Thinking about running local, intermodal, or regional

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by BigpopperRunner, Mar 4, 2019.

  1. BigpopperRunner

    BigpopperRunner Light Load Member

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    Yeah I hate the 605! My mom still lives in south El Monte, which connects the 60, 10 and 605 and roads there are a pain in the butt. A few years ago I ran over a deep pot hole and it sliced my tires up lol. Anyways the company that you work for now did they train you or did they just throw you into the wolves?
     
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  3. Twistin' throttles

    Twistin' throttles Light Load Member

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    Well, one day riding before driving that L.A. mess. But the guy I was training with trusted me after some driving around locally, and said you have to do it sometime. Kind of trial by fire, but I got it out of the way, and getting more comfortable every day. Was it the best call? Maybe not, but he he felt comfortable enough to let me give it a go, and I benefited from it, kinda popping my cherry, so to say?
     
  4. Tolmie

    Tolmie Medium Load Member

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    There is plenty trucking work near south Pasadena. For example, Ruan Tanker has a yard in Alhambra, just at the end of the 710 fwy and Valley. JB Hunt intermodal is at South Gate, about 13 miles south of 710. Swift intermodal near Montebello and Schneider in South El Monte. I can tell you from experience, backing to docks of some shipper/receiver near LA area is near impossible for noobs. Then your hope is for night shifts where mostly you get are drop and hook. But you still need at least 3-6 months of driving experience. Maybe you can consider Gardner trucking or KKW to get your CDL.
     
  5. Tolmie

    Tolmie Medium Load Member

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    Since you are north of grapevine so you are okay. If you are around near LA area and you have pick up in downtown LA or North Hollywood or Burbank where the only way to get in is blind side and you have to do it on the busy street and the dock is super tight, you will probably want to quit that day. Trust me, it’s better to get some experiences before any local job driving in Los Angeles area.
     
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  6. Twistin' throttles

    Twistin' throttles Light Load Member

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    May 23, 2018
    Bakersfield, Ca.
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    I wasn't really given the option, Deliveries in some tight as plants, figure it out, lol. I agree, some experience would be ideal, but I overcame some doubts at the same time.
     
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  7. BigpopperRunner

    BigpopperRunner Light Load Member

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    Well same goes with OTR too, if I’m going for OTR I would still learn how to back up in super tight places lol. How is the pay scale for your local work?
     
  8. Texas_hwy_287

    Texas_hwy_287 Road Train Member

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    @BigpopperRunner get on with an LTL company such as Old Dominion, Estes and Saia. These freight companies will give you an opportunity to gain your cdl.

    I know OD will send you to school after 6 months of you working there and you will have to work for at least 1 yearto fullfill your contract, if not you will have to pay the full amount.

    My humble opinion you can make great money working for an LTL and be home daily. The best thing you have option to run city P&D or linehaul, @Chinatown will tell ya a linehaul driver makes great money.

    Here goes the starting pay for OD just to give you a rougly idea. These numbers are based on a big service center, it might be a slightly different if you work from a small yard.

    After school you will get started at $25dls an hour
    Then you get a 30, 60, 90 days review
    It takes 3 years to top pay, if im not mistaken pay scale for OD is $29 dls and some change an hour.
    After you top out if the company is doing good everyone gets a raise, therefore OD has drivers making 30dls.
    OD pays OT after 60:eek:
    Benefits are pretty top notch and cheap(united healthcare)
    You get your bday off and pay for.
    As far as backing take you time. Being city P&D you will have more miles backing up than anything.


    Good luck and choose wisely.
     
    Last edited: Mar 5, 2019
  9. 7seriestv

    7seriestv Light Load Member

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    Anyone tells you there isn't much money local compare to otr dont know what they talking about, it depends where you live, how you work, do you know what you are doing and the company you are working with. And those factors are for local regional and otr
     
  10. BigpopperRunner

    BigpopperRunner Light Load Member

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    Thanks for the info! I will look up these companies. I haven't seen too much of OD in LA, mainly just swift, prime, CR england, and CRST and a few ESTES and XPO. I will look more into it. I know amazon is offering the same thing as these companies, where you work for X amount of time and then you have the option of them paying for your CDL school.
     
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