Attention all rookies and wannabes: Local Jobs for New Drivers

I just thought I would share my experience to maybe give some more hope to other rookies like myself.

I live in Reno, NV and I went to a private truck school and had the impression from reading forum posts and talking to people that I was most definitely going to have to go OTR. Well as luck would have it I found a local truck company that is based in Sparks that have always required 2 years of experience. Well that suddenly changed while we were in school. They began their own training program that consists of 12 weeks at $400 a week. First week with the mechanic, next 3 weeks with a local driver, next 4 weeks with a turn driver, next 4 weeks with a line haul regional driver. Once you are done with the training program you are set with a regional route and home every 3-5 days for your 10 hour and 34 hour.

Average about 2,500 miles a week starting at .28 a mile. 100% employer paid medical, dental, vision after 90 days. No unloading or loading, just driving. I got my Class A license and went in there the same day and started the next week. I had talked to them before I got my license and was told to come in when I got it so I did and so far I couldn't be at a better place. It is a small place and everybody has remembered me from the first day I came in and filled out an application.

I have talked with a few people who wanted to get driving as fast as possible and would sell heir souls to the mega carriers just to get experience. I had other options and was considering it myself until I found this opportunity. Why do 3-6 weeks of OTR training with someone who may have just become a trainer after 6 months of driving or get 12 weeks of training with experienced drivers and a local job with great benefits. I have a family and I also want to be a great driver. As the mechanic told me there is a big difference between people who drive trucks and actual truck drivers. Truck drivers know their equipment and strive to be great and excel in what they dom. I know that I am one of 91 drivers at this company and I know for a fact that I am not just a number, I am a valuble asset to this company and I know that they wouldn't invest this time and money unless they truly wanted to have good drivers that they had first dibs on to train the way they want their employees to be. Not just meat in the seat.

 

I got a local job with no over the road experience. I work an 8 hour shift and get to go home and have 2 days off every week. I got pretty lucky to be honest and the best part is i get to drive a brand new truck everyday. so it is possible

 

Wow!!!! thanks so much very helpful!!!!!

 

thanks for this info I paid cash and got my Cdl A and all endorsements and have been driving for a big box company since I graduated in April and I have been lied to almost never home had to run with equipment that had DOT violations . I am now currently looking for a local job very actively and will leave this company as soon as one comes through. I went to the bigrigs website and filled out the app. just now so time will tell.

 

Thanks a lot for the good informations its very helpful and encouraging

 

A lot of great info in this thread. I also just competed truck and aren't really looking to go otr.
If i have to I will but hopefully I will be picked up by a smaller company.

 

Well said sir, US Foods in Pittston PA has probably the worst equipment I have ever seen and driven in my life, but ya know what it got the job done and allowed me to make money. 95% of truck drivers are pre-madonna cry babys, especially at foodservice companys. All they do cry and complain and think they're gods gift like the world would stop rotating without them!

 

Well said sir, US Foods in Pittston PA had probably the worst equipment I have ever driven and seen, alot of it was just old and beat up but it still allowed me to make a great living while working there. 95% of drivers at LTL's especially foodservice company's are the biggest pre-madonna cry baby, gossip hound, back stabbing, moronic idiots that think they're gods gift like the world would stop rotating without them. A bit of advice for new guys especially if you go into the foodservice I.E. US Foods, Sysco, Mclane etc, etc. Just do your job and keep to yourself!

 

You should check into a place called Saladino's. It's a family owned foodservice distributor. They hire drivers with 0 experience, matter of fact alot of the crew they have started with right out of trucking school. It's a great company and they pay a good wage. You need a Dbls endorsement because they start everyone as a shuttle driver. Don't sleep on it, I would get on it first thing tmrw morning. They're out of Fresno but there's a drop yard on Pell Rd in Sac and one in Hayward. What's closer for you>
Good Luck

 

Apply to any and all foodservice companys. One of them will hire you with no experience. There is no need to go OTR. I got hired with US Foods right out of truck school and was bringing home $1100 a wk. Make no mistake about there is no harder job on this planet so be ready for back breaking, ball busting work! Good Luck