I want to do local or I want out

[-]

WavyMerica@reddit

You need atleast 2 yrs exp OTR for that

[-]

Wheres_Jay@reddit

I've been hauling fuel 12 years now, and have not driven a single mile over the road.

[-]

_Tejaneaux@reddit

The last time i heard someone say this shit... was in afghanistan...

Get your dd214 already guy... damn.

[-]

Wheres_Jay@reddit

I've never been to Afghanistan. I do appreciate those who have.

[-]

_Tejaneaux@reddit

Lol thought you was a motor t or something. Caught a few guys who were active duty that said that.

[-]

No, I got my CDL and started hauling sod for a grass farm, then went to Coca-Cola for about 5 years, and a friend got me into hauling fuel. It wasn't an easy riad to get to it, but it can be done without going OTR. I always tell guys to apply and harrass them for the job. If they have an empty seat and you're standing in front of them, they will hire you.

[-]

_Tejaneaux@reddit

When i came back from the service. I worked at the airport back home.

No grass farms where im from. Its all mesquite and cactus down here. but my start prior to CMVs was hauling for the airport. Dont need a CDL within the perimeter of the airfield. Though i did take the truck out multiple times for agriculture to move livestock between ranches and auction houses nearby. (Side work)

Went to swift and got my cdl from them.

[-]

LeveledGarbage@reddit

I drove local for 2.5 years and got into fuel lol.

[-]

LeveledGarbage@reddit

This is false. Most Fuel companies want 1-2yrs experience in general, but KAG hires green drivers day in and day out, its kinda their thing.

[-]

nefariou@reddit

Apply to this position: CalTran DOT - Equipment Operator II, Need a CDL A & Tanker endorsement. San Luis Obispo County, $4,741.00 - $5,949.00 per Month, Filing deadline: April 8, 2025

Or keep a lookout for other positions at your local DOT.

State job, good benefits.

[-]

Dazac@reddit

You may need to move to make the best money but I'd bet dollars to donuts there are local companies. Find speclized work typically pays better and gets you home more.

[-]

_Tejaneaux@reddit

My friend drives for bimbo bread in mexico. He turns dollars into donuts. Literally.

[-]

eric-ric@reddit

Look for yard jockey jobs

[-]

TaperingRanger9@reddit (OP)

Still not the greatest at backing

[-]

_Tejaneaux@reddit

You will learn really fast. Its easier too. Your literally gonma be backing all day.

[-]

Zoa1Club@reddit

If I can do it you can! Repetition will teach you.

[-]

TheStoicCrane@reddit

As rapper Nas once said, "Repetition is the mother of learning."

[-]

12InchPickle@reddit

You’ll get good.

Am a former yard dog.

[-]

UOLZEPHYR@reddit

This - especially at night

[-]

eric-ric@reddit

You will learn, have some confidence, it’s easier to back up with jockeys

[-]

NoPenalty9654@reddit

Sysco if you’re built for it.

[-]

Mirindemgainz@reddit

I had 7 months local, never did OTR and I’m in Redding ca. just gotta hammer apps friend im in beverage now and couldn’t be better 4:30-3:30 4 10s Thursday Saturday Sunday off. Just gotta grind applications job market is just rough

[-]

TaperingRanger9@reddit (OP)

Bro id deadass commute to Redding everyday at this point. Which company?

[-]

Mirindemgainz@reddit

We’re out of Chico have small Redding office. It’s Dr Pepper I work 4 10s make good money and always home before 3pm. Just gotta hammer apps they come up but not often I started at small paper company before that.

[-]

Due_Change6730@reddit

Food or beverage delivery. They hired me with zero experience because the turnover is so high. You’re home everyday and the pay is great but it is BACk BREAKING work.

[-]

oasuke@reddit

Pay was shit in my experience. Tight spots, 16 hour days and my gross paycheck was like $1300. I made that kind of money at LTL jobs

[-]

BlueOrca76@reddit

I have done it for three years and work with a couple guys that have been doing it for 18 and 22 years .They are early 60s , yeah it’s hard work but you get used to it and when you do you are in great shape.I second this though. Our local grocers and the nationwide ones start at 31 hr I think.Easy to make 85+ a year.

