A few questions

I've advocated this before and I will again.

If you prefer to stay local and you're in or can commute to a larger city, then you might want to check out what companies (if any) have distribution centers / warehouses in that area and then apply to some of those. Typically you'll find restaurant suppliers like Sysco, US Foods, Labatt or beverage suppliers like Budweiser, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, etc. A lot of time they will take new drivers since some of us older more experienced guys don't necessarily want to sling cases and cases of stuff all day long, but you're guaranteed to be at home nightly. Other options might be equipment rental places like United or Ahern as they sometimes take new drivers and train them in-house. Check Craigslist also since some of the smaller and / or local guys don't want to pay to advertise a job on places like Monster.

 

You're giving advice on your guess... and you couldn't be any further from accurate.

 

You saying im way off base?OK then you tell me how it is.

 

insurance is the deciding factor quite often, no experience may require some time with a trainer if a company isn't bound by some stupid school requirement. Wife and Kids? Better get something regional at the most, many people are in for a shock with the separation and the stress that involves. Find a small outfit as close as possible to your house and beg/plead for a shot, may be a great situation that will keep the new lifestyle at a manageable level.

 

Walters, you have your CDL, is it recent? Sounds like it is. Well, start applying, brother. See what live companies say: we're not hiring, we're just expounding and commenting from our own viewpoints. Get with some people who are actually hiring drivers, see what they say. You'll like it. Best.

 

I got my cdl and started driving for a local dump truck company so I could be with my wife and daughter. I do have to get out of my truck and run a machine or use a jackhammer or pick and sledge most days, but it's good honest work and I stay in shape doing it. Pay isn't bad either.

 

Obtaining your cdl without school is fine, as said before, just look for local companies such as distribution centers, food service, construction, etc. These will hire you based on your ability to drive the truck not having a certificate from a school. I have been driving 23 years and never went to cdl school, didn't do a day of OTR driving until I had been driving for almost 10 years local, so I never went to a "starter" company per se, just found a local company that used reason and logic in hiring. I now have a small fleet and we have hired experienced as well as new drivers, even trained two for their cdl, I prefer new drivers that don't come with a bunch of bad habits from their previous employers. Some of the most stubborn drivers I have employed or supervised over the years have been the ones with the most experience.

 

Yes, she was giving advice based on a guess. She said "my guess would be" in her post.

Most carriers over 100 trucks are at least partially self insured. The mega's she was referring to are entirely self insured. Insurance carriers have influence in who you employ, but are not the end all in who gets hired or fired as there are many insurance companies, and most will adjust the rate based on the criteria you agree to screen as a min before you employ them or keep in your employ. Many insurance carriers don't even maintain driver lists on who is insured once you get over a few trucks.So it would be impossible for them to even know if you attended driving school. So while insurance companies can influence your hiring decisions, they are not in control.