What type of driving experience are garbage companies looking for?

I applied for a position at Waste Management as a residential driver, but I was turned down because of my lack of commercial driving experience. I had no problem with being turned down for the position. I'll get my experience somewhere else if I have to. I'll likely be getting hired at a distribution company as a straight truck driver. My question is do garbage companies look favorably upon straight truck experience? This is the only company that would hired me without experience, so I really have no other choice. What kind of driving experience (besides a garbage truck) do they usually prefer?

 

Lack of experience is the reason they gave me. Did they end up hiring you? I have no problem putting my time in somewhere else, I just want to have it count towards getting a position with one of the local garbage companies. Every garbage company around here requires at least 1 year of verifiable experience.