Start Local?

So I was thinking I'd like to attend a private school, get my CDL , then try to work for a local company so that I'm home at least weekly if not nightly. After that, I could venture out into the big world. I'm not sure if this will work since it seems most local places want at least 6mo of experience if not a year. Is this a good plan or unrealistic?

Hey Snow. While it is not impossible, depending on where you live, it is highly unlikely that you will be able to get a local job right out of school.

My understanding (limited as it is) is that it is so expensive to insure someone with less than a year of experience that missy local companies simply can't afford it. Add to that many former otr drivers with tons of experience and good driving records want to start being home more often. Local companies will gobble them up as they are in demand.

So, between cost to insure and supply and demand of experienced drivers means you may have a tough time cracking that egg. Good luck to you though.

Oh, and welcome to TT.

Sir I've always been an advocate for staying local if that's what you want. 6string will probably help me chime in on this.

I will say this though it's not always possible depending on the area you're in. I got a local job right out of private school and I couldn't be happier. You just have to make sure you're applying everywhere even if it asks for experience. If the companies are in need if drivers that bad they may overlook that requirement. Be prepared to do some work to. Most local jobs are delivery type all you'll be unloading the truck yourself.

Good luck

Thanks Carter-that all makes tons of sense.

Thanks! I'm about 80% there into taking the plunge. I'm going to call the 2 schools here (Orlando) this week, Roadmaster and TDI.

Sir I've always been an advocate for staying local if that's what you want. 6string will probably help me chime in on this.

I will say this though it's not always possible depending on the area you're in. I got a local job right out of private school and I couldn't be happier. You just have to make sure you're applying everywhere even if it asks for experience. If the companies are in need if drivers that bad they may overlook that requirement. Be prepared to do some work to. Most local jobs are delivery type all you'll be unloading the truck yourself.

Good luck

Heavy is right, I'll always chime in on any post about local driving.

I see you're in FL, that can be a tough location. Here's my suggestion if you want local, find the companies and then apply, better yet, talk to somebody in person or on the phone about job opportunities. With local trucking, you're gonna have to put in some extra effort to find those jobs, especially in FL. I don't know what kind of trucking you wanna do, but three basic categories of local driving are: fuel hauling, LTL , and food service. There are others, but that's the general breakdown for most locals.

LTL is made up of P&D (pickup and delivery) and linehaul. P&D is basically like a UPS Parcel driver, yet in a tractor trailer. In fact, UPS's P&D division would be in UPSF (UPS Freight, not Parcel). Linehaul is road driving, no interaction with customers, moving freight within the company from terminal to terminal at designated meet points. I have a whole thread dedicated to LTL here, I'm a linehaul driver for Old Dominion Freight Line: LTL Trucking: My Linehaul Job

Food service can be tough work. You're handling your own freight. Think of companies like Sysco, or the cola companies like Pepsi and Coke.

Local fuel hauling is all but impossible to get into without experience, but in my area, I could've gotten on with Shipley Energy right out of trucking school.

You can get into a lot of food service and LTL positions right out of school as a student, but you MUST be in the right location. FL is notorious for a lack of trucking opportunities. Even the OTR guys can sometimes have trouble getting routed back for hometime. Don't let that discourage you. I'm speaking generally.

For LTL, I have a list of companies in the thread I listed above. Go on the respective company's website and look up their terminals, see if they have one near your location. You need to be near a company terminal for employment at an LTL company.

Final note, I'm not sure as to why you wanna go local. I could almost read your post as you wanting to go OTR, but yet being a little hesitant to make that type of 'plunge' without some experience in the local arena. If you wanna go national, go OTR off the bat. If you want local, I hope you can find what you're looking for as a student driver. Don't pay attention to websites that list 'experience required.' Often, you can move beyond that if you chat w/ the person in charge of hiring and make a good impression. Your potential roadblock to going local won't necessarily be your lack of experience, but your location. Location trumps experience - that's a fact. Location is the key to how many local opportunities you'll have.

Oh, and get your doubles / triples, hazmat , and tank endorsement when you go for your endorsements / license - especially if you intend on being a local driver.

Best wishes to you.

The linked thread is awesome 6 string. I'm still reading but it's super helpful. 6String=Rock Star.

Thanks! I'm about 80% there into taking the plunge. I'm going to call the 2 schools here (Orlando) this week, Roadmaster and TDI.

One of the things you want to question of the schools you are looking at, BEFORE SIGNING ON THE BOTTOM LINE - is their PLACEMENT SERVICES.

Do they WORK WITH any local companies that hire out of their schools? Be careful - school recruiters can be as "liberal at stretching the truth" as trucking company recruiters can be. NO SCHOOL CAN GUARANTEE YOU YOUR DREAM JOB - and their contract will state there are no guarantees that they will get you a job AT ALL - regardless of any (supposed) placement percentage they have in their advertising.

Orlando (or more specifically N of I-4) is easier to get a hire out of than here in South Florida - but you DO WANT to try and get a "pre-hire" from a local company - which is NOT A GUARANTEE of a job after graduation, but at least an indication that they will look at you.

ALSO - when going to a "non-company-driving-school" - you're going to need to do something pretty quickly (30-60 days, 90 max) to get on with SOME COMPANY - otherwise they will consider your driving to be "stale" - and you will (at best) have to do a "refresher".

Consider also, the possibility of a "Plan B" - that would be, going out OTR with a regional or OTR company for 6-12 months - while you look for a local gig that requires some experience.

Private schools are EXPENSIVE - you're going to be $4-$7K out of pocket for one. Again - consider things CAREFULLY BEFORE SIGNING. "Financial Assistance" for private schools are usually in the form of a STUDENT LOAN - which you will be obligated to pay REGARDLESS OF OUTCOME.

Rick

Yep-All good Rick. Thanks for the additional info!!!