[-]

TaperingRanger9@reddit (OP)

How so??

[-]

ToastedDizguise@reddit

Don’t do it, I did foodservice for 2 years it was without a doubt the worst job I have ever had I never went to war but I honestly feel like I would rather go to an active warzone before doing that shit again.

I eventually blew my shoulder out and needed surgery my company did everything they could to prevent paying me and acted like I was from mars for getting injured lugging handcarts of heavy bulk items up and down stairs everyday. I now have a just driving local job but have to keep a pillow behind my back when driving because the vibrations of the truck on the seat will cause me severe shoulder pain by the end of my day. I’m only 37 and feel like my body aged 20 years by doing that job 2 years.

[-]

ScharhrotVampir@reddit

My advice on this one is dont, the last 6 months working for my local grocery distribution was hell. You'll be getting up at 2-4am, working 12-14 hour shifts, and have like 2-3 hours of personal time before you crash from exhaustion. I'd look at dumb truck, garbage, cement, or construction delivery.

[-]

Far-Bell-1419@reddit

garbage is worse hours than that. not sure about the others.

[-]

ScharhrotVampir@reddit

Ot anywhere I've interviewed, every garbage job I've interviewed with has been mon-thu with strict 10 hour shifts.

[-]

Far-Bell-1419@reddit

Landfill in Atalla Alabama is start at midnight till 3-4pm. and that's if you don't get stuck on your last load.

[-]

MutedPoetry539@reddit

Soda is easier than beer, and both are easier than food. Try to get on with a soda company. Pay isbl usually half decent with the OT

[-]

MajorHymen@reddit

Why is soda easier? Is it somehow lighter or packaged better or is the workload less/less overall stops etc

[-]

ScharhrotVampir@reddit

What the other guy said, but also, from working in food distribution the last 6 months I can tell you from experience, we had heavy ass ramps to pull out, and had to climb into the cold section with the tire cuz none of our trailers have a ladder. The cola guys had hydraulic lifts that could fit whole ass electric pallet jacks.

[-]

MutedPoetry539@reddit

Beer does heavy ass kegs. Food has digging for stuff off of mixed pallets. Soda is either drops for merhandisers or doing convenience stores. You've gotta fill the coolers but pretty easy by comparison. Case of 20 oz bottles is 30 lbs, about the heaviest thing you'll lift regularly. With food cases of meat can be 100 lbs.

[-]

NoManufacturer2634@reddit

You know when you’re carrying your shit in from Costco and you think damn I like buying in bulk but this shit is heavy. It’s that but for 12 hours minimum a day. You’ll move thousands of pounds of product by hand in some really shitty places for very ungrateful customers every day.

[-]

stevenmacarthur@reddit

I went regional with my first job, and I've actually worked precious little doing OTR - I've actually done more OTD driving motorcoach than trucks.

It's possible, but from my experience: the earlier you are in your career, the shittier the local jobs will be, both in conditions and equipment.

[-]

Gonzotrucker1@reddit

Also use indeed only as a reference for company names. Search that particular company’s website for job openings because indeed is very often wrong. Another way to find jobs is to drive around in your car looking for trucks, and get the company names so you can call them or visit in person even better.

[-]

Gonzotrucker1@reddit

You need to look for class B jobs. Some of them pay very good. I know some garbage truck drivers who earn $70,000 a year with a great benefits package.

[-]

CarefulPeace3377@reddit

Have you looked into J.B. Hunt intermodal? I’ve been here for about 8 months I love it. Make pretty decent money too.

[-]

DEeZ_NutZ_KiLLaKill_@reddit

Anything 10 wheeler is chill, flat bed delivery with a moffit lift on back. Dump trucks new or old are great but gotta be on point because they will ruin your day real quick if not. Water truck an side dump(tractor trailer). Dirt works or building materials are almost entirely hands off and pay decent. They are Forsure heavy and the newer trucks hold even more from 16-18 tons and strong arms can do 20+. The new Petes are like Cadillacs

[-]

happyexit7@reddit

I got on with an LTL carrier with only 7 months driving experience. They were desperate and hired three other driver that same week. I was in the right place at the right time. I would just call around and submit resumes. Best of luck.

