conn-e-rot Posted October 3, 2013 Report Share Posted October 3, 2013 I was laid off at the end of July from my "real" job and now I'm considering getting into to OTR trucking for a year or so then hopefully I can land a local gig. Is there anyone on here that drives or has driven OTR? Any pointers on what to look for with companies or which companies to stay clear of would be greatly appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max power Posted October 3, 2013 Report Share Posted October 3, 2013 If you lived near Columbus and have your CDL K could hook you up with a good friend of mine who is hiring drivers for local intermodal runs all the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bad324 Posted October 3, 2013 Report Share Posted October 3, 2013 too bad you're so damn far away. We've been trying to hire a damn truck driver for the last month!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidgetTodd Posted October 3, 2013 Report Share Posted October 3, 2013 I drove for Arctic Express for 6 years before I went on to other things. If I had to go back to it I would go right back to them. I believe they are hiring right now too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowdog Posted October 3, 2013 Report Share Posted October 3, 2013 I have some good contacts with American Crane who uses Semi's on a daily basis to deliver my lifts and what not. PM me if it is something you are interested in and I can make some calls for you and at least get you an interview set up. They are on Taylor Rd Pickerington/Pataskala area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidgetTodd Posted October 3, 2013 Report Share Posted October 3, 2013 That's a 4 hour commute for him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomcat0403 Posted October 3, 2013 Report Share Posted October 3, 2013 I am a logistics broker and there is a large need for good drivers right now just about everywhere. Find a good company and they will probably hire you. A lot of these carriers I talk to have brand new equipment but no one to fill them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madcat6183 Posted October 3, 2013 Report Share Posted October 3, 2013 Ive always wondered about this too, mainly for local deliveries and dedicated routes. I wouldn't mind a direct to ORD or something similar, but would really like local routes, intermodal, drop, return. Reason being I live by the intermodel and figure it all kind of makes sense. Issue is my OVI is less than 5 years old which I believe is usually the cut off for a CDL if I read it correct? Anyone with knowledge help on that? Other thing is, I have no interest at all in buying or leasing a semi, so I wouldn't be owner/operator, just looking to drive. I know there are tons of jobs posted all over by me for this kind of work. Pay looks good, and some even claim home weekends? My uncle in law was an escort driver to TX every week and they left Sunday morning and were home by Thursday night, not really what I would want, but worked for him and his wife with no little kids. Think work got a tad slower for escorts though and driving is back in demand. I'd love to hear about anyone local who does this as a dedicated driver or maybe 1-2 days on the road at max, then home, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max power Posted October 3, 2013 Report Share Posted October 3, 2013 MBM. Deliver food to restaurants. A friend of mine used to do it and made bank. 2-3 days out at a time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conn-e-rot Posted October 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2013 They are paying huge for belly dump drivers out west in the oil fields but you work a ton of hours and they want some experience. So I have to get some time/miles under my belt first and relocating is not really an option for another year so I'm considering OTR. I know there are a lot of variables that can affect your pay just not sure what all I need to look for and what questions to be sure to ask. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conn-e-rot Posted October 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2013 I am a logistics broker and there is a large need for good drivers right now just about everywhere. Find a good company and they will probably hire you. A lot of these carriers I talk to have brand new equipment but no one to fill them.I was talking to a guy that runs the training center in Erie, PA and he said they have over 50 companies that are begging him to send drivers. I just want to be sure I ask all the right questions and don't get fucked in the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Z. Heimer Posted October 5, 2013 Report Share Posted October 5, 2013 http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/Here is just one forum that is out there. Do take time and read what the people in the business have to say about it. The good and the bad. Do yourself a huge favor and research your options. I'm not a driver but have been around them and in trucking for damn near 40 years. Starting out new with no experience is going to be very hard. You are going to basically starve. I take it that you don't have a class a cdl yet?? So now your going to have to go to school and pay for that. Some companies have their own schools and will train you. But you are under contract with them for a time and will be their slave till your time is up. Quit early and you could owe them a chunk of change to pay for the training they provided. Some companies will send you to an accredited school with same scenario as above. Otr trucking is a tough job. Especially if you have a family. You no longer put in 8-10 hours and go home to the family. You put in 10,12,14hrs and then sit in a truck stop,rest area or any other place for 10 hours so you can go back to driving. Even when you get the chance to move up to a better company you will be a bottom feeder and not get the better runs and miles. Is there money to be made. Absolutely. I am with an LTL company and our senior drivers are at six digits for the year. Home every day and weekends. But they put in 12-14 hours every work day. The pay does trickle down from there depending on if you city peddle or just work the dock. You are just gonna have to pay some dues first. Like I said. Do some major homework. Go to some truck stops and talk to some drivers. You'll get real life info not what company recruiters will tell you. Not saying they are back alley used car salesman but close. After you get your cdl and some experience then you can start writing your own ticket. Search the web for other forums and start reading what is going on out there. Educate yourself as much as possible so when things aren't so rosy you won't be as surprised. I wish I could be of more help. The best of luck in what ever you decide. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conn-e-rot Posted October 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2013 http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/Here is just one forum that is out there. Do take time and read what the people in the business have to say about it. The good and the bad. Do yourself a huge favor and research your options. I'm not a driver but have been around them and in trucking for damn near 40 years.Starting out new with no experience is going to be very hard. You are going to basically starve. I take it that you don't have a class a cdl yet?? So now your going to have to go to school and pay for that. Some companies have their own schools and will train you. But you are under contract with them for a time and will be their slave till your time is up. Quit early and you could owe them a chunk of change to pay for the training they provided. Some companies will send you to an accredited school with same scenario as above. Otr trucking is a tough job. Especially if you have a family. You no longer put in 8-10 hours and go home to the family. You put in 10,12,14hrs and then sit in a truck stop,rest area or any other place for 10 hours so you can go back to driving. Even when you get the chance to move up to a better company you will be a bottom feeder and not get the better runs and miles. Is there money to be made. Absolutely. I am with an LTL company and our senior drivers are at six digits for the year. Home every day and weekends. But they put in 12-14 hours every work day. The pay does trickle down from there depending on if you city peddle or just work the dock. You are just gonna have to pay some dues first.Like I said. Do some major homework. Go to some truck stops and talk to some drivers. You'll get real life info not what company recruiters will tell you. Not saying they are back alley used car salesman but close. After you get your cdl and some experience then you can start writing your own ticket. Search the web for other forums and start reading what is going on out there. Educate yourself as much as possible so when things aren't so rosy you won't be as surprised. I wish I could be of more help. The best of luck in what ever you decide.That is the main site I've been looking through thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turnone Posted October 6, 2013 Report Share Posted October 6, 2013 (edited) There is an old saying about two truckers walk into a room with a beautiful hooker and they come out fucking each other. Meaning they work for less and less money. Most find it an easy job for a single life. But very hard if you have a family or other hobbies that require time. Money can be decent but not always. Most time driving isn't as hard as many jobs but the hours are longer. The big mistake I see is that they blow their money while on the road because they are bored and lonely. So earnings get eat up at truck stops, etc. Edited October 6, 2013 by turnone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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