Questioning if I should go through with plans to get CDL

A lot of companies don't like to hire local drivers for OTR positions unless its a mega carrier that will pay less and abuse you until you get OTR experience. OTR also is a life style and not a job so if you do it be mentally prepared to miss a lot of family happenings and such.

 

but in fairness OTR can be very rewarding if you get with a good company that can get you home every week to two weeks.

 

Where is your location?
As for OTR jobs, most will pay $60G or more per year. Sure, some don't but those drivers don't do research and jump on whichever color paint looks good on the trucks vs. which has good pay and benefits.
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As for local jobs; depends on where you live. The larger the town/city the more opportunities for quality local jobs.
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Local driving does count as experience. A few companies won't consider it, but most companies look at local driving as positive, because the driver has experience in heavy city traffic and backing into tight docks.
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Doesn't take much skill to drive a truck in a straight line on the interstate highway, but does take skill and experience to maneuver in city traffic and back into docks in cities. So, yeah, if you can get a year or two as a city driver before going OTR, you'll be a valuable resource for trucking companies.

 

Just so you know. A local "home daily" job can mean 14-16 hour days including your commute. You will barely have time to eat or sleep. ESPECIALLY as a rookie. You are going to be very slow at first. It ain't all it's cracked up to be. Good luck. Your best bet would be food service or beverage delivery. Some beverage companies will train you for your CDL. Be careful...it can be grueling work. Good luck

 

In your area, is there
-any type of industry?
-any warehousing?
-any LTL terminals?
-any food service terminals?
-a major airport?
-a Coke or Pepsi bottling plant?

If you don’t want OTR, you don’t have to do OTR. Foodservice terminals with have shuttle that runs between their distribution centers and the local terminals. Bottling plants will have shuttles too.

 

I'm saying this a bit tongue in cheek, but some carriers are so desperate for drivers I had a guy ask me if I thought there would ever be a chance I could drive again? The state of Virginia made that abundantly clear! NO!

 

YRC Freight and Reddaway are both in Eugene. Both have local city work, home every day.
Their cdl school is in Portland.
Company pays for health insurance for the driver and family; no cost to you.
Find out if the company has opened a cdl school in Eugene; call and ask.
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CDL Driving Academy - Dock Worker Jobs |Work for YRC Freight
Get Paid to Earn Your CDL
The YELLOW CDL Driving Academy
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