Is it possible...

To come right out of trucking school and work for a local company rather than going OTR? Or do they want that kind of experience first. When I say local I mean like a construction or hauling company so that I can be home at night.

 

Someone will probably confirm that dumps are your best option for that type of work without OTR experience.

It's impossible to say what every company in your area requires, but by and large it is understood that 2 years experience is the norm.

 

is it possiable? yes it is, is it likly? prob not today.
with the way things are slowly, sadly going in the country, most if not all the truckin companies, local to swift, the biggest trucking company out here, is able to pick and choose who they want working for them.
the more exp you have, they better and easier it could be to land a local gig.
if you live in the right area you may just be able to land such job right out of school, just dont hold your breath.
also. if you have not already signed up for school you should stop by the const. company and speak with the boss man, inform him you are intrsted in obtaining your cdla,b and would like to apply for such driving job.

if local is all you want to do, so you can be home nightly, inquire with local companies before spending money on truck driving school.

if you do otr, 1 year is what you will need to get a decent local gig.

hope this helps.

 

I would have to agree.

 

Generally, i think it's possible. Of course, with the economy the way it is anything is a little more difficult.

i would suggest looking at the LTL companies. i was able to go to overnite with only 1 month OTR experience. And i didn't even need that as back then they hired fresh out of school.

i think fedex freight and old dominion hire out of school.


Don't have much time to get into real detail right now. Too busy.


More later.

 

It is possible, my first driving job when I was 20 years old was local. You just have to get out and talk to these companies.

Although with the ecomomy the way it is and freight being slow, the companies who may be hiring can probably afford to be picky about who they hire, and will most likely hire someone who has some experience. Same goes for OTR jobs.

 

My first trucking job was local. Beer truck. Every day start out at 4am hitting the grocery stores. Then the convenience stores and restaurants. Circle back around and nail all the bars and watering holes. Finish up the route at 9pm.

2nd job was foodservice. Start out at 6am and hit the hospitals and senior homes. Then the schools and restaurants. Finished out at 6pm.

Came off the bigroad and pulled RGN for a construction company pulling a 40 ton dozer in a daycab with no AC , 2 sticks, and an Armstrong power steering unit.

Driving local sux.

 

Another question is then, is it possible for a newbie to get a regional/dedicated route right out of the box?

 

Regional - sure. Dedicated - maybe. Dedicated's would usually go to someone already working there. Alot of big companies "dedicated" imeans you are on a dedicated customers account not necessarily dedicated to the same place(s) all the time. Some smaller companies and ltl companies dedicated's mean same place(s) all the time. Those are harder to come by for a newbie because you typically start from the bottom and work up to those but it could be possible in certain areas.

 

there are a lot of different local jobs, the ones who haul there own freight, like beer, pepsi, coke, air liquide, air gas, are usually more lieniant of the Experience required. Local pulling a van for swift, werner, jb, forget about it.