Rookie needs advice

I haven't had this experience yet, but I can imagine a company taking you on, and making you go through some kind of of training process, expect a few places to ask you to go through a T/T refreshment course, something along that lines. that's my first assumption, I hate to say it, but you might need to do some time with a large company before you could find what your probably looking for, my advice is to find a larger company to take you on, grin and bear eating the #### sandwiches they dish out daily for 1 year, with a clean record you can go pretty much to any T/T company after that.

 

Training, as you have NO exp.

 

You may want to spend some time and call all of the smaller companies in your area. Remember, the drivers shortage also effects the smaller companies.
Explain your situation to them. They will probably send you out with another driver so you can get the feel of it, and then you're on your own.
While going with a big training company may well be your only choice, you should exhaust all other options first. You already have a lot of the most important qualities down, such as shifting, cornering with a load, centering in your lane, etc. What you need is a little time with a trailer so you can get used to it. With having the basics down, the rest should come really easy. All you really have to get used to is the extra length, bigger turns, and backing. I've trained drivers such as yourself before, and the learning curve really is quick.
Good luck with your job search.

 

All good info already, and I concur with rwsfinch50 in all aspects.
Personally, I'd leave the big megacarrier companies as a bare last resort. I'd try to get an opportunity with a smaller company.
It may require some "door knocking" and in-person job searching, considering your past straight dump experience.
What area do you live in? When asking these type of questions that info would be helpful.

Construction related trucking is one field you might look into, but as we all know, in late fall/winter it takes a nosedive due to being seasonal.
Some areas, like north, it effects sooner and harder.

 

Alot of it depends on the old real estate axiom--location,location......... What part of the industry do you want to get into? Flatbed might be more flexable than the Mega dryvan reefer carriers. If you hauled gravel, asphalt, or coal I am sure you know how to shift and maneuver a truck--sell yourself with a smaller company but check them out on TTR.

 

If you have been working steady in the industry since 2004 driving dump trucks, especially if you were pulling dump trailers, you should go out and start knocking on doors of companies in your area, if you have a clean safety record, you know how to drive a truck, getting into OTR should not be hard.

You might also look at TMC trans, they do have a "flatbed" school there, I am guessing they would be willing to hire you and teach you how to run one.

 

Andy, try Schneider or Prime. I believe they will just send you out for a refresher course and you'll get on the road from there.