I dont get it... OTR driving experience

Are you just coming back after taking a couple years off?

Probably scared you will be on the road more than two days, get home sick, and abandon the truck. You should look into smaller companies who don't train there insurance is usually more lacksed.

I pulled end dump for a company that hired guys who had only drove buses, pretty funny watching them try and back up. It's all about insurance.

 

You have to look for companies that require x amount of EXPERIENCE not that OTR crap. Those companies tend to be smaller and pay better anyway.

 

To be considered OTR you have to travel multiple states. Some companies require 5 states while many require 7 states. Most applications will ask what states you traveled in. With any one job have you forfilled that? Combining jobs and states traveled doesn't count. It has to be from one job.

If that's the case then you haven't demonstrated you can handle the home sickness factor of staying out 2-6 weeks with no problems. Many quit for that reason. They probably think in 20 years this guy hasn't stayed out more than 2 days.

They'll want you to go with a trainer to make sure you are up to date on the regulations, can keep a rolling log and handle the longevity of staying out. Even OTR drivers have to do that when they take a break from driving.

 

Maybe, this will help. First, I would not tell any company you were out only 2 consecutive nights at a time. Just tell them you were OTR. Here's a simple way to look for companies that fit your particular needs: Google : truck driver jobs ... with each website fill out one online application. This is a free service. Each website will send your application to the particular companies they represent that fit your needs.
Here are others :
TruckJobSeekers.com
gotruckers.com

Good luck, hope this helps.

 

Its because you have never been away for more than 2 days. It is the accumulation of being away that makes it tougher. It is one of those things that you have to experience to understand it. Sometimes I get loads that pass through my house in the same week and I feel like I never left my house! However once you a couple of thousand miles away from home for over a month, you begin to miss what it is like being a normal person. I am sure you may be able to do it, but it does feel different being gone for a long period of time versus breaking up the days. When I was in Seattle WA I felt like I would never get back home since all I saw were mountains for 10+ hours per day.

 

Dave R also does not mention where/what states his experience is in. OTR drivers need to be able to handle mountains, our company requires you to drive a minimum of 2 'qualifying' mountains without your 'jake' before they will even consider letting you go solo.

 

Years ago when I was a new hire with Navajo- I told them that I had only ran locally pulling 53' dry vans around Phoenix and had been doing so for only a few years (2+) so they took me for a "road test" and I could get around corners and shift gears etc.
They sent me out and my feet didn't touch the ground for nearly 16 weeks!
At that point I had had enough and told my dispatch either get me home or I was done! When I got back and had some rest I went in and asked my dispatcher what that was all about- he said they had to see my "breaking point," how long I could be gone before I went bat-#### crazy, sense I didn't have any OTR experience at that point.
Granted- it was a different time and company's were starving for good drivers, unlike now, and they were willing to take a chance with me- which payed off for them because I stayed with them for years.
Point being that you will, as others have said, have to search for that company that is willing to give you a chance and when you find it- sell yourself to them big time!! I'm not saying to stick you're nose up someones rear- just be the "go to" guy for them and make them happy that they gave you the chance.

 

Those companies just want an excuse to use you as a $300 a week team driver for 4 to 6 weeks . They aren't worth bothering with .
I've been told by some members here I'm not an OTR driver because I get home every week . I'll make a 1500 mile round trip to Ontario , stop home for a day before making a 4 day round trip to Texas and do a restart at home . Over 3,000 miles but that's not OTR . That really bothers me . Home for every restart , working about 65 hours a week and taking home over $1,000 a week . All loading and unloading done by customers . I sure envy those OTR drivers .

 

It's like you're driving backwards when you get stuck in a place like that.