Hi guys. From So Cal

Best Of Luck and Welcome to the forum

PHP:

 

Starting in the trucking industry will probably mean OTR for a couple years.

It's not that bad, though, and you will be making more than you are currently.

I am averaging around $600 per week, and I am a new driver with Swift.
It could probably be more, but I am the lazy type. I deliver at the appointed time, usually not calling to see if I can deliver early. I like some easy 400 mile days, between the hard running 600 mile ones.

OTR has some advantages, like seeing the country in a way you would not otherwise. There are some beautiful areas to be seen, as well as the boring. But overall, some interesting scenery.

I can't really calculate 'work hours', being OTR. Waiting for the next load could be considered 'work hours', or not - depending on how you view such things, and how you spend those hours. But, I usually have a pre-plan before I deliver my current load.

I just got home, after 6 weeks out. A day in, and I am already looking forward to my next load. I like the driving, I like the money, I like being in my truck, I like the overall lifestyle.
(I also like being able to cook on a real stove and in a real oven, being able to wake up and get a nice shower, move around in more than 3 square meters, go to a real grocery store, have a tobacco shop nearby... So, I also love my infrequent home time.)

Being OTR has its gives and takes, but I love it just the same.

 

Southern Cali is ripe with non OTR opportunities. Wow, Lucky's was my fave market before Albertson's bought them out. Check with the Teamsters, many of the supermarket day cab jobs are union. Conway Freight has a start from scratch apprentice program. You could also shag drive at a warehouse or distribution center before you even have a CDL if you stay on a lot.

Pound some pavement. You represent yourself as a thoughtful, intelligent young man. Dress nicely and be persistent! Be prepared to do some other type of work just to get your foot in the door. But hey! 40 hours plus some overtime could be better than what you have going on now. Beer distributors have driver helper gigs. If you rode along at least you might see if you really want to deal with that crazy traffic every day.

Good luck and keep us posted!

 

where you located at?

 

Wow, Lucky's...haven't heard that name in years. I grew up in SoCal before joining the Military back in 1988.

 

try looking online for ltl companies, thats what i did and was at the right time, i just kept checking every day and something popped and got lucky

 

Used to be a Lucky's a block-and-a-half from where I lived back in the late 70s and early 80s. That was one junky store in need of a makeover, which I think it got after I moved away.

But I digress.

You sound like you got some good gray matter between your ears, though you may be suffering from wishful thinking if you want to work M-F with weekends off, at least at first.

The above "pound the pavement" tip would also be mine. I wish you a lot of success, and keep us posted.