Strange question, am I a newbie?

Heartland has it right . It's insurance company requirements . I'm sure the training time is far less than you say with many companies . Just an odd chance you might try the US Postal Service , especially if you're a veteran . They aren't always hiring but you'd probably qualify . On that note , don't even go for a big truck . City carriers make over $20 an hour . My wife was a carrier for 5 years , worked as a clerk , almost a year , and just bid on a dispatcher's job and got it .

 

The best thing to do would be to actually contact some companies and talk to the people. OTR experience is an entirely different thing, but there may be some companies willing to work with you. Pick up some trucker mags from a truck stop or search the web for some ideas on some of the other companies out there. Most training is only 6 or 8 weeks, and you may be able to find a company that would require less time with a trainer. With the stuff you have been doing, you obviously will not have a problem transitioning to OTR. It may take you some time, but you may be able to find a company that is the right fit.

 

This is always a sore spot with me. I've done both OTR and local and I realize that some local jobs would not even give you the skills needed to drive OTR. But some are harder. I believe that the insurance companies are looking at all local jobs as a small truck like LTL deliveries. I can tell you it's much harder to drive a super tanker 85 feet long loaded with gasoline around the city making 5 to 6 deliveries in a 12 hour shift or driving a set of doubles. You'll learn more defensive driving in one year than 10 OTR. You'll be exposed to more chances of being hit in the city than out on the road. Hardcard has gained experience and should be credited for what he's done. Thank God my company recognized the skill required and paid accordingly. I wish the insurance companies would do the same and stop insulting drivers like Hardcard and put him to work.

 

Amen on that GasHauler! Rolling down the interstate is much easier than getting through the towns and dealing with the loading docks! Then again, these days, the insurance companies think that your credit rating has something to do with the way a person drives, so if you don't have perfect credit you pay more than the idiot who is always getting speeding tickets in his BMW! Keep looking Hardcard, you'll find something!

 

All I had was local experience when I went looking for an OTR job. I did not have as much experience with class A trucks as you do though. Still, I had to take a refresher course, at which I learned nothing accept the changes in the log rules, which I could have learned by reading for 5 min.
Now I have been OTR for over a year, I love the work but it is driving my wife insane. She cannot take me being gone anymore, so I am talking to a regional flatbed company in my area now.
Good luck with the search.
Training should not be more than 9 days at a school, and 3 weeks tops with a trainer. That is all I had, was actually more like 2 weeks with a trainer. He wanted to upgrade me in 7 days, but was not allowed too.

 

Heartland Transportation out of Estherville Iowa has some open trucks, as long as you can show two years experience you should be able to start around $0.36 a mile pulling 53' reefer with a late model Western Star.