Side loader question

Doesn't make sense at all actually. Most OTR spend their time on highways and hitting docks. Local, P&D, and beverage spend all day in tight city environments, tight streets, alleys, blindside backing against traffic closing the street while doing it, residential neighborhoods with your 53' etc. I started out in Beverage and when I went P&D they were all about it because they knew the ridiculous places we put our trucks at every stop. Now I do local flatbed for a company that supplies landscaping material to golf courses and country clubs, again my city experience helped me. Keeping your truck in lines on the highway doesn't get you good at driving 2 miles down a golf car path to a maint shop in the middle of a course! Not a dig to the OTR guys, we just drive in very different environments. If you start off with local driving, your not going to have an issue finding jobs driving locally. The fact your sideloader will be lower to the ground doesn't change anything, and shorter trailers are harder to back up than big ones, so again your good. I would also give Pepsi a real chance, if you don't like sideloaders you can get on a bulk route and just hit docks plus in most places Pepsi is Union and the pay and benefits are top notch. I know a couple guys working for them and their never going anywhere.

 

I guess because the CDL training is out of the way. I got my job at Pepsi because I already had a CDL and didn't have to test for it.

 

I see jobs like Pepsi bashed all the time on here. The only thing I can think of is it depends on region. I've worked at 2 Pepsi plants in my life. One corporate (PepsiCo) and one independent franchise. Honestly, the money is good -$65-$80K right away, home early (I'm often times home by 11:30 in the morning- HOME, not done), and off weekends. The only time I work a Saturday is if I feel like it and it's $40 per hour the entire time.

Others have posted that it's back breaking work and only $45-$50k. That hasn't been my experience at 2 separate plants. It's definitely worth a shot.

As far as tractor trailer experience- even if you drive a gooseneck it's still a tractor trailer. Just make sure you back in everywhere you can. Get real good at it. I honestly have a harder time backing the gooses up than I do the bulk trailers. Bulk is easy. Just let the trailer walk itself in. Those gooses can get away from you quick. Lol. Before you know it you're reaching out the window and touching your trailer.

Imo, give Pepsi a shot, it's great driving experience and you'll keep yourself in good shape. Lol