Demand for drivers in northern Minnesota?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Djsand1000, Jul 30, 2026.

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  1. Jul 30, 2026 #1
    Djsand1000

    Djsand1000 Bobtail Member

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    Hello, I am new here though I have been on and off lurking the forums for a year or so. I love driving enough to pursue it as a career choice and am absolutely tired of working in the printing and graphics arts industry. Trucking feels like a great option for me especially if it's regional or even just daily. I am willing to do OTR but not right out of the gate while I barely know what I'm doing in the industry.

    My partner and I have for years had plans to move to Northern Minnesota to be near the boundary waters. We have found that getting a home loan is #### near impossible without already having a job lined up out of state. So we have set ourselves a dead line of this month next year to be in Minnesota renting an apartment around Duluth. With our ultimate goal being to buy a house near the Canadian border.

    I am set to begin CDL+hazmat courses in Wisconsin in October after many months of trying to get hired by Kwik Trip's trainee program. I've decided just to pay for the training myself because I'm out of time to waste.

    I am wondering if any of you are from or have ever driven this area and know what the demand is like for drivers further north than Duluth? I'm sure there is plenty of logging loads to take and gasoline and propane to run but am worried about how saturated with drivers it may be seeing as it's one of the highest paying jobs in that region that isn't healthcare. I was even given contact info for a mining company up there that needs CDL drivers by our realtor but they don't do paid training and require some experience first.
     
    Djsand1000, Jul 30, 2026
    Djsand1000, Jul 30, 2026
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  3. Jul 30, 2026 #2
    Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Chinatown, Jul 30, 2026
    Chinatown, Jul 30, 2026
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  4. Jul 30, 2026 #3
    Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    ODFL Freight Shipping near Duluth, Minnesota - Old …
    Old Dominion Freight Line's Duluth service center services shippers in the Midwest North region of …
    [​IMG]
    Old Dominion hires new cdl school grads from select schools.
    Also, might work the docks until a driver opening.
    Has a dock-to-driver cdl program, if there's openings for that.
    This company is so good, people stay until retirement.
     
    Chinatown, Jul 30, 2026
    Chinatown, Jul 30, 2026
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    Djsand1000 Thanks this.
  5. Jul 30, 2026 #4
    Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Delete.
     
    Last edited: Jul 30, 2026
    Chinatown, Jul 30, 2026
    Chinatown, Jul 30, 2026
    #4
  7. Jul 30, 2026 #5
    Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Chinatown, Jul 30, 2026
    Chinatown, Jul 30, 2026
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  8. Jul 30, 2026 #6
    Toomanybikes

    Toomanybikes Road Train Member

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    Trucking world is over saturated with drivers everywhere!

    Money is no where near what many newbies think.

    Turnover at major trucking companies is around 100% annually and has been that way for years.

    But the reality Minnesota is no hub for trucking, and what industry there was in Minnesota is disappearing like in other states. Minnesota is way oversaturated with immigrants that have CDLs. And a whole lot of Minnesota freight is taken by Canadian companies that hire truck drivers from other nations. There are more CDLs in Canada than residents.

    The good news is you can get a job in trucking if you are willing to apply yourself and have reasonable expectations.
     
    Toomanybikes, Jul 30, 2026
    Toomanybikes, Jul 30, 2026
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  9. Jul 30, 2026 #7
    Long FLD

    Long FLD Road Train Member

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    Kwik Trip and Quik Trip are different companies. He’s already been trying to get in KT’s training program with no luck. And QT’s aren’t that far north.
     
    Long FLD, Jul 30, 2026
    Long FLD, Jul 30, 2026
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    Chinatown, tscottme and IH Truck Guy Thank this.
  10. Jul 30, 2026 #8
    Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Delete.
     
    Last edited: Jul 30, 2026
    Chinatown, Jul 30, 2026
    Chinatown, Jul 30, 2026
    #8
  11. Jul 30, 2026 #9
    wulfman75

    wulfman75 Road Train Member

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    If you click on the link it shows all KT's
     
    wulfman75, Jul 30, 2026
    wulfman75, Jul 30, 2026
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  12. Jul 30, 2026 #10
    Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Anyway, he can work for KT's.
    He can just apply and see what happens. He will already have a cdl, so won't need cdl training.
    Must live within 60 miles of a distribution center.
    *Prior Class A commercial driving experience is a plus but not required
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Jul 30, 2026
    Chinatown, Jul 30, 2026
    Chinatown, Jul 30, 2026
    #10
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