Is part time trucking a thing?

Hey all,

First off wanted to say appreciate all the info on this site. My question, is being a part time trucker with zero experience (besides having a Class A) a thing?

I'm a full time Deputy Sheriff here in Southern California, but I got my Class A a few years ago when I was in between jobs and debated becoming a lineman. Through that, I actually checked out a lot about the trucking community and went down the rabbit hole, so to speak.

Now that I work patrol, I work a 3/12, 4/12 schedule, so I have three and four consecutive days off. I generally just do overtime one or two days a week, but it's taking a toll on me if I'm being honest. I want to do something that's not my same job all the time.

I just enjoy working. I don't need the money. The problem is, no one seems to hire part timers. I've called a few companies and they have told me they don't, and they don't know any who do. Hell, I'd even volunteer a day per week or something to gain experience, lol.

I know we have loads of gigs here in Southern California. I live about 80 miles east of LA. If anyone has any tips about how to get my feet wet, I would greatly appreciate it.

 

You can buy a truck and work on any of several decent self-dispatch programs, but I wouldn't recommend doing that with no experience. @Chinatown might be along to recommend some starter companies in your area that can work with your schedule. But another factor might be the hours of service, as some or all of your other job's activities might need to count against how much CDL driving you can do in a given week.

 

Are self dispatch programs like load boards? DAT for example

 

Many of them are, but not all. Schneider, USA Truck, and Landstar all have proprietary load boards you work off of. There's also smaller companies where you work off of public boards such as DAT. Then there's other systems where you work thru a dispatcher who follows your instructions, or wait for a call and give a thumbs up or thumbs down to whatever they're offering. Not sure if they're even technically called self dispatch, or it might be a flavor of unforced dispatch, etc. Everyone has their own system but most of the big players have a board of some sort nowadays.

 

Check with the local construction, paving, dump truck companies even the small one or two truck companies

 

I dont have names of a company. But know a few career firemen that did driveaway deliveries. Trucks, apparatus. Had a few part time that worked at a towing company I used to manage too. They always need nigh and weekend help.

 

Some of the better companies in trucking still have part time positions. My first career was a professional firefighter and I did trucking my entire career on my days off. I worked enough days to get pension credits on my part time job in the Teamsters. I worked full time in several Teamster jobs after retiring from the FD before I bought my own rig. ABF is just one company that does this. Frito Lay is another great company that works part time drivers if they have a plant near you.

 

Have you looked into driving semi’s for the Sheriffs Department? I’ve seen semi’s here local in SoCal. Cops are all in full gear like there in a patrol car. Thought it was pretty cool. Trucks were 389’s long hood and clean.

 

I work 2-4 days a week. Check out agriculture.

 

Robertson's might hire you. This company has their own cdl training program also. Their trucks are for CDL-A drivers.
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