Newbie looking for advice???

You can find a local job, just have to try harder than most.
Paschall Truck Lines in Kentucky will hire you for OTR, usually staying East of I-35. Work there 6 - 12 months then it will make finding a local job much easier. Their trucks have APU's.

 

It's probably experience that is holding you back in the local job market. Their insurance will simply not have it. That is likely your biggest problem. Unfortunately, there isn't really a lot of options other than going with the bigger self insured carriers. Farm trucking is another option, as they usually run on a different set of rules, and it will get you home nightly. Good luck! and Keep trying

 

Your misdemeanor may be a some what of issue depending on what the local job was and your non-experience is the other one. You should try like a warehouse some time they hire truck drivers straight out of school u would have to unload your trk at the multiple stops. That's probably be your only option unless u do 6 months otr then u may have more options. I think old dominion have training program if they have dc where u live try others similar to them like estes, yellow, etc but u will need haz and doubles

 

I never had a problem with background man I did 27 months in the can had job options when I got cdl I guess I was just lucky or they are just more picky now try Frey Miller out of OK city or kllm out of Jackson Mississippi

 

No one gets out of paying dues.

No lies?
The assault charge hurts you - even more if you were convicted.
No one wants a hot-head as a driver.

And to get local gigs you usually need experience driving OTR.
It is both an insurance thing, and a need for the company to know that you can drive a truck.
OTR gives you the experience driving through various road conditions and through cities and streets.
When you are just coming out of school, you have none of that.
And if you are pulling a 53-footer it is no simple task - either through weather conditions or city streets.

I've been OTR for nearly 3 years, and I learn new things often enough to let me know that I am not ready for being in a strictly city environment yet.
Learn 'new' things every day as others have claimed? No. Every day does not bring a new lesson or experience.
But it is often enough to make me stay OTR for the time being, as I get a taste for every possible situation.

Driving a truck is not so much how you want it to be, but more how it is actually is.
There is a big difference.

 

First off there are a lot of people who will see that you have an assault charge and they will tell you that you have no chance...no one wants you...hell in thier eyes you are scum and might as well kill yourself...if you listen to them they will drag you down and make you give up. Luckily all they do is drive and not make hiring decisions. Also...hopefully they wont ever get caught breaking the law cause then they would be just like you.

The fact is that most companies require that you put in your OTR miles before you can get a regional gig. I said most...not all...and some will put you right into regional on a case by case basis...you just havevto look.

Some companies are very strict about criminal background and many won't hire felons or people who have assault misdemeanors under 8-10 years old...but again...note that I said some. ..not all. When there is something like that in your background you are held to a higher standard. They MIGHT give you a chance but you have something to prove and that begins with your application. You...must...be...honest. You must go the extra mile and you must be ready to prove that you have changed.

Next...understand that very few people start at the top. Most everyone has to work thier way up the ladder. If you are not willing to start at the bottom doing OTR for whatever company will give you a chance then its possible you might need to rethink your commitment to being a trucker. If that is what you want to do then hold your head up and don't let people tell you that you have no chance. Be honest, show integrity, and take whatever opportunity you areboffered.