc, Jun 11, 2019.
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I thought you did this already?
What shortage?
Indiana is a great place by the way, I operate half of my company out of east Indiana. -
I see on the news that there is a shortage but could be fake news lol
Are you hiring any rookies for your company ? -
Well, you're not really retiring then. Very few places offer "casual " driving jobs, and once you get sucked in, they can and will send you all over creation, because, "you're the only one that can do this". I'm very bitter seeing what has become of the profession I spent 35 years in and I don't recommend trucking to anyone today, with one exception. My last job before retiring for good, I worked a seasonal job at a cranberry farm shuttling trailers across the yard for like 6 weeks. Local jobs rarely come up for new drivers, and an OTR gig is about all you'll get. A better idea would be buy a CAT scale, and watch these poor truckers empty their pockets trying to get legal,,
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Hey Dennis,
Do you have a current Driver's License in the USA? If you do then you should be fine.
I recommend you look at hauling for a US Mail contractor. Tons of runs out of Indy, don't sleep in the truck but in a motel, not out more than one night at a time.dennisroc Thanks this. -
The real issue may be that some companies possibly won’t want an inexperienced driver.
Holland works dock workers in the evening as casual and that could be a way in the door to get some experience in the yard moving trailers and eventually driving. It won’t cost you anything to contact every LTL company to express your intentions and see if they have a need for what you desire. Several mail haulers use casual drivers. Sodrell is one that comes to mind.dennisroc Thanks this. -
This company has different contracts including mail.
They're affiliated with a cdl school that they hire from.
.dennisroc Thanks this. -
Does US Mail have straight trucks or will I need to get my CDL and will they hire rookies ? -
first you need a USA drivers license from your state of residence for at least 6 months if i recall, before you can even get a learners permit for a CDL. ( i think some states may require that to be 1 year, you have to check into that yourself)
next, yes, the sweet jobs for retiree's generally go to the retired experienced truckers, that only want to work a few days a week. that does not mean you cannot get THAT job, it'll just be dog eat dog out there.
of course you should know that you will need a DOT physical, that you need to pass, or get waivers on things you cannot pass.
there is NO SHORTAGE of drivers, never has been, never will be...PERIOD....so don't believe that bullcrap.
once you get your CDL license, i'd recommend an over the road (OTR job so that you can gain your experience in quicker time, and i'd go along with at the very least, 6 months worth, before you even try a more local/dedicated job.
as only one example, the employer i just retired from, ONLY HIRES drivers with MORE than 5 years experience, home daily, no weekend, and actually cancels work in extreme bad weather.
if i wasn't so darned old, i'd have still been there.
good luckdennisroc Thanks this. -
Dennisroc, come out to Colorado, probably pick your job, just be careful of those 7 mile downgrades,,,dennisroc Thanks this.
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