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Beverage Delivery. Beer, Coke, Pepsi etc. I work for a Miller-Coors distributor and work M-F days 0530 until I'm done, which is usually around 3. We don't get many holidays off which sucks but my pay average is $21/hr. (base+commission). I do bulk delivery, bump the dock, take off a couple pallets (powered jack of course) check in and go to the next stop. There's also grocery delivery for the stores themselves which can be nice because they always have dock priority which makes it almost impossible for you to run behind but some of them deliver on Saturdays. Also look into trash, water delivery, blue rhino hires if you have a HME and has Class A trucks. When I was in school they made it seem that is way very difficult for a rookie to get a local job, but I've found that's not the case at all. There is no shortage of local jobs out there for people new or not. I've heard from more than one potential company they are iffy when hiring OTR drivers because many times going from the freedom of OTR to being trapped in the city all day makes them leave... understandable. In the year I've been with them 2 different OTR driver that got on bulk delivery and they both quit. There are a lot of places that will hire you with 9 months OTR even if the req is 1yr. A couple people I went to school with jumped ship shortly after the 6mo mark. Google up your area's Teamsters Union and see what companies are in it. They will have higher starting pay and way better benefits. I've been in contact with a company here that just wants me to put in a couple more weeks (officially hit my year) and then their gonna start the process with me. $24/hr to start. 8 paid holidays, retirement, OT after 8hrs a day, FREE Cadillac health plan and the list goes on. Good luck man.

 

Then there's this. Just another perspective. I know there are a lot of good local jobs and those can vary in pay and circumstances throughout the country. Union jobs as said have the best overall packages usually, but those are dwindling and not as lucrative as they once were.

I don't have anything to argue about. Just offer this post to show a different perspective. The guy is obviously not against hard work but it is taking a toll on him.

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/experienced-truckers-advice/265269-burned-out-local-ltl-driver-need.html

 

Exactly! I made as much $ at my last local job as I did being a regional driver, but my body was shot and my time at home was miserable because I was always trying to catch up on rest and/or heal from the beating I was taking on the job. What I wouldn't give to work a NORMAL job again 9 hours a day...

 

Companies like UPS, the USPS, and FedEx won't touch me because I have a felony record. I'd try getting on with Wal-Mart but same deal. Too many guys want the limited Wal-Mart openings to where they can and will overlook me because of it.

 

everyone has their own priorities. Obviously money and benifits are important. But schedule was most important to me. I like to have regular time with my family. I stared at $18 an hr with time and a half after 40 hrs. I turned down a $20 an hour job because it was nights and weekends. I also turned down an 8-5 job because it was $12 an hour. But the main point is for new drivers to take the time to find the right job for them. There is no one job that is best for everyone, and jumping on the first job offer is good for noone

 

That is what the local waste management pays. 19 an hour to start, OT after 8 in a day. Class B is all you need, and this is for rolloff. So no residential, which is nice. They pay the same everywhere I believe, since it is a national company, and I know that is what they pay in tampa. They are having a hard time filling seats in some areas. But I do not agree with the comment that one new driver posted in this thread earlier, we do not have a driver shortage, we have a shortage of respect and company's that are willing to pay a good wage.
I am in local now doing furniture. At 45 years old and with way too many years OTR to get me out of shape, it has been hard on my body this past 10 months. But I am still cracking at it, and I am nowhere near the old guy here lol. Most are 5-10 years older than I am. But wages in FL suck, so around 50k a year and home every day is not bad. It is too bad that Swift has all the Walmart contracts around here.

 

Well, here is my 2 cents. If you're looking for local driving jobs, I've noticed that often LOCATION is more important than experience. To each their own, but I knew that I wanted to be a linehaul driver before I even started private trucking school. I thought I would have to pay my dues OTR - not true. Now, I'm extremely fortunate in that I live in an excellent location for driving jobs. I also finished up school in late Spring - peak hiring time for many companies. Needless to say, I was blessed to be at the right spot at the right time.

I got top marks in driving school and had a decent driving history when I was hired by ODFL. NO DRIVING EXPERIENCE. I was hired as a night wild bag driver in linehaul, meaning that I could possibly have to stay out for 4 out of 5 days. I still would had two days off. Due to the growth of the company, and my specific terminal needing to hire more drivers to keep up with freight, I gained seniority very quickly. I am looking at my new schedule to start after Christmas - that's right, I got a night time linehaul schedule where I'll be home every morning, off two days a week.

I am always quick to post in these threads. As a new driver myself with a young family, I like to spread the word that there is hope for a new driver to get a great paying trucking job right out of school, with excellent home time. Times have changed and LTL carriers will and do hire new drivers, some even have their own CDL programs to hire folks right off the street w/o a CDL - Old Dominion is one of these companies. I'll say it again - location is key. Where there is one LTL company terminal, there will be another. I had 1/2 dozen LTL carriers to choose from when I graduated from trucking school. They all are within 1/2 hour drive from my house - location, location...

Location often trumps experience. I know from experience. I am very thankful for the opportunity that was given to my family, and I like to share my experience to bring hope for other new drivers. Wishing the best for the OP.

 

Tankers, Local tankers, Do what ever it takes to get into tanks. I drive local hauling Chemicals probably 75% of my loads are placarded and the more dangerous the product the less likely you even touch them.
Pretty much a 12hr day my start time is between 4-6am and done about 4-6 pm. but I have worked my whole 14 more than a couple of times. Hourly pay ot after 8.
My terminal is a 5 min drive, So I'm home atleast 12 hrs which makes for plenty of family time or what ever kind of time you call it.

 

That's absolutely the case for my area. As the SEFL terminal manager put it..."it's hard to find people around here that want to put in 12hr shifts driving trucks. Most people around here want a government job with a fixed salary and hours."

 

Yep, I agree with bubbagump... There is a give and take for the high-paying, home frequently local jobs. Running linehaul for my company, I typically will work a 12+ hour day. Sometimes right up to my 14. That's not including the 25 minute commute one way to the terminal. For my family, it's worth it.