Local vs. OTR for future options?

[Iron_Weasel]

I'm currently in my 3rd of 4 weeks at a local school. So far, we've had Swift and a "sister" company (IEL - International Equipment Leasing) out to the school to do some recruiting. Werner, Covenant, and the other usual suspects round out the list of companies who have applications at the school but have not actually sent a recruiter.
Today, while out on our backing range, a dirt hauler came by and said he was looking for 3 drivers @ $13 / hr who could start ASAP.

I have a wife, 5 year old and a 3 year old at home so the local option is appealing based on that. However, I would like to keep my options open, so to speak. I would prefer something local but I'm not totally closed off to the idea of OTR.

Now, looking at the 2 scenarios, what would benefit me more in the future?
1) Go local then OTR in a few years when kids get older.
2) Go OTR now, get experience and apply for a local job after 6 - 12 months?

I see a lot of local jobs that require a year or two years experience. Some specify OTR, others just say "experience", so I'm not sure which wold be more beneficial.

[Uturn2001]

One thing to keep in mind is the most OTR companies want OTR experience and will not recognize local driving. Even if you drive T/T local you will most likely end up at an OTR training company as a student and have to go through OTJ training and may even have to go back through school again. In addition to that driving a straight truck will do nothing for your experience level if you go for a tractor/trailer driving job.

Not trying to tell you what to do, but just want to give you somethings to think about.

[One]

stay local if you can, I dunno about 13/hr- you may look into one of the LTL co.s in the area. I went to LTL after a year otr, so I paid my dues just to go local anyway! Then I got offered linehaul, wich is pretty darn nice!!! best job I ever had!

[uglymutt]

hmmmm wife and kids huh, I would say uhhhh better stay home then, yer young , after the kids are gone and you need to get away from the ole lady then go for OTR....

[driver2b]

after my experience with the paperless log jam I'd "dirt hauler came by and said he was looking for 3 drivers @ $13 / hr" in a heart beat. -good luck.

[mike3fan]

$13 an hour seem kinda low,most guys in my area get around $20 an hour for soil relocation

[Mackman]

13.00hr that is a JOKE. Don't take it dump truck drivers get anywhere around16-23 an hr. Depending if they are Union or not. The reason he came to your school saying he was looking for driver he was hopeing he would get cheap drivers. New drivers that don't know no better.

[Douglas]

Working for the City (in South Georgia), a dumptruck driver gets about $10.00 an hour. That is with benefits, of course. That's not really good, is it, even with the benefits?

[fireman932003]

I would go OTR to gain the experience. What would happen if that guy goes out of business and you are out of a job? You would have no OTR experience and would have to basically start over. If you go OTR first you get the experience and if this same scenario happens then you will be better off. That is just my $0.02 worth. BOL

[Mackman]

Working for the City (in South Georgia), a dumptruck driver gets about $10.00 an hour. That is with benefits, of course. That's not really good, is it, even with the benefits?

No that aint good even with benefits. Penndot only pays like 10 or 11 an hr. I think people who have wifes that make alot of money take them jobs just to do something. I i drove dumps i was getting 18.75 with full benefits and i was union. Only 20-21 years old when i worked there. My dad knew the owner good that the only reason i got that job. But even non union drivers where get atlest 16.00 an hr. with benefits.

[nrvsreck]

Tough call. In my neck of the woods, $13/hr is pretty good, considering most driving jobs pay anywhere from $7/hr to $12/hr. Cost of living you know. NE Texas is a cheap area to live. On the other hand it sounds like a scam of sorts. Sure, you'll have a job, but this guy probably wants you run 16+ hours a day, in a POS rig. You'll be running illegal most of the time. DOT fines will come out of your pocket. In the end fines will eat up as much as a quarter of your yearly pay, maybe more. Plus, you'll be lucky to get any kind of benefits. I wouldn't consider it, especially with a family, unless the wife has a good job and bennies for the kids.

OTR, you'll make more, plus good bennies, but, depending on the company and their freight, you probably won't see the family all that much. With two young kids, I'm not so sure I'd want to do it. Some flatbed companies offer much better hometime than the big van outfits, and at least you'll see the kids most weekends. Even doing the local dirt-hauling gig, you'll be lucky if anyone is still awake by the time you get home, and you'll probably be leaving the house hours before anyone is up. Something to think about. I think I'd choose OTR flatbed. 8)

[Iron_Weasel]

Well, most of you have pretty much echoed my sentiments.
We were back out at our backing range again today and the same guy as well as some of the other employees were going by again and I swear that none of the trucks had brakes, or if they did, nobody used them.
All you heard was downshifting and jaking..not once did I see brake lights.
My instructor has also mentioned that most dirt haulers are old POS trucks that aren't maintained worth a damn.
$13 an hour, while that is an average wage around here (Albuquerque, NM), I have seen mixer drivers being hired at $18+ starting.

