Where to get experience?

Good Morning,

I figured I would just ask plain out.. Here recently there have been threads about people not needing to go to the mega-carriers to get experience. I've looked through countless companies and they all require 1 year experience even for owner-operators. I'm talking about the LTL companies even require experience.

What smaller companies require no experience, but will allow someone to either be a company driver, or start off owner-operator with them?

 

Actually, Con-Way hires students, but you NEED to know how to set up pups. As for an o/o, these can be good places to start at, but you mess up, and he's dropping your arse off anyplace he wants to, and he will, as he's got NO company to answer to, like a company driver-trainer does.

Best bet? Go to a mega carrier, get your time in, get it done, move on after 6 mos, to a year.

 

As much as I would rather go to a local LTL, or smaller carrier it looks like thats what I am going to have to do..

I was all set on going with a megacarrier, and then I was like eh I would rather go somewhere local, or smaller, but its just seriously too hard to get around the 1 yr experience.

 

A "local job", that I have right now, is as easy as all heck, anyone right out of school CAN do it.

But the employer? DEMANDS 3 years experience. It is what it is in many areas of the country.

 

Intermodal work, rail and container yards

 

I know of one guy that recently hired on as a newbie at Conway. Had been working shipping/receiving at a distribution center. Have not talked to him since but he applied AT the terminal.

 

What?????? Impossible!!! But I thought you HAVE to have atleast 1 YEAR experience before local companies will even LOOK at you?!?!?!?!

 

Everyone knows a guy who knows a guy........

 

I #### you guys not. They all tell me 1 year experience needed. I would honest call every company around here and record it for you guys. Yeah sure I should go IN, but #### how do they expect me to afford driving 1 hr to 2 hrs away back, and forth to each company when I need a job which is the whole reason I'm looking.

 

Some (or most) of this experience needed isn't just the company requirements.... its the insurance requirements.