can't get hired

Yard Dog would be a great place to start. You will be great at backing and will be way ahead once you get out of the barnyard. Use the mirrors, and treat it as if you have a sleeper on back.

 

I thought yard dogs were typically experienced drivers who wanted local gigs. Is it considered a starter position?

 

Most places hire yard dogs right off the street with no road experience. Still need a CDL though.

 

Run 48 states for 6 months and you will be looked at more favorably. Perhaps you will get a trip to Phoenix or LA which sure beats Fargo in the winter..

 

Not at Tyson you don't need a cdl you just can't enter the street.

 

Good luck for yard jockey position!

 

Some of the yard dogs make good money. Some want experienced drivers, others not.
I started out driving local for 7 years and went the other way. I had my class B and working a factory job in a pallet factory after relocating and a divorce. It was 10 steps back for me but I had to do what I had to do.
My boss was in a pinch one day 2 months into this after losing 2 drivers in back to back weeks. 1 to an OWI and the other a heart attack. Got the permit for Class A, drove with the guy that had the heart attack for a month (he couldn't drive til he passed a stress test) and never looked back.
It was a good gig but my present wife and I moved to AZ for a year. After a couple company gigs out there, I decided I wanted more money, my own rig, and be my own boss. Bought my pete and moved back home.
There's days I miss the local gig I started with and there were slow times there I would spot at the yard too. It was a nice break and for me paid the same. It was an hourly rate that was pretty good for my area.
I know some would say I went the wrong way after starting out where I did but I am making a lot more money on the road and my wife runs with me and we have no one to answer to but ourselves.
Take advantage of what comes your way. Sometimes it leads to bigger and better things and it beats sitting home. For me, a lousy factory job led me to where I am today.

 

M

 

I'll bet you're applying over the internet. That's the easiest way for a company to turn someone down. They could be in a hurry to get home and take your application that's in a stack and toss it in the round file. If you really want work go to the company with application in hand. Make an appointment and you'll be a head of all the other applications that are stacked up.