Looking into starting an OTR career, with a slight twist

So I'll say it before some other smartazz does. " If you are ALREADY homeless, you at least got THAT out of the way. Most drivers take at least a few months before reaching that point."

In case my tongue in cheek didn't come through, let me state that was an attempt to be humorous.

You are starting off right by doing your due diligence. Good luck.

 

I'll scratch the surface : consider moving to a state with no personal income tax so you can keep more of your paycheck.
There are 9 states with no personal income tax (7+2 with special provisions).
Alaska
Florida
Nevada
New Hampshire
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Washington
Wyoming

OK, now get 'crackin'.

 

If you are at a Company to work, you will have plenty of downtime.

There is NO TYPICAL schedule. It depends on loads most importantly.
And sooner or later you will get a load that needs to be picked up on Fri and delivers on Mon, 900 miles away..

 

Hey ExNihilo, I am similar to you in that I have been living and working overseas for about 7 years. I will return to the USA next month for the sole reason of starting work as a driver in the trucking industry, I also have no need for hometime and hope this well help in job search/being in good with dispatchers.

I am similar in that I can go practically anyplace in the USA to take my CDL school and then take a job. For me, this is what I have come up with so far.


For school, 3 choices:

1. Pay on my own PTDI-Certified Course training in Iowa with Des Moines Area Community College, $3900 in addition to a $400 fee for books, fuel and miscellaneous expenses. Total Cost: $4300. I think good quality training and they will accept even if from out of state.
2. Take training with Swift Transport in Phoenix AZ. I picked Swift as they do seem to have a very good PTDI-Certified training program. People have some complaints about their 1[SUP]st[/SUP] year pay, but as far as getting good solid "company" training, Swift stands out to me.
3. Take training on my own at Horizon Commercial Truck School near Reno, NV. Total cost about $2,200. Lower cost program only 4weeks, not 6 like the others. However, others (board member here) tell me it is a good quality program in spite of not having PTDI certification.
   
   I am open to all 3 and the number one choice keeps changing in my mind. They are all viable and should work ok. Right now 3 is a front-runner as it is pay out of pocket but with a lower cost, I like it as it gives me the most freedom.

I will seek prehire letters starting now, from large "starter carriers" and focus my job search in the California/Southwest US/Texas region, several big hubs in Phoenix AZ. As an over the road driver we can go anyplace in the country but I think that region suits me best to do my 1[SUP]st[/SUP] year driving due to less hazardous conditions (no snow) and the greater amount of work due to the oil shale boom in Texas (even if I don't work in the Texas oild fields, I think it is likely that demand has left others in the region needing drivers). I know setting your address in a region does not mean that is the place you will drive, but I think it will help.

Those are my thoughts, interested to hear your take on getting started also.


Regards

 

you will need an address that corresponds to companies hiring area. Hawaii license probably wont cut it. A mailbox at a UPS store will work as it has a real physical address. There are many guys that just live in the truck take hometime wherever they want. I take mine Portsmouth NH, Chicago Ill, and Toms River NJ kids all over
If you pick a reefer company you are bound to sit plenty then run like hell. I have had 3 10 hour breaks in last 48 hours next load thou is 1700 miles in 62 hours

 

Yes.


You probably do need to find a way to have an address, as someone else mentioned, at least a PO Box or something. I know a few drivers who live in their trucks and are just fine with that. It sounds like you have thought a lot about it and you are not just jumping into it to make some quick money, so I think you will be fine with whatever decision you make. Good luck to you!

 

Compays will let u use there address most will.

 

Southeast Community College in Lincoln Nebraska (catalog is on-line). Pay it yourself. The school is $1070.00 for instate, probably another $200-300 for out of state. They get out of state drivers in their program. Are you going to be living in a Hotel while at school? You'll need proof of residency somehow to get your license. Ignore those starter companies and start at Crete, or another company where you are paid at least .34 or so cpm at least.

 

I'm heading to an 8 week community college program on Monday. It's 384 hours, they say. Cost is a little under $1000. I'm renting a room locally via Craigslist for $125/week. Much nicer and cheaper than a fleabag motel.

One of the things that sold me on this school was that you have to already have your learner's permit...not wasting class time going over the DMV handbook! There is a commercial school much closer to me that advertises "Get your CDL in as little as 17 days". But I want to be as prepared as possible. The first year OTR is supposedly so difficult that as many as 95% of new drivers don't finish it out. It makes sense to me to grab every advantage I can to tilt things in my favor. I have it a little easier because I have some savings to pay for school, and I'm back living with my parents.

I have seen some discussion here about carriers looking for a minimum of 160 hour programs (vs. 120 hour programs, I believe) but I can't find the reference right now. Make sure you're getting your money's worth and the minimum hours needed to satisfy the carriers you might want to work for.

Let us know what you find out there, and what you choose to do.