Need experience

back when I first tried to get my cdl I worked on a hog farm and one of the guys told me he would help me get my cdl and I could drive one of the grain haulers to the mill and such, however going from cdl right to an LTL company is nearly impossible 'cause they want at least 1 yr otr experience and in most cases more than that, but that still does not mean some local jobs w/o experience don't exist. Just keep doing your research, you should come up with something good luck to you.

 

You can start with LTL as dock-worker/driver.

 

ConWay will hire drivers with no experience. They will make you work on the dock for a while from what i understand...but if you dont want to go otr they run local pick up and delivery, and also linehaul where you are still home everyday. I have heard good and bad about them but might not hurt to check them out and see what they have to offer.

 

You didn't say where you are, truckers in your area may know companies in your area who will hire new trucking school graduates. You could also try calling companies in your area on your own. If there is a lot of construction in your area some construction companies will hire new drivers and train them in dump trucks if you don't think you would mind that sort of thing.

 

You will find it so hard to find local work without any otr experience. They all want drivers with experience. I am at the beginning of my career in trucking. I go for my cdl test on friday. I did my research and every local job i found required at least one year otr experience. I know it will be rough. I have a beutiful wife who i love so very much and i love coming home every day and being with her. I love driving and I would love to do local work but I know i must do my time doing otr jobs. Check out roehl they have great hometime plans. Do a year or two otr and after that you should have no problem finding local jobs. Good luck

 

Whether or not you need 1 year OTR depends a lot on your area. I got hired right out of CDL school, and my school gave me about 3 or 4 other good leads with local companies that have hired their graduates. One of my classmates got hired by a local company before he even graduated, and another local company hired a few guys off the street and sent them for training. So you CAN get a local job, without 1 year OTR, but it depends a lot on conditions in your area and/or if you are willing to work for less with a company that will train you.

 

Even the Grads that go OTR. Have to be trained with a trainer. The school is just a CDL prep.

 

I agree but there are local companies who will hire CDL school grads and put them with a trainer for a few weeks after school. I think the OP assumes (as do a lot of others) that there is no hope of getting a local job without one year OTR and that just depends a lot on where you live.