A Newbie Needing Direction

Yeah, actually it's NOTHING like that at all. Give it time, you'll learn.

 

You're right, I shouldnt talk until I'm in it. But many, many people I was in trucking school with who had NO intentions of going OTR. It just doesnt make sense to me to get into trucking if youre still looking to be home all the time.

 

It's been said a couple of times here, but can't be emphasized too much, get those endorsements!

Way too much garbage on there for me. I rarely bothered to turn mine on, unless it was necessary to communicate with the shipper or receiver.

 

Too many folks who are really needing to work, grasping at anything that looks like it might pay the bills. That's where all these bottom feeders get their suckers er employees.
And actually there are quite a few local options. A person just has to think a bit and do a bit of digging to come up with them.
Probably not in trucking as most folks think of it, but there are a lot of local jobs requiring a class A CDL. And some of them pay pretty good.

 

This isn't meant to be rude, but you don't even know what you don't know yet. Give it time. It's a good thing that you feel OTR makes the most sense for you. By all means, go for it!

But just because you feel that way now, don't rule out the local aspect of this industry. There are MANY, MANY excellent drivers that have never spent a day OTR, nor do they plan to

 

I believe there are good local drivers, as good as the guys that have spent all their time OTR. I just found it odd for brand new people starting out in a trucking career that thought that they wouldnt have to cut their teeth on long hauls to start out with. But like Big Don said, there are local companies that hire cdl A students also. I just know from interacting with LTL guys in my area (UPS, etc) their companies require 1 yr OTR first.

 

Having to start out OTR is a myth. And in many areas local driving is MUCH tougher driving than anything the OTR guys see. The nice part is that in those areas the pay is also much better.

The whole "local vs OTR" thing tends to really depend on the area you live. There are places that people wouldn't even consider going local -and there are places that OTR isn't even given a thought.

 

Just the opposite , I don't understand why some people think they have to go OTR and work like a slave for a crap mega. Its a big industry lots of things you can do with a CDL. My friend got his CDL and went straight local work, home every night.

 

Hell yeah, if you can land the local gig then thats awesome. But im talking about interacting with people in school that were ONLY looking to be local with NO experience. It just seems counterproductive if youre looking to get a CDL to open up your job prospects, but then before you even get your license youre already shutting down opportunities for yourself.

Going OTR as a new driver doesnt always mean you have to be a slave. You may not make the highest wage, but if the company offers good training and a chance to get good miles under your belt, thats worth something to some people.

 

Trucking is something larger than life. These United States run on trucking.

I hope that you did not allow the nervous nellies, overbearing charlies to poison your schooling. Idle Talk and gossip based on ego, gripes and a thousand other Human Failings without a shred of facts upon which to lean on is a dangerous situation.

Driving 100 yards to a Auction sale barn is every bit as trucking as would be if you were hauling Class 7 Radio active casks destined for a Nevada Mine in which your load will continue to simmer for 10,000 years.