Local to Otr??

Some companies require you to at least cross a state line. Tell them you were otr and tell your former employer to tell them the same. They probably don't understand why anyone would leave the ltl world to go truckload. They probably think you are missing a few bricks

 

LTL ain't what it used to be.
The companies are constantly closing barns down, merging, laying guys off, moving guys all over the place, lots of BS to deal with.
Over the past 10 years, drivers have seen paycuts, givebacks, and an erosion of pay/bennies.
Not that OTR is any better...but at least in truckload you don't have to work the dock, mess with pulling doubles/triples, lugging congear around the yard, or hustle-off 18+ stops in the city per day.
It still beats OTR but LTL's glory days are over.

 

I was with a company that was Local and OTR. They hired to many guys back and freight fell off big time. I went from 1700$ every 2 weeks to bearly making $1,000.
U have to have 1 year OTR with these companys now days.

I had to go OTR to support my stay at home wife grandbaby, stepdaughter 2 dogs, 4 cats and a fish Her house payment, car, and all other bills.
I only get to be at home 1 day a weekend, thats why i call the home HER HOUSE... i'm just a visitor hehe

 

It's the insurance companies that are making these requirements. Plus these companies want to make sure you have some experience in the lifestyle because they invest a lot of money in hiring you and don't want you to quit the first week you are out there because you hate the lifestyle. You will most likely have to go with a trainer if you do get hired on. Sucks but it goes by quick. Good luck to you.

 

That's right.
As long as you have a valid Class-A CDL with all your endorsements and a somewhat clean MVR/DAC...no more than 3 moving violations or so in the past 3 years seems to be industry standard.
Then you shouldn't have any problems going back OTR.
You would have to start at the bottom of the payscale and go out with a trainer for a few weeks like Chompi said...but you can go back.
I know a couple of guys that got laid-off from YRCW and they're driving for JB Hunt right now.
Another guy went to Crete.
So it can be done.

 

OTR drivers do work the dock sometimes driver, grocery loads require lumping, if the company doesn't pay for a lumper that is. If you are a Con-Way driver, just change companies, I moved from Con-Way to Estes, and now drive sort of OTR, I am on the extra board, and stay there, get 2500 miles plus during good months, am home every 7-9 days, but once in awhile have to reset on the road, my longest time out was 14 days so far in 3 years! I drive terminal to terminal, and have not been MADE to work the dock yet, but voluntarily did a couple of times to adjust loads on my trailers. I think you may regret going "regular" OTR from LTL!!!! Do your homework first!!!!!!

TrashyTrucker

(p.s.-and the LTL pay, union or non-union, blows most OTR pay out of the water!)

 

Keep knocking on doors and someone will hire you though. Check with these guys.
http://www.davis-express.com/

from their website

They are a good outfit from everything I've heard and they only run the southeast for the most part.

 

Nah, it's better but not by so much anymore.
You worked at Conway...what happened there?
Pension gone. Wage givebacks.
YRCW = same deal...those guys got it worse.
Estes is OK...but around here top-rate is only .46 cpm.
It's higher for you out in CA just because the cost-of-living is greater.
And 7-9 days on the road? That's too much like OTR.
Starting pay at Estes here in Ohio is only .38 cpm...same deal at Vitran, NEMF, R&L, and a bunch of others.
CET pays city drivers $15.00/hr.
Few of the LTL's pay overtime anymore.
Central Transport is the worst...they run ads 24X7 looking for drivers...just like the OTR outfits.
The bennies aren't that much better LTL vs OTR anymore.
I see alot more contractors pulling LTL loads around.
Some of the hubs I went to at FedEx looked like a #### Flying J truckstop: Barr-Nunn, CR England, Werner to name but a few....and those guys got priority getting loaded while we had to wait.

LTL is still better than OTR and probably always will be but it's not as good as it was and will worsen as the influence of the Teamsters fade in that biz.
That's just the way it goes.

 

UPS/FedEX/Conway--------All $100,000+/yr top pay for drivers


OTR-----------If your lucky and with a good company and have lots of exsperiance $75,000+/- and your NOT home everynight or close to it




LTL vs. OTR No Contest LTL wins hands down, more $$, more Benifits, more Hometime. Big deal if you have to do a little more work during the day, at least YOU get paid for it....




American Trucker