best location for a local job

It looks like your location has forced you to choose a company that I would run from. I hope you read about them on this forum and know what to expect.

I would get every endorsement available. You can never have too many skills, licenses, certifications or tools, IMHO. It will be easier to get now and you could drop them later.

There should be local jobs anywhere. I wonder if you mean local or regional? Regional will depend on location and companies in that location. Maybe someone familiar with the location you mentioned will offer some suggestions.

Since you're starting out, I'll give you my "cut and paste" spill. Some information may be helpful and some not. Take it for what it's worth.

Some companies say they'll get you home most weekends starting out. Most want you to stay out 3 or 4 weeks and offer a day home for each week out. Weekends off, if you are lucky enough to get them, may be home Thursday afternoon and leave Saturday night or home Friday night and leave Sunday afternoon. Loads deliver on Monday early and you leave in time to get them there. Often your home time will be in the middle of the week.

Local can be backbreaking delivery work 10+ hours a day, 6 days a week. Sometimes you unload dozens of deliveries or you are a salesman. I looked at dump trucks but I can make more doing HVAC service. Regional is lots of loading and unloading time, fewer miles than OTR and not as hard as local, but it will wear on you and press your HOS limitations. OTR is out 3 - 5 weeks with 3 - 4 days home, less manual labor and more miles and money. You just have to pick what fits you.

IMHO, while OTR has less home time, the quality may be better than many local positions where you're home but too tired and busy to enjoy it. With some companies you might land something regional right off. With others, it might take a while or never come.

Read the "good companies" and "bad companies" section on this forum and get an idea of what company you want to work for and what kind of trailer you want to pull. While doing this you will get an idea what the industry has to offer and what company you might want to work for. You will also see what you will have to give or sacrifice to get what you want. I love trucking but, of the many things I've done, it by far requires the most personal sacrifice.

 

I don't start school until next month but I have been busy checking out the local ads in Atlanta. I would think any major metropolitan area would offer a lot of local runs. I was just on Craigslist and downloaded a few today. Already have about a dozen or so ads printed. Unfortunately most require 6 - 12 months OTR but I plan to keep a file for future reference. Google trucking companies in the area you want to move to and see what comes up. Form what I have read here it may be in your best interest to shy away from companies who push leasing to new drivers. I am making a spreadsheet on Excel to log the companies, training time, pay, type of runs, company drivers, O/O, and lease programs. Hopefully I will get to go with a company that has a terminal here and does training out of Atlanta.

 

if you can get on at UPS Freight in Lexington you would be in a good spot....they do pull doubles, the pay is great and they have a very nice terminal down there

by the way, dont sweat the doubles endorsement, its only a 20 question written test (in Indiana atleast)