I think I want to be a TRUCK DRIVER!?!?

Sure not a problem. The name of the driving school is Drivers Solutions and I will be driving for Averitt Express once complete.

 

I can give you some insight into your question. I was in restaurant management for 26 years. Worked for Sodexho and many others.
I had the same point of view as you and decided I wanted a change.
Your not going to find many differences between the two. The one thing from a management point of view is your not dealing with "in house" situations on a regular basis. You know what I mean. If you have an encounter with a nasty receiving clerk (there are many) you deal with it the best you can and then move on. Your next receiver may be a little more friendly. You don't have to go back and face the same people and there problems every day. You get to have new problems every day.
I have since found a very good paying job with a company that delivers to grocery stores. I still have to split and tear down whole pallets and assort them for delivery. It's not even summer and working in the trailer and hand unloading will make you sweat your *** off the same as being in a hot kitchen if not more. I have lost 24 pounds since taking this job. (Could have saved money on all those gym memberships) You will still work LONG hours, local or OTR. I average 12-13 hours per day starting out from the yard at 5:00 a.m. For me personally, I am making in one week what I used to make in two weeks in the food management business. If you go over the road you will be away from home. You miss the kids growing up. You have to evaluate your own life situation and decide. This forum is very informative. You have to decide what YOU want to do. Don't let people tell you that you can't start out in a local job because your new. That is B.S. pure and simple. You are still going to earn every dime your work for.
I can say that many,many of the other drivers out in the field OTR and local are very helpful and supportive (most I have dealt with personally)
Go to a truck stop, talk to drivers get different views. Heck I find out alot while waiting for 2-3 hours in a drivers lounge waiting for a dock.
Every job has it's issues. You have to decide what game you want to play.
Take care, hope this helped a little.

 

I am not sure but they may have Sysco Food Service in your area.
That type of position (like I have) is good because you know about food/food products. You have common interests with your deliveries.
A friend of mine just told me they will take new students but you have to show them you want to work. In Chicago, they start at $22.00 per hour. Out here they start newbies only three days a week (11-12 per day) and in the city. Once you prove you can handle the job you will
start to get five days. Again, it is hard work and they do have a hard time finding guys that are willing to hand unload every nitem in the trailer. The good thing is that your home every night and off weekends.
I think when your new with Sysco you may work every other Saturday.
If you have any questions or I can help you out, let me know. It wasn't long ago I was in your exact same position.

 

Wow Sysco isn't like that here. They want 2 years min experience and at least 1 year in food delivery. They start around $15 an hour here.

My husband was recently laid off from a food delivery job. It is very very physically demanding work.

 

Just my 2 cents.

I'm a local driver, never went OTR. I'm bringing home about $600-1000 a week depending on overtime, its working for my lifestlye. Somedays I love my job. Somedays I wish I was getting up at 8am with everyone else and filing into a cushy office job with air conditioning. Although I come home to sleep in my own bed everynight, I do just that. I come home from a 12-15 hour day and pass right the hell out. What seems like 10 minutes later my alarm clock is going off for 3:00AM and I get up to head back. Pull my truck around the back, check my load, pretrip the truck, head to dunkin donuts to get a cup of coffee and prepare for another day of war.

Crowded city streets, jerks all over the place, at each delivery I unload my own truck. Some of this crap weighs over 200 pounds. Rinse and repeat, I watch the sun come up and the sun go down. Head back home, grab a bite to eat, head to bed. I have weekends off so thats great and thats my family time but its hard work.

Not saying I have the worst job in the world and alot of these OTR guys have 10x the crap I have to deal with and are away from their families, but don't think trucking is going to be a "joy ride" local or OTR. No pun intended.

 

Sounds like my job! Good to know I'm not the only one working that many hours. Local driving is not a career choice it's a way of life. Get up 3:00
have coffee etc... etc... work your *** off come home eat a little supper
and go to bed by nine. Repeat process.Have a Great Easter!

 

They called me because of my friend. I could have started there right out of school. I think because of the hard physical work and driving in the City of Chicago, they I guess have a VERY hard time getting drivers. I'm 47 and I am not sure for how many years I could keep going at this level of physical labor. It starts to take a toll on the body right away.