Won't do OTR

I've been scrubbing through all the local ads around here just to get an idea of what's available, even though I won't graduate until mid-April. So far I've seen a few decent local jobs, and they all call for at least a year of OTR experience. I'll keep an eye out between now and then, and pick my instructor's brain to see what he knows about local prospects.

But, if I have to go out on the road for a year to open the doors, I'll suck it up and do it. I hope to drive for 15 years or so, so if it takes a year of grinding out OTR miles, I think it'll be worth it.

 

Tfxpzeke01, #### that's a hard name to remember! Anyway after reading your novel (its ok, I ramble on too!) the main theme that I have deducted from it was that this is typical trucking and I don't really see anything out of the norm in your situation. (except your name!) I know, sometimes it can really suck. Have you thought of trying to take a little break? Maybe you just need some refreshing. One reason I say this is, as bad as your job seems right now there are a lot of people out there that would kill to have it! Just something to consider. There aren't a lot of options out there right now. If you are thinking of switching companies make sure you have something set in stone before quitting. Good luck to you.

 

There is always vocational work too, primarily sand & gravel hauling, concrete mixer, even trash truck

 

Most of the companies here in Wisconsin that do gravel, trash etc...require at least 1 year exp...and are very hard to get into due to the economy and the fact that they had to lay off so many people when the slump hit. Even with my squeaky clean mvr they wouldn't hire me because they had so many drivers on a recall list.
OTR isn't for everyone and neither is local. The main reason why so many local companies want exp. is due to the weird places that you end up at. Alot of the docks you have to hit are incredibly ridiculous...you would have to have exceptional skills coming out of school to even hit half the docks most local drivers have on their routes.
Now driving for a beer/soda distributor you don't hit docks as much but you do have to be in fairly good shape because you are unloading your truck.
So either way you want to go is fine but don't count on the magical local job being there for you when you get out of school.