No OTR only interested in Local with weekends off

If I knew what I know now, back then, there is no way I would have ever went otr when I started trucking. I understand where you are coming from. Anyone with half a brain, and given all the information we have available today just on our phone, would be wise to avoid that sort of life. You don't live in rural WV, absolutely no reason to go otr to land a local job and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. I ran local out of Newark for a while, made over a 100k a year, you just have to put in the work and due diligence

 

I love OTR; wouldn't do any other type of trucking.
Coast-to-coast & border-to-border for me.

 

A lot of folks do, I hear ya, but I certainly wouldn't push someone into it that didn't REALLY want it.

 

Many people really hate OTR and I understand that. Some of us can't sit still and love to move around. OTR is a good fit for some of us. I feel like cobwebs are growing on me sometimes. I'm from the East, but now a Las Vegas resident and Beijing resident and still get the itch to get moving. Running OTR I like crossing a state line every day and doing my 10 hr. or 34 hr. break in a different city/town every time. Probably seems odd to many, but to some of us it keeps us feeling alive.

 

@Aryi, you can get a local job with no experience. Just gotta apply everywhere. Some places you gotta walk into their office and introduce yourself. The downside is that some of these companies that are willing to hire new drivers may not have good equipment or you have to load/unload. Local work consists of long hours then get home to sleep then do it all over again. As long as you have someone to help watch the kids then go for it.

I team with my wife so OTR is more like a vacation.

 

PMTG. Ran 6 days a week though, and worked my tail off.

 

@Aryi Boy, this thread got convoluted fast! lol

So just so I have things clear... You have a Class B or a Class A license?

For Class B, you could always try running P&D van for FedEx Ground - all contractors. Like @Chinatown said, running airport food is another good option. Class B can get you into bread and potato chip companies. Also, some food service deliveries to restaurants (although most of the big boys doing that would be class A).

Class A is a little trickier. Most drivers wanted to stay around the house when they started - just like you do. They were told they needed experience and would have to go OTR to get it. So, they did. They spent two years (avg) out there grinding gears and missing holidays and birthdays to get a chance to work local. When they came back home, many of them apply for local - knowing it is less money and more hassle. Because they want to be close to home. Because of this, it will make it more difficult for you to compete for the same job with no class A experience. Not saying it's impossible, but it will be harder.

Around here, local Class A jobs are thin on the ground. So, I would take the names these other nice folks are giving you and apply to all of them, but please keep what I said in mind, okay?

 

Panera Bread sometimes hires delivery drivers.