Local experience=NO Experience?!?

If all you drove was LA then you should not have been regulated by the same rules as an OTR driver. Being OTR or regional covering several states is a lot more complicated than driving the same city everyday. You have to take time to plan your route and fuel stops. Not to mention being gone weeks at a time. Also having to manage your hrs. 2 different beasts. I doubt any conpany would count any local driving experience as OTR. This is just my opinion. I would start you as newbie also. Who knows if you can handle being gone 3 - 6 weeks at a time if you have had no experience at it?

 

Hey I know how you feel. I had a hard time getting into OTR. I didn't log enuff states. But after hundreds of calls I was finally able to convince some body I could do the job and got my start. I only stayed there two years so I could choose my next job, without any hassles. I will be harder for you as most companys want experinced OTR drivers or just plain nubbies. No one wants to have to do what they claim is a total retrain on you. IMHO. Good Luck, and keep trying. The key is to keep plugging away, no matter how much they turn you down.

 

Are you still a student? If so then how do you know how YOU will handle being gone 3-6 weeks at a time?

For someone with 0 experience, you answered a question of which you have no real knowledge of rather rudely don't you think?

Just sayin.....

 

I am new to OTR. I drove locally in Miami for a year. So being that I have to start from the bottom again, rightfully so, I thought it would be usful info. It should not be hard to find a company to start with. But they know local driving is totally different from OTR. I am not saying you can not start somewhere, just saying you will not start out as having 2 yrs experience. Good luck to you though.

 

bigred, have you checked TCI logistics in Kernersville? they have van and flatbed.

 

Have you tried BMT/TriStar they have a port in Greer (office is in Okemos MI) they are still running classes to train on loading procedures down there,the last I heard., and my hubby got hired 4 years ago with no real OTR experience as his previous job only took him outta state on occasion. THey are out 2 weeks but do have an option to be out 3 if you want. Its not a bad place to work, all companies have good and bad and so far I would rate them a really decent place to work.

 

Maybe good news for you. I saw on a different board that Swift took a guy who delivered Pepsi locally and accepted his local experience. Looks like I was wrong that none will. Wish had known that 4 months ago. lol Good luck to you

 

From a former recruiter's perspective, unfortunately the industry treats OTR very differently from Local, and for some good reasons... that have already been outlined here. Companies want someone with some experience in being out for days and weeks at a time, running 1,000 or more miles a trip, etc. with all the logging, etc. that entails. What you will find is that you may have to settle for a company like Swift or Werner to get some OTR experience first. Also, in this economy, companies can afford to be far pickier who they talk to. Lots of companies have gone out of business, which means the pool of unemployed, experienced drivers is much larger. So that is what you are competing with.

 

Yes! Nothing to do with driving skills...locals wont like OTR!! FACT!

High quit rate....it's just history.