Curt, there have been several ex-oilfield drivers suddenly "available" in the last few weeks. You would need to talk to some recruiters, however since besides the CDL-A license, my guess it's school for you. (The driving experience should be a leg up, but from what I've heard Oil driving is too different from OTR.)
Many companies have their own schools (Yes, you eventually pay for them usually by a 1-year work commitment.) Check out Company-Sponsored Training . Other companies may pick up your school tuition (using a "hiring bonus") so don't count out non-school companies. Check with Trucking Companies. You can shoot out applications to lots of companies with the Trucking Truth Apply For Truck Driving Jobs link.
To see what's different, read Brett's Book and the Truck Driver's Career Guide. I bet you could be driving again before the end of the year,
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
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Hello Folks!, I recently lost my job in the oilfield, I do have a class A cdl with airbrakes .. most of the driving experience that I do have is with a dodge 5500 and a 40' gooseneck. very little to almost no tractor trailer and or manual transmission (other than my mustang) experience. so with the oilfield in the toilet . I find myself looking for work and finding myself UNHIRABLE.. due to the work I've been doing for the past 16 yrs. is now a dead end for me, having said that I've always loved driving,, So here's my question: How do I get training and break into this field with No money.and No experience. I DO HAVE THE CLASS A CDL> But no tractor/ trailer training : I live south of Houston. so there's plenty of driver jobs. (with experience) . and most of those are local. ;PLEASE HELP
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.