What I was mainly concerned with were my future "expansion" options.
I know that most of the more desireable OTR companies won't count local experience, such as dirt hauling, nor will some of the higher end local LTL companies like Yellow.
On the flip side, OTR experience can be carried over into local jobs and is usually preferred.

I began researching things months before I ever started school, have been researching and talking to drivers while in school, and when I get done in another 7 business days, I will continue to research things.

So far, I seem most interested in TMC but I'm not too sure how I'd like skateboarding as my first experience. I'm fortunate enough that I was able to pay for my school and obtain my CDL on my own - plus I also have the benefit of being able to spend some time looking at companies rather than being desperate for cash to the point that I'd jump with the first company that put an application in front of me.

I turned Swift down on the spot....the recruiter seemed shocked that a "new" drver would do something like that.

On a side note, I guess my instructor used to drive for Southern Cal Transport and he called a budy of his in the company and had some strings pulled...they're going to take 2 of his drivers as soon as the class is finished. Only bad thing about the deal is that Southern Cal is team only and I don't know if I'd be comfortable doing something like that.

[Mackman]

On the flip side, OTR experience can be carried over into local jobs and is usually preferred.

Maybe for a LTL job yes it can count. But for dump trucks they don't really count OTR exp. They want exp. in Loading black top, Backing into pavers, Pulling under millers. I know where i live we don't try to use the brakes 73,280lbs right on top of 4 axles it doesn't take much to burn the brakes up. So i allways try to downshift with the jake to help keep my brakes cool. There ain't much junk where i live as far as dump trucks. Your best option is to get on with a paving or excavating company. They tend to pay alittle better and have better benefits then a dump truck trucking company does. A contractor makes more money with a truck then a trucking company would. If you can get around 16 or 17 an hr. Any 1/2 way good company will pay OT over 40. I will not take a local driving job unless i get OT over 40 or after 8 hrs in a day. If you have your Class A that will help you can pull a tag trailer and haul equipment that will give you more money an hr and more hrs in a day.

[nrvsreck]

Yeah, hauling for a reputible OTR outfit is your best bet for the future as far as LTL is concerned. And a good LTL outfit is almost always best for local driving with good hours, holidays off, fantastic pay, and good benefits. As far as hauling flatbed is concerned, I really believe you have to want to do it because it's who you are and what you're about. In flatbedding, you're responsible for that load. You take pride in every load you haul. Flatbedding is all about learning, from one day to another, with each load, taking pride in that load, your securement, your tarp job, and getting it delivered safely. Don't ever pay attention to the hotshots who dare to "race" you or brag about how they can get a load secured in only fifteen minutes where as it may take you an hour. Some folks get into just for the money. It does pay better than van, but I think folks that get into just for the money are the first ones to wind up losing a load and killing someone because they were in too much of a hurry. It's up to you, but I think OTR will probably be better for getting started. BOL! 8)

[dc6860]

8)
Stay local and take any offers you can get to start.

Local company's will also train you and always pay more. Un-like most of the others you will be home every night and many pay overtime, something you will never find in an OTR position.

Get some experience and see if you really like this kind of job and if you do you will be able to move on to another company as many have in the past..

Good Luck,

DC

[teamster]

Iron weasel: I had no otr experience and had no problem getting on with Yellow as a linehaul driver.

[special k]

Experience and good references will get you a job anywhere. IMO a lot of otr guys are just steering wheel holders. At least doing local dump work you'll have a chance to learn something and use your brain for more things than just finding out where the best truckstop is. Young family at home? Stay local there's a lot more to life than just money!

[Ian Williams]

Try and stay local. If you can't find anything else take the $13hr gig as a placeholder while you find something better. If you have family don't go OTR its just not compatible.

For reference a while back before I got my start time at Con-Way I was looking at a dump truck job, larger outfit here in Reno. $15-17/hr, OT after 82 hrs in a 2 week period, and weak bennies that take 6 months to kick in. This was for someone with the ink still wet on their CDL.

[pothole]

Depends on where you are from.
13 bucks an hour is damn good near me.
Then again houses are cheaper then cars here too.