Got My Year Experience!!

I have a question. I have over 1 year of service with my current employer. I am looking to make a move to a tanker company, however I am not sure if they are going to hire anyone right away. (They are going to hire soon, I am told). If I leave my current employer and go to another over the road company that is located much closer to home, will this deter the company I am waiting on from hiring me? I don't want to look like a job hopper, basically, but I don't want to miss out on the job offer from the closer OTR company. I really want the first job mentioned but don't want to make any mistakes by job hopping. Any info would be greatly appreciated.