Welcome John,
I don't know what the local opportunities are like in your area, but you definitely don't have to go OTR and be away weeks at a time - if you have local opportunities. You'll have to do that research yourself. Typically, truckload companies will be able to get you home weekly, but during training you might have to be away for weeks at a time.
You can look for local opportunities as well, or try LTL companies, if you don't want to go OTR with a truckload company.
Refers to carriers that make a lot of smaller pickups and deliveries for multiple customers as opposed to hauling one big load of freight for one customer. This type of hauling is normally done by companies with terminals scattered throughout the country where freight is sorted before being moved on to its destination.
LTL carriers include:
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.
Welcome John! First off you came to the right place for answers. Let Me start by saying that I myself was in the same position as you are. A wife , two kids, and a life I didn't want to completely abandon to drive a truck. So your first question, no I'm not familiar with that area. But i Will say it is entirely possible for you to get a job that will keep you home. I live in Maine, which is not known for huge employment opportunities and I still had three offers after school. That brings me to your second and third questions. Yes there are companies that will pay for your cdl. And yes they require you too sign on for usually a year. If you leave before hand then you WILL owe them for the amount owed. However, of you can afford it a private school can open up more opportunities for you. The school must provide you with the correct amount of hours for companies to accept you but just find out what companies hire from that school and that will give you an idea if it's legit or not. I'm pretty sure the required hours is 240. Private school will allow you to apply to both national and local companies and give you options.
Now a couple of tips for staying close to home. First, after you get your license apply anywhere and everywhere that needs help. Even if they require experience. Then (this is the important part) follow up directly with the hiring manager. You need to make yourself more than just an application. You need to show them you're ready to learn and work. This isn't a quarantee but it certainly helps. Second, apply to food service companies. Not sure who's in your area but I'm sure there's plenty. You'll be working hard because it involves making deliveries more often then not. In fact most local jobs will involve handling freight and loading/unloading.
Trucking is such a diverse industry that most people can find a part of it that works for their personal situation. And that's the real key. Finding out what will work best for your family's situation. Can both you and your family deal with you being gone weeks at a time and home a couple days. Or will that be too hard. These are some of the things you'll need to really discuss with the family and really think hard about within yourself. I myself knew that I needed to stay close to home and found a job that allowed me to do so. If that's what your looking for then i wish you luck.
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
Maybe ive got the wrong idea all together. Im just assuming everyone would like to be home daily or am I wrong and most truck drivers are seeking the long haul for the bigger paychecks... Sorry for asking so many questions. But I do greatly appreciate your time and recommendations....
Not everyone wants to be home daily. Ever been married?
Actually the long haul is as much if not more about the lifestyle than it is about the money, at least in my opinion. I work linehaul for an LTL company like 6 String was referring to. I make a lot more money doing what I do now with great Benefits and I'm home every other day. I really miss being OTR. Yes its nice being home more often and I am sure this is better for my wife and kids (grown). But it is more like a job and OTR is without a doubt a lifestyle.
Woody
Refers to carriers that make a lot of smaller pickups and deliveries for multiple customers as opposed to hauling one big load of freight for one customer. This type of hauling is normally done by companies with terminals scattered throughout the country where freight is sorted before being moved on to its destination.
LTL carriers include:
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.
Linehaul drivers will normally run loads from terminal to terminal for LTL (Less than Truckload) companies.
LTL (Less Than Truckload) carriers will have Linehaul drivers and P&D drivers. The P&D drivers will deliver loads locally from the terminal and pick up loads returning them to the terminal. Linehaul drivers will then run truckloads from terminal to terminal.New! Check out our help videos for a better understanding of our forum features
Ive got several questions id like to ask everyone and would like to get several opinions to see whether or not this career is for me...About me: Im interested in becoming a truck driver but my biggest concern is being away from my family for too long. Im a father of 2 kids ages 15 and 8 and I dont want to miss them growing up by constantly being on the road. I live in Southern California. #1. I was wondering if anyone familiar with this area could tell me if finding a job that has me home daily or at least on the weekends, every week, is even possible? And if so, would being a newly licensed class A driver effect those chances of finding those types a jobs? #2. Ive seen companies advertise that they will pay to get you licensed for free if you sign on to drive for them for a certain amount of time. Roughly how long are committed to them for and would being the "new guy" make it impossible to get the job that im talking about as stated in question #1... #3. If these types of jobs are possible, would you recommend paying for my license out of pocket to avoid locking myself down to these types of commitments?
Maybe ive got the wrong idea all together. Im just assuming everyone would like to be home daily or am I wrong and most truck drivers are seeking the long haul for the bigger paychecks... Sorry for asking so many questions. But I do greatly appreciate your time and recommendations....
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated