From local to OTR. What a dilemma.

Don't let a lot of time pass between school and that first job. Just expect that first month while with a trainer you most likely will not get home. Your not going to get rich that first year. You will have some dues to pay, get them paid and get it finished. What ever training company you choose should be able to tell you what you will be making as you are paid by the day. This way you can see if you will make enough to pay your bills. Once you get finished and on your own truck you should make at least what you made that first month. If not raise some hell with the company.

 

This business is what you make it for the most part. OTR is tough with a Family. It will be easier for you to run with OTR company then switch to local. However there is a company who flat beds Called MCelroy they get you home every weekend guaranteed....

 

Is there any companies in your area that hauls material with side and belly dumps?U have the exp in construction so anyone looking for sidedump drivers may hire you and train you for a couple weeks.I drove dump truck for two season's and made $12.50 an he and for a landscaping company hated every second of it mainly because I intensely disliked the boss.I then worked for Brower construction One season and made 20.00 an hr hauling asphalt to Nov sites with a belly dump.Then went OTR.But I Think had I looked for local job hauling van someone would have given me a chance but I wanted to go OTR.Considering you have a family I think you should go knock on Some doors and talk to them in person.

 

Try the ones that don't require that much exp.A company here required 2 yrs sidedump exp but because they needed the Drivers I was hired.

 

I would recommend poly to you, but I believe they require at least a year of verifiable otr experience. They may be worth considering in the future, though, as they have the best home time policy in otr: five business days in a row off. They are based out of Grand Prairie, too.

As far as magnum goes, I went through orientation with a guy who had a similar driving background to yours.

 

The training is all otr driving. You live in the trainer's truck. No team driving either: the trainer is only allowed to drive if your lack of stamina endangers delivery time.

Home time might be a bit of a problem for you. They get us home when we ask, but the expectation is at least 3-4 weeks out at a time.

The home terminals are in Fargo, nd and coon rapids, mn. One major plus is the performance based pay. After six months, it is possible to make 50 cents a mile, or 55 cents a mile for hazmat loads.

 

I'm not a fan of Averitt, but they do have refresher and probably some account that gets you home often.