Starting out for rookies

Just an idea - I have been stalking the local Industrial Parks here in my area. Many trucking terminals and usually some guys standing around to talk to. I havn't made my mind up yet on which way to go for schooling, but I'm getting an idea of the chances I will have to find somrthing local.

 

If you want a local job with a large company, it's pretty much a waiting game and you usually have to be there a while before they will let you go to a local position. Otherwise, you might look into one of the local beverage companies if you want local

 

That is always a rich-field of leads.

It used to be that way prior to all the hand-held electronics, now everyone stay in the cab so how and if you find people to talk to is of interest to me as I plan to do exactly that as a central idea in a job-search effort along coastal bend of Texas

Try temporary agencies, that is what I did in the 70's and it worked, what that does is allow one to get an exposure to dozens of companies, at which point one has materials to make a decison

 

Hey Jordan,

Usually terminals are a secured area but I have talked to a couple guys at the guard shack and one in the outer parking lot at the Lowe's terminal here.

 

How do you delete a post? I'm normally good at this stuff. Thanks, Nydia

 

Thanks Big Don. I'm just about to attend school (the 13th, for 4 weeks), and my research tells me OTR is the Best Experience, and the best money. I'm hoping that I do get a trainer the first few weeks. And, as I have given this career years of thought, I'm o.k. with the hardships that OTR can sometimes cause a driver, especially a new one.

My biggest concern is not who will sign ME, (I feel I have a good placement coordinator), but who I SHOULD go with in the beginning. While the money is always a factor, I'm looking for a company with low turnover, fair pay for a rookie, emphasis on safety, and comfortable rigs. (O.k. the last one does show I'm a girlie-girl, but a hardened social worker and long time girl scout....I'm no sissy).

My favorite part of my career, in which I spent 7 years for my education as a youngster, was definitely the driving. Driving with patients for Hospice, with clients with psyche problems (sometimes psychotic so I know how to hustle, even during hassles...ha), and to and from my client or family's homes (alone...ahhhh), up to 200 miles a day or more. At this stage in my life, I'm ready to make the best money I can, and know that I am a confident, alert, and careful driver with a squeaky clean background. And I love to learn from those who are confident and have a passion for what they do.

That being said, in the next 60 days (or less), I hope to be interviewing with companies to find the best fit. If anyone has ideas, I would love to hear your thoughts on the best companies for rookies. Again, OTR is not a problem.

When I started my research, and before I go to training next week, I told myself to "Go big or go home!" So your advice was just what I needed to hear. Thanks again, I'll be checking regularly, and am so happy to see such a great message board. My Mom, having worked for DSL for years (Houston office, accounting) taught me that "the old masters in truck driving," were some of the finest folks there are. I hope I can be true to her memory, become one of them, and make her proud.

Thanks again Big Don!

 

I'm hoping you're right NJ....that's what I plan to do. As new drivers, it would seem that OTR is our best option to getting good experience....otherwise, why get in the biz, right? Better to get the right training up front....choice picks are for more experienced drivers...comments? Thanks...and love the site!

 

check bmt. i dont know of any that will train as a beginner, maybe them. you usely have to have two years under you belt as a driver of a semi, to get these.

 

So I was reading that OTR, line-haul, and even local companies are getting desperate for drivers since most of the "old timers" are retiring at a rate that newbs are matching.
If this is making newspapers and other media headlines, then why aren't more companies taking new drivers with less experience? If the applicant pool is getting smaller, then why do they expect everyone to filter through the "lower quality" companies to gain experience? I understand that with unemployment rates the way they are, that people looking for jobs is greater than jobs available, but most of the people looking for jobs right now either aren't in the trucking business, or don't have the experience needed to get the jobs that the veterans are retiring from.
Is the whole idea to keep crappy companies in business as on the job training because they will hire newbs, but the newbs will leave as soon as they can find a better company, thus keeping turn around high, costs down (because crap company pays crap, because they can), and service sloppy?
I guess it's an okay way to do things, I know it'll certainly make the driver feel appreciated once they move into a better company, but it just doesn't seem right.

 

there is NO driver shortage, there arent that many old drivers retireing....its all BS to get more idiots to go to truck driving school.




American Trucker