Trying To Find A SMALL Carrier
Topic 34005 | Page 1
Go on LinkedIn, Indeed.com and any other websites that do applications to a massive amount of companies. If you have no accidents on your DAC record, you might get a hit that way. Otherwise, check Craigslist to see what might be there for your area.
It has been tough and getting tougher to find driving jobs in this economy. Many companies are laying off and small mom and pop companies are closing down.
Good luck
DAC:
Drive-A-Check Report
A truck drivers DAC report will contain detailed information about their job history of the last 10 years as a CDL driver (as required by the DOT).
It may also contain your criminal history, drug test results, DOT infractions and accident history. The program is strictly voluntary from a company standpoint, but most of the medium-to-large carriers will participate.
Most trucking companies use DAC reports as part of their hiring and background check process. It is extremely important that drivers verify that the information contained in it is correct, and have it fixed if it's not.
I can recommend Capacity Logistics in Clarksville, IN. They have a OTR job between Clarksville, IN and Birmingham, AL. The terminal manager, Ed, is solid. Very knowledgeable and a good dude. He’s a 20 year Army vet and 20? year trucker.
This might not be what you’re looking for because for one thing it’s flatbed and for another it’s all on the same I-65 corridor. Weekends off, rarely Saturday routes
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
OTR:
Over The Road
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.
That’s what I’ve been doing so far. Might have one “maybe” but so far it’s all been NO because of no recent tractor trailer experience
Josh realizes:
it’s all been NO because of no recent tractor trailer experience
This is true. I have been teaching CDL for five years. I have asked about OTR with a few companies, and even my intimate knowledge of the regulations and truck driving and safety does not let me skip the "recent experience" requirement.
PS: If you want to try CDL instruction, let me know. (Email is in my profile.)
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
OTR:
Over The Road
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.
I can recommend Capacity Logistics in Clarksville, IN. They have a OTR job between Clarksville, IN and Birmingham, AL. The terminal manager, Ed, is solid. Very knowledgeable and a good dude. He’s a 20 year Army vet and 20? year trucker.
This might not be what you’re looking for because for one thing it’s flatbed and for another it’s all on the same I-65 corridor. Weekends off, rarely Saturday routes
Sounds like a lead I can check into. I just need to find anything to get me over this little hump.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
OTR:
Over The Road
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.
it’s all been NO because of no recent tractor trailer experience
Does anyone know why recent OTR experience is so important to many OTR companies? I've wondered this for 30 years and never heard a definitive answer.
My best guess is that they figure you came off the road because you didn't want to be OTR any longer, and you might be returning temporarily to 'fill a hole' in your finances or as a holdover while you look for another local job.
I'm sure the large carriers have statistics showing that someone without recent OTR experience is less likely to stick around and be successful, but I've never had the conversation with any higher-ups.
Anyone know? Any theories?
OTR:
Over The Road
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.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
it’s all been NO because of no recent tractor trailer experience
Does anyone know why recent OTR experience is so important to many OTR companies? I've wondered this for 30 years and never heard a definitive answer.
My best guess is that they figure you came off the road because you didn't want to be OTR any longer, and you might be returning temporarily to 'fill a hole' in your finances or as a holdover while you look for another local job.
I'm sure the large carriers have statistics showing that someone without recent OTR experience is less likely to stick around and be successful, but I've never had the conversation with any higher-ups.
Anyone know? Any theories?
My guess is similar to what Brett thinks. OTR is a tough lifestyle and I think a company wants the driver to know what he is getting into. If all the experience he has is local, home every night driving, he might just throw in the towel after a month or two of OTR.
This is just my guess. Next time I have the opportunity, I am going to ask someone in management at my company this question and see what they say.
OTR:
Over The Road
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.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
My thoughts on having recent OTR experience are:
1. You're out of practice. Just like any skill, if you don't keep up your skills, they might go stale. And we all know the line about "80,000 death machine" and what that represents.
2. Without recent experience, how could the hiring company get a recent employment referral?
OTR:
Over The Road
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.
Does anyone know why recent OTR experience is so important to many OTR companies? I've wondered this for 30 years and never heard a definitive answer.
I always assumed it was because of insurance requirements. Does that have anything to do with it?
OTR:
Over The Road
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.
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As a seasoned OTR driver of over 15 years I am finding it hard to find a company that’ll hire me. I can off the road a year and a half ago and tried my hand at running a heavy wrecker. Hauling broken wrecked trucks and trailers and such and is an FMCSA regulated DOT job.
I have a valid class a no restrictions and a good medical card.
However, major carriers don’t count this as truck and trailer experience. So I’m looking for a small company or some one who is leasing trucks on to a company that needs and OTR driver.
OTR:
Over The Road
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.
CSA:
Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)
The CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicle
FMCSA:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
The FMCSA was established within the Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000. Their primary mission is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries.
What Does The FMCSA Do?
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
Fm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.