Kidding Myself

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by PT17guy, Feb 23, 2015.

  1. PT17guy

    PT17guy Light Load Member

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    I have been trying to ease into trucking for 3 years now. The first year was pretty fun, bobtailing tractors around the northeast. Since then however, breaking into the tractor AND trailer business has proven much more difficult. The issue seems to be my limited availability. I have a regular job that pays pretty well; I only wanted to drive part time.

    I guess the problem is,no one wants the expense of training me or covering me in their drug testing program, if I'm only available one or two days per week. I thought I'd landed just such a job last fall. Went thru the orientation, did all the testing, and then was sent home to wait for an available trainer. That was in Nov, 2014. I've been called exactly one time since then which, unfortunately, was the same week that I had contracted the flu.

    Cripes, all I wanted to do was some day trips or drayage in the mid Atlantic area, and that seems to be getting more and more out of reach.

    Was I unrealistic to think I could get into the biz on a part-time basis, or is there some avenue that I just haven't explored yet?

    For what it's worth, I've NEVER had an accident, my last traffic ticket was in 1973 (yeah, I'm a little older) and I have a spotless criminal/employment/personal history.

    If anyone knows of a part-time gig in the mid-Atlantic (Hagerstown MD) area, I'd love to hear about it.

    Or tell me I'm spinning my wheels. I can take it, would just like to know.
     
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  3. bzinger

    bzinger Road Train Member

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    bowman or cowan ?
     
  4. gokiddogo

    gokiddogo Road Train Member

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    Two things

    1- may be a liability thing from the trucking company's side of view, legally you would have to report all your time working at your other job on your logbook as "on duty" ...
    2- because of your limited availability they don't want to call someone who 80% of the time says "sorry - unavailable" ... eventually they will stop calling altogether.
     
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  5. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Try the staffing agencies; they provide drivers on a daily or weekly basis to trucking companies. Just tell them you want to work weekends. CDL Truckstop///Right Turn Recruiting///TopGear Logistics///Kelly Services.
     
  6. flybynight12

    flybynight12 Medium Load Member

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    Knight transport would work lol they got part time work only requirement is you have to work 1 day a month
     
  7. Tonythetruckerdude

    Tonythetruckerdude Crusty Deer Slayer

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    Might try a local BMC hub ( bulk mail center) , they hire part timers in my area ( NC ) pay isn't too bad either. Have a few of my retired friends doing that a few weekends a year.
     
  8. PT17guy

    PT17guy Light Load Member

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    Thanks for the suggestions. I'll have to investigate that further.

    I was giving my (imaginary) employer a list of available days prior to the start of every month. They had 8 to 10 days per month to work with. I guess when you're new, only full time will do.

    Gonna check out the staffing agencies this week, but I'm pretty sure what I'm gonna hear is, "We need a year of experience"
     
  9. PT17guy

    PT17guy Light Load Member

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    Oh, sorry...B-man
     
  10. RetiredUSN

    RetiredUSN Medium Load Member

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    Too far north for me to help. I know some locals that are dying for casual drivers just to keep pace with moving containers. Had a few offers myself, but I'd rather scrape my finger nails over a chalk board all day, than pull containers from these ports.
     
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  11. PT17guy

    PT17guy Light Load Member

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    Thanks for the thought, RetiredUSN.
     
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