Do I get into trucking or take new local job? Suggestions please

Go OTR, no question about it.
Which state do you live in?

$480.00 weekly before deductions at the warehouse job.
You can easily double that running OTR once all your training is complete and in your assigned truck as a solo driver.

 

If it was me, I'd take the Warehouse job, but try to build up more skills on the side to keep advancing.

A warehouse job could give you good insight to logistics and shipping or even leads on more appealing driving jobs anyway instead of going to Trucking School and being recruited to a company.

 

That seems good on the surface,but, if he shows too much interest in advancement, those over him will feel threatened and sabatoge his chances. I haven't been a victim of this, but have seen it happen. It's very common. Same old BS every day; same old stale, tired jokes in the breakroom every day. He's single so will enjoy the open road and seeing the country.
Most warehouses outsource the logistics department anyway and don't even own trucks.

 

Or just the fact that he can run otr for a year or two, and take a 1200/week local job in a metro area. Ltl is easier to get into at a younger age... what other careers interest you? Warehouse work is pretty much dead-end unless it's union or you plan to get a business or logistics degree.

 

With a CDL & a clean driving record you will never be unemployed unless you want to be. Money is better too.

In a warehouse you are just 1 of many looking for the limited jobs in your area.

 

$12.00 an hour ? No thanks !

Much rather make minimum in a truck for a month with all the training but knowing I'll have more money coming sooner rather than later !

No disrespect but this shouldn't be a question. The question should be how soon can I start my career with trucking !

 

So you have zero experience in trucking and still need to go to school, which is $4,500? No social life? Like to be alone, live in a tight space, wake up in the middle of the night to walk 800 feet to use bathroom? Your paychecks will never be consistent when you are OTR. Don't expect to make $800 a week, on the road 24/7, away from home. You'll have your $1,000 a week paychecks, and you'll have your $500 week paychecks. When I first started, I was expecting to average at least $3,000 a month, since being i was on the road 28 days a month, running all 48 states. The 3 months I was with that company, I averaged $2,200/month. Problem wasn't because I was taking long breaks, its because they couldn't always find those long trips for me. You are relying on your DM and your equipment to get a decent paycheck at the end of every week. -- The last company I worked for I averaged $2,500/month, but I was home 2 nights a week... still ran 60+ hours.

If the computer warehouse position is a dead end job that does not provide opportunities for you to move up... then yeah, I would take a shot at OTR. Like others have mentioned, if you do 2 years OTR (if you can last that long), then opportunities for local driving positions will open up. I have a friend working for Pepsico, making $15/hour delivering products to stores.. that may be an option if you find out OTR isn't for you.

All these posts that are selling you on how great OTR is... isn't actually telling you the ugly side of OTR. Sure, the money is great when the universe aligns itself... meaning you find a company that treats you right, provides you great equipment, get a Dispatcher that works hard to find those miles for you, and have all the luck in the world. Just ask yourself this... why is the turnover rate in this industry so incredibly high? Probably because people come into this industry with an imaginary mindset believing its going to be fun and easy. This is a 180 degree lifestyle change. You will be calling payroll every week because they shorted you a $100 on your paycheck. You will drive 130 miles for free because they pay you zip code to zip code. There will be those days where you sit at a truck stop bored out of your mind not making a dime. I sold my house, because it made no sense paying $900 a month on rent... thinking trucking was going to be the greatest experience in my life because everyone made it sound like it was a dream job... don't set the bar too high.

 

I was working in a warehouse for a dollar above minimum wage when I finally talked to a Swifty and asked him about how he was paid, how much and how it wall worked. Next thing you know I find this forum and off to the races I went. It took me about 6 months to decide that I was tired of unloading trucks before I jumped at a change to go train with Central Refrigerated.

Things just take time and nobody but you can decide how long that will take. On a side note. Having a Class A CDL with a CLEAN driving record is a guaranteed job in EVERY major city and smaller down in this country. In most cities a CDL will earn you $15-$18 per hour locally, and when you factor in OT it's a no brainer compared to warehouse work.

And don't be intimidated by OTR. I did just 6 months of that #### before I landed a local beverage delivery job. Then the oilfields came calling and now a regional gig you would have to fight me to have. I told you all that to say this. If you so choose this industry, MAKE it WORK for you.

unloader

 

If he doesn't have the money for private school, then go to a trucking company school like Jim Palmer Trucking. No money needed and they pay their new grads .40 cpm +.05 cpm extra for fuel bonus. Sweet trucks with APU.
Need:
original social security card (not laminated)
original birth certificate
work gloves
flashlight
steel toe slipon style work boots

Do their online application and find out more. Maybe you'll have a good trucking job in a few days.