Would like some advice from you experienced drivers - greenhorn

Does your girlfriend's father have any pull with that construction company? If they have dump trucks AND combination vehicles, tell them your story and see if they need an extra dump truck driver, like a backup driver. Usually, they will. There will always have a driver that closes down the bars, have domestic fights at the house that has to get bailed out of jail every week. It will get your foot in the door.

now, if you're going to do that, go ahead and get your class A permit. It will make you more marketable.

 

I used to drive for a construction company when I came off the bigroad. Most of the drivers stayed in trouble with the law. I was their only driver that had a class A. There was another driver there that was pulling the 7 axle, but when I came, they put him back into a dump truck. I ran a dump truck some times, but my main gig was delivering the machines to job sites the crew was working on. Wasn't a bad gig...just wasn't great. The thing that you have to be careful about in the smaller local companies is since they usually stay local they will ignore some of the CMV laws. I was their only licensed class a driver. One of the dump truck drivers was a dump truck solo on just the permit. If you never cross a scale in a local gig, you will never have a problem. If the job is out of your area, they will want you to go like you normally do. I had to pull the locks to a dam in sections, 24 ft wide across state lines. Had to run with HP escort in 2 different states. Their guys didn't know how to work a logbook or do a Pre trip since they had always been local.

You know, I hear a lot of people knock OTR Truckin, but my OTR experience did give me the experience and know how needed to take care of the legal stuff when we pulled superloads. As I said, most of the local drivers didn't know how to do an inspection, or logbook or even know how to read permits. They just normally get an annual and go. An annual doesn't cover a superload. Sure, the cops may run with you, but thing is, if anything happens, you as the driver are still ultimately responsible...even with a police escort.

 

I agree with triple six on all acounts, especially the class A. You did not mention where you lived so it is kinda hard to recomend acompany to get you home often. Getting a local job is not near as hard as getting a good paying local job in most cases. Where you live depicts the freight lanes you would most likely run in if you went otr. Since you are young and could live with a little less, I would say concentrate on the dirt hauling or even concrete businesses. I would assume that if your girlfriend's father is a good employee, his recomendation of you would go along way towards getting your foot in the door. Construction companies are always scrambling to hire drivers during the first part of the summer and many will hire anyone with a cdl if they are in a bind, experiance or no.
Good Luck!
We all started somewhere.

 

Forgot to mention this.

the biggest difference between a local and a road driver is load securement. The locals will pull a 74000lb escavator with 2 points of securement. They never read the little green and white book. In an open trailer gig pulling oversize, that's suicide. Learn the regs. It will prove to be a protection for you.

 

The good paying local jobs are mostly taken by drivers that want to come off the road and run local. So they have experience which the company might require. Like Triple Six says most of your local jobs where a new driver with no experience has a chance would be one of those jobs where they don't follow the basic laws and regulations. I have seen a company in Las Vegas that hauled bulk cement, fly ash, and gypsum rock that made sure their drivers got tickets so they couldn't leave. Once that was the case the company ran the death out of them. I'd see them all over the desert sleeping in a day-cab trying to get some rest before they were dispatched again.

So if you have connection like your girl friends father try the best you can to stay where he is or go on his advice. However, it's best to have a second plan if the first one doesn't work. Getting out there and looking over the companies should be a requirement. You've got to know all you can on where you'll be driving because you're just starting out and it's imperative to keep your record clean.

 

It's a little tougher to get a local job for new drivers but not impossible. You just have to pound the pavement. Hit up all the local companies you can find in your area. Be presentable and also go in prepared. What I mean by that is when you go in to apply bring your MVR printout, medical card, resume (if you have work experience) and anything else that will give you an edge. You want to give the impression that you're organized and willing to learn.

I'd also go for a class A if you have the means. You'll have more oppourtunities with an A. Best of luck to you!