Opinions Wanted

I lived the dream of driving local for about 5 minutes. I quickly found out that it is nothing but a pipe dream. I found you almost gotta go OTR for awhile. Being in the Detroit area, all I found local wanted a minimum of 6 months. Most replutable compaines wanted 2 years. Just gotta bite the bullet and do it. get it over with and then move on.

Seems to me once you get that beloved experience you can get a job anywhere.

 

Been truckin 27 safe years. Thers nothing wrong with the yard / hostler job. As a new driver it will give you a wide variety of experience. youll learn alot and when they see what a strraight shooter/hardworker you are they will give you other opportunities.....

 

Where I work,the senior guys KILL for the yard hostler jobs.They are high seniority,gravy jobs.

 

My last job I worked for US FoodService. They had a program in place where a lucky candidate from the wharehouse would go to driving school (on the company's dime) and once he graduated he could be a driver/lumper for them.

 

If your concern is about home time, there are plenty of jobs out there to get you behind the wheel. Although, they may not be the best pay, or hours, you can try dump companies that have tractors in their fleets, or bulk cement haulers, even rendering plants. But like I say, the pay may not be that good.....good luck.

j-mac

 

I really like the thought of OTR for a while, but I'm sure I'll end up going regional. I have some friends that have great regional jobs. One drives from New orleans to Jacksonville, Fl one day, picks up a load then back the next. He then drives to Dallas one day, loads up, then to Baton Rouge the next day. Then off for a couple of days. Sometimes the destination varies, but he's never gone for more than 2 or 3 days. ....................Another buddy drives a day cab, pulling doubles. He drives nights, makes a 3 1/2 hour drive one way, drops and picks up at the terminal, then back. His destination varies, but he's home everyday and off weekends. Gravy, Babe, Gravy........ they both make great money.................... Another is a company driver that covers from Florida to New Mexico and up to about Oklahoma and Tennessee. He's out for a week to 10 days, then home for 3 or 4.................
I would really hate the thought of being a local company driver. I have a buddy who drives local for McDonalds. Nothing but in-town driving and several delivers and unloads a day. He says he feels like a "glorified Delivery Boy" and he's looking for something else after a being there 2 years. Another does the same for a grocery distributor. He says "I'm a driver and a lumper at the same time." He "hates it", but does it to stay home while his kids are growing up. He really misses the road. He had to drive his truck to a truck stop a few days ago to fuel up when the yard pumps were down. He fueled up, sat down and ate and talked with a couple of OTR drivers. He said he was crying when he got back into his truck. He REALLY misses it. I guess if local deliveries are what a driver wants and he's happy doing a local or yard job, then I'm happy for them. Some of them make excellent bucks. But if that's what a local job is, then it's not for me. I just don't believe I could be happy doing it.

 

that suckz..lol

 

Yup, one of our most senior city drivers opted for the yard guy position when it came up for bid. Shocked most of the drivers. He has a smile on his face every day now, and loves what he does!