Attention all rookies and wannabes: Local Jobs for New Drivers

Night, day, it's all relative. The point is its a regular schedule.

 

OK, you want an "honest post," so here is a brutally honest one.

When it comes to trucking EVERYTHING is subject to change. Due to the nature of the business, there just are NO guarantees. Sure, you may be hired on as a local P & D driver, and work it for a while. Then be TOLD you are going to a line haul route because the freight has dropped off in your location. Or it could be just the opposite. You are hired as line haul and then suddenly you are bounced back to local due to changes in freight.

If you are going to be in this business, you have to have a certain amount of flexibility, or you will be lost. I'm sure somebody is going to come on here and say something about doing the same job for the same company in the same location for twenty years or more. Well, this may occasionally happen. But the vast majority of us have had to change along with the times and the industry.

 

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this is a big help to those of us starting out. Even though I only have driven for the last 5 months, I am fully aware that the job is subject to change. My preference would be working OTR but due to the wife having medical problems for right now, I want an outfit that keeps me relatively close to the house. we had already discussed when the two oldest kids got out of the house me going OTR and if the company allowed it, she could go with me.

 

Thanks Harvey,I am currently working on getting my CDL.I already have my CDL Permit and my TWIC.I am regeristing with a Tech College here in Savannah,Ga to get my CDL lisence.I have only worked 2 jobs in the last 25 yrs with no accidents at work or driving autos.I am changing careers at 48 yrs old because my current job has no retirement or benefits.I would much rather stay local but OTR would be fine if the money is good enough.

 

I did not read any post past the first, But I wanted to say that it is possible to work local quickly. I had been offered a local job, and although it took a few months to get into it (waiting for an opening and getting "trained"), i spent about 3 months working a route where i was basically home 2-3 times a week, and then went to working 4-12 hour days locally as a yard jockey and shuttle driver making the same money as being on the road.. It is possible.

Raid3r

 

Well hell. First off you skip OTR and step right into a local job. Then you admit to jumping ahead in this forum. I'll bet you cut into lines at the check stand and ticket counters as well.

OK Raid3r, I'm just jerking your chain there. It seems like it is a matter of being in the right place, at the right time. It also is a matter of going after what you really want, rather than taking the first thing that comes along.

If others are like I was, when you get out of trucking school, there are all kinds of things that you DON'T know. One of the main ones, is what your employment options are.

 

Thanks for the helpful info on this thread! It's good to see that the vets share some helpful tips with the newbies and we should be appreciative of that! I guess I'm just one of the few who want to have the experience of at least one year OTR. Can't hurt the ol' resume right? Plus, it might make for some good stories to tell the grandkids someday. BTW, I'm a newbie to this forum and an enthusiastic student/rookie in trucking so, HI EVERYBODY! Don't haze me too bad!

O&O,

Zero

 

I did the OTR the first year and I did not care for it at all. Just simply not for me. I will haul this frac sand or I will do something regional but going back to OTR I don't think so. This business is of OTR is nothing more than a "weed out course" in the first year of college!