Attention all rookies and wannabes: Local Jobs for New Drivers

My biggest question is...when do I get to sign up for a world armwrestling championship competition?! I'm gonna go OVER THE TOP because THE WORLD MEETS NOBODY HALFWAY! LOL! Sorry guys, couldn't resist! I'll admit that one of my guilty pleasures is Over The Top starring the one and only Sylvester Stallone. It was my favorite movie as a kid, and I just got it on blu-ray so I'm a tad bit excited. Notice my avatar? That's the truck in the movie. Go ahead and laugh at me, it's OK. I can take it.

O&O,

Zero

 

Out of the 5 drivers in our "fleet" only one other feller and myself ever been OTR. So it is possible. One cat got hired straight outta school 5 years ago. But, then again that was 5 years ago.

And the guy I replaced started out as a production worker and the company paid for his CDL. Then he backed into a chemical tank and lied about it.......Moral of the story is, it is possible to get a good local job straight outta school.......And, if you back into something in-front of a security camera....Blaming it on a forklift driver is probably a bad idea.....

 

Id like to try otr eventually too. Good thing my company has both. Also it is possible to get your license locally too, go for mine tomorrow

 

I started driving in 1998 at the age of 23. Never went to trucking school, I was company trained. Never did a day of true OTR. Never even slept in a truck until 2003 when I started doing foodservice, running a regional route.

So what did I miss by not running OTR?

I can read and use a map real good, I just started using a GPS two years ago and I still use a map along with it.

I understand logs and how to do them and never had a log violation yet and I have had several DOT inspections.

So in all honesty, what did I miss by not going OTR for a year? And if anyone says "you missed seeing the country", ya, just what I want to do, see the country at 65mph

 

I can think of many things you probably missed by not running OTR. Let's see here:

Being a couple of thousand miles from home and waking up literally "running from both ends," with a delivery time just an hour or so away. Being sick is never fun. It is much less fun if you are OTR at the time.

Not being home when you are desperately needed there.

Missing seeing your kids growing up, and being there when they have the childhood milestones.

You know, little things like that.

OTR is not for everyone. And yet if it IS for you, it gets in your blood and nothing else will really satisfy it.

 

A question. I plan on getting my CDL on my own in the next few months. If I have had DWI's in the past, will this automatically preclude me from geting a driving job with any reputable company. The last ticket was more than 5 years ago.

 

Have had 2. One 8 years ago and the second a little over 5 years ago....have learned my lesson though...the hard way.

 

You get it I see. Local is not for everyone either. Everyone has to choose what is best for them and their situation.

 

Make phone calls! Call the companies that interest you and ask them direct.