Over the road.

But they have a longish time riding with trainer. It could stretch beyond 2 months. That's the only downside with Prime. Otherwise it has great training. I don't care for reefer, so it wouldn't interest me.

 

Counterpoint -- (& I do hope I'm totally wrong, btw)......

Most of the above listings now....either:

• aren't hiring (rookies)
• aren't hiring in FL, &/or south FL (as previously discussed)
• pay significantly less than those local, home-daily gigs; meanwhile, they will run you to death (especially if reefer) -- & you'll also have to later drive in ice &/or snowy conditions (note: recall ol' man winter will be here soon).

The only OTR carrier listed above that I saw hiring rookies from other sources was TransAm; their pay is MUCH WORSE than even Schneider -- & they will treat you like a mule on a treadmill (on a good day).

Hey -- don't misunderstand me -- I'm all for "adventure" & "the call of the open road"....as much as anybody else.

The thinking here is, however...your timing for such...couldn't be much worse.

Good luck, Driver.

-- L

 

I'm going to give you some advice and hope you think about this.

Go to FedEx or UPS sites and apply there.

Get them to help "train" you and work locally.

Chances are if you work directly for either of them, you will make better money, have a better life and be home every night.

You live with you at the dad's place and eventually find a place to live with your dog. I would not want to bring my dogs or cats on the road.

 

they have a flatbed division

 

I'm reading between the lines, but I think he and dad want to part ways.

 

If/whenever you are later treated with unearned/unprovoked disrespect by:

• dispatchers
• lumpers
• recruiters
• security guards/entry-exit personnel
• managers
• (etc -- you get the idea)

You really should care.

A LOT.

-- L

 

You and dog can live in the truck and bank most of your paycheck.
Many drivers are doing that and when trucking is over, they'll have a nice bank for a comfortable retirement. I've met drivers that have been living in the truck for years and are perfectly content with the lifestyle.

 

I went bust playing with aitplanes. I had my car impounded, had not enough money to free it and pay my rent. I was 3 weeks from being homeless & decided to get into trucking. My dad was a veteran driver and drew a map forward that by brother followed a year earlier that got a good driving job & home on weekends. So I knew I had a sure way into trucking and a guaranteed job waiting the Monday after I finished CDL school. Trucking was something I avoided because of the social stigma some people give it. My choice was go to school near my FL apartment, if I could figure out how to pay my bills during school or ditch FL & live on my brother's couch for 3 weeks of CDL school and on weekends home in TN. FL CDL school had a few month waiting list & 8 weeks of class at community college. CDL school in TN was starting every Monday, 3 weeks & twice as expensive as FL school. My first job paid Tuition Reimbursement so the TN school wasn't an issue. TN school found me a loan. I decided to get into TN school in a few days from now and be working 22 days later. I got to work and had no bills but my school loan of $160/mo and the food I ate. I didn't even have a car until I was driving. I saved more cash in my first year driving than I made the year before as an aircraft mechanic and I didn't shred my knuckles or spend 12 hours per day 7 days per week sweating through my clothes by 0730. Trucking can turn your life around. It turned many of our lives around. But you need to make smart decisions after you have a plan. Without a plan you are just walking in a random direction while hoping you end up somewhere better. That's not a good plan.

Local, home daily work is usually 12 hour days in traffic and just home long enough to sleep. OTR is a mix of long & short days but you don't commute to home just a truckstop and sleep 3 feet from where you work.

The industry has slowed a lot in last 2 years. I anticipate a recession. It could get slower. South FL has been a trucking desert for years. I think you should look for an OTR company driver position (W-2 employee only, no 1099) that works if you stay in FL and another compay if you move to the easiest state you can move to. You just need your name on a utility bill (not cellphone) & housing lease agreement, for example. Those 2 documents & a CDL should open up many more jobs. If you are already in CDL school, stay & finish. I would have recommended you find the job that fits you AND THEN go to CDL school, but it is what it is.

Pray and just be open to what comes your way, not what you really want to do and claim it's the answer to your prayer. Personally, I would lean towards leaving FL. I soured on FL but my 2 years being poor in Ft Lauderdale and frickin soggy all day every day was a part of that attitude.

You will likely feel alone & confused much of your 1st year OTR, but you dog will still be near you. Don't just decide any company is as good as any other. There is tremendous variation between companies if you have any specific requirements or bad marks in your record. Bringing a pet limits you to maybe 40% of trucking companies. Don't do Lease-Operator or 1099 or CR England. Dry van requires the least attention from a new driver. After 1 year experience you can work for tanker companies. The sooner you work in tanker the better you will like trucking, IMO. Work on your plan, we will help.