Why does everyone think you have to go otr?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by S.V.Buyck, Feb 25, 2016.

  1. morpheus

    morpheus Medium Load Member

    392
    242
    Jun 12, 2014
    0
    he thinks he is special...... the hooker always leaves in the morning.... lol
     
    ramblingman and Chinatown Thank this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. PowerBstrd

    PowerBstrd Light Load Member

    84
    79
    Sep 1, 2015
    0
    In all likelihood, probably nothing. My guess is that these smaller outfits have less capital, fewer assets and limited means of "covering their arses" in the event some shorthair decides to run his rig into a parade float full of nuns.

    There are six of us at my job; most have been here for 20+ years. I'm the exception, with a mere 10 years OTR and two years with another local outfit.

    In the case of my current employer, new insurance regulations prohibit the hiring of anyone with less than three years' OTR.
     
  4. AnthonyM757

    AnthonyM757 Light Load Member

    201
    93
    Sep 13, 2015
    0
    Well if my road test goes well next week

    I'll be starting my trucking career as a local driver!
    It is possible but it took so long to find a suitor.

    I think I'm the last person from my class not behind the wheel yet. (Graduated in December)
     
  5. flightwatch

    flightwatch Road Train Member

    1,234
    1,200
    Jun 22, 2011
    Somewhere in Texas
    0
    Sure. You can go straight into local driving after you get your cdl, but you'll never have that fallback. A local gig will hire a guy with only OTR experience, but you'll be hard pressed to find an OTR company that will hire somebody with nothing but local experience.
     
    morpheus Thanks this.
  6. ajohnson

    ajohnson Medium Load Member

    580
    1,368
    Jan 6, 2016
    chicago area
    0
    Took me 2 and a half months also. But unless your desperate for money, there is no point in settling, just to get a job quickly. I waited until I got the offer that I wanted. I would have stayed at my $12 an hour job rather then go otr, but that's my choice.
     
    AnthonyM757 Thanks this.
  7. ajohnson

    ajohnson Medium Load Member

    580
    1,368
    Jan 6, 2016
    chicago area
    0
    That's ok with me. I would work 3 minimum wage jobs and be able to get home to my kids every day before I would go otr. After the kids are grown, I would consider it for a year or so, just to see what it's like, before I retire.
     
    Canned Spam Thanks this.
  8. AnthonyM757

    AnthonyM757 Light Load Member

    201
    93
    Sep 13, 2015
    0
    That's exactly what I said...

    I'd rather stay at my old job than go otr...

    Nothing against otr guys, but I prefer to be home every night and sleep in my own bed...

    Glad I waited, I think I have a great gig at SEFL
     
    ajohnson Thanks this.
  9. flightwatch

    flightwatch Road Train Member

    1,234
    1,200
    Jun 22, 2011
    Somewhere in Texas
    0
    Different stokes for different folks.
     
    ajohnson Thanks this.
  10. MidWest_MacDaddy

    MidWest_MacDaddy Road Train Member

    11,185
    18,829
    Feb 21, 2015
    South Carolina
    0
    Any company with an in house training program should be able to hire someone from the local jobs... For example, my company hired me with just a CDL and no experience so one would assume anyone coming from the local jobs would be hired as well. And would not need to do the whole training program since they can already handle a CMV.

    Many companies won't hire an OTR driver if he is not currently driving... Or they might require a refresher course. I was talking to a guy here that had OTR experience but was coming to our company to train and drive so that his experience was more current.

    So I don't believe it's all that black and white.
     
  11. flightwatch

    flightwatch Road Train Member

    1,234
    1,200
    Jun 22, 2011
    Somewhere in Texas
    0
    My post was simplistic...and was meant to be. I was talking about straight up no extra training or refresher courses involved. It is well known that if you don't have any verifiable experience in the last 2 years, most companies won't hire you due to insurance reasons. And when I say hire you, I mean go to orientation, get a truck, and get dispatched on your own right away. Now, if you want to go be a student and go out with a trainer and stuff, then that's a different story.

    If you have only been a local guy with no experience OTR, you will not get hired by a reputable OTR company without training. I'm sure that you are aware that OTR is a completely different ballgame than local. A lot of out of work oilfield drivers are finding this out the hard way right now. They are finding out that their experience in the oilfield doesn't count as qualifying driving experience.
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.