[-]

abrahamm516@reddit

Would you mind sharing the company? All the LTLs in my area ask for minimum 1 yr experience plus tankers, doubles, and hazmat.

[-]

LeveledGarbage@reddit

plus tankers, doubles, and hazmat

Then go get them? None of them are hard to obtain.

[-]

FossMan21@reddit

I work for SAIA and we had a guy who started in December of 23 and he didn’t have the required experience and they shipped him off to Tennessee( I believe) for a week or two for additional training.

[-]

happyexit7@reddit

Yep, there are positions called “dock to driver” where you work on the dock until a position opens up.

[-]

FossMan21@reddit

Some companies have that yes.

[-]

happyexit7@reddit

Southeastern Freight Lines, and normally they want two years experience. I got lucky.

[-]

LeveledGarbage@reddit

You got year experience, start applying for local jobs that arent labor intensive, you can be kinda picky, but not too picky just yet.

Get your endorsements yesterday and apply for LTL and Fuel Companies.

[-]

tonyhall85@reddit

Bro go find a construction company and hop in a dump truck or ready-mix truck.. 18wheelers aren’t the only CDL vehicles.. most B license jobs look at A license experience as a plus.

[-]

Dirty-Dan24@reddit

Dump trucks are fun. Tight turn radius and when you’re empty you can outrace probably any other truck. They’re deceptively heavy though though so you gotta be extra careful with following distance (which a lot of dump drivers don’t care about). A fully loaded tri-axle is about as heavy as a tractor trailer.

[-]

LeveledGarbage@reddit

when you’re empty you can outrace any other truck

My fuel tanker would like to accept that challenge. [Jokes aside with 650hp and 1800ft-lb torque.....] (https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.redd.it%2Fprice-is-steep-but-once-you-drive-it-its-worth-it-v0-cdio62d55zbd1.jpg%3Fwidth%3D750%26format%3Dpjpg%26auto%3Dwebp%26s%3D272b285c84527815fd6f0f268f026de849935508)

[-]

Mechanik_J@reddit

Lol, you still won't have a life while local. Well unless you get seniority in an LTL company.

But you gotta face the facts, you're poor... you're gonna work the rest of your life.

[-]

FossMan21@reddit

This is not always the case. I drive 20 minutes to work. Work 8-10 hour days. Longer days if I want to and weekends off. I had about 2 years class A experience when I started my current job

[-]

MajorHymen@reddit

Doesn’t sound like food service so is it just moving freight too and from DCs or to box stores?

[-]

FossMan21@reddit

I personally do all sorts of deliveries. I do residential it mostly commercial stops. Sometimes hitting a dock or they unload off the back. Using a lift gate. I’ve had all of those today

[-]

MajorHymen@reddit

I want to know what the small box truck drivers make delivering to Costco I imagine they do more than one load but seems like an easy gig. The freight is wheeled and pretty light and they’re usually in and out faster than me.

[-]

Independent-Fun8926@reddit

Ain’t that the truth sometimes. Local for me is either 16-18 hours a day, 6 days a week in cement or 12-14 hour days, 6 days a week in fuel lol. I stayed OTR instead.

All the LTLs are over an hour away in the major markets. Not an option for me unless I move. Maybe one day I can get a good regional gig

[-]

Enlightend-1@reddit

Dude having OTR experience remember all those warehouse you delivered to?

Most of them NEED jockey drivers, some places are more exclusive I'd imagine but most would love someone with truck experience..

[-]

MajorHymen@reddit

80% of the DCs I go into every week always have hiring sign at the gate. The issue being those 80% or out in the middle of nowhere or attached to a smaller city.

[-]

LankyEntrepreneur@reddit

Same here. I actually just quit my OTR job. Got a job delivering Amazon packages (which sucks but I did it before so Ik I can handle it). OTR for company drivers is terrible IDC what anyone says. Working 4-6 weeks straight 7 days a week and MAYBE you'll have time for a 34? Lmao fuck off.

Just going to stick with that until a local gig opens up.

[-]

Sad-Barracuda98@reddit

Excavation companies. Construction companies. Dirt, gravel, and rock haulers. That’s definitely going to be your best bet.

