New guy looking for direction

If you don't really want to relocate--and would prefer instead to avoid the hassles & headaches involved with all that...one option you could try....is to sign up with Swift:

We offer truck driving jobs with CDL training. Connect with us to start your career with Swift as a professional truck driver today!

Swift has a terminal located in Lathrop, Ca.

So that means you're closer to the nearest Swift facility....than I was to the nearest Schneider terminal (my first carrier).

And Swift is very much in the business of hiring & grooming new CDL holders--JUST WHAT YOU NEED!!!

Yeah...they may not pay you the most, starting out....but that, vs the costs (direct, & indirect) of relocating may well make them a worthy starting point.

That terminal shows they do both dry van, & dedicated duty there--again, JUST WHAT YOU NEED!!!

Also--depending on your local circumstances--Swift would very likely let you take your assigned rig home with you, for your time off.

You could put in 12+ months there, then re-evaluate your situation...vs other available local area opportunities you'd qualify for at that time.

The above assumes of course that Swift is currently hiring...& also hiring at that location.

Think about it......

--Lual

 

Hazmat Containers.

They require tanker endorsement as well.

Not sure about CA, but I made $1380.00 a week fresh out of CDL school pulling containers with Hazmat, Tanker, and TWIC.

 

Philadelphia, with the account based in Columbus, OH. Penn Terminals specifically.

Obviously where you live that isn't an option but with all the container traffic in CA I'm sure there is something.

We pulled all kinds of Hazmat container loads that were liquid shipped in IBC totes, which required tanker endorsement.

 

I was regional, home every weekend. Started at 60 cents a mile as rookie and ended up at 70 cents after 18 months.

 

No one is really suggesting that you move to/near there (Lathrop).

In my case--when I started out in the CDL world, the nearest Schneider terminal was about 4 hours away from where I still live--& in a real-ly sucky part of Atlanta.

But....to get started (& we all have to start s-o-m-e-where)....I made it work.

Again--because it's a dry van situation--Swift will likely let you take the rig home with you.

So....after you do your training--you wouldn't necessarily have to go back to Lathrop each time, to begin your home time.

Sure...it's not perfect...but it IS a start.

A bonus: with Swift--you'll actually get a reasonable amount of time out with a trainer.

With Schneider--I got less than a week.

-- Lual

 

In my case--Schneider had so much freight, in so many places (& I'm sure they still do) that they had freight for me to pick up/drop off on my way back home, for home time--with very little real "deadhead" miles. Thus, most of the time, I was able to park reasonably close to home.

And ditto...for going back out on duty, after my hometime. Plenty of "action" for me to work...on my way back out.

That's yet another advantage that the "megas" have...that you never really hear about (since everybody's having too much "fun" bashing them)--they have so much freight, in so many places...that they are able to keep you busier...vs the smaller carriers.

It's very reasonable to predict/assume you would have a similar experience...with Swift.

With all that in mind--a carrier like Swift is not a bad place to be in a recession. As freight dries up elsewhere (e.g., FedEx just announced another round of furloughs), the "big dogs" are more likely to keep you running.

I learned that the easy way...with Schneider.

--Lual