is it better to start off trucking career LTL or OTR

That is an easy/reasonable way to do it. OTR is easy to get into and acquire some exp needed for other "non-entry-level" driving jobs.

You can do it faster if you find that niche job you want first, and then figure out what you need to do to get it.

 

In my opinion nothing can prepare you for P&D. The backing, and driving into tight areas is just ridiculous.

 

Yes

 

Do you already have your CDL?

 

Estes and Old Dominion hires people with no experience as long as you got your CDL from school that they approve. OD has dock to driver program. FxF you need 1 year experience or apply for driver apprentice program. No OTR experiemce required

P&D can be adventurous sometimes

 

We just hired a new guy fresh out of school to be a driver he's been in training with 2 other guys for a few weeks now, he's been having a hard time, food service is real hard for new drivers. And it's even hard for experienced drivers who aren't used to it and by not used to it, I mean like a city driver for an LTL company would be alright they know all about bad loads and crappy loads and hard unloads and damaged product and stuff like that, but being new in the city is very difficult because you're learning 2 jobs.

You're learning how to drive the truck, but then you have to learn how to make deliveries and paper work and products and cartons etc etc and the new guy they hired he's been having a hard time with both, he's been having a hard time learning how to shift, which trust me I had no natural talent for when I first started I was the worst shifter there ever was ever, I have no natural talent for shifting, but I worked at it and did it every day and kept doing it and everyday you get a little bit better and better and now it's not even a big deal to me.

The trouble is the unloading because while a driver seems to get better at driving the people who work in the dock or warehouse seem to never get better at there jobs. Well it's not that they don't get better they do, but usually they quit a lot and then go away and new people come in and get loads like this:

 

Some of the spots I see you guys getting into have to do some unconventional moves. While dodging the drunk drive thru customers Lol Harder than LTL. Too much Labor for me.Did enough of that

 

He told you the tried and usual way .I did opposite having 7 yrs local straight Truck exp. Jumped into LTL. It was good. Old Trucks manual steering no air.Ahh the good old days. After few yrs went OTR. I felt like I’d gone to heaven!! Local is good though maybe start as yard dog (spotter). (Switcher) same thing. Gives you good backing skills fast.Theres more than one way to achieve goals just have to try everything you can see what’s available.If I’m going to work local it has to be hourly with overtime preferably 60 hrs paying me 70 hrs week. 5 days week staying busy a 12 hr day would fly by for me.