Profile For Francisco P.

Thank you Heavy C and 6 string rythm!

6 string rhythm: got the message. i plan on calling and asking a lot of questions. thank you very much!

heavy c: im definitely going to follow what you said and apply anyway to whatever is listed as available.

although ive been a bit busy and havent been on the past couple of days I did more research. I found that most of the local iobs in jersey are up north, a minimum of a 45 min drive, like one of the companies 6 string rhythm pointed out, uptob2 hour drive even further up. I know I cant be picky and should take what comes my way but my question to you guys, is it worth a possible 4 hours of commute daily on a more than likely 12 to 14 hour day? I don't really have the credit nor the funds to relocate, hence why I am looking into a new career.

Hi Francisco.

I'm always quick to jump on these threads because I would've appreciated it if somebody told me about local trucking gigs or the LTL world of trucking when I started researching trucking. I knew about them, but didn't think I could get one unless I did the typical OTR for one year - not true. I'm what you'd call a "local" driver, since I'm home every day. But I run linehaul - we're a special breed. Woody, another member here on the forum, is also a linehaul driver. Maybe he'll chip in.

First off, unless you WANT to go OTR for the personal experience, you don't need to do this to get a local gig. I see you're in Jersey. Being in the NE, you'll have plenty of opportunity for local and regional trucking gigs. A lot of LTL (less than truckload) companies are hiring student drivers without any experience. You don't necessarily need the 1-2 years of OTR experience anymore. That's starting to become obsolete.

You asked to compare OTR with local. You should also consider LTL. I wrote a whole thread talking about the LTL sector of trucking here: LTL Trucking - My linehaul job

I work 12-14 hour days, 5 days a week. I"m home every night. I used to have to "bag out" and stay at a hotel a few days a week, but not anymore. I get two days off a week. I work linehaul, so I'm paid by cpm like OTR guys. I currently earn .58 cpm and average 2500 miles a week. Keep in mind linehaul drivers are some of the highest paid drivers, and I work for one of the best paying LTL companies. And no, I am not in a union. After taxes and all deductions (benefits, 401K), I clear around $1,000 a week.

I went to a private CDL school and had no idea that I could get a local job with a LTL company. It wasn't until I was already in school that I learned some LTL companies near my house were hiring student drivers. I applied to my company and got the job. Originally I thought I would have to go OTR, but it was only ever considered a stepping stone to eventually go local. I have a family and am not interested in the "lifestyle" of an OTR trucker - maybe if I was younger and single. I'm into trucking because I like trucks, but more importantly, because I needed a stable career that paid well. And I even have a 4 year college degree - wish I would've gotten into trucking years ago!

If you have no interest in the lifestyle of OTR, and want to maximize your income and stay close to home, there's no reason why you couldn't do that based on where you live. My company has a terminal near your place in South Plainfield. Where there is one LTL company, there will be more.

As Heavy C mentioned, besides LTL, you have the food delivery jobs too like Sysco. There are TONS of local gigs if you think OTR isn't going to be your thing. Depending on the company, as a local driver, you could make more than you ever would running OTR. You just have to do the legwork and see what companies near you are hiring. But again, you live in a prime area, it's not like you're in the middle of Montana. Best wishes to you.

How do I look for these companies? Or any student/beginner friendly local or at least home weekly gigs? My only source really has been craigslist. How do you recommend scoping out all the possible available positions?

Thank you everyone for your replies!

Hey Francisco. I'm what you would a consider a local driver. I paid for private school myself so I could leave my work options open. I knew I wanted to stay local because I have a two and four year old at home. So after I got my cdl I applied to anywhere and everywhere that was offering local work. I didn't care if the ad said they wanted experience, the worst they could say was no. After applying icalled usually the following day and made sure they knew i was extremely serious and motivated. I ended up getting four interviews and in the end three offers. One with a local dairy, one with Sysco of new England, and the other with my current company Olympia sports. All were delivery jobs with solid hours and pay. Unltimately I chose Olympia because it gave me more opportunities to travel further out.

My Schedule is usually a four day work week. I travel all over the northeast from Maine to Virginia. I usually get one overnight a week which the company pays for a hotel and I get money for food. my hours are usually between 40 and 50 a we with weekends and holidays off. I make 17/hr plus overtime after 40. My days are on average 11 hours a day.

Honestly i wouldn't have it any other way. I know I don't have all the normal problems that your typical otr driver gets so if i ever transitioned to otr I would have to learn a whole bunch.

If that's the way you want to go then go for it and don't let anyone tell you that you can't go local yet. It is possible you just gotta go for it!

I've always had the impression that you really couldn't get anything local without experience. I always thought the only way to really get experience was to go OTR with a beginner friendly company like Swift or Werner. This is a career I've always wanted, but if I could be home daily I would love to. I plan on paying for school myself, so I'm doing as much research as possible. You said you usually followed up after applying. What did you usually say? How did it generally go over with the companies?

Any local drivers here? Just have some questions. How different is local vs otr? How many hours do you put in daily? What is the average amount of hours for a local driver? What is the difference in pay vs long haul? How did you get your local position?

I've always wanted to be a truck driver. While I dont mind starting off with OTR for a number of years for experience, eventually I feel somewhere down the road I would like to go local.

What do you guys think of this? mini bike peddler its like putting a bike inside of your cab. nothing says a good cardio workout like cycling. would it be practical?

First off let me say thank you all for your replies, tips, and experience! I definitely will continue being a part of this community throughout my journey.

Diet wise, we all know its doable. But how often do you guys find that you have free non driving time a day that you can actually put towards a little exercise? When I'm finally out on the road I'm hoping to be able to get in both some cardio and resistance training daily

Hey there! Ok, so I am trying to get as much knowledge of peoples experiences as a driver to know what my expectations should be when I start out. Coming from a family who never really had money, and although I have been working for the past few years (21 years old) I never really saved my money due to paying my own expenses ontop of helping the family out. Now that I have had a job lately thats been paying decently, I managed to save a couple thousand to put towards cdl school. After working hard saving my money, investing in school, I will be back at point A, no real savings. Therefore, my question to you guys is it possible for rookie drivers to make enough to support life on the road while saving? I know in this industry (as with any, really) you get paid better as you gain more and more experience. Essentially I want an idea of how much youd make as a rookie (with average miles and CPM) and your guys experience on budgeting and how, if able, you guys had savings put aside. Thank you in advance for words of wisdom!!! One love.

Hello Let me start off by introducing myself. My name is Francisco and I have oretty much decided that with no interest in any other career other than trucking that I will be pursuing. My main concern about trucking is the health aspect. Not all drivers fit the "fat, unhealthy, etc" view that most people who do not have any insight or any idea of the trucking industry seem to have. Having been obese all my life, and been on a weight loss journey for a bit now I have gone from obese to just a little overweight. I have a tendency to gain weight quickly if not paying attention. For the past tear I have had two goals. Get healthy and get a career on the road. So, to the pros, whether fit, on a weight loss journey, having lost weight as a trucker, or who have been in the same situation I have been, what can I expect? When that day comes and I recieve my own truck, I plan on cooking my meals, or when eating out, do so healthfully. With adjustable dumbbells or resistance band, a little exercise can be done virtually anywhere even if it is only 30 min, 10 min, obviously anything helps. My main concern is driving with a trainer. This can last anywhere between a month to 3 months, in which anything could happen. I would have to abide by my trainers rules, and go by his/her habits. So when the point comes, what are tips, advice, anything helpful you guys can throw at me? I like to plan ahead and be prepared as you can see. Much appreciated and sorry for the long post, lol.

One love, Francisco "FR4NN3H"