Tips for finding a good local job

yes checking their CSA scores is important. Go online and print it out, then call the company and ask them to tell you about their csa. This will give you a pretty good impression of their honesty. I have actually talked to recruiters who hadn't a clue what their own companies's scores were. Big red flag.

 

Look for OT, new equipment, w2, and ask how long the longest employee has been there. I worked at one place for a day... The longest employee was three weeks... I quit on the spot when they said that. Says a lot about the company if they can't keep workers.

 

How do you find this information?

 

Find a driver that already works there. As many as you can, really.

 

I've got 3 months of experience and have a local job, $17.50 an hour, company paid healthcare driving a 2 year old Kenworth and pulling a curtainside, is this where I want to stay for awhile and get my experience?

 

If you're content; that's what counts. I'd be bored to death with a job like that, but that's me.

 

well, good and local may be two words that don't go together very often.

Local can be much tougher than OTR. Yeah, sure you're home every night, just in time to get 8 hours of sleep before you go back to work another 12 to 14 tomorrow. Many locals take free advantage of the no logging needed inside 100 air miles and the no 8 hour break needed inside 100 air miles. You will run hard.

Traffic, lots and lots of traffic. 200 to 300 miles a day in traffic, lights, both rush hours, customers, people, there is no silence of the road in local.

Some of the equipment can be great and some is utterly terrible (yeah, i'm looking at most rock haulers here). It doesn't see ports regularly being local so it tends to get missed. The earlier advice for CSA score is huge. If they don't know or put on a "well i don't know exactly" that's a huge red flag. A good company is proud of their CSA score. It's your license, protect it.

And, of course, it seems like everyone wants to go local rather than OTR, so wages tend to be lower. Per load/ton stuff seems to be common, which could work for you or against you. Hourly is the way to go in local (against traffic) but trucking companies don't have to pay OT, they are specifically excluded. Many do, but you should always ask. Local food service is the best way to make money, but you'll earn every penny of it.

Plus the worst thing about OTR is being away from spouse and kids for long periods of time, the best thing about OTR is being away from spouse and kids for long periods of time.

 

I got a tahoe. It's a money pit but it is a fixable money pit if you throw enough money at it. Nothing on that thing is in need of specialized computer shops today too much. There is a early generation ignition computer on that thing which is a pain. Im actually working to replace the rotor and rotor cap next week to get it back into proper firing. It's a basic 350 of which so common that God must use one too commuting back in Genesis to work. Nothing special on the 350.

People who require fancy cars entrap themselves. In a number of ways. We used a buick or a dodge 5.9 manual to get to work or haul things almost 10 years. Those vehicles did a good job, one got totaled and the other required expensive transmission work which at the time exceeded it's value. We put 100K on that thing doing the little rock commute which is a battle if you are not careful.

Local work can be found with Google faster than the phone book. One of the best jobs I dug up literally local here is driving a Cat 936 front end loader feeding a ready mix with stone and sand among other things. It was something I was good at actually. But I don't over hype it, anyone can do it when they are taught right. I might get back into it before too long if the oppertunity comes up again. 7 yards at a time.

Hourly wages did change. in 2000's it was 8.50 a hour now 8.50 is minimum and you are approaching 16 an hour supporting that ready mix plant with it's local trucks. Keep that in mind.

 

I hope I chose the right thread for this question. I live in South-Central Indiana and I was needing some input on what companies would be best to drive for living here?

Also, any info on guys living in IN and driving with Schneider? Just curious how the shipping lanes are.

Thanks!