Considering Becoming a Trucker...Some Questions

Hey there,
In my experience you will need a minimum of 6 months to a year of exp to get a local job. paying for your own is probably the best way to get your CDL you wont be stuck with a large company for a year to pay back the tuition cost of your training.

there are plemty of local companies that you could get on with that get home daily. I do food service currently and I am home most every night with the rare overnight route. i work 4 days a week and get good hourly rate and union benefits. it would be worth a try to get on a company with no experience. Although you're more than likely going to need to get on with a large OTR carrier to get the 6 months to 1 year exp.

I am sure there are some old schools that will have a different insight into the question but in my 10 years this is the scenario I see most often .

 

Almost every city has lots of local jobs, home daily, hauling garbage, groceries, dump trucks, bricks, gasoline/diesel, and other stuff. If there is manufacturing nearby, there are local trucks for that. Your question is more a "tell me about St Louis" question than "local driving" question, I would think. Certainly there are jobs, supply & demand determines if those jobs near St Louis are open to new CDL drivet. You'll be desirable being prior service.

 

Beelman Truck Company has what you're looking for and hires new cdl grads.

 

Not sure how far Southwest you are looking? Woody Bogler main terminal
is in Gerald MO. They have a Local end dump division, they also do a lot
of regional work. Home every several days type thing. I worked for them
in the van division quite a few years ago.

Not sure if they would consider training you or not but they seem to
struggle to find drivers. Be worth a call. I know at one time they did hire
some inexperienced drivers.

 

The company I'm at is a vet company. They will take you as soon as you get your cdl train you and put you out. Start all vets off at 40 cents a mile. I got out of the military last Nov. I started with cr England but after being out for 3 months with no home time I found this place.. They get you home when you want to be home. And when your out they leave you alone

 

It's difficult to find a local job with no experience. And I was use to my military pay to where driving a garbage truck at 15/20 a hr wouldn't cut it. But being military I wast gone 60% of my military career from my family where I think they deserve more of my time. I stay put anywhere from a week to 2 weeks and I go home. You earn 2 days off a week. Take your time off as you want whenever you want. The company is a.n Webber.

 

I would try Beelman. Also you should check with the V.A. as they might pay for your school.

 

Ya it will cost you one year out of your Montgomery or post 9/11 but you can use it. Also there are some grants for vets that could cover most off the schooling cost to where you don't have to touch that. If your still in your base might have a program set up to where they do enough to get you your cdls while your transitioning out. I know ft bliss had one set up

 

If you can go to school while you're still active duty. You would be to use TA to pay for the school or at least most of it.