[-]

ClassicMongoose4544@reddit

Yeah. Just not a huge fan of shifting personally although no restrictions

[-]

tonyhall85@reddit

I drove a concrete truck for 2yrs before the plague started.. everything was automatic except the tankers that brought us the aggregate. And they only made 2 7mi runs a day and sat on the clock the rest of their shift. Whenever you see a dump or concrete truck on the road, google them or call them and just ask.

[-]

ClassicMongoose4544@reddit

I'm well aware of em. I initially tried to get on at Ernst concrete as they have a CDL program Inhouse at one of their locations. I bugged this guy constantly prior to getting my license only for him to say, " idk man a cdl is expensive. I hired a guy and he ended up failing his drug test " I'm like... tf that gotta do with me lol I don't drink or smoke left a bad taste in my mouth to be frank. But working with the state we sometimes dealt with mixer drivers when filling catch basings I just kinda didn't wanna do it once I got my license on my own

[-]

ClassicMongoose4544@reddit

I actually had a gig lined up but that's a long story in itself why it didn't play out. Propane driver, I've been trying forever to hear back from Linde, airgas any like that

[-]

tonyhall85@reddit

Yea hazmat in general is a little bit tougher to get into just because of the nature of the job. I worked for Vulcan Materials.. they’re everywhere and do everything from quarry to barges to ready mix. I’m not a paid spokesman, I actually ended up quitting because I found something better, but they are a good option if you just need a job for a little while.

[-]

ClassicMongoose4544@reddit

Definitely. I had a gig lined up with amerigas but eventually declined that offer but they liked me, I chose a more closer local company where the pay wasn't much different save for 1-2$ but ultimately chose to stay where I was (originally planned to start monday but declined) only for them to lay me off the same week i should've started the other job 😒😒 and now I'm here lol those were hazmat jobs also. So I don't see if I check most the boxes why they Make it so difficult to work for them granted I know those are for sure better companies than the 2 I applied and I'd like to assume safer material with co2, oxygen. Opposed to propane. But I've since taken interest into IT so it's between those two routes

[-]

tonyhall85@reddit

Go IT😂 drive until you get that foot in the IT door. These trucking companies all have IT departments. Every large company does. This trucking shit ain’t what it used to be and as you see it’s not as stable either. I hope you succeed 🙏🏾

[-]

ClassicMongoose4544@reddit

That's actually sound advice lol and definitely more up my alley and probable to be honest just doesn't hurt to have the license in your pocket

[-]

tonyhall85@reddit

I just renewed my physical last week even though I stopped driving around this time last yr. As long as your physical is up to date, your license is good. You never know when you’ll need to hop in something big. Maybe IT will pay you big and you buy an RV..

[-]

Sad-Barracuda98@reddit

I get that. A lot of dirt companies are switching to automatics though. The company I work for has moved 98% of their fleet to automatic transmission trucks. We still have a few 18 speeds as back ups, but all of the new trucks are auto shift. I know it’s kind of back-and-forth with other companies in the area but from what I’ve been hearing, everybody’s kind of moving in that direction.

[-]

ClassicMongoose4544@reddit

Yeah that would make sense. I've driven a 10 speed during both times I've went to cdl school but that was it. When I worked for the state most were all auto very very few manual besides a semi. But manual and higher variations on speed(18) etc is the primary reason I haven't touched applying at construction gigs

[-]

Sad-Barracuda98@reddit

Yeah, I’d say just do some research, make some calls. See what everybody’s running. The company I work for does excavation and site prep for commercial properties. I know there’s at least a couple other companies that do similar work, plus the ones that are doing road projects and at least a couple that are doing straight material hauling for the companies that don’t have their own trucks. It’s a good gig though. Home every night, paid by the hour, decent benefits. I can’t speak for any other companies across the country, but at least from what I’ve seen it looks to be fairly consistent in those regards.

[-]

Sad-Barracuda98@reddit

Plenty of opportunities for overtime too, at least where I’m at.

[-]

Pam_P00vey@reddit

Look at garbage, dump truck (with asphalt paving companies may be more open to taking on a newb). I've heard LTL pays quite well.

I've only ever worked home daily since I got my CDL 4yrs ago.

[-]